Bernt Persson

[frigbo]

Just seen a post on Facebook from Karl Fiala saying Cradley legend Bernt Persson has sadly passed away.

[steve roberts]

3 hours ago, frigbo said:

Just seen a post on Facebook from Karl Fiala saying Cradley legend Bernt Persson has sadly passed away.

Sad news indeed!

RIP Bernie.

[salty]

My first Speedway hero. 1969 was my first full season and Bernie quickly became the darling of Dudley Wood following his arrival from Coatbridge. 

His Cradley career sadly petered out in a plethora of missed meetings, but in the early 70's our Bernie was, for us, the greatest. So close to winning at Wembley in 1972.

RIP

[Sidney the robin]

A geniune number one rider,  making seven world finals in a very tough era came very close in 1972. RIP Bernie.

[steve roberts]

43 minutes ago, Sidney the robin said:

A geniune number one rider,  making seven world finals in a very tough era came very close in 1972. RIP Bernie.

Nice to see you back Sid!

I never sae much of Bernie 'live' but was no doubt one of the big Swedes from that era. Recall he and Anders having a massive fall-out during the 1973 Swedish Championsip Final much to Michanek's regret but thankfully they made up.

[Sidney the robin]

15 minutes ago, steve roberts said:

Nice to see you back Sid!

I never sae much of Bernie 'live' but was no doubt one of the big Swedes from that era. Recall he and Anders having a massive fall-out during the 1973 Swedish Championsip Final much to Michanek's regret but thankfully they made up.

Must admit Steve i did not see that much of Bernie either a very underrated rider like Bengt Jansson.Even after the Briggo incident i never disliked Bernie he was in a era of a group of great Swedes ( ie)  Anders, Bengt, Tommy, Christer, Soren.

[steve roberts]

12 minutes ago, Sidney the robin said:

Must admit Steve i did not see that much of Bernie either a very underrated rider like Bengt Jansson.Even after the Briggo incident i never disliked Bernie he was in a era of a group of great Swedes ( ie)  Anders, Bengt, Tommy, Christer, Soren.

Sweden had some great talent during that period Sid...what with the likes of Hasse, Tommy Johannson (who never really got going In the UK due to illness but a good rider) but they all seemed to disappear about the same time due to various reasons and Sweden remained in the doldrums until the likes of Andersson, Nilsen and Jonsson came on the scene.

[Sidney the robin]

2 hours ago, steve roberts said:

Sweden had some great talent during that period Sid...what with the likes of Hasse, Tommy Johannson (who never really got going In the UK due to illness but a good rider) but they all seemed to disappear about the same time due to various reasons and Sweden remained in the doldrums until the likes of Andersson, Nilsen and Jonsson came on the scene.

Johansson reached a world final and won  a Swedish Final championship a  very talented rider indeed.Jan Andersson was a really consistent  rider over the years and Christer Sjosten was also improving up until his untimely death then there was a gap in real star quality until Gustafsson ,Jonsson, Nilsen appeared on the scene.

[steve roberts]

38 minutes ago, Sidney the robin said:

Johansson reached a world final and won  a Swedish Final championship a  very talented rider indeed.Jan Andersson was a really consistent  rider over the years and Christer Sjosten was also improving up until his untimely death then there was a gap in real star quality until Gustafsson ,Jonsson, Nilsen appeared on the scene.

Recall that storming ride in the 1974 World Final when he passed Ivan as if he was stood still!

[Sidney the robin]

Just now, steve roberts said:

Recall that storming ride in the 1974 World Final when he passed Ivan as if he was stood still!

Could Hasse have been a bigger force with a bit of luck Steve???felt he could of reached greater heights a very good rider.Often i missed seeing Hasse ride  as R/R was often used for him which often caused a stir.

[steve roberts]

6 minutes ago, Sidney the robin said:

Could Hasse have been a bigger force with a bit of luck Steve???felt he could of reached greater heights a very good rider.Often i missed seeing Hasse ride  as R/R was often used for him which often caused a stir.

Yes R/R during 1975 and the bizarre thing that he was then allocated to Wolves for the 1976 season and they operated the facility also!

Going back to Tommy things may have worked out differently for him had he ridden for King's Lynn in 1975 as was planned but the "Stars" management were gazumped by Thomas/Mawdsley and he ended up at Hull! He did indeed win the 1973 Swedish Final but that was after Michanek took Persson out in one race and Bernie either broke an arm or leg...can't remember which...an act that Anders regretted although they did eventually make up although Bernie's wife never forgave him!

[Grachan]

3 hours ago, steve roberts said:

Sweden had some great talent during that period Sid...what with the likes of Hasse, Tommy Johannson (who never really got going In the UK due to illness but a good rider) but they all seemed to disappear about the same time due to various reasons and Sweden remained in the doldrums until the likes of Andersson, Nilsen and Jonsson came on the scene.

I remember putting a video of a race featuring Tommy Johansson on YouTube a few years and got a message from his daughter thanking me and saying how he had loved seeing it.

[Sidney the robin]

8 hours ago, Grachan said:

I remember putting a video of a race featuring Tommy Johansson on YouTube a few years and got a message from his daughter thanking me and saying how he had loved seeing it.

His son often comments on Facebook  and what a nice guy he is.He often seems a bit surprised on how much his dad is remembered and respected  as a very good rider in this country he certainly was.For me he is in the Jiri Stancl, Toni Kasper,Edward Jancarz, Zenon Plech, mould  of all were  all  unlucky in a certain way of not being able to show there true worth.

 

 

Edited September 23, 2020 by Sidney the robin

[Pieman72]

Excellent rider very quiet but genuine. He would often drive into the night on his own with his trailer. RIP.

[Sidney the robin]

8 hours ago, steve roberts said:

Yes R/R during 1975 and the bizarre thing that he was then allocated to Wolves for the 1976 season and they operated the facility also!

Going back to Tommy things may have worked out differently for him had he ridden for King's Lynn in 1975 as was planned but the "Stars" management were gazumped by Thomas/Mawdsley and he ended up at Hull! He did indeed win the 1973 Swedish Final but that was after Michanek took Persson out in one race and Bernie either broke an arm or leg...can't remember which...an act that Anders regretted although they did eventually make up although Bernie's wife never forgave him!

I remember 1975 well with the R/R rule for Hasse which seemed dodgy.The ruling in 1974 to let Eric Boocock ride at reserve after breaking his arm at Newport  in 1973 seemed bizarre he had been there number 1 for years and to cap it all he won the British Final that year.Remember Eric riding in 74 for Halifax at number six  at the Abbey scoring a brilliant 14 points from five rides.In 1983 remember seeing Eric comeback after his eight year lay off  at Swindon hated watching it was not prepared not fit anough but you could still see there was a proper rider there.

[steve roberts]

1 hour ago, Sidney the robin said:

I remember 1975 well with the R/R rule for Hasse which seemed dodgy.The ruling in 1974 to let Eric Boocock ride at reserve after breaking his arm at Newport  in 1973 seemed bizarre he had been there number 1 for years and to cap it all he won the British Final that year.Remember Eric riding in 74 for Halifax at number six  at the Abbey scoring a brilliant 14 points from five rides.In 1983 remember seeing Eric comeback after his eight year lay off  at Swindon hated watching it was not prepared not fit anough but you could still see there was a proper rider there.

Hasse was declared in the Oxford line up at the commencement of the season but personal issues delayed his return until June where he turned out against Hull I recall. He rode in a couple of more matches (one was a challenge at Reading which the "Rebels" won...the first team to beat Reading at Smallmead) before he was unable to continue to commit to riding in the UK. Oxford used the facility on and off that season but were by means the only team to adopt that mandate...Ian Thomas at Newcastle was re-nowned for manipulating the rule book to suit and the Wolves team of 1976 was always short of a full house using very much a "horses for courses" policy winning at White City with a team consisting of guests who were Wood Lane track specialists and pulling off a win much to the home promoters annoyance.

Eric Boocock very nearly signed for Oxford in 1975 but decided to carry out his threat of retirement and Dag Lovaas eventually joined the team of his choice...and what a season he had!

[Sidney the robin]

8 hours ago, steve roberts said:

Hasse was declared in the Oxford line up at the commencement of the season but personal issues delayed his return until June where he turned out against Hull I recall. He rode in a couple of more matches (one was a challenge at Reading which the "Rebels" won...the first team to beat Reading at Smallmead) before he was unable to continue to commit to riding in the UK. Oxford used the facility on and off that season but were by means the only team to adopt that mandate...Ian Thomas at Newcastle was re-nowned for manipulating the rule book to suit and the Wolves team of 1976 was always short of a full house using very much a "horses for courses" policy winning at White City with a team consisting of guests who were Wood Lane track specialists and pulling off a win much to the home promoters annoyance.

Eric Boocock very nearly signed for Oxford in 1975 but decided to carry out his threat of retirement and Dag Lovaas eventually joined the team of his choice...and what a season he had!

Lovaas was superb for Reading, Hackney, Oxford so disappointed he could not get to grips with the White City track..Dag for me was like Scott Autrey he retired to early was always hoping both would comeback at some stage.Autrey i felt could of been persuaded to comeback in the ill fated 1984 Exeter Falcons BL venture when Ivan did home meetings only he declined unfortunately both great riders.

[steve roberts]

There was an interesting interview with Bernie in edition Number 14 of "Backtrack". His best mate in speedway was Dave Perks and he had nothing good to say about in-coming Promoter Dan McCormack "...That Scotsman came to Cradley with a big mouth and I felt bad about him from the the beginning. I couldn't forge a working relationship with him, not even from the start. After arguments over my bikes, we split up. But I tell you, I was not the only one in the team who didn't like him..."

Edited September 24, 2020 by steve roberts

[Ovalman]

Can remember Bernie riding for Sweden v Great Britain 1968 at Swindon. Officially 12000 there, but I was one of thousands that climbed in! Britain won that third test, home riders Ashby 15, Broady 14, Jansson 15, Michanek 14 for the Swedes. Mauger and Fundin poor scoring that night, no points for Bernie. Sweden won series 2-1. Michanek was underrated.

[geoff100]

59 minutes ago, auntie doris said:

Can remember Bernie riding for Sweden v Great Britain 1968 at Swindon. Officially 12000 there, but I was one of thousands that climbed in! Britain won that third test, home riders Ashby 15, Broady 14, Jansson 15, Michanek 14 for the Swedes. Mauger and Fundin poor scoring that night, no points for Bernie. Sweden won series 2-1. Michanek was underrated.

Who gave u the leg up  doris