TigerTom Posted February 26, 2005 Report Share Posted February 26, 2005 I remeber watching Ivan at Sheffield in the early sixties and he would always sign my photos I had diligently cut out of the speedway stars. He would sign more than once and always seemed willing to personalize it such as Beat wishes to Tommy whenever asked. I always hated him as he always seemed to score a maximum and clean up in the second half beating my heroes in the process. I met him again in the 90's at Welland County Speedway for the Canadian Nationals where he was looking for riders for his series. He grinned when I told him about the above and promptly gave me yet another autograph!...I know the story goes he never signed an autograph before a meeting but I have at least 50 signed photos so I know he did sign autographs. I was just looking at an old Wimbledon programme from 12th April 1958 where he rode in a junior handicap with him off scatch. Bob Andrews off 20 yards, Gerald King off 20 yards and Bobbie Croombs of 10 yards. Needless to say Ivan won the race with Andrews second! Tom Marriott Canada Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canadian Star Posted February 26, 2005 Report Share Posted February 26, 2005 I have to say that Ivan committed that major (pardon the pun) sin in England of being too successful. However i have to say also that i have 2 distinctive stories to tell and they are thus. Firstly an old friend of mine who is a former rider from the early days of speedway who quoted Jack Parker as saying that he saw Ivan one night in the pits at Belle Vue Manchester completely pull the telephone off the wall when in Ivans own opinion he had been excluded unfairly from a race, this horrified Jack, who came from an age where people in England just didn't behave that way. Having said that certainly in the early seventies Ivan truly was in a league of his own as the averages at that time certainly confirm. Also i had seen Ivan on several occasions completely obliterate the opposition at King's Lynn although this i had viewed from a position on the 3rd/4th bend. In 1979 i made a point of sitting in the grand stand at Saddlebow Road in line with the starting gate where i witnessed a display that i had never seen before or since, in each of Ivan's opening three rides he missed the start and yet still made it to the first corner in first position. I have never before or since seen anyone gain such acceleration once releasing the clutch lever as Ivan did that night, and this illustrated to me just how much Ivan had an advantage over his rivals in technical ability from the starting gate. In fairness also i went to the Golden Great's meeting at Coventry in 88 or 89 and Ivan gave me and several thousand other people his autograph which today i treasure and certainly the Ivan Mauger i saw that day was nothing like some magazine articles have often unfairly portrayed. He is weather anyone agree's or not the greatest of all time, statistic's prove this and certainly the promoter's both during his riding career and since would do well to listen to, he certainly made a lot of sense to a lot of people. Sadly a lot of BSPA members then, as now, resented being told how to run there business's, particularly from someone who had done so much to line there pockets over a number of years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spin king Posted February 26, 2005 Report Share Posted February 26, 2005 For me Ivan is and always will be the greatest, we have the Ove Fundin trophy, why cannot a trophy be named after Ivan, after all he has won more titles than any other rider in history. And to think when he won his sixth and final title he was not far of his 40th Birthday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil_L Posted February 26, 2005 Report Share Posted February 26, 2005 Even though I was only what 15 or 16 I went to see the Goldern greats at Coventry in '88 (?) .... and I remember Ivan doing some demo races on Han's bikes .... and the crowd was silent when Peter York said "who thought that was slow ?" I remember reading a article about him about that time and he said he cycled miles and miles every day and was still fit enough to win a world long track title. On Han's machines he was full gas and very impressive. I think he had a race against Barry Briggs and I remember Barry taking off into the 2nd bend fence on one of Kelvin tatum's bikes. I remember at junior school late 70s some of the kids who went speedway would argue who was the best ... collins , Mauger or Olesen ... who was the best in this period ??? I still have vauge memories of world of sport with what's his name dicki davis ? Riders like Ivan were clearly privileged to have been around when the sport was at the hight of popularity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIWIPIRATE Posted February 28, 2005 Report Share Posted February 28, 2005 Hmmm.... that Mauger family one of his great nephews is Aaron Mauger - the All Blacks centre... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmaction Posted February 28, 2005 Report Share Posted February 28, 2005 I love reading stories about the legends. I raced with Ivan various places around the world. Germany, Australia mainly as it was towards the end of his carreer and the beginning of mine. What an inspirational man, it was quite a pleasure to race with him the times I did, I have always been grateful to ride with one of the greats. Also, I give Ivan credit for indirectly teaching me one of the most valuable lessons I ever learned. While on a tour through Australia, racing throughout the country on a trip that my old dear friend Nigel Boocock had arrainged. I raced Ivan several times during this tour at more than one track. I was having a good season down under, my confidence was high and I remember beating Ivan on several occasions. But, here is the crux of the lesson, this one night in particular I noticed Ivan got maybe a second, a third, I beat him, and I think I won every race that night. There was only one race I didn't win that night, and that was the race Ivan won, the last race, the only one that counted. That night Ivan taught me not to let my ego get the better of me, but try to play it smart in one the one that counts. By the way that other night I refered to in beating Ivan that night he also one the final. But, of course learning the lesson and executing the lesson is another thing. Rick Miller Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehone Posted February 28, 2005 Report Share Posted February 28, 2005 Remember when Ivan first came across to Newcastle, he was accompanied by Rolf his mechanic.<{POST_SNAPBACK}> i remember Rolf staying with us years ago as he did some driving still for Ivan when Gordon Stobbs was his mechanic ... i remember him having the nickname of the Bullfighter and have no idea why. i asked my dad the other night but he didn't know either ... do you know the reason Tsunami? would be good for people to get down to Belle Vue, Buxton or Newport to see Ivan doing his training academies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shazzybird Posted February 28, 2005 Report Share Posted February 28, 2005 (edited) For me Ivan is and always will be the greatest, we have the Ove Fundin trophy, why cannot a trophy be named after Ivan, after all he has won more titles than any other rider in history. And to think when he won his sixth and final title he was not far of his 40th Birthday. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> That's a fair shout SK, why is there not a trophy with his name on anyone know? HERE when Ivan rode at Canterbury all those years ago Edited February 28, 2005 by shazzybird Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted February 28, 2005 Report Share Posted February 28, 2005 Who's the punter on the left then Shazzy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsunami Posted February 28, 2005 Report Share Posted February 28, 2005 stevehone Unfortunately I don't know why Rolf was called the Bullfighter. He was always just Rolf to us. Gordon and his wife Margaret used to be Newcastle fans who packed their bags to live in Manchester to be full time with Ivan. Margaret's dad stayed up here and stayed around speedway for a long time. One of Ivan's other mechanics was Tony Shelley who like Gordon and Margaret were big followers in the Newcastle Supporters Club in the early 60's hence how I know them all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jim Blanchard Posted February 28, 2005 Report Share Posted February 28, 2005 I agree with Rick Miller. Many individual meetings I attended in the 70's (Mostly Internationales) he would drop points left right and centre and you thought he had no chance and was in for an early bath but he almost always ended up with the pot. A meeting is not won until its won I guess... I have never really had the pleasure of getting to know him but at the Stoneleigh show last year I got him to sign a half finished painting; there was only a track illustrated. He looked at me a bit funny when I asked him to sign it though. I assured him that it was a painting of him and he would be there eventually. I am hoping to get to the Belle Vue training session on the Sunday Steve. Briggo party Friday night. Vsra dinner Sat. Mauger academy Sunday, Peter Craven memorial meeting Monday night. I think I might have died and gone to speedway heaven. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehone Posted February 28, 2005 Report Share Posted February 28, 2005 Gordon & Margaret are a great couple ... they don't go to speedway too often these days but i understand they will be at Belle Vue with Ivan at the Peter Craven Memorial. i have stayed with them and their son Paul in the past but only get to see them at the VSRA meal these days. should really try and persuade my dad to become a member and post on this forum ... he used to travel all over the place with Ivan when he first came over in the late 50s and has loads of stories ... also my dad was a groundsman at Plough Lane in the 60s when the Wimbledon riders used to spend a lot of time at the stadium hanging around the workshop etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehone Posted February 28, 2005 Report Share Posted February 28, 2005 I am hoping to get to the Belle Vue training session on the Sunday Steve. Briggo party Friday night. Vsra dinner Sat. Mauger academy Sunday, Peter Craven memorial meeting Monday night. I think I might have died and gone to speedway heaven. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> i'm sure you'll have a great time at all of them Jim .... very envious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jim Blanchard Posted February 28, 2005 Report Share Posted February 28, 2005 i'm sure you'll have a great time at all of them Jim .... very envious. You say that Steve, but I am a bit concerned I might be labelled a serial binge drinker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehone Posted March 1, 2005 Report Share Posted March 1, 2005 who cares!!! enjoy yourself ... and i won't be at the VSRA this year to take pictures of you on the dance floor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WATigerman Posted March 1, 2005 Report Share Posted March 1, 2005 (edited) HERE when Ivan rode at Canterbury all those years ago <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Sorry can't help myself here - I know no-one's asked the question but I'll have a shout at answering it anyway: L-R: Ted Hubbard, Dave Gooderham, Ivan Mauger, ?? (Barry Thomas?? - Shazzy help please!), Tony Featherstone, no idea (Bob Kilby??) Edited March 1, 2005 by WATigerman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frigbo Posted March 1, 2005 Report Share Posted March 1, 2005 HERE when Ivan rode at Canterbury all those years ago <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Sorry can't help myself here - I know no-one's asked the question but I'll have a shout at answering it anyway: L-R: Ted Hubbard, Dave Gooderham, Ivan Mauger, ?? (Barry Thomas?? - Shazzy help please!), Tony Featherstone, no idea (Bob Kilby??) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> My guess would be: Ted Hubbard, Dave Gooderham, Ivan Mauger, Ian Fletcher, Tony Featherstone and Mick Fishwick....Canterbury v Bradford 1974!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.