Split

Yes, that's quite true and it's strange that a Dane, Morian Hansen rode in the first ever World Final in1936.

Just look at the result of the 1949 World Final with not only an English World Champion but 6 Englishmen in the top 7. Not much chance of that ever happening again.

I recall seeing Stefan Kwoczala ride at New Cross. He was a world class rider who came 7th in the 1960 world final. I believe a serious injury cut his career short.

Gote Nordin was unquestionably a truly world class rider and formed part of Sweden’s 1-2-3 in the world final in 1961. In fact his record in world championships, world team cups etc. is impressive and he was undoubtedly one of the world’s top riders in the 60’s He rode for Wimbledon for a short while so I got to see him regularly and remember him as an elegant stylist with immaculate equipment. There was much talk in those days of his reluctance to ride in Britain because he owned a successful newsagent’s business in Sweden. I would think it highly likely that he ran that business full time when he retired from speedway racing.

How about Ray Wicket and Billy Bales?

Traitor. How about a Rangers pairing such as Tom Farndon and anyone?

The best gater I ever saw was the under-rated Peter Moore.

Whenever the Great Danes are compared its always Nielsen, Olsen and Gundersen that are mentioned. There was however another truly world class Danish rider, Arne Pander who remains almost forgotten. But for a serious injury early in his career he would surely be alongside his three illustrious countrymen. Although he continued to compete at a fairly high level in the National League back in the 60s he never realised the potential that could have made him Denmarks first world champion. Yes, he was that good!

There was great rivalry between teammates Ivor Brown and Harry Bastable at Cradley Heath in the early 60’s. The two even went as far as wearing a white top over their leathers to see who could keep it cleanest.

Many of the older readers will remember the “Big Five” of the 60’s being 5 world class riders who seemed to be in a class of their own. Incredibly in the 1962 world final 4 of these riders met in heat 6 with Ronnie Moore being the odd man out. Barry Briggs won from Peter Craven (it was his only defeat and he became World champion that night) with Björn Knutsson third and the great Ove Fundin last.

Maybe I missed it in all these posts but I can’t see any mention of Jack Parker in this thread. His best performances in worlds finals were 2nd (1949), 4th (1937) 5th (1951) and 6th (1950). Thank you Wikipedia! He almost certainly would have been world Champion at least once if the competition had been held during the war years. Of the British riders I’ve seen, Peter Craven was head and shoulders above the rest. I was privileged to see him win his second world title at Wembley in 1962.

I think we can also add Geoff Mardon to that list as he also rode for the Saints around that time.

Cyril Roger, Dick Bradley, Chum Taylor and Olle Nygren all rode for Southampton and I think they could have all appeared in the same team in the early 60's. It's strange that they all appear in this list.

I recall seeing a mechanics’ race in the second half of a meeting at Wimbledon back in the 60’s where I think the time in the programme was printed as “Hours, Minutes, Seconds”

It was late in the season and might have been the last match that year. I do remember it was pouring with rain but racing went ahead. I now live in Johannesburg by the way but haven’t bumped into Doug Davies yet.

I was also there - what a night!

Kid Bodie had a riding style very similar to a certain Howard Cole.

Hello to all Rangers fans! I’ve just discovered this site and hope to be a regular contributor from now on. The first speedway match I ever saw was New Cross v. Wimbledon in 1960. I attended meetings regularly both in the National and Provincial league days. I was then forced to “support“ arch rivals Wimbledon when the track closed down.