Ivan Mauger - RIP

I've still got my programmes and autograph books from my late 70's Speedway life.
Was a great sport. Not the same now.

Mauger, and Briggs were excellent.

RIP

I remember him well along with the likes of Peter Collins and the American rider Bruce Penhall, speedway was very popular back in the day. They used to have meets at Hackney and Wimbledon dog tracks if I remember correctly.

Eastbourne Speedway, along with the rest of the speedway world, is saddened to learn of the death of Ivan Mauger.

Ivan, in his formative years in England in the 1950s, came to Arlington as a rookie, low on confidence and with poor equipment.

Charles Dugard encouraged the young Kiwi, helped him sort out his bike and soon Mauger was scoring points.

He made his debut for the Eagles in 1958 and by the end of the season was track record holder.

Mauger died this morning, aged 78. He was six times world speedway champion – 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1977 and 1979. He’s the only rider in the sport’s history to have won three in a row and finished on the podium every year from 1967 to 1974.

He was also world long track champion three times.

Eastbourne Speedway and the Dugards send their condolences to the family.

Ivan Mauger and Ole Olsen were probably the top two riders in the late 1970's, when I was hooked on the sport.  Brings back happy memories of that time, travelling around the country following the Ipswich Witches.

RIP Ivan Mauger.

Make it a date, Friday at 8.
The motto of Hackney Speedway.

Happy days.
Well, to be fair, not especially happy days, but really good evenings.

RIP remember him well ,Do you remember Barrys Briggs crash at Wembley Study He lost a finger was lucky that was all he lost

Dave Lanning was the commentator amongst others, I was never really "into" speedway as I was far more interested in the cherries but I did go on the odd occasion and it was a fun night out out.

No but I do remember other bad knocks and though I, am glad to say, wasn't there. A few riders being killed.

I only ever went to Wembley once - for the world final in 1975, as a kid - I knew 2 of my mates would be there somewhere and amazingly I found them, in a crowd of 100,000!
Only now looking back do I realise what a dodgy night out that was for a lone 14 year old. I don't reckon parents would let their kids of that age travel alone right across London these days.

Ole Olsen won, Michanek was 2nd I think.

I wonder if my tatty old autograph book is worth anything. Just about every top speedway rider of the day signed it.

One of the oddest items in my vast vinyl collection is an album recording of the 1974 World speedway final won by Anders Michanek .

Saw him at The Boulevard for Hull Vikings another sporting legend from my youth gone.