Ivan Mauger RIP



RIP,

Part of my childhood with Ole Olsen, Hans Nielsen, Erik Gundersen, Bruce Penhall and some eastern europeans I don't recall.

Thoughts with everybody who was close to him
 
RIP. Like a couple of posters above, I largely remember him from World of Sport along with a few other iconic names and the occasional plucky Brit (in fairness, the plucky Brits won the title a couple of times in that era). As I recall, the world championship was a very different format back then to what it is now. Series of qualifying events leading up to the big final whereas now it's a Grand Prix series of 12 rounds, half of which seem to be held in Poland.
 
Consummate professional speedway rider. Not only was his riding technique economical and efficient, but his attention to preparation and maintenance of his bikes was assiduous.

He was 79 and died after a battle with dementia. Bloody shame.
 
Aye used to like the speedway on grandstand when i was a kid and as names go he was the top lad. Rip.
Also used to love the scrambling on there too.
 
He always seemed to get a mention on Tyne Tees Sport in the early eighties when they showed 45 seconds of the Newcastle Lada Diamonds Speedway team.

His son Kym was in the team then..
 
RIP. Like a couple of posters above, I largely remember him from World of Sport along with a few other iconic names and the occasional plucky Brit (in fairness, the plucky Brits won the title a couple of times in that era). As I recall, the world championship was a very different format back then to what it is now. Series of qualifying events leading up to the big final whereas now it's a Grand Prix series of 12 rounds, half of which seem to be held in Poland.

I would say that Peter Collins was more than a plucky Brit. He was a thrilling rider and previous to him, Peter Craven would certainly have gone on to be a speedway megastar had he not died after a freak racing accident aged 29!
 
I would say that Peter Collins was more than a plucky Brit. He was a thrilling rider and previous to him, Peter Craven would certainly have gone on to be a speedway megastar had he not died after a freak racing accident aged 29!

I know. I was being ironic. In the 60s, 70s and early 80s, the UK did pretty well in the world champs. Craven was a tad before my time but both Peter Collins and Michael Lee won the title and Gordon Kennett, Malcolm Simmons, Dave Jessup and Les Collins came close. Speedway seemed to be a lot more high profil;e back then. We've had the odd successful rider since (including a couple of champions) but until Tai Wooffinden recently, we've not had a consistent top 3 contender for a long time.
 
RIP Ivan.
Was a big speedway fan growing up, went to Teesside on Thursday nights. Ivan was just at the end of his dominant years when we started going. Think he rode for Hull who were in the league above Teeside around this time.
 
Sure he had his bike gold Plated ( just checked ) as a momento of his world championships. Saw it once at the Diamonds one night.
RIP
 
R.I.P. Ivan.
Brilliant rider and a true legend of the speedway world.
He made his name after Newcastle riding for Belle Vue in the late 60's and throughout the 70's when he won a few of his world titles.I think he went on to ride for Exeter after that.
His big pals who were also Kiwi's were Ronnie Moore and Barry Briggs. Those two were great riders too.
 
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We used to go to Brough Park most Summer Monday evenings when I was a nipper. Ivan Mauger left in 1968 and won the first of his world titles when a Diamond although he transferred straight after to join Belle Vue.

That was when the "old" Brough - with a big stand on the back straight - was more or less full for each meeting; people came from all over and it was a great atmosphere. I remember people from Sunderland and Shields and then when Newcastle closed a lot of the same faces went to watch Sunderland when it opened, although sadly not enough and it didn't last too long.

Crowds now at Brough are pitiful in comparison (although it's quality not quantity!)
 
I used to go to Sunderland dog track in the early 70's when the Sunderland Stars rode there.
It was a great time.
I remember riders like George Barclay, Jack Millen, Dave Gatenby being there.

They were great days.

Jack Millen was a showman of the sort very much lacking today. As a young teenager I was very much in awe.

1973 was a topper year with the Cup win and a very competitive speedway team. In fact iirc the speedway team rode round the pitch at Roker that season to promote themselves.
 
I saw him a few times at Brough. Would have been near the end of his time there, maybe 1967 - ish. I wasn't a speedway fan, but a friend was and we went and had a good night a few times. Ole Olson as mentioned must have been around that time, as his name is also familiar. Did someone say he was 79 ? Decent innings.
 

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