1956 Individual Speedway World Championship

11th edition of the World motorcycle speedway championship

1956 Individual Speedway World Championship

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1957

The 1956 Individual Speedway World Championship was the 11th edition of the official World Championship to determine the world champion rider.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

The World final was sponsored by the Sunday Dispatch and was televised live.[7] Despite being televised a crowd of 65,000 saw the first Scandinavian winner in 23 year old Ove Fundin from Sweden.[8][9]

## Qualification

[edit]

Qualification started in 1955.[10][11]

### Stage 1

[edit]

#### Norwegian qualification

[edit]

The October 1955 Norwegian final was cancelled due to bad weather, resulting in riders being seeded to Nordic round

#### Finnish round

[edit]

* 23 October 1955
* Helsinki Velodrome, Helsinki
* First 7 (+seeded riders) to 1956 Nordic round

Pos. | Rider | Points

|
|

1 | Kauko Jousanen | 15
2 | Antti Pajari | 14
3 | Simo Ylänen | 11
4 | Janne Rihkajrvi | 11
5 | Aulis Tuominen | 10
6 | Pertti Mikkola | 9
7 | Erkki Ala Sippola | 9
8 | Paavo Mikkola | 7
9 | Pekka Tenko | 7
10 | Raimo Kivinen | 6
11 | Toimi Koskela | 4
12 | Nils Staaf | 4
13 | Reino Niemi | 4
14 | Pentti Paajanen | 3
15 | Kalevi Lahtinen | 3
16 | Antti Mattila | 2

#### Swedish round

[edit]

* 27 April 1956
* Hammarby IP, Stockholm
* Top 6 to Nordic round

| Pos. | Rider | Points

|
|

1 | Dan Forsberg | 14
2 | Ulf Ericsson | 13
3 | Bernt Nilsson | 13
4 | Birger Forsberg | 11
5 | Lars Pettersson | 11
6 | Per-Tage Svensson | 9
7 | Sune Karlsson | 8
8 | Sven Fahlén | 8
9 | Bert Lindarw | 7
10 | Olle Segerström | 6
11 | Rune Claesson | 6
12 | Bengt Eriksson | 6
13 | Göte Nordin | 5
14 | Alf Jonsson | 2
15 | Thorsten Carlsson | 2
16 | Thorvald Karlsson | 0

* 29 April 1956
* Målilla Motorbana, Målilla
* Top 6 to Nordic round

| Pos. | Rider | Points

|
|

1 | Rune Sörmander | 15
2 | Olle Andersson II | 13
3 | Göran Norlén | 11
4 | Stig Pramberg | 11
5 | Allan Nilsson | 10
6 | Per-Olof Söderman | 10
7 | Olle Heyman | 9
8 | Bertil Carlsson II | 8
9 | Kaj Forsberg | 7
10 | Joel Jansson | 6
11 | Roger Forsberg | 6
12 | Evert Andersson | 5
13 | Olle Andersson I | 5
14 | Bengt Gustafsson | 2
15 | Per Sjöholm | 1
16 | Åke Andersson | 1
17 | Bo Sandin | 0

### Stage 2

[edit]

#### Nordic round

[edit]

* 25 May 1956
* Dælenenga idrettspark, Oslo
* Top 8 to Nordic final

| Pos. | Rider | Points

|
|

1 | Henry Andersen | 14
2 | Göran Norlén | 11
3 | Rune Sörmander | 11
4 | Reidar Kristoffersen | 11
5 | Olle Andersson II | 11
6 | Per-Olof Söderman | 10
7 | Stig Pramberg | 10
8 | Aage Hansen | 9
9 | Antti Pajari | 9
10 | Jörgen Stabirk | 5
11 | Werner Lorentzen | 5
12 | Roger Steen | 4
13 | Torbjörn Ludvigsen | 4
14 | Erling Cae | 2
15 | Odd Johansen | 2
16 | Erhard Fisker | 2

* 27 May 1956
* Helsinki Velodrome, Helsinki
* Top 8 to Nordic final

| Pos. | Rider | Points

|
|

1 | Bernt Nilsson | 13
2 | Ulf Ericsson | 13
3 | Birger Forsberg | 12
4 | Lars Pettersson | 11
5 | Rolf Westerberg | 11
6 | Dan Forsberg | 10
7 | Kaukko Jousanen | 9
8 | Simo Ylänen | 9
9 | Per-Tage Svensson | 8
10 | Aulis Tuominen | 8
11 | Erkki Ala-Sippola | 4
12 | Juha Rihkajärvi | 4
13 | Esko Koponen | 3
14 | Tore Mellby | 2
15 | Kalevi Lathinen | 2
16 | Pertti Mikkola | 0

#### Continental round

[edit]

* 29 April 1956
* Army Stadium, Warsaw
* Top 8 to Continental final

| Pos. | Rider | Points

|
|

1 | Florian Kapala | 13
2 | Edward Kupczynski | 12
3 | Janusz Suchecki | 11
4 | Edmund Nazimek | 11
5 | Marian Kaiser | 11
6 | Hugo Rosak | 10
7 | Tadeusz Teodorowicz | 10
8 | Mieczyslaw Polukard | 10
9 | Wlodzimierz Szwendrowski | 10
10 | Josef Kysilka | 5
11 | Richard Janicek | 4
12 | Rudolf Havelka | 4
13 | Miloslav Špinka | 4
14 | Karel Polak | 4
15 | Jaroslav Machac | 1
16 | Alois Jarolim | 0

* 1 May 1956
* Altes Stadion Abensberg, Abensberg
* Top 8 to Continental final

| Pos. | Rider | Points

|
|

1 | Josef Hofmeister | 15
2 | Josef Siedl | 14
3 | Andrzej Krzesiński | 13
4 | Albin Siegl |
5 | Paul Cardang |
6 | Sebastian Wiesent |
7 | Alfred Aberl |
8 | Fritz Dirtl |
9 | Josef Kamper |

### Stage 3

[edit]

#### British & Commonwealth round

[edit]

* Top 21 qualify for Championship round.[12]

Date  | Venue  | Winner

|
|

10 July | Banister Court Stadium | Ian Williams
12 July | Foxhall Stadium | Ken McKinlay
12 July | Oxford Stadium | Howdy Byford
13 July | Leicester Stadium | Dick Bradley
14 July | Rayleigh Weir Stadium | Gerald Jackson
25 July | Brandon Stadium | Bert Edwards
25 July | Abbey Stadium | Bob Roger

#### Nordic Final

[edit]

* 8 June 1956
* Ryd Motorstadion, Linköping
* First 7 to European final

Pos. | Rider | Points

|
|

1 |  Dan Forsberg | 15
2 |  Ulf Ericsson | 14
3 |  Rune Sörmander | 13
4 |  Bernt Nilsson | 12
5 |  Göran Norlén | 11
6 |  Per Olof Söderman | 9
7 |  Birger Forsberg | 9
8 |  Ole Andersson | 7
9 |  Per Tage Svensson | 6
10 |  Aage Hansen | 5
11 |  Rolf Westerberg | 5
12 |  Stig Pramberg | 3
13 |  Lars Pettersson | 1
14 |  Antti Pajari | 1
15 |  Simo Ylänen | 0
16 |  Reidar Kristoffersen | dnr
17 |  Kaukko Jousanen | dnr

#### Continental Final

[edit]

Fritz Dirtl was tragically killed competing in the Continental final. He was involved in a crash with fellow Austrian rider Josef Kamper and the fell into the path of Mieczysław Połukard.[13]

* 10 June 1956
* Niederrheinstadion, Oberhausen
* First 7 to European Final

Pos. | Rider | Points

|
|

1 |  Kjell Carlsson | 14
2 |  Josef Seidl | 14
3 |  Andrzej Krzesiński | 11
4 |  Włodzimierz Szwendrowski | 10
5 |  Tadeusz Teodorowicz | 10
6 |  Edward Kupczyński | 9
7 |  Florian Kapała | 9
8 |  Mieczysław Połukard | 9
9 |  Albin Siegl | 7
10 |  Hugo Rosák | 7
11 |  Josef Hofmeister | 5
12 |  Paul Cardang | 5
13 |  Sebastian Wiesent | 5
14 |  Alfred Aberl | 2
15 |  Fritz Dirtl | 0
16 |  Josef Kamper | 0
17 |  Janusz Suchecki | dnr
18 |  Edmund Nazimek | dnr
19 |  Marian Kaiser | dnr

### Stage 4

[edit]

#### Championship Round

[edit]

* Top 11 qualify, 1 reserve for World final

Date  | Venue  | Winner

|
|

20 August | Wimbledon Stadium | Ronnie Moore
22 August | Wimborne Road | Jack Biggs
23 August | Wembley Stadium | Brian Crutcher
25 August | Hyde Road Stadium | Brian Crutcher
29 August | Odsal Stadium | Barry Briggs
31 August | Perry Barr Stadium | Alan Hunt / Doug Davies
1 September | The Firs Stadium | Gerry Hussey

* (Peter Craven seeded to World final)

Scores
First 11 to World final + 1 reserve

| Pos. | Rider | Total pts

|
|

1 |  Brian Crutcher | 29
2 |  Ronnie Moore | 27
3 |  Gerry Hussey | 26
4 |  Alan Hunt | 26
5 |  Ken McKinlay | 26
6 |  Doug Davies | 25
7 |  Barry Briggs | 25
8 |  Arthur Forrest | 25
9 |  Dick Fisher | 24
10 |  Eric Boothroyd | 24
11 |  Peter Moore | 23
12 |  Jack Biggs | 23
13 |  Nigel Boocock | 23
14 |  Aub Lawson | 22
15 |  Split Waterman | 22
16 |  Ron How | 20
17 |  Ron Johnston | 18
18 |  Les McGillivray | 17
19 |  Bob Roger | 17
20 |  Billy Bales | 17
21 |  Bob Duckworth | 17
22 |  Guy Allott | 17
23 |  Gerald Jackson | 16
24 |  Eric French | 14
25 |  Peter Williams | 14
26 |  Ron Clarke | 14
27 |  Bert Edwards | 13
28 |  Ken Middleditch | 13
29 |  Harry Bastable | 13
| Pos. | Rider | Total pts

|
|

30 |  Cyril Roger | 12
31 |  Bert Roger | 12
32 |  Ray Cresp | 12
33 |  Ken Sharples | 12
34 |  Phil Clarke | 11
35 |  Cyril Maidment | 10
36 |  Jim Tolley | 10
37 |  Dick Bradley | 9
38 |  Alby Golden | 9
39 |  Arthur Wright | 9
40 |  George White | 8
41 |  Howdy Byford | 8
42 |  Ronnie Genz | 8
43 |  Bob Sharp | 8
44 |  Trevor Redmond | 7
45 |  Reg Trott | 6
46 |  Pete Lansdale | 6
47 |  Jack Geran | 5
48 |  Junior Bainbridge | 5
49 |  Bill Holden | 4
50 |  Ron Mountford | 4
51 |  Allan Kidd | 4
52 |  Cyril Brine | 4
53 |  Barry East | 3
54 |  Neil Mortimer | 2
55 |  Gordon McGregor | 2
56 |  Alf Hagon | 2
57 |  Derek Tailby | 2
58 |  Bill Andrew | 1

#### European Final

[edit]

* 8 July 1956
* Bislett Stadium, Oslo
* First 4 to World final plus 1 reserve[14]

Pos. | Rider | Total

|
|

1 |  Ove Fundin | 15
2 |  Per Olof Söderman | 13
3 |  Ole Andersson | 12
4 |  Ulf Ericsson | 11
5 |  Rune Sörmander | 10
6 |  Henry Andersen | 8
7 |  Florian Kapała | 8
8 |  Edward Kupczyński | 7
9 |  Göran Norlén | 7
10 |  Dan Forsberg | 6
11 |  Birger Forsberg | 5
12 |  Bernt Nilsson | 4
13 |  Włodzimierz Szwendrowski | 2
14 |  Mieczysław Połukard | 2
15 |  Marian Kaiser | 2
16 |  Tadeusz Teodorowicz | 2

## World final

[edit]

* 22 September 1956
* Wembley Stadium, London[15]

Pos. | Rider | Heat Scores | Total

|
|
|

1 |  Ove Fundin | (1,3,3,3,3) | 13
2 |  Ronnie Moore | (2,2,2,3,3) | 12
3 |  Arthur Forrest | (3,1,3,2,2) | 11+3
4 |  Peter Craven | (3,1,2,2,3) | 11+2
5 |  Ken McKinlay | (2,2,3,3,0) | 10
6 |  Per Olof Söderman | (0,3,2,2,3) | 10
7 |  Barry Briggs | (3,2,1,3,1) | 10
8 |  Brian Crutcher | (1,3,3,0,2) | 9
9 |  Peter Moore | (2,1,1,2,2) | 8
10 |  Eric Boothroyd | (2,3,1,1,0) | 7
11 |  Alan Hunt | (3,0,1,1,1) | 6
12 |  Dick Fisher | (0,0,2,1,2) | 5
13 |  Doug Davies | (1,2,0,0,1) | 4
14 |  Ole Andersson | (1,1,0,0,0) | 2
15 |  Ulf Ericsson | (0,0,0,1,1) | 2
16 |  Gerry Hussey | (0,0,0,0,0) | 0
R1 |  Rune Sörmander | absent | \-
R2 |  Jack Biggs | did not ride | \-
R3 |  Nigel Boocock | did not ride | \-

### Classification

[edit]

Placing  | Rider  | Total  | 1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | 8  | 9  | 10  | 11  | 12  | 13  | 14  | 15  | 16  | 17  | 18  | 19  | 20  | Pts  | Pos

|
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|
|
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|
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1  |  (4) Ove Fundin | 13  | 1  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3  |  |  |  | 3  |  |  |  | 3  |  |  |  | 3  | 13  | 1
2  |  (3) Ronnie Moore | 12  | 2  |  |  |  |  |  | 2  |  |  |  | 2  |  |  |  | 3  |  |  |  | 3  |  | 12  | 2
3  |  (5) Arthur Forrest | 11+3  |  | 3  |  |  | 1  |  |  |  |  | 3  |  |  |  |  | 2  |  |  |  |  | 2  | 11  | 3
4  |  (2) Peter Craven | 11+2  | 3  |  |  |  |  | 1  |  |  |  | 2  |  |  |  | 2  |  |  |  | 3  |  |  | 11  | 4
5  |  (8) Ken McKinlay | 10  |  | 2  |  |  |  |  |  | 2  |  |  | 3  |  |  | 3  |  |  | 0  |  |  |  | 10  | 5
6  |  (1) Per Olof Söderman | 10  | 0  |  |  |  | 3  |  |  |  | 2  |  |  |  | 2  |  |  |  | 3  |  |  |  | 10  | 6
7  |  (14) Barry Briggs | 10  |  |  |  | 3  |  | 2  |  |  |  |  | 1  |  | 3  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1  | 10  | 7
8  |  (6) Brian Crutcher | 9  |  | 1  |  |  |  | 3  |  |  | 3  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0  |  |  | 2  |  | 9  | 8
9  |  (15) Peter Moore | 8  |  |  |  | 2  |  |  | 1  |  |  | 1  |  |  |  |  |  | 2  | 2  |  |  |  | 8  | 9
10  |  (11) Eric Boothroyd | 7  |  |  | 2  |  |  |  | 3  |  | 1  |  |  |  |  | 1  |  |  |  |  |  | 0  | 7  | 10
11  |  (10) Alan Hunt | 6  |  |  | 3  |  |  | 0  |  |  |  |  |  | 1  |  |  | 1  |  | 1  |  |  |  | 6  | 11
12  |  (7) Dick Fisher | 5  |  | 0  |  |  |  |  | 0  |  |  |  |  | 2  | 1  |  |  |  |  | 2  |  |  | 5  | 12
13  |  (13) Doug Davies | 4  |  |  |  | 1  | 2  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0  |  | 0  |  |  |  |  | 1  |  | 4  | 13
14  |  (12) Ole Andersson | 2  |  |  | 1  |  |  |  |  | 1  |  | 0  |  |  | 0  |  |  |  |  |  | 0  |  | 2  | 14
15  |  (9) Ulf Ericsson | 2  |  |  | 0  |  | 0  |  |  |  |  |  | 0  |  |  |  |  | 1  |  | 1  |  |  | 2  | 15
16  |  (16) Gerry Hussey | 0  |  |  |  | 0  |  |  |  | 0  | 0  |  |  |  |  |  | 0  |  |  | 0  |  |  | 0  | 16
|  (17) Jack Biggs | 0  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0  |
|  (18) Nigel Boocock | 0  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0  |
Placing  | Rider  | Total  | 1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | 8  | 9  | 10  | 11  | 12  | 13  | 14  | 15  | 16  | 17  | 18  | 19  | 20 | Pts  | Pos

m \- exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance •  t \- exclusion for touching the tapes •  x \- other exclusion •  e \- retired or mechanical failure •  f \- fell •  ns \- non-starter •  nc \- non-classify

gate A - inside  | gate B  | gate C  | gate D - outside

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## References

[edit]

1. ^ Oakes, Peter (1981). 1981 Speedway Yearbook. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. pp. 20–21\. ISBN 0-86215-017-5.20-21&rft.pub=Studio+Publications+(Ipswich)+Ltd&rft.date=1981&rft.isbn=0-86215-017-5&rft.aulast=Oakes&rft.aufirst=Peter&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:1956+Individual+Speedway+World+Championship" class="Z3988">
2. ^ "World Championship 1936–1994". Edinburgh Speedway. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
3. ^ "WORLD FINALS 1936–1994" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
4. ^ "HISTORY SPEEDWAY and LONGTRACK". Speedway.org. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
5. ^ "Speedway riders, history and results". wwosbackup. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
6. ^ "WORLD INDIVIDUAL FINAL – RIDER INDEX". British Speedway. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
7. ^ "Craven defends title". Liverpool Echo. 20 September 1956. Retrieved 6 September 2024 - via British Newspaper Archive.
8. ^ "Fundin is champ". Sunday Mirror. 23 September 1956. Retrieved 8 September 2024 - via British Newspaper Archive.
9. ^ "TV millions dee a great night of sport". Weekly Dispatch London. 23 September 1956. Retrieved 6 July 2021 - via British Newspaper Archive.
10. ^ "1956 World Championship". Metal Speedway. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
11. ^ "1956 World Championship". Speedway.org. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
12. ^ "Speedway Stars' Test". Weekly Dispatch (London). 1 July 1956. Retrieved 13 January 2024 - via British Newspaper Archive.
13. ^ "Description". The Fast Lane. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
14. ^ "1956". Speedway.org. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
15. ^ Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5

* v
* t
* e

Individual Speedway World Championship and Speedway Grand Prix seasons

Speedway World Championship|

* 1936
* 1937
* 1938
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* 1949
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* 1956
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Speedway Grand Prix (SGP)|

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See also|

* Medalists
* Medal Classification
* Grands Prix
* SGP riders
* Super Prix
* SGP Statistics

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