IVAN MAUGER
By: Andy McGechan, bikesportnz.com
T
he sporting world is mourning the passing
of Kiwi speedway legend Ivan Mauger, who
died on April 16, aged 78. Mauger, who won
six individual world championships, in addition to
pairs and teams world titles, had been suffering
for several years from a form of dementia.
Mauger was born in New Zealand in 1939 and rode
for several British teams, including the Wimbledon
Dons, Newcastle Diamonds, Belle Vue Aces, Exeter
Falcons, and the Hull Vikings. He was inducted into
the New Zealand Speedway Hall of Fame in 2005.
Mauger was one of the original New Zealand
Sports Hall of Fame inductees in 1990 and the
first to be named in the Motorcycling New
Zealand Hall of Fame in 2004. He collected
similar awards in Europe and ranks as one of
New Zealand’s most decorated sportsmen.
During a record-breaking career, Mauger won
the individual Speedway World Championship
in 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1977 and 1979. He was
runner-up in 1971, 1973 and 1974, and third in 1967.
Representing New Zealand, Mauger was
Speedway World Pairs Champion in 1969
and 1970. He was runner up in 1971, 1972,
1978 and 1981. He also won the Speedway
World Team Cup Championship in 1979.
In 1976 Mauger was awarded an MBE,
followed by an OBE in 1989. He set the world
speedway record of 144.666 km/h at this
hometown 185-metre Alexandra Park circuit
in February 1986 and he is pictured above
with his record-breaking 500cc bike.
He last raced in Adelaide in 1986 and spent
his retirement years on the Gold Coast with
his family. Mauger is survived by his wife, Raye,
son Kym and daughters Debbie and Julie.
KIWI RIDER 19