"He Came, He Saw, He Conquered",............Who?,......None other than 3 times World Speedway Champion, Erik Gundersen, who travelled over from his home in  Denmark to be Guest of Honour at the World Speedway Riders' Association Dinner at the Leicester Marriott Hotel last Saturday. 

Erik was a very popular choice of guest and everyone was delighted that he agreed to make the effort to come over from Denmark for the event. As he no longer likes flying, Erik made the long trip by car and a very rough ferry ride with his former Danish mechanic and, arriving at the docks in Harwich, he said that it was, " Like a trip down memory lane" for him. 

As usual, there were the 'Pre-Dinner Drinks' in the "Scottish Suite" before the guests staggered down to the dining room, suitably "oiled"! 

At the Dinner, Erik Gundersen was given a standing ovation by the 300 guests as he walked, with the aid of a crutch, to take his place at the top table, where our Association Chaplain, The Rev. Michael Whawell, said Grace and read out the list of sadly departed members before we sat down for our excellent 3-course meal  and  the handing over of the Chain of Office from 2009 President, Terry Stone to the new President, former Crewe star, Peter Saunders.

Following speeches from WSRA Secretary, Vic White, who was struggling with a broken rib, Pete Seaton and the new WSRA President for 2010, Pete Saunders,  it was time to sit back and listen to the words of wisdom from our Guest of Honour, Erik Gundersen.

Relating to his 'Trip Down Memory Lane', Erik said that it was like turning the clock back to when he had arrived in this country as a raw 18 year-old seeking fame and fortune in British Speedway. Remembering his first trial at Cradley Heath, Erik said,  "It was like  a dream come true to  race in Britain" as he rode lap after lap under the watchful eye of promoter, Dan McCormack. McCormack obviously liked what he saw, but called  hard-riding Kiwi , Bruce Cribb over and said, "Go out with young Erik and push him hard to go faster". Cribbie and the young Dane put in about 12 laps before pulling into the pits. "Why didn't you push him harder?" said an angry Dan McCormack. "I did, but I couldn't catch the little Booga!" replied Cribbie. And a star was born.

 Since his career-ending and life-threatening crash at Bradford in 1989, Erik has continued his love affair with Speedway, and is heavily involved with the training of Denmark's youth riders to keep the conveyor belt of young Danes chasing World Championship dreams.

He also paid tribute to Eric and Diane Boocock who looked after Erik's wife, Hella when he was in intensive care at Pinderfields Hospital.  

Having made so many friends during his time racing in the U.K., he then made an outstanding offer to British Speedway that he would come over from Denmark to help with training British youngsters in a UK Youth programme, with a message to British Speedway, saying,........."I am ready when you are!"

Erik received another standing ovation and, when I asked him later how he managed his speech with looking at any notes, he said,..."It came from the heart".  Very true. 

Apart from Erik's journey from Denmark, and former Exeter star, Vaclav Verner and JRM boss, Evzan Erban who drove over from the Czech Republic,plus the "Swally Tours" from North of The Border, the prize (if there was one|) for the 'Furthest Travelled Guest', must go to former journalist, Peter Lipscombe who made the long trip over from his home in Thailand. No wonder we are called the WORLD Speedway Riders' Association!

 Good to see "World Cup Willie", Ray Wilson attending the Dinner and catching up with his former England team mates, Malcolm Simmons, Trevor Hedge, Rick France, John Hart, Eric Broadbelt and Jeremy Doncaster, but one noticeable absentee was double World Champion, Freddie Williams who has attended every VSRA/WSRA Dinner over the years.. Fred had a good reason for missing out this year as his eldest daughter, Jane, an accomplished horsewoman was receiving a special award for her record number of wins using a different kind of horsepower from her famous father.

Kiwi World Champion, Barry Briggs was also there, fresh from collecting a cheque from the Football Association  for his ride around Wembley during the England v Egypt International and also winning "The Rider Cup", the annual WSRA Golf Tournament . Briggo won by using the new putter he has invented, and despite protests from his opponents about the legality of the putter, he produced paperwork to show that it had been approved by the Golf Association, so the ageless Kiwi added yet another title to his impressive list. I wonder if he uses a Briggo Dirt Deflector on the putter in bad weather? 

Briggo was very surprised to receive a couple of large cheques whilst he was on the dance floor. No, it wasn't as reward for his dancing, but sponsorship money for "The Ride", his great adventure to raise money for our wheelchair-bound ex-riders.

The Speedway Museum also benefited by receiving a cheque from Alan Hodkinson of Viking Video who has made a video all about the making of that great Speedway movie, "Once A Jolly Swagman". Thanks, Alan, that will go towards the Extension Fund to increase the size of the Museum. 

And so, with a new WSRA President in Pete Saunders "crowned", and so many famous Speedway legends in attendance, the night still belonged to a little Dane with a big heart, Erik Gundersen,.............'He Came, He Saw, He Conquered' !

Bert Harkins"

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