RIP Ivan Mauger

[rowan]

Speedway Great & Great uncle of All Blacks Aaron and Nathan Mauger.

Tributes are flowing for Kiwi speedway champion Ivan Mauger, who has passed away at the age of 78.

Mauger who won six world championships died early this morning on the Gold Coast.

He had been suffering for several years from a form of dementia.

Speedway New Zealand CEO John McCallum said Mauger was recognised as the greatest speedway racer of all time.

"He was a true New Zealand sporting Icon," said McCallum.

Born in Christchurch in 1939, Mauger rode for several British teams, including Wimbledon Dons, Newcastle Diamonds, Belle Vue Aces, Exeter Falcons, and the Hull Vikings.

He was six times world champion, three times world Long track Champion, twice Australasian champion in 1997 and 1981 and four times champion in New Zealand.

He was also selected to carry the Olympic Torch at the Sydney Games and was awarded an OBE and MBE.

Mauger last raced in Adelaide in 1986 and spent his retirement years in Queensland with his family.

[Banquo]

Mauger was a legend over here. RIP.

[rowan]

I'm no speedway fan but he was a household name in NZ when I was growing up there. I believe we are/were also related in some distant convoluted way, though not by bloodlines. One of my nieces is a second cousin once removed of one of his nephews or something like that.