 | |
| Born | 1 June 1951[1] Stockholm, Sweden |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Swedish |
| Career history | |
| Sweden | |
| 1972 | Stjärnorna |
| 1973–1982 | Getingarna |
| Great Britain | |
| 1973, 1976–1985 | King's Lynn Stars |
| 1975 | Oxford Rebels |
| 1976 | White City Rebels |
| 1986–1988 | Swindon Robins |
| 1989–1990, 1992–1995 | Long Eaton Invaders |
| 1991 | Peterborough Panthers |
| 1991 | Hackney Hawks |
| 1992 | Milton Keynes Knights |
| Individual honours | |
| 1973 | Swedish Junior Championship silver |
| Team honours | |
| 1974, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981 | Allsvenskan Champion |
| 1982 | Elitserien Champion |
| 1975 | Midland Cup winner |
| 1977 | British League KO Cup Winner |
| 1980 | Gauntlet Gold Cup |
John Rickard Hellsén, also known as Richard Hellsen during his speedway career, is a Swedish former speedway rider. He earned 22 caps for the Sweden national speedway team.[2]
Career
editHellsen began his career with Stjärnorna during the 1972 Swedish speedway season.[3] The following year he made his British leagues debut riding with the King's Lynn Stars in the 1973 British League season, although he only rode 4 times that season.[4] During the 1973 season he won the silver medal at the Swedish Junior Speedway Championship.[5]
He was a three-time gold medalist in the Swedish Pairs Championship (1979, 1981, 1982) and a five-time gold medalist in the Swedish Speedway Team Championship, in 1974, 1978, 1979, 1981 and 1982 (all whilst riding with Getingarna).
Meanwhile in Britain, it was with Oxford Rebels that he was part of the Midland Cup winning team in 1975.[6] The team transferred to White City under Danny Dunton and Bob Dugard in 1976[7] after fears that the stadium at Cowley was to be sold for development.[8] He then became a regular heat leader with King's Lynn, for ten years from 1976 to 1985.
He was a finalist of the 1980 Speedway World Pairs Championship, in Krško and finished just outside the medals in fourth place.[9] He was also a multiple representative of Sweden in the qualifying rounds of the World Cup team.
Personal life
editHe retired in 1996 and since retiring has been restoring Volkswagen Beetles, building hot rods and Volkrods.
Lives in Beccles, Suffolk, and has two grandsons: Jack aged 4 and Ezra who is just 1 year old.(2016)[Source:Interview with Karl Fiala of Speedway Friends]
World Final appearances
editWorld Pairs Championship
edit- 1980 -
Krško, Matija Gubec Stadium (with Jan Andersson) - 4th - 18pts (9)
References
edit- ^ "Richard Hellsen - Grasstrack GB".
- ^ "Ultimate rider index, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
- ^ "1972". Speedway.org. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
- ^ "Hellsen on show at Wolves". Birmingham Mail. 11 October 1973. Retrieved 7 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "1973". Speedway.org. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
- ^ Lawson, K (2018) “Rebels 1975 – The Last Season”. ISBN 978-0-244-99725-0
- ^ "Rickard Hellsen". Acton Gazette. 18 March 1976. Retrieved 22 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Lawson, K (2018) “The Cheetahs – The Resurrection”. ISBN 978-0-244-69934-5
- ^ Oakes, Peter (1981). 1981 Speedway Yearbook. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. pp. 27–28. ISBN 0-86215-017-5.
