The World Team Cup
By Tracy Holmes

In the World Team Cup competition from 1962, Great Britain was represented by the 'creme de-la-creme', on the British Commonwealth menu. But it took them seven years to break the Sweden/Poland domination.

1960 Sweden. 1961 Poland. 1962 Sweden. 1963 Sweden. 1964 Sweden. 1965 Poland. 1966 Poland. 1967 Sweden.

In 1968, with the Final being staged in England for the first time, Ivan Mauger captained the squad to the Gold Medals at Wembey. Mauger alongside Barry Briggs, Nigel Boocock, Martin Ashby and Norman Hunter headed the Swede's, Pole's and the Czech's.

The following year at Rybnik, Poland won for the fourth time. GB with the same four as the previous year were second. Ronnie Moore had been selected but was injured and unable to ride. Pete Smith replaced Norman Hunter as reserve.

Back at Wembley for 1970 and the Super-Swedes won for the Super-Sixth time. Six Gold Medals for the 'Fantabulous Fox' Ove Fundin. Great Britain? Mauger & Briggs with Nigel Boocock were joined by Eric Boocock and Ray Wilson. Again, Ronnie Moore unable to ride due to injury. They may have started as favourites but finishing eleven points behind the winners, lucky to get a Lemonade.

Only one Brit in the squad for 1971. Ray Wilson joined the Kiwi Trio of Mauger, Briggs and Moore with Australia's Jim Airey. Together, they conquered the USSR, home team Poland and Sweden. Wilson, unbeaten at Wroclaw, earning the title 'World Cup Willy'. As for the Poles, whoever decided to leave Jerzy Szczakiel out of the squad needed serious therapy. The victorious Great Britain team returned 'home' as heroes, showered in Champagne.

1972 saw Mauger as Captain for the fifth year running. Barry Briggs was injured so missed the German jaunt. Ray Wilson and Ronnie Moore joined by newcomers John Louis and Terry Betts. Together, they thumped the opposition nae bother and again, the USSR, Poland and Sweden completed the table. Could it get any better? Just to re-cap; Great Britain had won three of the previous five Cup Finals with Ivan Mauger as Captain. Who could stop the Jumping Jack Juggernaut? From the outside, it looked way too good, HOWEVER, the winds of change were stirring and an ominous breeze began blowing in 1973. It quickly became a tornado with an ugly twist.

The Daily Mirror International Tournament was THE biggest ever 'one-off' team competition staged in Speedway history. Seven teams in matches leading to Semi-Finals and the Grand Final staged at Wembley. Australia, England, New Zealand, Norway/Denmark, Poland, Sweden and the USSR. [ No room for Scotland. Ole Olsen had to be there and that explains Norway/Denmark ]

In June and July of the '73 season, this series made sporting papers around the globe. We all know who won and how. Regarding Anders Michanek, my favourite quote is from Ivan Mauger, "I know how I would have felt if it had happened to me, against a Swedish rider, on a Swedish track with a Swedish referee." This result would change the shape of the World Team Cup for quite some time.

Two of that winning England team went on to qualify for the World Speedway Final, Ray Wilson and Peter Collins. A special mention is made of John Louis who was banned from the last round because of a fuel issue in the previous one. It was nonsense and it may have cost him a World Final place. Anyway, Ivan Mauger and John Boulger also qualified. Now, anyone who was interested in the Southern Hemisphere and indeed the Northern Hemisphere, could have picked the Great Britain World Team Cup squad for the Wembley Final. Mauger, Wilson, Boulger and Collins. The reserve, Malcolm Simmons or Terry Betts. Toss a coin.

WELL, the selectors had other ideas. Mauger was not just dumped as Captain, he was dumped from the entire squad. John Boulger was not even considered. Actually, I'll retract that. Mauger and Boulger would certainly have been considered only for said selectors to say, "F*ck 'em", as they chose an all England team. Ray Wilson, Peter Collins, Malcolm Simmons, Terry Betts and Dave Jessup. This was totally based on England winning the DMIT Final, at Wembley.

For Mauger and Boulger, it was shocking treatment and they deserved better. Yes, Mauger could be a complete pain the ass and often was but, his record in the WTC was first class in anyone's book. He took this very personally. It took some time but he and Boulger would get their revenge, more on that later. Yes, Great Britain won the WTC Final as the selectors smoked their cigars and blew the smoke out ...

1974, Great Britain was over. England, New Zealand, Australia and Scotland would race-off for a place in that year's Final in Chorzow. A qualifying round was scheduled for Thursday, August 8 at Ipswich. We all know what happened. Rained-off but why? The rain had stopped and thanks to a massive effort by track-staff and riders, the track was okay to ride.

John Louis, "At one stage the track was beginning to look in reasonable shape but as far as racing goes the meeting would almost certainly have been a non-event."

John Berry, "Despite the inclement weather a huge crowd was gathering in the stadium for this Thursday evening meeting. The weather was overcast and the track wet on top but not soft and would have been excellent after the first few heats. By 7.15 pm, several riders had not yet arrived due to heavy traffic. Some of those who had arrived were reluctant to ride, as was the developing fashion of the time. Under such circumstances I used to stay out of the way but was shocked when the referee, [Arthur Humphrey] along with the Control Board manager, called the event off."

The New Zealand team of Ivan Mauger, Barry Briggs, Graeme Stapleton and Ronnie Moore were all keen to ride. Then the solids hit the air-conditioning. The re-stage was Sunday. Mauger and Briggs were unavailable.

Ivan Mauger, "We pointed out that Ipswich's alternative race day was a Tuesday, and that the re-run should be held then. All the other riders were available. But no, Sunday it was but Briggo and I missed out. It was not a question of racing on a Sunday, or of the money."

Barry Briggs, "Several prominent British promoters condemned us for missing the hastily arranged Sunday meeting but we always insisted we had the [tacit] permission of the Control Board representative at Ipswich that night to go abroad, as we usually did on the Sabbath to cash in on our reputations. It wasn't a question of money, it was all about honouring my commitment to appear. You must honour your word or you'll be out of bookings."

John Berry, "Their argument justifying missing the re-staged meeting was that they had accepted a contract to ride abroad on the Sunday whereas they had been unaware of the Ipswich re-stage date. Now, many years later, I can see their dilemma and have discussed the situation with them. While accepting they were bound to have to disappoint somebody, I reasoned then, as I reason now, that they owed quite a lot to British Speedway. It had provided them with the training and the bread and butter income over many years, which in turn enabled them to enjoy the jam of their individual exploits on the Continent. In this one instance I felt they should have given their loyalty to their country and to the World Team Cup event."

Speedway Control Board Secretary, Harry Louis, "This is an unhappy affair, especially for the fans. Both Mauger and Briggs had already signed contracts to race abroad on Sunday. We have the power to compel them to race at Ipswich but we decided to let them make their own decision. They did not know that in case of the meeting being rained off, it would be re-staged on Sunday."

The situation was clearly a nonsense. There was no need for the meeting to be rained off. Catch 22? Depends on your take. Here's mine, direct from 'Area 51'.

New Zealand was no threat to England. But I felt Mauger was up for a maximum. Especially on a wet track. And if Briggs could get out of the gate quick enough, he could nick a few points. But Australia was the big threat. John Boulger was at his best. Phil Crump capable of carnage. Billy Sanders was getting better and better with Ipswich being his home track. Bob Valentine was right up for it. But call the meeting off, that took care of the Mauger/Briggs problem. Top brass all knew they would not be there on the Sunday.

Recently this came up on facebook. And I put forward my theory. Life-long Ipswich supporter David Gentry replied and shot my flying-saucer out of the sky. He is happy for us to share his comment; "I am not sure that is the case Tracy. New Zealand were no threat to England and Mauger never liked or did well around Foxhall. He is infamous among the Foxhall Faithful for either not turning up on multiple occasions or when he did, keeping looking down at his engine when he was beaten. But the meeting was all the better for being run on the Sunday even though it was disappointing on the Thursday when it was called off. I know because I was there on both occasions."

Well, did I stand corrected! Was delighted to be so by this passionate insider. As is my lack of interest in the British League, I had no idea. This was GOLD.

England had no trouble on the Sunday, winning twelve of the sixteen heats. England 41. Australia 31. Scotland 17. New Zealand 6.

Sadly, the FIM never kept up with the times. Australia were more than good enough to match any other country in the competition and this new qualifying round was out of date on the day it was first run. As for the thread to my story? England would win the WTC Finals of 1974 & 1975. John Boulger got his revenge in 1976 as Australia boomeranged the Brits, at Ipswich and went on the take the Gold Medals. Ivan Mauger? After a three year self-imposed ban, 1979 was the year he lead the Kiwis to knock out England and go all the way to World Team Cup glory, the Champagne may have never tasted so sweet.

The World Team Cup Final history at a glance;

1960 Sweden. England. CZ. Poland.
1961 Poland. Sweden. England. CZ.
1962 Sweden. Great Britain. Poland. CZ.
1963 Sweden. CZ. Great Britain. Poland.
1964 Sweden. USSR. Great Britain. Poland.
1965 Poland. Sweden. Great Britain. USSR.
1966 Poland. USSR. Sweden. Great Britain.
1967 Sweden. Poland. USSR & Great Britain =
1968 Great Britain. Sweden. Poland. CZ.
1969 Poland. Great Britain. USSR. Sweden.
1970 Sweden. Great Britain. Poland. CZ.
1971 Great Britain. USSR. Poland. Sweden.
1972 Great Britain. USSR. Poland. Sweden.
1973 Great Britain. Sweden. USSR. Poland.
1974 England. Sweden. Poland. USSR.
1975 England. USSR. Sweden. Poland.
1976 Australia. Poland. Sweden. USSR.
1977 England. Poland. CZ. Sweden.
1978 Denmark. England. Poland. CZ.
1979 New Zealand. Denmark. CZ. Poland.
1980 England. USA. Poland. CZ.
1981 Denmark. England. West Germany. USSR.
1982 USA. Denmark. West Germany. CZ.
1983 Denmark. England. USA. CZ.
1984 Denmark. England. USA. Poland.
1985 Denmark. USA. England. Sweden.
1986 Denmark. England. USA. Sweden. [over three rounds]
1987 Denmark. England. USA. CZ. [over three rounds]
1988 Denmark. USA. Sweden. England.
1989 England. Denmark. Sweden. USA.
1990 USA. England. Denmark. CZ.
1991 Denmark. Sweden. USA. England.
1992 USA. Sweden. England. Denmark.
1993 USA. Denmark. Sweden. England.

The World Team Cup continued with format changes and eventually replaced by this 'gawd awful' Speedway of Nations but is back every third year or something. Madness son, madness.

This article was first published on 15th June 2025