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Post by schumi on Feb 18, 2008 19:20:22 GMT
Just doing a bit of research and wondered if you guys can help. I read about Erik's accident during the WTC where he nearly lost his life, but you lot must have better memories of him than I do. What were his most memorable moments? Jim, I believe you have some photos of the man himself. If you have time to post a couple I'd appreciate it.
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Post by admin on Feb 18, 2008 19:26:20 GMT
I suppose my abiding memory of Gundersen will be the so-called "Gundersen maximum" of 1984, which consisted of three wins and a tapes exclusion. And I even saw one of them at Brough Park - three imperious wins, when no one got anywhere near him, and a tapes exclusion (it didn't stop Cradley Heath winning 29-49). Out of all the top riders of the time, Gundersen certainly had the most difficulty in coming to terms with the tape-touching rules. While Egon Muller was the first rider to win the world championship on a GM powered machine, it was Gundersen's defection to the Italian manufacturer just ahead of the 1984 world final and his subsequent triumph that people really started to take the GM seriously - it sounded the death knell for Weslake.
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Post by stuartroad on Feb 18, 2008 19:29:25 GMT
Just doing a bit of research and wondered if you guys can help. I read about Erik's accident during the WTC where he nearly lost his life, but you lot must have better memories of him than I do. What were his most memorable moments? Jim, I believe you have some photos of the man himself. If you have time to post a couple I'd appreciate it. i can certainly say in my speedway watching time,i have seen only six riders who were head and shoulders above any of their rivals for a while,and erik was one of them.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2008 20:13:42 GMT
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Post by Genghis on Feb 18, 2008 20:14:53 GMT
I remember an Oxford vs Cradley match in 1985.
In Heat 1, Erik blitzes though the tapes and Hans can't catch him. In his second ride, he beats Wiggy.
Erik looks unbeatable. However, in his third ride, he misses the gate, and then finishes a poor third behing Mel Taylor and Jens Rasmussen, and the Oxford fans go mental.
And then the previous year came his 2 points from 5 rides effort at Cowley which came just a few weeks after the 1984 World Final, and just a week after he'd beaten Hans 2-0 in the Golden Helmet at Oxford.
At the other end of the scale, comes that third to first in Heat 20 of the 1985 World Final, sweeping around Shawn Moran and Lance King. A great ride, even though the Americans should have rode flat-out, instead of trying to team-ride.
And the other very clear memory is Bradford 1989. We were stood on the second bend, just where the accident occurred. I think I looking to see where Simon Cross was (he'd missed the gate) and the next moment carnage. Cross had no time to do anything, ploughed into Gundersen, and Erik hit the track like a broken rag doll. Fortunately, Erik lived, but his career was over.
The Nielsen v Gundersen rivalry was great to watch, and it was such a shame to think these two great riders wouldn't be facing each other again.
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Post by schumi on Feb 18, 2008 20:24:06 GMT
And the other very clear memory is Bradford 1989. We were stood on the second bend, just where the accident occurred. I think I looking to see where Simon Cross was (he'd missed the gate) and the next moment carnage. Cross had no time to do anything, ploughed into Gundersen, and Erik hit the track like a broken rag doll. Fortunately, Erik lived, but his career was over. That was the WTC meeting? The other two riders were battling and one of them hit the back of Erik. Erik said he didn't shut off, but while he was on the track he was hit by Simon. Have I got that right?
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Post by Genghis on Feb 18, 2008 20:34:29 GMT
And the other very clear memory is Bradford 1989. We were stood on the second bend, just where the accident occurred. I think I looking to see where Simon Cross was (he'd missed the gate) and the next moment carnage. Cross had no time to do anything, ploughed into Gundersen, and Erik hit the track like a broken rag doll. Fortunately, Erik lived, but his career was over. That was the WTC meeting? The other two riders were battling and one of them hit the back of Erik. Erik said he didn't shut off, but while he was on the track he was hit by Simon. Have I got that right? Schumi - It's a hard one to explain, but here goes. Erik gated, with Jimmy Nilsen and Lance King side-by-side just behind him, and Cross bringing up the rear. Erik may or may not have locked up very slightly on the second bend. But whatever, Nilsen and King were suddenly on top of him, three riders cannot occupy the same square inch of track, and all three came down. Cross had no chance of avoiding the carnage just in front of him, and unfortunately, he ploughed into Erik. Riders and bikes everywhere. All four riders were unable to continue in the meeting - and Erik the worst of the lot.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2008 21:11:16 GMT
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Post by schumi on Feb 18, 2008 21:31:08 GMT
Thanks for posting that, although you're right in that it's not nice to watch. However, it's part of history and miraculously he survived. Hope I'm forgiven for asking this, but I really don't know - did he make a full recovery, or did he have lasting injuries? I know he didn't ride again after, but that's all.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2008 22:19:14 GMT
No Schumi, sadly he never made a full recovery.
Erik can walk, but he literally had to learn to do it all over again.
He broke his neck that day at Bradford in two places, the C1 and C2 are the two highest neck bones right up by the back of the skull, and people who break these often die from their injuries.
Erik's C2 bone was split and opened up by 5mm, causing quadriplegia, which in turn stopped him breathing properly.
I've taken this from Issue 23 of Backtrack magazine, in which Erik also reveals that he was planning to quit the British League at the end of that season!!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2008 22:51:03 GMT
He only has limited use of one of his arms and hand also i think. He continues to have medical problems to this day as a result of that crash. I think he was given the last rights if i remember right, although i maybe wrong on that, will have to read his book again to check.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2008 0:14:14 GMT
I think your right there ctylr, there didn't seem much hope for Erik at one point.
Actually found my copy of My Two Lives not long ago when clearing out some old bits & pieces, read it again in an evening, incredible man and a born fighter.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2008 6:48:04 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2008 8:48:09 GMT
I was at Odsal in 85 to see Erik win that title and that fantastic heat.Also was at the test match in Oxford that year when Hans was reserve!!But i travelled up to Cradley(the only time i went there)especially to see Erik v Hans+ Oxford.Unfortunately Erik wasn't on top form that day.In one heat he even had to push home for a point.Then in the first of two programmed meetings with hans Erik was excluded.Hans won the other heat and then Erik won the and retained the Golden Helmet.Phil Collins broke the Cradley track rcord that day beating Hans.Also interesting looking at the programme there were 2 junior meetings of 6 heats each after the main meeting!!!!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2008 11:32:43 GMT
I was 8 when Erik crashed, he was my hero and the best in the world through my eyes. I remember coming home from school on Monday afternoon my mom saying me she had something very important to tell me and I got excited (as you do), but she told me not to get carried away. When we got home my mom and dad sat me in front of Midlands Today (Kay Alexander was presenting from memory) and let me watch the news about Erik's crash the previous day (we hadn't got teletext you see). I cried, and cried some more, then I made a get well soon card to send to the hospital. If you can get a copy I thoroughly recommend My Two Lives, which is kept VERY safe at my house. They are as rare as hen's teeth these days though. I read mine once every couple of years and it never fails to move me. Erik was known as a gater, mainly due to a reluctance to take many risks in league meetings. Of course the 85 final for example shows he could pass as well as many of his contempories. He was also a bloody nice bloke which meant people liked him regardless of which team they supported. I was interested to read that he was planning to quit Britain in 1990, due to travelling commitments etc (some things never change eh?) Not sure if anyone knows but in Erik's earlier book "Champ" which was published in 1986 (I think) he mentions that he was trying to set up a junior development program with Laurence Rogers. Does anyone know how far they got with this? I tried pm'ing Laurence on the BSF but to no avail. Erik is currently training youngsters in Denmark and his views in the latest Backtrack are interesting to read from a British point of view (certainly make a bit more sense than Ole's shut us down plan anyway ) I think the biggest public display of emotion I ever witnessed was Erik's last lap around Dudley Wood after his crash - as a ten year old it was a big thing seeing so many "grown ups" in tears - I still can't listen to Simply the Best without the hairs standing up on my neck through that particular memory Another bonus from reading the latest 2 Backtracks is that Erik seems to swear like a trouper, which makes him cool as a hero now as well ;D *edit for terrible spelling
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