Long track
(Credit to John Williams, Aarhus for a comprehensive list of results)
Skive town is located in Jutland at the coast of the Limfjord, which from the North Sea to Kattegat separates the mainland of Jutland from the northern part. Map coordinates are 56° 34? 0? N, 9° 1? 0? E.
July 25. 1948
The North Western Jutland Raceway got inaugurated by the Skive Trotting Society as a 1000 metre long horse trotting track, located at the Southern Boulevard in Skive.
Air view of the track. The buildings were old wooden houses
from an abandoned wartime refugee’s camp.
Through many years from 1948 up to 1972 the track often hosted motor cycle racing. Organizers were the Motor Club for Skive & Vicinity, Holstebro Motor Club, Herning Motor Sport and the Jutland Branch of the Danish Motor Union (JMU).
The first motor cycle meeting at the track was the Jutland LT Championship 1948 with the results below:
Class Name Home
500 cc. Special: Bent Jensen Aarhus
250 cc.Standard: Preben Pedersen Silkeborg
350 cc.Standard: Aksel Jensen Aalborg
500 cc. standard: Knud Nielsen Aarhus
Sidecar u. 600cc: Thorkild Sorensen Horsens
Sidecar o. 600 cc: Thorkild Sorensen Horsens
August 23. 1959. Danish Long Track Championships:
Holstebro Motor Club was organizer. All heats went over 3 laps. It was not entirely flawless. Most likely nerves confused the start marshal, who in the initial heat in 500 cc special class released the start before the defending champion, Poul Hansen, was ready. The heat got stopped, and a restart with all 6 riders was called.
Later in the 500 cc standard sport class, the starter by mistake unfolded the red flag, which was observed by the flag man at the first bend, who also showed his red flag.
The rider Niels Blumensaadt from Randers noticed the flag and stopped as he should. The other riders in the heat saw nothing and continued to the finish line with Soren Juul in front. The heat got declared invalid, and a restart was called. Once again Soren Juul finished first, this time as the real champion.
Despite these minor incidents the meeting was a success which ended in the night with a prize ceremony in the trotting track’s restaurant.
Riders 500 cc. special
No. Name Home Club Mc.
27. Poul Hansen, Copenhagen MKO J.A.P.
28 Jeppe Ussing, Borkop AMK J.A.P.
29. Erik Kastebo Copenhagen GOMK J.A.P.
30 H. Erik Hansen, Kolding HMS J.A.P.
31 Kaj Hermansen Bornholm MKO J.A.P.
32 Gunnar Spitfejer, Fredericia AMK J.A.P.
34 Svend Nissen, Odense FMS J.A.P.
36 Kurt W. Petersen, Ringsted MSM J.A.P.
36 Sv. Erik Olsson, Copenhagen MKO J.A.P.
37 Bent Larsen, Fredericia FMK J.A.P.
38 Niels Christensen Copenhagen MKO J.A.P.
39 Henry Kjærgaard Skive RMS J.A.P.
Danish Champions 1959:
Class Name Home Mc.
Special 500 cc.: Kurt W. Petersen, Ringsted J.A.P
250 cc. Sport: Preben Bollerup, Silkeborg NSU
500 cc. Sport: Soren Juul, Viborg Triumph
500 cc. Sidecar: C. Andersen/G. Williams Aarhus Matchless
750 cc. Sidecar: C. Andersen/G. Williams Aarhus Matchless
The champions from left: Soren Juul, Viborg, 500 cc. sport.
Kurt W. Petersen, Ringsted, 500 cc. special.
Preben Bollerup, Silkeborg, 250 cc. sport.
Carl Andersen/Gunnar Williams, Aarhus,
Double champions 500 cc./750 cc. sidecars.
September 4. 1960, Danish Long Track Championships:
Overcast heaven and a single little shower could not keep 8000 away from Skive Trotting track, where Holstebro Motor Klub once again organized this championship meeting. There were no great surprises, apart from the defending champion in the 750 cc sidecar class, who got knocked out by a defective gearbox.
Results:
500 cc. special:
1. Kurt W. Pedersen, Ringsted
2. Svend Nissen Odense
3. Gunnar Spitfejer, Fredericia
500 cc. Sport:
1. Soren Juul, Viborg
2. Niels Moller, Viborg
3. Poul Jorgensen, Horsens
250 cc. Sport:
1. Preben Bollerup, Silkeborg
2. Christian Christensen, Randers
3. Erik Thomadsen, Randers
500 cc. Sidecar:
1. Carl Andersen/John Skjodt, Aarhus
2. Kurt Larsen/Sv. Hüttemann, Odense
3. Egon Walther/ V. Poulsen, Copenhagen
750 cc. Sidecar:
1. Kurt Larsen/Sv. Hüttemann, Odense
2 Erik Bob Jensen/Preben P. Jensen, Horsens
3. Egon Walther/ V. Poulsen, Copenhagen
Oktober 7. 1962. Danish Long Track Championships:
After the success in 1959 Skive Trotting Track once again hosted the Danish LT Championships in 1962. This time organizing of the meeting was laid in the hands of Herning Motor Sport. The championship classes were 500 cc. special, 500 cc. Standard sports and 250 cc sports. There were no championship in the sidecar classes. Instead of championships the sidecars rode a Nations match between Denmark ans Sweden.
Results:
500 cc. Special: Kurt W. Petersen Ringsted
250 cc. Sport: Kurt W. Petersen Ringsted
500 cc. Sport: Soren Juul Viborg
Sidecars Nations match, Denmark – Sweden:
Denmark 50 p. Sweden 10 p.
Carl Andersen Gösta Eriksson
Kurt Larsen Bengt Grönlund
H.C. Callesen Roland Andersson
Erik Bob Jensen Sven-Erik Eriksson
Jørn Mortensen Börje Englen
September 13. 1963. Danish Long Track Championships:
500 cc. Special
Kurt W. Petersen Ringsted
250 cc. Sport
Kurt W. Petersen Ringsted
500 cc. Sport
Poul Jørgensen Horsens
500 cc. Sidecar
H.C. Callesen /E. Skovshoved Aabenraa / Haderslev
750 cc. Sidecar
H.C. Callesen /E. Skovshoved Aabenraa / Haderslev
May 24. 1964, Nordic-Long Track Championship:
Along with the Nordic Championship in 500 cc also heats in the classes 500 cc. sport, 500 cc senior special and 500 cc sidecar, and some automobile heats.
Results:
Nordic Championship.
1. Timo Laine. Finland
2. Bernt Hörnfeldt, Sweden
3. Agner Stenlund, Sweden
4. Kurt W. Petersen. Denmark
500 cc. Senior special:
1. Niels Christensen, Copenhagen
2. Ole Klaebel, Copenhagen
3. H.G. Christensen, Vojens
500 cc. Senior sport;
1. Poul Jorgensen, Horsens
2. Preben Bollerup, Esbjerg
3. Soren Juul, Viborg.
500 cc. Sidecar:
1. Jorgen P. Mortensen/ Hardy Carlsen, Copenhagen
2. Alex Haucke/Eckhardt Weidling, Hamburg
3. Gunnar Maigaard/Ivan Hansen, Randers/Viborg.
September 27. 1964. Danish Long Track Championships:
The Jutland branch of the Danish Motor Union organized this meeting with a well composed programme, which was able to gather 6000 spectators. However three nasty looking crashes took some of the joy away.
Just as the final in the 500 cc. special class was ready to start, a heavy shower made the track very slippery, causing the riders Ejnar Hansen and Sylvest Andersen to collide and fall. Ejnar Hansen got hospitalized with a concussion and Sylvest Andersen withdrew from the restart.
In the sidecar class Verner Poulsen and his passenger crashed, and the passenger needed to go the the traume center with a foot injury. He returned to the track after the meeting.
Drama also hit the automobile classes, when the midget car driver Peder Korgaard got slung out of his racer. After medical treatment he could return from hospital with minor injuries.
Results: 500 cc.Special:
1. Kurt W. Petersen Ringsted
2. H.P. Boisen. Fredericia
3. Svend Nissen, Odense
250 cc. Sport:
1. Finn Pauli Thomsen. Silkeborg
2. Kurt W. Petersen. Ringsted
3 Erik Thomadsen. Randers
500 cc. Sport:
1. Søren Juul Viborg
2. Kr. Aarup Aalborg
3. Finn Jorgensen, Grindsted
500 cc. Sidecar:
1. H.C. Callesen/E. Skovshoved, Aabenraa/Haderslev
2. Erik Bob Jensen / Erik Priis, Horsens
3. Søren Terp/Flemming Holst, Haderslev
September 19. 1965 Danish Long Track Championships:
This was the very last time Jutland’s Motor Union organized a meeting on the old trotting track before it got acquired by the Danish army.
The track surface was bad, filled with stones an very bumpy. However this could not prevent Kurt W. Petersen from setting an ultimate track record on 1,36,6 minute for 3 laps.
Results.
500 cc special:
1 Kurt W. Petersen, Ringsted
2. Svend Nissen, Odense
3. Sylvest Andersen, Copenhagen
500 cc Sport:
1. Preben Moller Christensen. Odense
2. Erik Jensen, Herning
3. Bent Svenningsen, Herning
250 cc. Sport:
1. Finn Pauli Thomsen, Silkeborg
2. Carsten Bryde Nielsen,
3. Jens Munkedal, Copenhagen
500 cc. Sidecar:
1. Günther Bomme/Erik Petersen Haderslev/Viborg
2. Bent Sorensen/ Svend Hald, Frederiksborg AM
3. John Steffensen/Ole Moller, Aarhus
June 26. 1966 European Championship Qualification 1966:
The track was moved to the other side of the road and got shortened, which was an advantage for the audience, who better could follow the riders all the way round.
Some of the riders complained over too many loose stones on the surface,what was a nuisance for those who did not gated first. And because the track had not have time enough to settle properly, a lot of soil and dust got raised and caused some engine stoppages.
The first 6 riders would qualify for the final in Mühldorf; Germany on July 17. July.
It was worth to notice that Ole Olsen rode on his ESO speedway bike.
John Sylvest Andersen got in his first heat hit from behind by the German Seid, and both fell. Sylvest could limp back to the pit, while Seid got taken to hospital.
A national sidecar class was won by H.C. Callesen / Erik Skovshoved from Aabenraa & Haderslev.
Result:
1. Kurt W. Petersen Denmark 18 point.
2. F. Aberl Germany 16 point.
3, Josef Unterholtzer Germany 14 point.
4. Willihard Thomsson, Sweden 14 point.
5. Sven Sigurd, Sweden 10 point.
6. Ole Olsen, Denmark 10 point.
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7. Svend Nissen, Denmark 10 point. qual. reserve
September 18. Danish Championship 1966:
Results:
500.cc.special: Kurt W. Petersen Ringsted.
500 cc. Sport: Preben Moller Christensen Odense
250 cc. Sport: Christian Christensen Aalborg.
500 cc. Sidecar: H. C. Callesen/Erik Skovshoved Aabenraa/ Haderslev
Relocation in 1966:
The site of Skive trotting track got expropriated in 1966 to make way for erection of military barracks.
As compensation the trotting society got paid a sum of more than one million DKK.
Some voices spoke for locating of a new track in Herning, but at the end of the day the current location, No. 2 Fly road a few miles south of the former address, got chosen.
Satellite view of the new Skive Trotting track.
The new track has a length of 830 m., a width of 25 m., and a surface of granite granulate. It stood ready in 1967.
May 28. 1967, European Championship Qualification 1967:
Almost everything that could go wrong did it.
Over night some uninvited guests in white vans had enjoyed themselves by racing wild and ploughing deep ruts in the track surface. Of course it gave some extra work for the track curator.
Then the entrance controllers came too late, so about 500 fans came though the turnstiles without paying, thus giving an economic loss to the organizing clubs from Herning and Aarhus. The Swede Ove Fundin excused himself for absence.
Ole Olsen came flying from England, but blew his engine during practice and had to start on a borrowed speedway bike on which he despite bravehearted riding could not qualify.
Worst of all. The appointed referee from Sweden Lars von Silfersparre did not show up.
Result:
1. Timo Laine, Finland 19 point.
2. Kurt W. Petersen, Denmark 14 point.
3, Matti Ohlin, Finland 13 point.
4. Sven Sigurd, Sweden 12 point.
5, Vekko Mesauhone, Finland 12 point.
.6. Rudolf Kastl, Germany 11 point.
These riders qualified for further participation.
August 17. 1967: Danish Long Track Championships:
Results:
250 cc. Sport: Finn Pauli Thomsen Silkeborg.
500 cc. Sport: Henning Thomadsen Randers
500 cc.special: Kurt W. Petersen Ringsted.
500 cc.Sidecar: Kurt Larsen / Leif Larsen Odense
September 22. 1968, Danish Long Track Championships:
Preben Moller Christensen from Odense made in this meeting an unusually big effort by participating in both 500 cc. special and 500 cc. sport and take second place in both classes. In the special class with only 1 point lesser than the winner.
Through several years Kurt W. Petersen almost has had patent to the title, but this year he could only give his engine, which was marginally better than Preben’s, credit for the victory.
Another fine effort was shown in the 500 cc. sport by 52 years old Willy Mathiasen, who with third place proved still being able to compete with the younger boys.
Results:
500 cc special:
1. Kurt W. Petersen 20 point.
2. Preben Moller Christensen 19 point.
3. Preben S. Pedersen
500 cc sport:
1. Henning Thomadsen.
2. Preben Moller Christensen.
3. Willy Mathiasen.
250 cc sport:
1. Finn Pauli Thomsen
2. Chr. Christensen.
3. Mogens Christensen
500 cc Sidecar:
1. Kurt Larsen / Leif Larsen.
2. H. C. Callesen / Claus Detlefsen.
3. Günther Bomme / Lauritz Wind.
September 14. 1969, Danish Long Track Championships:
Danish Champions 1969
500 cc. special:
1. Kurt W. Petersen Ringsted.
2. Jan Holm Nielsen, Ringsted,
3. Preben Moller Christensen, Odense
500 cc. sport:
1. Henning Thomadsen.
2. Carsten Kühl.
3. Mogens Dam
250 cc. Sport:
1. Carsten Jorgensen.
2. Ernst Jensen.
3. Hans J. Nielsen
500 cc. Sidecar:
1. Kurt Larsen / Leif Larsen.
2. H. C. Callesen / Erik Skovshoved.
3, Th. Damgaard / H. Damsgaard
Kurt W. Petersen had hardly a reason to look cross in 1969.
September 13. 1970, Danish Long Track Championships:
4500 spectators witnessed at least two remarkable things happen.
Firstly, the through many years invincible Kurt W. Petersen got stripped of his championship and ended disappointingly on fourth place.
Secondly, the first championship in the 500 cc. special sidecar class, with methanol powered engines got inaugurated. Not surprisingly H. C. Callesen from Aabenraa after many years victories in the sports class also took this title.
Danish Champions 1970:
500.cc.special:
1. Bent Norregaard Jensen.
2. Preben Moller Christensen.
3. Jan Holm Nielsen
250 cc. Sport:
1. Henning Thomadsen.
2. Carsten Jorgensen.
3. Ernst Jensen
500 cc. sport sidecar:
1. John Havnbo / Fritz Kristensen.
2. Verner Poulsen / J. Aamann.
3. Jorgen Svendsen / A. Hasager
500 cc. special Sidecar:
1. H. C. Callesen / Th. Callesen.
2. Frank Damgaard / Henning Damsgaard.
3. Leo Ry Hansen / F. Henriksen.
September 12. 1971, Danish Long Track Championships:
The track could welcome a newly crowned Speedway World Champion directly returned home from Nya Ullevi in Gothenburg, where Ole Olsen won the title the night before.
Now the Danish long track title was at stake, which he also secured for himself, but not without a hard fight with the defending champ Bent Norregaard Jensen, who took the lead in the final heat and resisted three attacks before Olsen pipped him on the last lap and bagged maximum 30 points.
Norregaard and Kurt W. tied on 27 points,
By the way, the meting with 4000 spectators was the first without any car class involved.
Results:
500 cc Special:
1. Ole Olsen 30 point.
2. Bent Norregaard Jensen 27 point.
3. Kurt W. Petersen 27 point.
250 cc Sport:
1. Carsten Kühl 21 point.
2. Poul J. Larsen 11 point.
2. Ernst Jensen 9 point.
500 cc sidecar special:
1. Frank Damgaard / Henning Damsgaard 13 point.
2. H.C. Callesen / Th. Callesen 10 point.
3. Leo Ry Hansen / Ole Andersen 6 point.
500 cc sidecar sport:
1. Niels Kjeldsen / Gert Nielsen 13 point.
2. Verner Poulsen / Jorn Aamann 11 point.
3. J. Steffensen / Finn Moller 5 point.
Niels Kjeldsen and Gert Nielsen in action
18. Juni 1972: World Long Track Championship Semifinal:
As the former European Long Track Championship in 1971 by FIM got raised to World Championship, it became extremely important for Denmark to get some Danish riders qualified through the semifinals.
Therefore despite rain and strong wind 4000 spectators appeared at Skive Trotting track, but that more than half of them left early, could not be blamed to the rain.
The reason was, that Ole Olsen – the greatest hope of Denmark’s – in heat 17 was disqualified for tape touching. It was clear for everybody, that the wet and heavy tape han g low in the middle and lifted unevenly.
The meeting got suspended for 20 minutes, while the race director, the FIM Steward and the referee discussed. The referee stuck to his verdict. The waves went high both on the terraces, the infield and in the pits.
The disqualification meant that Olsen lost a secured place in the final and had to settle with a reserve place.
Later Ole Olsen filed at protest against the Swedish rider Willihart Thomsson’s result. Thomsson got an engine failure 3/4 af a lap to run with his bike to the finish line to get 2 points. Ole argued, that Thomsson did not make it within the 3 minute time limit, and therefore he should not have the points he got.
Results:
1. Bent Norregaard Jensen, Denmark 18 point.
2. Matti Olin, Finland 16 point.
3. Henning Edsberg Hansen, Denmark 14 point.
4. Willihardt Thomsson, Sweden 12 point.
5. Jon Ödegaard, Norway 12 point.
6. N. O. Haraldsen, Norway 11 point.
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7. Ole Olsen, Denmark 10 point. (reserve)
National classes:
250 cc. Junior: Lars Pedersen, Aarhus
250.cc. Senior: Jens Munkedal, Vanlose
500 cc. Junior Sidecar: Jens Paulsgård / P. E. Christensen, Borkop
500 cc. Senior Sidecar: Niels Kjeldsen / Gert Nielsen, Aarhus
September 10. 1972, Danish Long Track Championships:
The scandal at the meeting on June 8. is supposed to be the reason for the failing public attention, which gave the organizing club a serious economic loss and caused considerations whether or not it would be feasible to organize the 1973 meeting.
A mere 2500 spectators went through the turnstiles. Was this unsatisfactory, instead the club could have the joy of welcoming no less than 21 riders in the 500 cc. special class.
In the 500 cc. sidecar class a protest was filed against Erik Bob Jensen, arguing that his engines cylinder volume was too big.
A measurement after the meeting stated that it was not, and hence the victory was OK.
Results:
500 cc special:
1. Ole Olsen Haderslev 30 point. + track record 1,44,0 for 4 laps.
2. Jan Holm Nielsen, Ringsted 25 point
3. Kurt W. Petersen, Ringsted 22 point
500 cc sidecar sport:
1. Erik Bob Jensen / Thorkild Callesen 16 point.
2. J. Steffensen / Finn Moller 12 point.
3. J. Svendsen / Alex Hasager 11 point.
500 cc sidecar special:
1. Victor Larsen / P.E.Nielsson, 16 point.
2. Frank Damsgaard / Henning Damsgaard, 14 point.
3. Niels Kjeldsen / Gert Nielsen, 12 point.
In 1973 The Danish Long track championships got ridden on Aalborg Trotting track.
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