Please feel free to offer your condolences to Ivan’s family using the form below. Your entry will be displayed in our book of condolences on this page.
534 entries.
wrote on 19th April 2018
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11:35 pm
Very sad to hear the news but was fortunate to have watched him ride. Absolute legend.
All young riders should aim to emulate him. A true gent.
wrote on 19th April 2018
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10:41 pm
Thanks Ivan...Full Throttle No Brakes....
wrote on 19th April 2018
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10:25 pm
I have been going to Speedway at Poole since1961. We here at Poole know our Speedway, and I am sure we would all agree that Ivan was and always will be the best Speedway rider ever. We always looked forward to Ivan visiting Poole. I am so sorry to here the news about Ivan. And would like to offer mine and my family's sincere condolences. Ivan Rest In Peace.
wrote on 19th April 2018
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10:03 pm
I remember seeing him when he first came over to this country, I thought, no way are you going to make it, how wrong could I have been. He turned out to be way ahead of his time and ended up THE GREATEST EVER.
RIP great man
wrote on 19th April 2018
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10:02 pm
The finest of Speedway riders.
Briggo always knew he had to be on his toes when Belle Vue visited Swindon.
Met the great man ~7yrs ago. An absolute pleasure to chat to.
Rest In Peace Ivan & thank you for all the enjoyment.
wrote on 19th April 2018
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9:18 pm
Ivan came to Hull (who?), yes little old unfashionable Hull in 1978. Who in the speedway world at the time saw that coming? He transformed the place. We had seen the mighty "Briggo" a couple of years before, but Ivan simply blew us all away. He was the ultimate professional and did not suffer fools. OK, not really up on big fan thing, but his job was on the track and as long as he was doing the business, nobody cared. He was upset when some of the Hull team let him down and we lost the title in 1979. He was not the only one! To this day, Coventry did not win the title, the "Vikings" lost it. Sorry Bees! That season was so special on so many levels. We all went across to Poland to see the World Final and Ivan's record breaking SIXTH title. Great days, and to see Ivan's young protege Kelly Moran finish 4th was unbelievable. Ivan was a breath of fresh air and a real pro. Hull Vikings were a fantastic side with Ivan around- I will always remember a particular 40-38 win at Birmingham. A meeting that we should never have won, Ivan was magnificent. Kindest regards to Raye and the family. Miss you Ivan, Thank you for the memories.
wrote on 19th April 2018
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8:48 pm
I first saw Ian Mawger (as most people called him here) at Hackney in 1964 where he shattered the track record. After that saw him all over the place including two World Championship wins, 69 and 72 at Wembley and the famous 1979 one in Poland.
Always was and always will be the greatest ever.
wrote on 19th April 2018
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4:59 pm
My father took me to see Ivan when I was a young lad. I went to the great Grand Prixs at the old Wembley stadium and regular visits to Wimbledon where Ronnie Moore and Ivan were little boys heroes. I remember riding my Bicycle and doing a commentary me being Mauger of course. I am now 57 and thanks to the likes of Ivan follow the sport to this day, One of Motorsports greats has been taken, but certainly will not be forgotten. RIP.
wrote on 19th April 2018
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4:41 pm
Ivan, You set the bench for today's riders to follow, lucky to have seen ride for Hull. RiP Ivan.
wrote on 19th April 2018
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3:35 pm
I missed Ivan riding for the World Famous Belle Vue Aces but distinctly remember my first few matches where everybody was talking about “Major is coming back in a few weeks”. I took this to be the leader of a military band and didn’t realise what they were talking about. The Falcons duly came and blew the Aces away thanks largely to Ivan and his inspired guest pick, Dave Morton. That was my first introduction to Ivan. He wasn’t always popular with away fans but superstars never are. Unless they’re on your team. He was famous for saying he would pick winning over popularity any day of the week. He did it all and didn’t need the Tshirt. What sticks in my mind is not his 6 World titles but the way he dragged unfashionable teams up to his level. He could have taken his pay packet and ran. But he chose to have a say across the entire team. We will never see his likes again. The Greatest.
wrote on 19th April 2018
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3:26 pm
RIP Ivan, it was a great pleasure knowing you and working with you when your Silver Helmet troupe visited Whyalla in South Australia. I found you to be a great champion and ambassador for the sport. On behalf of members and friends of Whyalla Speedway Club I express sincere condolences to the Mauger family and their friends for their loss. RIP Champ
wrote on 19th April 2018
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3:24 pm
What a rider! Along with two other Kiwis Ronnie Moore and Barry Briggs top three in the world. Never see another one like Ivan.
wrote on 19th April 2018
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1:20 pm
To The Mauger Family
I was enough lucky to lvan ride many times before he retired and smooth silky rider different Class. Still No1 in my book a true Legend and Gentlemen an ambassador of his sport the best of the best RIP IVAN MAUGER MBE OBE WORLD CHAMPIONS OF CHAMPIONS
wrote on 19th April 2018
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1:09 pm
A Long time ago in a county far away as a bairn I was introduced to the insane sport of Speedway. At the top of the tree in the early Seventies Was a Kiwi Ivan Mauger who like me was a Newcastle Diamond but this hero was a World Champion. Gentleman off the track a master on the the track. I followed the sport for most of my teenage years. It didn't matter he changed teams he was always loved by the Newcastle Diamonds as one of their Own RIP to the Greatest rider of all time forever a Diamond.
wrote on 19th April 2018
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12:43 pm
I was blessed knowing you Ivan all the years I have from a child watching you at belle vue sitting on your knee on your gold bike, I had a broken thumb & you had broken wrists my mum worshipped you & even called her one & only son after you R.I.P Ivan my sympathies go to raye & all the family ??
wrote on 19th April 2018
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12:10 pm
Ivan may not have been a Rye House Rocket, or, indeed, during the years when I was watching him, a Hackney Hawk, but both of these are fast off the mark, and he was by far the fastest off the starting grid that I have ever seen in 70 years of supporting my favourite sport. Apart from his six individual World Championship titles, I'm sure one of his proudest moments must have been leading his country, New Zealand, to its only World Cup title at White City, a great achievement. His family appear to have decided to celebrate his life and achievements, and so shall I, so "Cheers, Ivan, thanks for so many wonderful memories. But for one silly little mistake, 45 years ago, you really deserved a probably unbeatable seven World Individual titles didn't you? I'm sure Jerzy Szczakiel agrees". Rest in peace!
wrote on 19th April 2018
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10:39 am
So sorry to here the passing of Ivan Mauger, truly one of the greatest speedway riders to grace the shale. I was a mechanic to Brian Maxted who rode for Wolverhampton and Sheffield back in the 60's and 70's so we came across Ivan on many occasions. He was a hard rider but fair. He once rode at Liden in Kent on the grass against Brian. In true Ivan style he gated first and led for 4 of the 6 laps when Brian then passed him and won. In true Mauger style he congratulated Brian in the pits afterwards commenting that he never thought he would be caught and passed. A sad loss.
wrote on 19th April 2018
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10:25 am
The greatest of all time
wrote on 19th April 2018
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10:25 am
Dear Raye, Deb , Kym and Julie,
I am so greatly sadened by Ivan's passing.
I'll be overseas on the 27th April, but will certainly think of what a kind and wonderful friend Ivan has been. His passing is a great great loss. (Raye if you'd like to say hello when you're ready, it would be a blessing to hear from you, my dear friend)
My dearest love to you all,
Annette Cranfield
wrote on 19th April 2018
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10:21 am
Ivan Mauger the ultimate professional and genuine person you could ever have had the privilege to meet his on track antics were legendary RIP Ivan