Richard Hellsen

John Rickard Hellsén also known as Richard Hellsen (during his speedway career) is a former international motor speedway rider from Sweden.[2][3]

Richard Hellsen
Born(1951-06-01)1 June 1951[1]
Stockholm, Sweden
NationalitySwedish
Career history
Sweden
1972Stjärnorna
1973–1982Getingarna
Great Britain
1973, 1976–1985King's Lynn
1975Oxford
1976White City
1986–1988Swindon
1989–1990, 1992–1995Long Eaton
1991Peterborough
1991Hackney
1992Milton Keynes
Individual honours
1973Swedish Junior Championship silver
Team honours
1974, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981Allsvenskan Champion
1982Elitserien Champion
1975Midland Cup winner
1977British League KO Cup Winner
1980Gauntlet Gold Cup

Career

Hellsen began his career with Stjärnorna during the 1972 Swedish speedway season.[4] 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. 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 Robert Dugard in 1976 after fears that the stadium at Cowley was to be sold for development.[7] 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.[8] He was also a multiple representative of Sweden in the qualifying rounds of the World Cup team.

Personal life

He 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

World Pairs Championship

References
  1. "Richard Hellsen - Grasstrack GB".
  2. Lawson,K (2018) “Riders, Teams and Stadiums”. ISBN 978-0-244-72538-9
  3. "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  4. "1972". Speedway.org. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  5. "1973". Speedway.org. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  6. Lawson,K (2018) “Rebels 1975 – The Last Season”. ISBN 978-0-244-99725-0
  7. Lawson,K (2018) “The Cheetahs – The Resurrection”. ISBN 978-0-244-69934-5
  8. Oakes, Peter (1981). 1981 Speedway Yearbook. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. pp. 27–28. ISBN 0-86215-017-5.
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