Odd Fossengen
Born | Nes, Norway | 27 February 1945
---|---|
Died | 29 December 2017 Oslo, Norway | (aged 72)
Nickname | Oddy |
Nationality | Norwegian |
Career history | |
1968-1974 | Poole Pirates |
Individual honours | |
1967, 1972 | Norwegian Championship bronze |
Team honours | |
1969 | British League Champion |
Odd Kristian Fossengen (27 February 1945 – 29 December 2017)[1] was an international motorcycle speedway rider from Norway.[2] He earned 8 caps for the Norway national speedway team.[3]
Career Summary
[edit]Fossengen signed for the Poole Pirates in 1968,[4][5] following a successful trial with the club and he proved to be a popular signing with the Poole supporters.[6]
He won the bronze medal on two occasions at the Norwegian Individual Speedway Championship, in 1967 and 1972.[7]
In 1968, he finished 3rd in the World Pairs Final with Øyvind S. Berg.[6]
His only major league honour came in 1969, with Poole winning the British League Championship. In May 1974, Fossengen's speedway career ended after he suffered a badly broken thigh.[8] He was hit by his compatriot Ulf Lovaas' bike while riding for Poole against Oxford.[6]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e8/Odd_Fossengen_taken_out_by_Ulf.jpg/220px-Odd_Fossengen_taken_out_by_Ulf.jpg)
Retirement
[edit]He moved back to Oslo in 1974 and worked for a firm selling and repairing hydraulic machinery for 7 years. He then set up his own firm selling and repairing compressed air machinery.
Fossengen suffered a massive heart attack on 27 December 2017 and died on 29 December 2017. He is survived by his wife, Susan, and their three daughters, Kirsty, Katrina and Annika.
World Final appearances
[edit]World Pairs Championship
[edit]- 1968* -
Kempten (with Øyvind S. Berg) - 3rd - 16pts (11)
* Unofficial World Championships.
References
[edit]- ^ Oakes, P.(2004). British Speedway Who's Who. ISBN 0-948882-81-6
- ^ "Obituary: Middleditch's tribute to popular Pirates racer Fossengen – the rider recruited by telegram". Bournemouth Echo. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
- ^ "Ultimate rider index, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
- ^ "Kaiser out - Kasper in". Sunday Mirror. 19 May 1968. Retrieved 26 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Rider averages 1929 to 2009" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
- ^ a b c Bamford, Robert; Glynn Shailes (2004). 50 Poole Pirates Greats. Tempus Publishing. pp. 44–45. ISBN 0-7524-3257-5.
- ^ "NM Individuelt". Speedway Norge. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
- ^ "Anders is ready to ride". Sunday Mirror. 12 May 1974. Retrieved 26 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.