1966 Individual Speedway World Championship


The 1966 Individual Speedway World Championship was the 21st edition of the official World Championship to determine the world champion rider.
In the final in Gothenburg New Zealander Barry Briggs equalled the record of Ove Fundin by winning his fourth World title. Norwegian Sverre Harrfeldt took silver and Pole Antoni Woryna took bronze. Ivan Mauger, a 26-year-old New Zealander who had won the European Final qualifier finished fourth.

Format changes

The format of the Championship changed for the 1966 event. With the final to be held in Sweden, six riders from Sweden would be eligible for the World Final by finishing in the top six of the Swedish finals. The remaining Scandinavian riders were pooled in with the British and Commonwealth riders and then the Continental riders, who ultimately would have only 10 places for the World Final.
Two Swedish finals were held during 1966, the three race qualifying for the World Final and another held on 7 October that was separate from the World Championship.

First round

Qualification results.

British & Commonwealth qualifying

DateVenueWinner2nd3rd
20 MaySomerton Park, NewportNigel BoocockJon ErskineJack Biggs
20 MayWhite City, GlasgowRon MountfordCharlie MonkEric Boocock
21 MayOld Meadowbank, EdinburghGeorge HunterDoug TempletonNorman Hunter
21 MayBrandon Stadium, CoventryNigel BoocockJim LightfootBill Andrew
21 MayHyde Road, ManchesterBrian BrettJon ErskineCyril Maidment
21 MayWimbledon Stadium, LondonReg LuckhurstBob DugardBob Paulson
23 MayBrough Park, NewcastleIvan MaugerBrian BrettMike Broadbank
23 MayCounty Ground Stadium, ExeterRon MountfordMartin AshbyTrevor Hedge
24 MayLong Eaton Stadium, Long EatonRay WilsonEric BoothroydIvan Mauger
24 MayWest Ham Stadium, LondonBarry BriggsNorman HunterMalcolm Simmons
25 MayKing's Lynn Stadium, King's LynnDavid CraneCyril MaidmentPeter Moore
25 MayWimborne Road, PooleBill AndrewGeoff MudgeDoug Templeton
26 MayOxford Stadium, OxfordEric BoocockJimmy GoochJim Lightfoot
26 MayOwlerton Stadium, SheffieldBilly BalesBarry BriggsCharlie Monk
27 MayHackney Wick Stadium, LondonColin PrattMike BroadbankIvan Mauger
27 MayMonmore Green, WolverhamptonKen McKinlayTerry BettsPeter Jarman
28 MayDudley Wood Stadium, DudleyIvor BrownPeter VandenbergColin Gooddy
28 MayThe Shay, HalifaxEric BoocockEric BoothroydColin Pratt
28 MayAbbey Stadium, SwindonBarry BriggsMartin AshbyArne Pander

Second round

Continental qualifying

  • Top 32 to Continental semi-finals
DateVenueWinner2nd3rd
8 May

Norwegian qualifying

Pos.RiderPoints
1Sverre Harrfeldt15
2Per Aulie14
3Johnny Faafeng13
4Thorbjorn Nygaard12
5Rolf Westerberg10
6Thorbjorn Aulie10
7Svein Johnsen8
8Ivar Arne Hoffgaard8
9Hans R. Gaarder6
10Olav Aaen6
11Einar Egedius6
12Svein Svensrud4
13Arne Thorbjornsen2
14Jan Terje Gravningen2
15Svein Tollefsen2
16Lars Skjellfoss1

Finnish qualifying

Pos.RiderPoints
1Kalevi Lahtinen15
2Matti Olin14
3Heikki Kaprali12
4Esko Koponen12
5Antero Salasto10
6Jouko Naskali9
7Timo Sinkkonene8
8Reima Lohkovuori8
9Veikko Vesa7
10Eero Mantila6
11Reijo Tolviander6
12Juhani Taipale5
13Toivo Skytta3
14Teijo Naskali3
15Teuvo Morjavaara2
16Martti Myllyntausta0

Third round

British & Commonwealth Final

Nordic Final

Pos.RiderPoints
1

Fourth round

Continental Final

British/Commonwealth/Scandinavian Final

Fifth round

Swedish Final

  • Top 6 to World final
DateVenueWinner2nd3rd
31 MayRyavallen, BoråsBengt BranneforsBjörn KnutsonKarl-Erik Andersson
1 JuneRyd Motorstadion, LinköpingBjörn KnutsonPer-Olof SödermanTorbjörn Harrysson
2 JuneUllevi, GothenburgBjörn KnutsonTorbjörn HarryssonLeif Larsson

European Final

World Final