Bengt Brannefors Explained

Bengt Brannefors
Nationality:Swedish
Birth Date: 31 May 1936
Birth Place:Gothenburg, Sweden
Career1:Sweden
Career2:Kaparna
Years2:1953–1971, 1974
Years3:1972–1973
Career3:Vargarna
Career4:Great Britain
Years5:1961
Career5:Oxford Cheetahs
Years6:1961
Career6:New Cross Rangers
Years7:1962
Career7:Ipswich Witches
Years8:1970–1971
Career8:Newport Wasps
Years9:1971
Career9:Wolverhampton Wolves
Teamyear1:1968, 1970
Teamhonour1:Swedish league championship

Bengt Brannefors (31 May 1936 – January 2008) was a Swedish motorcycle speedway rider. He earned 20 international caps for the Sweden national speedway team.[1]

Biography

Brannefors began his speedway career racing for Kaparna during the 1953 Swedish speedway season.[2] He was part of the Kaparna team that secured two league championships in 1968 and 1970.[3]

His performances in Sweden were noticed by the British teams, which resulted in New Cross Rangers signing him for the 1961 Speedway National League season.[4] However, his time at New Cross was short because promoter Johnnie Hoskins dropped him.[5] He moved to ride a couple of times for Oxford Cheetahs before joining Ipswich Witches for the 1962 season but again only rode a few matches because Ipswich withdrew from the league.

He continued to ride in Sweden and made several attempts to return to Britain but league restrictions and issues over overseas riders caused various problems in securing a team, despite interest from clubs. He finally returned to ride for Newport Wasps during the 1970 British League season.[6] Unfortunately he continued to have issues with external matters and was subject to work permit problems during the season.[7] The problems he encountered were somewhat responsible for being unable to gain consistency in Britain, which affected his average.[8]

The following season in 1971, he rode for Newport and Wolverhampton Wolves,[9] which was his last in the United Kingdom. He rode for Vargarna before completing one more season with Kaparna in 1974.

Family

His son Pierre Brannefors was also a professional speedway rider.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022 . British Speedway . 19 January 2024.
  2. Web site: 1953 Swedish season . Speedway.org . 19 January 2024.
  3. Web site: HISTORICAL RESULTS 1948-2015 . Speedway History . 19 January 2024.
  4. Web site: 1961 season . Speedway Researcher . 19 January 2024.
  5. News: Speedway by Don Clarke . Sunday Mirror . 30 April 1961 . 19 January 2024 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  6. Web site: Year by Year . Speedway Researcher . 19 January 2024.
  7. News: Star Sweden in Newport side . Bristol Evening Post . 14 August 1970 . 19 January 2024 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  8. Web site: Rider averages 1929 to 2009 . Speedway Researcher . 19 January 2024.
  9. News: Speedway by Richard Frost . Sports Argus . 19 February 1972 . 19 January 2024 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription .