Reading's Jeremy Doncaster and Per Jonsson join the of riders who've won this prestigious trophy
Pardubice 's main claim to fame is that this is where Semtex is manufactured. It also hosts the world's most explosive speedway meeting. The greatest spectacle speedway has to offer is the Czech Golden Helmet, held every Autumn in this city, 100km east of Prague.
The wide pacey track is one of the few in the world that is genuinely suitable for six rider races. The unusual 32 heat formula packs in more excitement than a season's worth of meetings at some British Tracks.
It is essentially a knock-out competition. Riders are drawn in groups of six, but instead of a single race to determine who progresses, the groups are run over the best of three. The three highest scorers progress to the following round until there are just six riders left. The final is sudden death over six laps.
The Helmet has a long history, with many famous names on its roll of honour. Ove Fundin, Ole Olsen, Eric Gundersen, Hans Nielsen, Tony Rickardsson and Jason Crump all appear on the role of honour. It is generally regarded as the most prestigious speedway event outside the FIM calendar.
Four Reading legends appear on that list. First up, it's Jiri Stancl. A five times winner, the last of his victories came in 1982 - Jiri's last season at Smallmead. Hopefully this compensated for the loss of his Czech national title. After ten wins in a row his domination came to an end at the hands of Ales Dryml snr. (father of Ales jnr. and Lukas). Stancl did go on to regain it the following year for his twelfth and final Czech crown.
Stancl isn't the only Racer to have dozen national titles. Armando Castagna's trophy cabinet includes twelve Italian Championship winners medals. Current Smallmead hero Matej Zagar may join them one day. He's already won five Slovenian titles in a row!
The first English winner of the Golden Helmet, was John Davis. Riding for Wimbledon in 1984, between his two spells with Reading, Davis surged past runner-up Lance King on the first lap of the final. Third placed Jiri Stancl had to overcome a poor start.
Nowadays results from all over the world can be found on the internet, sometimes just minutes after the meeting has finished. Back in '84 it took a month for the result to 'escape' from behind the iron curtain and find its way into Speedway Star!
At the end of the decade Pardubice was a happy hunting ground for Reading riders. Three times in three years, a Racer won the Golden Helmet. To the six World Champions already listed as helmet winners can be added the name of Per Jonsson. In 1988 John Davis won the consolation final, before Per headed home Roman Matousek, Jeremy Doncaster, Armando Castagna and Tommy Knudsen in the main event. An interesting name in the qualifying rounds: Zvonko Pavlic, father of Jurica Pavlic - currently one of the hottest prospects in European speedway.
In 1989 Per could not defend his helmet title as the meeting clashed with the Swedish Championship. Instead the champion's mantle passed to another Racer.
Among those eliminated in the '89 quarter finals - a teenager new to large tracks - Greg Hancock. Two Racers made it through to the semi-finals, Jeremy Doncaster and Tony Olsson. The draw kept them apart and both headed the qualifying scores from their groups. On the way to the final 'Donkey' dropped his only point to Roman Matousek.. Come the final Matousek found himself in a Racer sandwich. Doncaster took gold and Olsson bronze. Toni Kasper came fourth. He had to wait another two years before lifting the helmet, as his father had done in 1963.
Kasper came closer in 1990, but Doncaster went on to retain the helmet. In the final he fought every inch of the way against Toni Kasper, the lead changing hands several times. Mitch Shirra came fifth, and returned to Reading in 1991 after being banned from British speedway in 1990.
Since 1975 the Golden Ribbon, a sister competition for junior riders has complemented the Helmet. Three Reading riders feature on the list of winners. Double winner Stanislav Urban won in 1979 & '80 before spending 1983 in Racers colours. Peter Ljung had the briefest of spells with Reading. His two appearances for the Racers (both against Swindon in 2003) were separated by 39 days! In between them he managed to carry off the Golden Ribbon.
In between these two winners Lee Richardson took the title in 1998. In a rain affected meeting Lee overcame a first ride zero to beat Krystof Cegeilski, Nicki Pedersen and Ales Dryml in the final. Also on show that day were Scott Nicholls and Lukas Dryml - Quite a line-up for a junior meeting.
It's about time a Reading rider took the title again. Both of our GP stars have taken silver, Greg Hancock in 2000 and Matej Zagar in 2002. Maybe this year?
If you are at a loose end on the first weekend in October, you know where to go.
