The title of ‘Mr Reading Speedway’ has been bestowed on a few riders that have ridden for the Reading Racers since their formation in 1968, but none have probably been more deserving that the ice-cool JAN ANDERSSON.

The Swede went on to become a Racers legend, after spending thirteen years with the Smallmead club, racing in over 480 meetings – all of them in British Speedway’s top flight.

However, it was with local rivals Swindon Robins where the Swede started his British career. He won his first race on his Robins debut in April 1975 and finished that first season with a 4.56 average. He made improvements each year with the Robins, and by the time he completed what was to be his final year at the Wiltshire track in 1978, had progressed to heat-leader standard with a 8.05 average from 31 meetings. Reading had a poor year in 1978, so were on the lookout for new blood, particularly after losing number one Dave Jessup to Kings Lynn in a £20,000 deal. Andersson, who had qualified for the 1978 World Final, fitted the criteria the Racers were looking for, so completed a full-transfer to the Smallmead club in time for the 1979 season.He had his best year yet in British Speedway in his first season with the Racers, scoring 300 points on his way to an 8.64 average. 1980 was a glorious year for not only Reading but Andersson as well. He topped the Club’s averages with an incredible 10.04 figure, and also skippered the club to the British League Championship in the process. Reading didn’t retain their league title in 1981, but it was still a good one for the Swede personally, as he upped his scoring power to 10.26 from 41 meetings. His average dipped slightly in 1982 to 9.96, but was still a pillar of strength topping the Racers average. Andersson finished second in the Reading averages with 9.47 behind new signing Mitch Shirra in 1983, but regained top spot 12-months later with 10.05 from 44 meetings, in Per Jonsson’s first year with the Racers. The ‘ice-man’ remained a rock in the Reading team for the next few years, where he remained extremely consistent with a nine-plus average. He qualified for the BLRC for the seventh successive year in 1986, where he finished in 4th place with 11 points having lost a run-off for second place against Eric Gundersen and Shawn Moran. A spate of rare mechanical gremlins saw his average dip in 1987 to 8.99, but in 1988 Andersson enjoyed a richly deserved testimonial, where a Oxford/ Swindon Select defeated a Jan Andersson Select 44-40. Unfortunately the Swede wasn’t able to ride in his big meeting, being sidelined with a broken collarbone sustained in a jet ski accident just weeks earlier. It was quite ironic really, as in the thirteen years he rode for Reading this was probably the only time he ever missed a meeting because of injury.Sad news was to come at the end of the 1988 season, as the Swede announced his decision to retire from British Speedway. However, he signed off with a consistent year and an 8.92 average from 37 meetings. The Alingsas born rider didn’t ride in Britain in 1989 and everyone thought that was the last they had seen the last of the super Swede. But as the Smallmead crowd gathered at the stadium for press day on the eve of the 1990 season, there was one familiar face in the pits – Jan was making a comeback and had agreed terms for the new season with the Racers.After that he completed three more years with Reading, and although his form did dip from the giddy heights of the mid 1980’s, he still played an integral part in the most successful period in the history of the Reading Racers. Reading were crowned British League Champions & KO Cup winners in 1990 and followed that up with another league title in 1992. Unfortunately they were beaten in the 1992 Cup Final by Bradford, but did win the BSPA Cup Final against Poole in the second part of a dramatic double-header the same night.Andersson was a model of consistently week in and week out for the Racers, finishing in the top two of the Reading averages for 9 of the 13 seasons he raced at Smallmead. He never quite transferred that form onto the individual scene, but still qualified for six world finals, where he had a best-ever finish of fourth place in 1980.

The Swede also proved he could turn his hand to any form of speedway, when during the 1980’s he won a number of major titles on the indoor speedway circuits. He dominated the pre-season indoor meetings on the concrete of the Wembley, Birmingham NEC and also won several other indoor titles at Telford and Murrayfield ice rinks.

Sadly all good things must to come to an end at some stage, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the stadium at the end of the 1992 season, when the Smallmead legend announced his retirement from speedway – and this time it was for keeps. The multi-Swedish Champion was a well-mannered man, a model of consistency and extremely loyal to his club – Jan Andersson really was MR READING SPEEDWAY.