Zdeněk Kudrna (2 September 1946 – 1 June 1982)[1] was a Czech speedway rider. He reached the Speedway World Championship final in 1979 and also finished third in the Individual Ice Racing World Championship twice, in 1977 and 1979.[2] Kudrna was Czech Ice Racing champion six times, after the last of which he was awarded title Sportsman of the Year by the Czech Motorcycle Federation.
 | |
| Born | 2 September 1946 Čisovice, Czechoslovakia |
|---|---|
| Died | 1 June 1982 (aged 35) |
| Nickname | Kermit |
| Nationality | Czech |
| Career history | |
| Czechoslovakia | |
| 1975–1982 | Rudá Hvězda Praha |
| Great Britain | |
| 1979 | Exeter Falcons |
| 1980, 1982 | Birmingham Brummies |
| Individual honours | |
| 1977, 1979 | Ice World Championship bronze medal |
| 6 times | Czechoslovakian Ice racing champion |
| 1979 | Westernapolis |
Career
editIn 1974, he represented his country in a test series against England.[3]
Kudrna was subject to several failed signing attempts with Cradley Heath Heathens and Bristol Bulldogs when he was due to race in Britain for the 1978 season.[4] He eventually rode in the UK for the Exeter Falcons in 1979 with compatriots Aleš Dryml Sr., Jan Verner and Václav Verner. Also in 1979 he finished seventh Speedway World Championship final and was a member of the Czechoslovak team that finished third in the Speedway World Team Cup.
1980 saw him move to the Birmingham Brummies[5] where he was nicknamed Kermit due to his bright green leathers. The Czechoslovak authorities refused him permission to ride in the UK in 1981 but in 1982 he returned to the Brummies.
World Final Appearances
editIndividual World Championship
edit- 1978 –
London, Wembley Stadium - Reserve - did not ride - 1979 –
Chorzów, Silesian Stadium - 7th - 8pts
World Team Cup
edit- 1979 – London, White City Stadium (with Jiří Štancl / Aleš Dryml Sr. / Václav Verner) - 3rd - 19pts (4)
- 1980 – Wrocław, Olympic Stadium (with Jiří Štancl / Aleš Dryml Sr. / Václav Verner / Petr Ondrašík) - 4th - 12pt (1)
World Longtrack Championship
edit- 1976 –
Mariánské Lázně 6th 14pts - 1977 –
Aalborg 12th 8pts - 1978 –
Mühldorf 15th 7pts - 1979 – Mariánské Lázně 16th 2pts
- 1980 – Scheeßel 8th 9pts
- 1981 –
Gornja Radgona 14th 4pts
Individual Ice Speedway World Championship
edit
Death
editOn 31 May 1982 Kudrna was racing in a grasstrack meeting in Stadskanaal, the Netherlands. He had already qualified to go through to the next round when midway through the final race, his throttle stuck open and he crashed full speed into the barrier. A wooden stake holding the fence impaled him. Despite being rushed to hospital, Kudrna died the next day from his injuries.[6]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Buck, B (2007) Brummies Legends, Pendragon Books. ISBN 0-9541671-2-0
- ^ Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5
- ^ "Browning for England". Walsall Observer. 19 April 1974. Retrieved 17 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Cradley sign Czech star". Wolverhampton Express and Star. 2 March 1978. Retrieved 31 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "New look Brummies facing a tough first test at Brandon". Birmingham Mail. 15 March 1980. Retrieved 26 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "From the Archives: Speedway star killed by wooden stake", Birmingham Mail, 16 February 2011, retrieved 2011-11-27