Author(s): Barry Briggs

Technology & Transport

Barry Briggs was born in New Zealand in 1934. He won the World Individual Speedway Championship four times - in 1957, 1958, 1964 and 1966. He appeared in a record 17 consecutive World Individual finals (1954-1970) and a record 18 in all, during which he scored a record 201 points. He also won the London Riders' Championship in 1955 whilst riding for the Wimbledon Dons. He's a six-time winner of the British Championship, winning his first final in 1961 and then dominated the 60s by winning in 1964,1965,1966,1967 and 1969. His life has been a stream of adventures - and not just in the world of speedway. WEMBLEY AND BEYOND has stories about his adventures diamond mining in the jungles of Liberia, looking down the barrel of an AK-47 rifle held by an irate soldier and losing $43 million in 24 hours. He went through the agony of a beloved wife dying of cancer, his son having a major speedway accident and facing paralysis, he taught Steve McQueen to slide a speedway bike and many other things.