Karl Killmeyer (29 October 1929 – 23 October 2015) was an international motorcycle speedway rider from Austria and earned multiple international caps for the Austria national speedway team.[1]
| Born | 29 October 1929 Vienna, Austria |
|---|---|
| Died | 23 October 2015 (aged 85) Austria |
| Nationality | Austrian |
| Individual honours | |
| 1947 | Golden Helmet of Pardubice silver |
Career edit
Killmeyer born in Vienna, Austria, followed his older brother Leopold Killmeyer into speedway. After World War II, he was finally able to race in Vienna on 22 April 1946.[2] On 7 September 1947, he finished runner-up to Hugo Rosák in the prestigious Golden Helmet of Pardubice.[3]
He first rode in the Speedway World Championship in 1949 (when continental riders participated for the first time since the war) at a meeting at Tamworth Greyhound Stadium.[4] [5]
Killmeyer was one of the stronger European riders during the World Championship qualifying races and reached the Continental Speedway final in 1953, 1954, 1955 and 1958.[6]
Music edit
Killmeyer topped the Austrian hit parade with a 1950s song called Speedway-Fox.[7][8]
Family edit
His older brother Leopold Killmeyer was also an international speedway rider.[9]
References edit
- ^ "Austria v Germany". International Speedway. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ "Austria's best motorcycle racers on sand, grass and cinder tracks until 1960". Reisemosaik. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ "Golden Helmet". zlataprilba. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ "Speedway". Tamworth Herald. 7 May 1949. Retrieved 29 February 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Warren's claim to title race". Evening Despatch. 18 May 1949. Retrieved 29 February 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "HISTORY SPEEDWAY and LONGTRACK". Speedway.org. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ "Żużel. Austria miała swoich Gollobów. Jeden też śpiewał". Po Bandzie. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ "Karl Killmeyer - Speedway-Fox". YouTube (British Pathe). Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ "Singing Speedway Riders – A Rich Tradition". Methanol Press. Retrieved 29 February 2024.