Adolf "Adi" Funk (1 July 1951 – 27 January 2010) was an Austrian motorcycle speedway rider who won the Austrian Championship four times. He earned 25 caps for the Austria national speedway team.[1]
 | |
| Born | 1 July 1951 Klosterneuburg, Austria |
|---|---|
| Died | 27 January 2010 (aged 58) Felixdorf, Austria |
| Nationality | Austrian |
| Career history | |
| Austria | |
| 1975 | Blau Gelbe Stars |
| Great Britain | |
| 1976 | King's Lynn Stars |
| 1977 | Leicester Lions |
| Individual honours | |
| 1975, 1980, 1981, 1982 | Austrian Champion |
Biography
editBorn in Klosterneuburg, Funk rose to prominence in the early 1970s, and by 1974 had the highest average in Austrian speedway.[2] He finished in fourth place in the Austrian Championship in 1974 and won it for the first time the following year, also winning the Austrian Pairs Championship (with Alex Taudtmann).[2]
In 1976 he rode in Britain for King's Lynn Stars[3] but struggled to score well, averaging only 2.8 over the season and was released.[4] The following year he rode for Leicester Lions, and while his average improved, it was still below three points per match. He went on to win the Austrian Championship for three successive seasons between 1980 and 1982.
Funk also represented Austria several times.[5]
Funk died in January 2010. A memorial meeting in his honour was held in Mureck the following year.[6]
World final appearances
editWorld Pairs Championship
edit- 1975 - Wrocław, Olympic Stadium (with Herbert Szerecz) - 7th - 10pts (6)
References
edit- ^ "Ultimate rider index, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ^ a b Oakes, Peter & Mauger, Ivan (1976) Who's Who of World Speedway, Studio Publications, ISBN 0-904584-04-6, p. 141
- ^ "Austrian may be mystery rider". Lynn Advertiser. 20 February 1976. Retrieved 27 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Reading ready to topple champions". Reading Evening Post. 2 April 1977. Retrieved 26 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Jones, Alan (2010) Speedway in Leicester: The Lions Roar, Automedia, p. 165
- ^ "Generalprobe in Mureck", Kleine Zeitung, 29 April 2011, retrieved 2012-03-17