Josef Hofmeister
German speedway rider
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Josef Hofmeister nicknamed Wack Hofmeister (born 17 June 1934) is a former motorcycle rider from Germany, who competed in Grasstrack, Longtrack and motorcycle speedway. He competed in six World Longtrack Championship Finals and won a three consecutive titles between 1958 and 1960. Josef was also a World Speedway finalist on four occasions.
| Born | 17 June 1934 Abensberg, West Germany |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Wack Hofmeister |
| Nationality | German |
| Career history | |
| Germany | |
| 1950s | MSC Abensberg |
| Great Britain | |
| 1957 | Southampton Saints |
| Individual honours | |
| 1958, 1959, 1960 | Long Track World Champion |
| 1957, 1959, 1960 | Continental Final Champion |
| 1956, 1959, 1961 | German Longtrack Golden Helmet |
| 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961 | German Longtrack Silver Helmet |
Career
Hofmeister started his career in 1949 in the youth class and retired in 1963 at the age of 29. In the 1950s and early 1960s, he was the first German star of international motorcycle racing.
He was a three time winner of the Individual Speedway Long Track World Championship or European Championship as it was called, when he won it in 1958, 1959 and 1960.[1][2]
In 1957, he reached his first world final, making his way through the rounds to compete in the 1957 Individual Speedway World Championship.[3] He only ever had one match in British speedway for the Southampton Saints, during the 1957 Speedway National League season.[4]
In 1958, he reached his second world final, competing in the final of the 1958 Individual Speedway World Championship.[5]
In 2022, he received the honour of having the Altes Stadion Abensberg renamed after him. It would be known as the Wack Hofmeister Stadium.[6][7]
Retirement
Individual World Championship
- 1957 -
London, Wembley Stadium - 16th - 0pts - 1958 - London, Wembley Stadium - 15th - 2pts
- 1959 - London, Wembley Stadium - 13th - 4pts
- 1960 - London, Wembley Stadium - 8th - 6pts
