1976 Individual Speedway World Championship

The 1976 Individual Speedway World Championship was the 31st edition of the official World Championship to determine the world champion rider.

England's Peter Collins became the first British World Speedway Champion since Peter Craven had won in 1962. Fellow Englishman Malcolm Simmons finished second with Australia's Phil Crump finishing third. 1976 was the first time since 1952 that no rider from either New Zealand or Sweden finished on the podium in the World Final.

Qualifying results.

First round

British Preliminary round

• Riders progress to British qualifying round

British qualifying round

• Riders progress to British quarter finals

Second round

Swedish qualification

• Top 5 in each heat to Swedish final

New Zealand qualification

• Top 16 to New Zealand final

Australian qualification

British quarter-finals

• Top 32 to British semi-finals

Continental Preliminary round

• Riders progress to Continental quarter-finals

Third round

American qualifying

• 3 June
• Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, San Jose
• Top 16 to American Final

New Zealand Final

• 14 February, Ruapuna Speedway, Templeton
• Top 8 to Australasian final

Australian Final

• 13 February 1976, Rowley Park Speedway, Adelaide
• Top 8 to Australasian Final

Swedish Final

• The final was initially started on 20 May at Gubbängens IP but had to be abandoned following the fatal crash of Tommy Jansson.

• 25 May 1976
• Linköping Motorstadion, Linköping
• Top 8 to Nordic final

Danish Final

• 25 April 1976
• Speedway Center, Vojens
• Top 2 to Nordic final

Finland Final

• Top 1 to Nordic final
• 17 Sep '75,
• Kärpänen speedway, Lahti

Norwegian Final

• 25 April 1976
• Geiteryggen Speedwaybane, Skien
• First 3 to Nordic Final

British semi-finals

Continental quarter-finals

• Top 32 to Continental semi-finals

Fourth round

Continental semi-finals

Australasian Final

• 21 February 1976
• Western Springs Stadium, Auckland
• Top 4 to Intercontinental final

American Final

• 4 June
• Cal-Expo Rodeo Arena, Sacramento
• Winner to Intercontinental Final, Autrey won a three rider race-off

British Final

• 2 June 1976
• Brandon Stadium, Coventry
• First 5 to Intercontinental Final

Nordic Final

• 2 June 1976
• Norrköping Motorstadion, Norrköping
• Top 6 to Intercontinental final

Fifth round

Intercontinental Final

• 26 June 1976
• Wembley Stadium, London
• First 8 to World Final

Continental Final

• 20 June 1976
• Leningrad Speedway Stadium, Leningrad

World Final

• 5 September 1976
• Silesian Stadium, Chorzów
• Top 8 to World final & 1 reserve

References