Canterbury Museum has spent $1.7 million on a collection of memorabilia belonging to New Zealand speedway legend Ivan Mauger.
New Zealand speedway legend Ivan Mauger won more than 1000 international events. Photo: Keith Lawson
The collection includes Mauger's gold-plated bike, with which he broke the world long-track speed record in 1986, and the first Jawa 4-Valve bike ever produced, on which he won the 1976 World Long Track Championship.
The collection, which has been on loan to the museum since 2007, also includes his vests and leathers.
The $1.7m to be paid over three years was donated to the museum by the Adson Trust, set up by Arthur Henry from Blenheim.
Mr Henry set up the trust in 2010 with $10m to add to the museum's collections.
Ivan Mauger's daughter Julie said the family was thrilled to have secured arrangements for the collection to stay in Ivan's beloved hometown.
Mauger broke the world long-track speed record on this gold-plated speedway bike in 1986. Photo: Wikicommons
"The collection is a lasting public tribute to his achievements," Ms Mauger said.
"Although he is now burdened with Alzheimer's and cannot travel here himself, we know that this would have been one of the proudest days of Dad's life," Ms Mauger said.
Ms Mauger said the family hoped the collection would continue to inspire people.
Museum chair Michael McEvedy said it was fantastic the museum had secured the purchase so the collection could stay in the public domain.
"The family have generously agreed to sell the collection for much less than they might have received on the open market as there is worldwide interest in the collection."
Ivan Mauger is considered the best speedway rider of all time. He won more than 1000 international events in 60 countries and is still the only rider to win the World Speedway Championship in three consecutive years: 1968, 1969 and 1970.
He was named New Zealand Sportsman of the Year in 1977 and 1979.
