An Oxford speedway racer, who established himself as one of the city’s leading riders in the 1960s, has died aged 83.

Danish champion Arne Pander rode for the Cheetahs between 1959 and 1968 and was the team’s first international star.

Before coming to the city, he had won the Danish Championship in 1956 and 1958 and quickly become a fan favourite at Oxford Stadium.

He was signed by manager Ted Flanaghan, who hired him on the recommendation of Swedish former world champion Ove Fundin.

Mr Pander, who had been tipped as world champion material himself, often achieved maximum points at matches and rubbed shoulders with some of the biggest names in the sport, including Mr Fundin, Barry Briggs, Ronnie Moore and Peter Craven.

Cliff Peasley, former treasurer of the Oxford Speedway Supporters Club, said “The Swindon fans used to hate him, because every time when he travelled to Wiltshire, he would return with a maximum.”

He added: “We had some pretty poor teams at times, and sometimes Arne would score more than half of the team total.”

In July 1961, the Dane suffered a fractured skull in an accident in Coventry and was out of action until the 1963 racing season, but returned again to more success.

Mr Peasley said: “If he hadn’t suffered that fractured skull at Coventry in 1961, I’m convinced he would have been world champion.

“For 10 years, he was Oxford Speedway.”

Mr Pander made his debut in the Cheetahs in 1959, on Good Friday, March 27, dropping just a single point to the opposition as the Cheetahs thrashed Coventry Bees by 53-37. By the end of the season, he had established himself as the team’s leading rider.

In 1960, the Cheetahs began strongly, before having to settle for third place in the league table, behind Wimbledon and Belle Vue (Manchester).

In 1961, when Mr Pander was just one stage away from reaching the World Final, he suffered a fractured skull at Coventry on July 29. He scored a 15-point maximum for Oxford at Brandon, half the team’s total, but was involved in an accident with Coventry rider Les Owen during the second half of the fixture.

Mr Pander survived and returned to action with Oxford in 1963, after 18 months away from his bike.

In 1964, new promoters Cyril Melville and Rodney Rycroft took over the team and brought in Ron How and Jimmy Gooch.

With Mr Pander, they formed the heat-leader trio of the Cheetahs, who swept to a treble, including the national league championship.

In 1965, the British League was formed and former rider Danny Dunton became the promoter, after Mr Melville and Mr Rycroft left.

Mr Pander, who was retained along with How and Gooch, had a brilliant season, ending the year with a string of maximums.

He remained the leading light with the Cheetahs in 1966 and 1967, but his 1967 season was cut short with a broken leg.

It was followed by a series of accidents that brought about his departure from Oxford.

After leaving, he moved to King’s Lynn, Norfolk.

A statement last week from Robert Peasley, a spokesman for Oxford Speedway, added: “To Oxford Cheetahs’ fans, he will always remain a hero.

“His place in the history of Oxford Speedway is assured.”

Arne Pander died on May 22 in Lisbon Court, Kings Lynn. A funeral will be held at St Faith’s Church, Gaywood, Norfolk, on Wednesday, June 10, at 11.30am.