{{Short description|Australian motorcycle speedway rider}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}} {{Use Australian English|date=February 2024}} {{Infobox Speedway rider | name = Arnie Hansen | image = | caption = | nationality = Australian | birth_date = {{birth date text|2 April 1907}} | birth_place = Kalgoorlie, Australia | death_date = {{Death date and age|1984|4|13|1907|4|2|df=y}} | death_place = Adelaide, Australia
| career1 = Southampton Saints | years1 = 1930–1931
| indivyear1 = 1932 | indivhonour1 = Australian Solo Championship | teamyear1 = | teamhonour1 = }}
'''Arnold Hans Martin Hansen''' (2 April 1907 – 13 April 1984) was a motorcycle speedway rider from Australia. He was champion of Australia in 1932 and earned three international caps for the Australia national speedway team.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/Ultimate_Index_1929-2022.pdf |title=ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022 |website=British Speedway |access-date=22 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Stars of the Speedway Arnie Hansen |work=Hampshire Advertiser |date=6 June 1931 |access-date=22 February 2024|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003142/19310606/382/0015 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
== Biography== Hansen, born in Kalgoorlie, first raced in the United Kingdom during 1930. He won the Finsbury Handicap at Harringay Stadium<ref>{{cite news |title=On the Speedway |work=Daily News (London) |date=19 May 1930 |access-date=22 February 2024|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003213/19300519/279/0014 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}</ref> before commencing his British leagues career riding for Southampton Saints during the 1930 Speedway Southern League season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1930record.pdf |title=1930 season |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=22 February 2024}}</ref> He enjoyed a good season averaging 8.81<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/specialfeaturesrideraverages.pdf |title=Rider averages 1929 to 2009 |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=22 February 2024}}</ref> and helping Southampton finish runner-up in the league campaign. He also broke several track records and represented Australia in a test match against England.<ref>{{cite news |title=Arnie the Artist |work=Hampshire Advertiser |date=12 July 1930 |access-date=22 February 2024|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003142/19300712/361/0015 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
The following season in 1931, he remained with Southampton but did not perform as well as the previous year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/yearbyyear.html |title=Year by Year |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=22 February 2024}}</ref> He returned to Australia and won the 1932, 3 lap Australian Solo Championship at Wayville Showgrounds.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.historyspeedway.nstrefa.pl/indmaustralii.php |title=Individual Australian Championship|website=Historia Sportu Zuzlowego |access-date=22 February 2024}}</ref>
He continued to ride for an Adelaide team but despite several instances of British clubs looking to sign him, he did not return to ride in England again.<ref>{{cite news |title=Speedway Crisis |work=Western Morning News |date=5 June 1934 |access-date=22 February 2024|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000329/19340605/069/0008 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hansen, Arnie}} Category:1907 births Category:1984 deaths Category:Australian speedway riders Category:Southampton Saints riders Category:Australian expatriate speedway riders in England