{{short description|Norwegian speedway rider}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Use British English|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox Speedway rider | name = Odd Fossengen | image = | nationality = Norwegian | birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1945|2|27}} | birth_place = [[Nes, Akershus|Nes]], [[Norway]] | death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2017|12|29|1945|2|27}} | death_place = [[Oslo]], Norway | nickname = Oddy
| years1 = 1968-1974 | career1 = [[Poole Pirates]] | indivyear1 = 1967, 1972 | indivhonour1 = [[Norwegian Individual Speedway Championship|Norwegian Championship bronze]] | teamyear1 = 1969 | teamhonour1 = [[Speedway British League|British League Champion]] }}
'''Odd Kristian Fossengen''' (27 February 1945 – 29 December 2017)<ref>Oakes, P.(2004). ''British Speedway Who's Who''. {{ISBN|0-948882-81-6}}</ref> was an international [[motorcycle speedway]] rider from Norway.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/15803440.Obituary__Middleditch_s_tribute_to_popular_Pirates_racer_Fossengen_____the_rider_recruited_by_telegram/|title=Obituary: Middleditch's tribute to popular Pirates racer Fossengen – the rider recruited by telegram|website=Bournemouth Echo|accessdate=21 January 2018}}</ref> He earned 8 caps for the [[Norway 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=26 August 2024}}</ref>
== Career summary == Fossengen signed for the [[Poole Pirates]] in 1968,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002137/19680519/293/0037 |title=Kaiser out - Kasper in |website=Sunday Mirror |date=19 May 1968 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=26 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/specialfeaturesrideraverages.pdf |title=Rider averages 1929 to 2009 |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=12 August 2023}}</ref> following a successful trial with the club and he proved to be a popular signing with the Poole supporters.<ref name="50 Greats"/> He continued to ride for Poole for seven years.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004695/19700402/012/0012 |title=Speed champs hit Gwent |website=Gwent Gazette |date=2 April 1970 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=19 September 2024}}</ref>
He won the bronze medal on two occasions at the [[Norwegian Individual Speedway Championship]], in 1967 and 1972.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwaynorge.no/index.php?option=com_sppagebuilder&view=page&id=62 |title=NM Individuelt |website=Speedway Norge |access-date=12 August 2023 |archive-date=11 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811164445/https://www.speedwaynorge.no/index.php?option=com_sppagebuilder&view=page&id=62 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In 1968, he finished third in the [[Speedway World Pairs Championship|World Pairs Final]] with [[Øyvind S. Berg]].<ref name="50 Greats">{{cite book | last = Bamford | first = Robert |author2=Glynn Shailes | title = 50 Poole Pirates Greats | publisher = [[Tempus Publishing]] | year = 2004 | pages = 44–45 | isbn = 0-7524-3257-5 }}</ref>
His only major league honour came in [[1969 British Speedway League|1969]], with Poole winning the [[Speedway British League|British League]] Championship. In May 1974, Fossengen's speedway career ended after he suffered a badly broken thigh.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002137/19740512/309/0042 |title=Anders is ready to ride |website=Sunday Mirror |date=12 May 1974 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=26 August 2024}}</ref> He was hit by his compatriot Ulf Lovaas' bike while riding for Poole against [[Oxford Cheetahs|Oxford]].<ref name="50 Greats"/> [[File:Odd Fossengen taken out by Ulf.jpg|thumb|right|The collision at Oxford that finished his career]]
==Retirement== He moved back to Oslo in 1974 and worked for a firm selling and repairing hydraulic machinery for 7 years. He then set up his own firm selling and repairing compressed air machinery.
Fossengen suffered a massive heart attack on 27 December 2017 and died on 29 December 2017. He is survived by his wife, Susan, and their three daughters, Kirsty, Katrina and Annika.
== World Final appearances == === World Pairs Championship === * [[1968 Speedway World Pairs Championship|1968]]* - {{flagicon|FRG}} [[Kempten]] (with [[Øyvind S. Berg]]) - '''3rd''' - 16pts (11) <small>''* Unofficial World Championships.''</small>
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fossengen, Odd}} [[Category:1945 births]] [[Category:2017 deaths]] [[Category:Norwegian speedway riders]] [[Category:Poole Pirates riders]] [[Category:Norwegian expatriate speedway riders in England]] [[Category:People from Nes Municipality (Akershus)]] [[Category:Sportspeople from Akershus]] [[Category:20th-century Norwegian sportsmen]]