Speedway champion Ove Fundin celebrates 90th birthday and recalls racing days

There is a mature motorcyclist riding around the roads near his home most days in the South of France often thinking about the people of Norwich and Norfolk.

Mind you, he is travelling a touch slower than he used to during his glory days riding like the wind for the Norwich Stars at the old Firs Stadium in front of thousands of cheering fans.

Fundin in full flow at The Firs. (Image: Mike Kemp Collection)

Ove Fundin, the world’s best speedway rider in his day and a proud Freeman of the City of Norwich, is celebrating his 90th birthday and when he looks back over his extraordinary life he remembers the Fine City with much love and affection.

“I am always thinking of Norwich and its people. It was such a happy time in my life,” said Ove when I spoke to him last week.

And what a privilege it was for us to see The Flying Fox from Sweden wearing the Norwich Star…and beating all comers.

Fundin in full flow at The Firs. (Image: Mike Kemp Collection)

For almost ten glorious years, from 1955 to 1964, the five-times world champion, thrilled the large crowds and always found time to meet his supporters.

Off track he was a true gent but once the tapes went up…well, he hated coming second.

Ove – the world champion speedway rider. (Image: Mike Kemp Collection)

John Chaplin, author of the book Ove Fundin: Speedway Superstar, said: “He is indeed a remarkable man. He is a man of outstanding determination. He has strong and firmly held opinions – on everything from politics, music and art to human integrity and honesty.”

It was Aub Lawson who watched young Ove in action and signed him up for Norwich before any other clubs got their hands on the young Swede.

Lord Mayor of Norwich, Arthur South, later Sir Arthur, greets Ove Fundin when he was riding for the opposition at the Test Match between England and Sweden at a packed Firs in the summer of 1956. England won but Fundin scored 15 points. (Image: Mike Kemp Collection)

When he first arrived in Norwich he stayed with the great rider Phil Clarke and his family and then lived with the club secretary near the stadium.

Story continues

“I didn’t have a car in those days. I would walk to the track and in my spare time walk all the way into the city to do some shopping,” he said.

Ove Funding wearing the Golden Helmet. (Image: Mike Kemp Collection)

Coachloads of supporters would head off to Wembley to watch Ove take on the best riders in the World Championships…and beat them.

He and so many others were sad and angry when the Firs, regarded as one of the best tracks, closed its gates for the last time in 1964. The glory days of speedway in Norwich were over.

The Firs Speedway Stadium, a second home for generations of Norfolk folk. (Image: Mike Kemp Collection)

Ove continued to visit the city and county, helping various good causes and loved the annual reunions organised at Bawburgh by Pam Hedge, wife of another top rider Trevor.

Ove and Ioana Fundin with Pam and Trevor Hedge at a speedway gathering. (Image: Mike Kemp Collection)

In 2006 I was proud to have been able to support the campaign by the late former Lord Mayor Roy Blower and Radio Norfolk’s Roy Waller to honour Ove by making him a Freeman of the City.

Not often seen. A speedway bike on the first floor at City Hall. Ove Fundin with fellow Stars when he was made a Freeman of the City in 2006. (Image: Mike Kemp Collection)

So how will he be celebrating his birthday?

Well, he and his wife Ioana are off on a cruise and then heading back to Tranas in Sweden for a birthday celebration.

“We always said if I reached 90 we would return to live in Sweden which is what we are going to do later this year,” said Ove…but he will still be riding his motorcycle, and thinking of his Norwich “family.”

Happy birthday Ove…and thanks for the memories.

Ove and the rest of the Norwich Stars back in 1960. (Image: Mike Kemp Collection)