Ove Fundin

Competition record
Representing Sweden
Speedway World Championship
Speedway World Team Cup
Speedway World Pairs Championship
Golden Helmet
Long Track World Championship

Ove Fundin
Born	23 May 1933; Tranås, Sweden
Nickname	The Fox or The Flying Fox
Nationality	Sweden
Current club information
Career status	Retired
Career history
1951-1957	Filbyterna (SWE)
1955-1964	Norwich Stars
1958-1971	Kaparna (SWE)
1966	Long Eaton Archers
1967	Belle Vue Aces
1970	Wembley Lions
Individual honours
1956, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1967	World Champion
1956, 1957, 1960, 1962, 1964,; 1966, 1967, 1969, 1970	Swedish Champion
1954	Continental Champion
1956, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1965	European Final winner
1955, 1961, 1963, 1967	Nordic Champion
1957	Pride of the East winner
1960	Southern Riders Champion
1963	Pride of the Midlands winner
1960/61	SA State Champion (Aust)
1969	WA State Champion (Aust)
1967	Golden Helmet of Pardubice (CZE)
1961, 1962, 1963	FIM Internationale
1962	The Laurels
Team honours
1960, 1962, 1963,; 1964, 1967, 1970	World Team Cup
1968	World Pairs Champion
1968, 1970	Allsvenskan Champion
1955, 1963	National Trophy

Ove Fundin (born 23 May 1933) is a Swedish former professional motorcycle speedway rider. He competed in the Speedway World Championships from 1951 to 1970. Fundin is notable for winning the Speedway World Championship Final five times (1956, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1967), a record bettered only by Ivan Mauger and fellow Swede Tony Rickardsson who each won six World Championships. He finished runner-up in the championship 3 times (1957–59) and was third in 1962, 1964 and 1965 meaning that from his first win in 1956 until his last in 1967, Fundin did not finish lower than a podium place in a record eleven World Finals.[1] He was known by the nickname of the "Flying Fox" or just "the Fox" because of his red hair. In 2013, Fundin was named an FIM Legend for his motorcycling achievements.[2]

Career

Fundin was born in Tranås. It was suggested to him by Australian champion Aub Lawson that he ride in Britain and he joined the Norwich Stars, riding for them from 1955 until 1964 when the Firs stadium closed. Then he rode for Long Eaton 1966, Belle Vue 1967, Wembley 1970 but will always be remembered for the glory days at Norwich Stars where he was worshiped by the home fans.

He made a total of 15 World Final appearances coming runner-up three times and third three times as well as his five wins. He also helped Sweden win the World Team Cup in 1960, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1967 and 1970 as well as the Speedway World Pairs Championship in 1968. He is considered by many to be the greatest rider of all time and this is reflected by the Speedway World Cup being named after him. Fundin went through the World Team Cup (including qualifying rounds and the final in Gothenburg) undefeated in 1960, a feat not matched until Australia's Jason Crump went through the 2001 Speedway World Cup undefeated.

Fundin also made several visits to Australia during his career with considerable success. Along with representing Sweden and various "Rest of the World" teams in Test Matches against the Australians, he won the South Australian Championship four times (1966, 1967, 1969, 1970) at the Rowley Park Speedway in Adelaide, and the Western Australian Championship at the Claremont Speedway in Perth in 1969.

Fundin received the Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal in 1961 (shared with Sten Lundin).[3]

After retirement

Fundin was honoured as a Freeman of the City of Norwich in 2006, only the second non-English person to be awarded this honour. The ceremony was completed at Norwich City Hall Council chamber by the Lord Mayor of Norwich on October 30, 2006.

He currently lives on the French Riviera.[4]

World Final appearances

Individual World Championship

1954 - London, Wembley Stadium - 16th - 2pts
1955 - London, Wembley Stadium - 6th - 10pts
1956 - London, Wembley Stadium - Winner - 13pts
1957 - London, Wembley Stadium - 2nd - 14pts + 2pts
1958 - London, Wembley Stadium - 2nd - 13pts
1959 - London, Wembley Stadium - 2nd - 13pts
1960 - London, Wembley Stadium - Winner - 14pts + 3pts
1961 - Malmö, Malmö Stadion - Winner - 14pts
1962 - London, Wembley Stadium - 3rd - 10pts + 3pts
1963 - London, Wembley Stadium - Winner - 14pts
1964 - Gothenburg, Ullevi - 3rd - 13pts + 2pts
1965 - London, Wembley Stadium - 3rd - 13pts + 2pts
1967 - London, Wembley Stadium - Winner - 14pts + 3pts
1968 - Gothenburg, Ullevi - 9th - 7pts
1969 - London, Wembley Stadium - 7th - 9pts

World Pairs Championship

1968* - Kempten (with Torbjörn Harrysson) - Winner - 24pts (14)
1969* - Stockholm, Gubbängens IP (with Göte Nordin) - 2nd - 27pts (15)
1970 - Malmö, Malmö Stadion (with Bengt Jansson) - 2nd - 25pts (15)

* Unofficial World Championships.

World Team Cup

1960 - Gothenburg, Ullevi (with Olle Nygren / Rune Sörmander / Björn Knutsson) - Winner - 44pts (12)
1961 - Wrocław, Olympic Stadium (with Sören Sjösten / Rune Sörmander / Björn Knutsson / Per-Tage Svensson) - 2nd - 30pts (11)
1962 - Slaný (with Björn Knutsson / Sören Sjösten / Göte Nordin / Rune Sörmander) - Winner - 36pts (9)
1963 - Vienna, Stadion Wien (with Björn Knutsson / Per-Olof Söderman / Göte Nordin / Rune Sörmander) - Winner - 37pts (7)
1964 - Abensberg, Abensberg Stadion (with Björn Knutsson / Göte Nordin / Rune Sörmander / Sören Sjösten) - Winner - 34pts (6)
1965 - Kempten (with Björn Knutsson / Bengt Jansson / Göte Nordin) - 2nd - 23pts (8)
1966 - Wrocław, Olympic Stadium (with Björn Knutsson / Leif Enecrona / Göte Nordin / Leif Larsson) - 3rd - 22pts (2)
1967 - Malmö, Malmö Stadion (with Göte Nordin / Bengt Jansson / Torbjörn Harrysson) - Winner - 32pts (6)
1968 - London, Wembley Stadium (with Bengt Jansson / Anders Michanek / Olle Nygren / Torbjörn Harrysson) - 2nd - 30pts (11)
1969 - Rybnik, Rybnik Municipal Stadium (with Bengt Jansson / Sören Sjösten / Anders Michanek / Torbjörn Harrysson) - 4th - 12pts (2)
1970 - London, Wembley Stadium (with Bengt Jansson / Anders Michanek / Sören Sjösten) - Winner - 42pts (11)

World Longtrack Championship

1959 - Semi-final
1961 - Oslo (Second)
1962 - Mühldorf (12th)
1966 - Qualifying Round

Nordic Longtrack Champion

1963

External links

http://grasstrackgb.co.uk/ove-fundin/

References

Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5
"FIM Legends" (PDF). fim-live.com. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
Göran Söderlund (28 March 2020). "Legendaren porträtteras igen" (in Swedish). Idrottens affärer. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
Marsh, Lorna (July 21, 2006). "Speedway legend to get freedom of city". Eastern Daily Press. Retrieved November 24, 2017. Speaking from his home in the French Riviera, Fundin, known around the world for his contribution to the sport in Norwich, said: "It is a great honour, really fantastic. I am deeply proud and very happy."

Preceded by Jane Cederqvist	Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal . (with Sten Lundin) 1961	Succeeded by Assar Rönnlund

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[1] Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5

[2] "FIM Legends" (PDF). fim-live.com. Retrieved April 29, 2020.

[3] Göran Söderlund (28 March 2020). "Legendaren porträtteras igen" (in Swedish). Idrottens affärer. Retrieved 28 January 2021.

[4] Marsh, Lorna (July 21, 2006). "Speedway legend to get freedom of city". Eastern Daily Press. Retrieved November 24, 2017. Speaking from his home in the French Riviera, Fundin, known around the world for his contribution to the sport in Norwich, said: "It is a great honour, really fantastic. I am deeply proud and very happy."