Ove Fundin

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, being 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 to be one of the greatest riders of all time (along with the likes of Ivan Mauger and Hans Nielsen). 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 won the Wimbledon Internationale for three consecutive years from 1961 to 1963.

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.

He won a record nine Swedish Championships.

Awards

In 1961 Fundin and motocross competitor Sten Lundin were awarded the Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal for the most significant Swedish sports achievement of the year. It marked the first time that the award had recognised the sport of motorcycling.

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 30 October 2006.

In 2013, Fundin was named an FIM Legend for his motorcycling achievements.

After retirement

He currently lives on the French Riviera. In 2024, he joined a charity cycling team at the end of their journey in aid of the Speedway Riders Benevolent Fund.

World Final appearances

Individual World Championship

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

World Pairs Championship

• 1968* - FRG Kempten, Illerstadion (with Torbjörn Harrysson) - Winner - 24pts (14)
• 1969* - SWE Stockholm, Gubbängens IP (with Göte Nordin) - 2nd - 27pts (15)
• 1970 - SWE Malmö, Malmö Stadion (with Bengt Jansson) - 2nd - 25pts (15) ** Unofficial World Championships.*

World Team Cup

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

World Longtrack Championship

• 1959 - Semi-final
• 1961 - NOR Oslo (Second)
• 1962 - FRG Mühldorf (12th)
• 1966 - Qualifying Round

References

References

1. (23 September 1956). "Fundin is champ".
2. Montague, Trevor. (2004). "The A-Z of Sport". Little, Brown.
3. Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). ''A History of the World Speedway Championship''. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. {{ISBN. 0-7524-2402-5
4. "Ultimate rider index, 1929-2022".
5. (15 June 1966). "Archers may lose Fundin".
6. (15 September 1967). "Fundin in Aces team tonight".
7. (15 June 1962). "Fundin zips to victory".
8. Oakes, Peter. (1981). "1981 Speedway Yearbook". Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd.
9. "Sten "Storken" Lundin". silverpilen.net.
10. Göran Söderlund. (28 March 2020). "Legendaren porträtteras igen". Idrottens affärer.
11. "FIM Legends". fim-live.com.
12. Marsh, Lorna. (July 21, 2006). "Speedway legend to get freedom of city". Eastern Daily Press.
13. "Dramatic conclusion for heroic speedway fundraising ride".