Ove Fundin facts for kids

Competition record
Representing  Sweden
Speedway World Championship
Gold	1956
Gold	1960
Gold	1961
Gold	1963
Gold	1967
Silver	1957
Silver	1958
Silver	1959
Bronze	1962
Bronze	1964
Bronze	1965
Speedway World Team Cup
Gold	1960
Gold	1962
Gold	1963
Gold	1964
Gold	1967
Gold	1970
Silver	1961
Silver	1965
Silver	1968
Bronze	1966
Speedway World Pairs Championship
Gold	1968
Silver	1969
Silver	1970
Golden Helmet
Gold	1967
Silver	1968
Long Track World Championship
Silver	1961

Ove Fundin, born on May 23, 1933, is a famous former motorcycle speedway rider from Sweden. He was a professional racer who competed in the Speedway World Championships for many years.

Ove Fundin is best known for winning the Speedway World Championship Final five times. This is an amazing achievement! Only two other riders, Ivan Mauger and Tony Rickardsson, have won more. He also finished second three times and third three times. This means he was on the podium (top three) in eleven World Finals, which is a record!

Because of his red hair, people often called him "The Flying Fox" or just "The Fox." He also represented his home country, Sweden, in 99 international races.

Ove Fundin's Racing Journey

Ove Fundin was born in a town called Tranås in Sweden. An Australian champion rider, Aub Lawson, suggested he should race in Britain. So, Ove joined a team called the Norwich Stars in 1955. He raced for them until 1964.

After the Norwich Stars' home stadium closed, he rode for other teams. These included Long Eaton Archers in 1966, Belle Vue Aces in 1967, and Wembley Lions in 1970. However, fans always remembered his exciting time with the Norwich Stars.

World Championship Success

Ove Fundin competed in 15 World Finals during his career. Besides his five wins, he also earned three second-place finishes and three third-place finishes. He was a key part of the Swedish team that won the Speedway World Team Cup six times. These wins were in 1960, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1967, and 1970.

He also helped Sweden win the Speedway World Pairs Championship in 1968. Many people consider him one of the greatest speedway riders ever. In 1960, Ove Fundin went through the entire World Team Cup without losing a single race. This was a very rare achievement!

Racing in Australia

Ove Fundin also traveled to Australia to race many times. He raced for Sweden against Australian teams in Test Matches. He also won the South Australian Individual Speedway Championship four times. These wins happened in 1966, 1967, 1969, and 1970. He won these races at the Rowley Park Speedway in Adelaide.

In 1969, he also won the Western Australian Individual Speedway Championship. This race took place at the Claremont Speedway in Perth.

Swedish Championships

Ove Fundin holds a record in his home country. He won the Speedway Swedish Individual Championship nine times! This shows how dominant he was in Sweden.

Awards and Honors

Ove Fundin received several special awards for his amazing career.

In 1961, he and motocross rider Sten Lundin won the Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal. This award is for the most important Swedish sports achievement of the year. It was the first time this award recognized motorcycling.

In 2006, Ove Fundin was given the honor of being a Freeman of the City of Norwich. He was only the second person not from England to receive this special honor. The ceremony happened at Norwich City Hall.

In 2013, the FIM named Fundin an FIM Legend. This title celebrates his incredible achievements in motorcycling.

Life After Racing

Today, Ove Fundin lives in a beautiful area called the French Riviera. In 2024, he joined a charity cycling team. He helped them finish their journey to raise money for the Speedway Riders Benevolent Fund. This fund helps speedway riders in need.

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, Illerstadion (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 Knutson) - Winner - 44pts (12)
• 1961 - Wrocław, Olympic Stadium (with Sören Sjösten / Rune Sörmander / Björn Knutson / Per Tage Svensson) - 2nd - 30pts (11)
• 1962 - Slaný (with Björn Knutson / Sören Sjösten / Göte Nordin / Rune Sörmander) - Winner - 36pts (9)
• 1963 - Vienna, Stadion Wien (with Björn Knutson / Per Olof Söderman / Göte Nordin / Rune Sörmander) - Winner - 37pts (7)
• 1964 - Abensberg, Abensberg Stadion (with Björn Knutson / Göte Nordin / Rune Sörmander / Sören Sjösten) - Winner - 34pts (6)
• 1965 - Kempten, Illerstadion (with Björn Knutson / Bengt Jansson / Göte Nordin) - 2nd - 23pts (8)
• 1966 - Wrocław, Olympic Stadium (with Björn Knutson / 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