The Ove Fundin Wtc Approaches Fast.

[Guest Jim Blanchard]

With the WTC approaching fast, I can recall my first WTC final. The 1970 Final at Wembley. I was taking my new girl friend Denise (now married 34 years) to one of her first speedway meetings.

 

Sweden had brought out of retirement the 1967 world champion, the great Ove Fundin. He had nothing to prove and little was expected of him. A spent force it seemed. The main opposition for Sweden appeared to be Team Great Britain (which then included commonwealth riders) including the unbeatable Ivan Mauger and Barry Briggs

 

In one of the first heats Mauger gated first and dashed for the white line. The problem was Ove Fundin was there first and the immovable object with no respect of reputations so Mauger bounced of him like you would off a brick wall. After losing to the past master, Ivan rode around post race giving grief to the track staff as if it was their fault.

 

Ove Fundin scored 11 points and helped Sweden to win the final with Bengt Jansson also on 11, Anders Michanek 10, Soren Sjosten on 10 too.

 

Sadly as today, a few fans cannot always recognise a master at work and the totally committed competitor, and accept pure class and so Ove on receiving abuse on the victory parade, decided not to compete in the ‘second half’ individual event, which he surely would have won. Which sickened me then as it does now, when a rider is abused and booed.

 

It is a suitable and fitting tribute to the man that this championship now bears his name.

 

He will be there to present the winning team with their just rewards. Its come full circle.

[AndyM]

Well said, Jim. Astonishing, isn't it that such poor sportsmanship was tolerated then or now. I guess it might have had something to do with the fact that, like Mauger, Fundin was so ice cool about his racing. He will certainly have shut crowd noise out and not let it affect him. I hope the tournament being named after one of the finest riders will result in his being given due credit for those fine performances.

 

Perhaps someday it'll be named after Peter Collins in recognition of his three consecutive maximums in WTC finals!!

[Guest Jim Blanchard]

Fundin was so ice cool about his racing. He will certainly have shut crowd noise out and not let it affect him.

 

Not so Andy. Ove was not of that disposition. As great and talented as he was, it did get to him very much and several times, I have seen him in utter desperation head in hands in the corner of the pits. With more vitriolic chant's from these so called fans of 'he cant stand to lose etc'..)

 

As I said, he is totally now respected for what he is quite rightly, what he achieved and what he represents; a man totally dedicated to the sport of speedway racing in any capacity; as much now as then.

 

Let the battle commence and may the best team win. I am sure he will be saying.

Edited July 17, 2005 by Jim Blanchard

[AndyM]

How interesting! He certainly had that reputation, and on the few times I've seen him he didn't strike me as easily stressed. Whatever his temperament, he earned respect from every fan.

[Trees]

The fact that he comes down to Norfolk for the speedway reunions surely shows how special hs club/fans were to him?