It was 80 years ago, in May of 1937, when life changed for thousands of men and women, boys and girls, in Norwich and across Norfolk. The Stars were shining.

Eastern Daily Press: One of the greatest and most spectacular riders in the world. The legendary Bert Spencer. He signed for Norwich in 1937. Photos: Mike Kemp Collection.One of the greatest and most spectacular riders in the world. The legendary Bert Spencer. He signed for Norwich in 1937. Photos: Mike Kemp Collection. (Image: Mike Kemp Collection.)

Speedway of sorts on grass first started in the summer of 1930 when around 5,000 people turned up to watch the first meeting at the Firs won by 'Speedy Jack' Newlands.

The riders were usually big old boys, who knew no fear, rode like the wind... often with a cigarette hanging out of their mouth.

Throughout the early 30s speedway came and went with occasional meetings and improvements being made to The Firs off Aylsham Road.

A grandstand was built and large crowds gathered to watch the likes of local hero Geoff Pymer.

Eastern Daily Press: A great Star. Wal Morton who rode for Norwich in the early days and then returned to the city after the war. He rode for the Stars in 1948 and again in 1957. Photo: Mike Kemp Collection.A great Star. Wal Morton who rode for Norwich in the early days and then returned to the city after the war. He rode for the Stars in 1948 and again in 1957. Photo: Mike Kemp Collection. (Image: Mike Kemp Collection.)

But the racing was hit and miss, and in 1936 there was no speedway apart from one appearance of the amazing Putt Mossman's American stunt troupe in 1936.

The following year full-time speedway racing arrived under the leadership of the Australian star Max Grosskreutz who put together the Norwich Stars.

Riders arrived, were put through their paces by hard man Max, and they joined the new Provincial League. Their first match was on May 1 1937 against Liverpool and they were beaten.

They went on to lose 11 of their next 13 matches. It was a rocky start. But then a chap called Bert Spencer arrived on loan from Wimbledon.

Eastern Daily Press: Dick Wise came to England from his home in Australia in 1929 and rode at a number of tracks before settling in Norwich in 1937 as the teams first captain and went on to became the manager after the war. A class act. Photo. Mike Kemp Collection.Dick Wise came to England from his home in Australia in 1929 and rode at a number of tracks before settling in Norwich in 1937 as the teams first captain and went on to became the manager after the war. A class act. Photo. Mike Kemp Collection. (Image: Mike Kemp Collection.)

Aussie Bert was a leg-trailing dare-devil who got the people of Norfolk on their feet and cheering. Boy, could he ride!

He was the inspiration behind the league win in June against Liverpool again, and this time they beat The Chads with Bert scoring 17 points and breaking

the track record by a whole second.

Their fortunes were up and down and they finished well down the league at the end of the 1937 season but crowds were up with gates of 9,000 not uncommon.

Eastern Daily Press: The early days of The Firs in the 1930s. Photo: Mike Kemp Collection.The early days of The Firs in the 1930s. Photo: Mike Kemp Collection. (Image: Mike Kemp Collection.)

The following year saw another rocky start for Norwich, with Bert back at Wimbledon.

Then, in May of 1938, he returned to the Firs and his Aussie manager Max decided to come out of retirement...swapping his suit for his leathers and proving he was still a class act.

Norwich pulled off the shock of the season by beating the crack First Division Haringey in the National Trophy – the first time a team from the Second Division had beaten a team from the First Division in an official fixture.

Come the end of the season, Norwich had tied with Hackney Wick for top spot but lost out on the title because they had scored fewer race points.

Eastern Daily Press: A glorious picture of the passionate crowd during the early days of the fabulous Firs. Come on you Stars! Photo: Mike Kemp Collection.A glorious picture of the passionate crowd during the early days of the fabulous Firs. Come on you Stars! Photo: Mike Kemp Collection. (Image: Mike Kemp Collection.)

Aussie Bert was a legend. He started his career in Brisbane in 1927 and came to England the following year riding for Exeter, Leicester and Plymouth.

He and Max were a great double act who the public took to their hearts.During 1938 the Firs was said to be the fastest track in the country but the authorities said less cinders should be used which, at the start of the 1939 season, led to slower times.

'Mad' Max wasn't having any of that. He re-laid the track with a special granite preparation which was used on tracks Down Under. It worked a treat and once again the riders were flying.

The season started well for the Stars; they beat champions Hackney Wick and Max decided to hang up his leathers to allow Bert and the likes of Wal Morton, Wilf Jay and captain Dick Wise to ride high. But war was looming and the season came to an abrupt end...the stadium closed and the riders left to fight.

It would be more than six years before they returned in what became the boom years for speedway.

In 1946 the average gate in Norwich was 20,000 and the Firs was one of the longest tracks in the country at 425 yards.

The ground was extended to hold 26,000 spectators. Speedway was back and remember...in those days the riders could make more money in a day than the footballers at Carrow Road earned in a week.