Exhibition explores East Anglia's international impact

While it continues at King’s Lynn and Ipswich, it is now 60 years since the fabulous Firs stadium in Norwich shut its gates for the last time, leaving fans heartbroken.

And in Great Yarmouth speedway “The Bloaters” hit the track in 1948 and raced until 1961.

So many memories of the Stars and the Bloaters in action.

Norwich hero, Ove Fundin with his statue in his home town of Tranas in Sweden (Image: Dr Richard Mills)

When you think about it there is a unique and extraordinary history surrounding this sport and that is being told in a fascinating exhibition at the historic Hungate Medieval Art Centre in Princes Street, Norwich, on Saturday August 24 and Sunday August 25.

A colourful exhibition with a real difference looking at the rise of the sport in East Anglia and concentrating on the links and relationships with Eastern Europe and Russia.

Racing in the East: Transnational Speedway in Cold War East Anglia has been organised by Dr Richard Mills, Associate Professor in Modern European History at the University of East Anglia.

A preview of Racing in the East which opens in Norwich on Saturday August 25 (Image: Dr Richard Mills)

An Eastern European historian who, it could be said, climbed on a speedway bike and went on a rip-roaring journey, far and wide, into the fascinating world of this sport. Even meeting up with the one and only Flying Fox himself, five-times world champion, Ove Fundin, at his home in Sweden.

"He was so friendly and helpful,” said Dr Mills.

Ove, now in his 90s, calls Norwich his second home. He is a Freeman if the City - and one of the greatest sporting heroes of all time.

Racing in the East sheds light on one of speedway’s interconnected “backwaters.” From rural East Anglia to Soviet Siberia, the sport fostered unconventional interactions.

The Firs Stadium in Norwich, a second home for generations of Norfolk folk. It closed in 1964 (Image: Mike Kemp Collection)

East Anglia relished its roles in transnational speedway, as Scandinavian Superstars graced stadiums in Norwich, Yarmouth, and Ipswich and Eastern Bloc riders lit up the region’s tracks.

King's Lynn was the entry port for communist-built racing machines that dominated international competition.

Based on research conducted by the UEA’s Centre of East Anglian Studies and the East Centre for the study of East and Central Europe and the former Soviet space, the exhibition underlines the region’s stature in international motorsport.

The days when Norwich rode against Soviet Russia (Image: Dr Richard Mills)

It also highlights the extensive interactions between East Anglia and the wider world, celebrating migrant riders and foreign machines. They became local heroes.

This touring exhibition aims to foster “pride-in-place” is certainly worth a look and, this doesn’t happen very often, it is free!

Racing in The East: Transnational Speedway in Cold War East Anglia at the Hungate Centre, Princes Street Norwich, is open from 10am to 4pm this coming Saturday and Sunday (August 24/25) from 10am to 4pm.

The exhibition will be at the Foxhall Stadium, home of Ipswich Witches, on August 29 from 6.30pm to 9pm, and then on September 22 at the Heritage Transport Festival in Diss.