Norwich Stars

Norwich Stars
Club information
Track address	The Firs Stadium Cromer Road Norwich
Country	England
Founded	1930
Closed	1964
Team manager	Max Grosskreutz Dick Wise Fred Evans Gordon Parkins
Team captain	Dick Wise Bert Spencer Phil Clarke Aub Lawson Reg Trott
Club facts
Colours	Green with Yellow Star
Track size	425 yards (389 m)
Track record holder	Peter Craven & Ove Fundin
Major team honours
National Trophy (tier 1) 1955, 1963 National League Div 2 1950, 1951 Provincial Trophy 1938 ACU Cup (Div 2) 1946 National Trophy (tier 2) 1938, 1951 Southern Shield 1951

Norwich Stars were a motorcycle speedway team based in Norwich, England, which operated from 1930 until their closure in 1964. ^[1]

History

Origins and 1930s

Speedway came to Norwich in August 1930 ^[2] when the Eastern Speedways Motor Club arranged fixtures at The Firs Stadium in Cromer Road, Hellesdon. By the fourth successive season in 1933, sidecars were also introduced. ^[3] Sporadic racing continued to be organised through 1934 and 1935 but had ceased in 1936.

In January 1937, the famous rider Max Grosskreutz announced his retirement in order to take a lease on the Firs Stadium. ^[4] Grosskreutz entered a team for the 1937 Provincial Speedway League and the first fixture was at home to Liverpool Merseysiders, on 1 May in a national Trophy match. The services of riders were secured, including Wal Morton, Bert Spencer and Dick Wise and the nickname Stars was adopted. ^[5]

After a solid first season the team were boosted by the decision of Grosskreutz to come out of retirement, captain and ride for the Stars. ^[6] The Australian topped the league averages ^[7] and helped Norwich win both the division 2 National Trophy and the Provincial Trophy. ^[8]

1940s

After World War II, the Norwich Stars (now without Grosskreutz) raced in the 1946 Speedway Northern League and added more silverware by winning the A.C.U. Cup. Huge post war attendances were experienced at the Firs Stadium and Dick Wise became the team manager. ^[9] The Stars continued to compete in the National League Division Two from 1947 to 1951.

1950s

The Stars won the League Championship in both 1950 and 1951. ^[10] The riders largely responsible for the success were Paddy Mills, Phil Clarke, Bob Leverenz and Fred Rogers. ^[5]

The Stars were invited into the National League Division One in 1952 but initially struggled before improving in subsequent seasons, winning the National Trophy during the 1955 Speedway National League season and finished runners-up behind Wimbledon Dons in the 1958 Speedway National League. The leading riders during the 1950s were Billy Bales, Aub Lawson and the legendary Ove Fundin (Norwich's greatest ever rider and eventually a five times world champion). ^[11]

1960s

Fundin continued to dominate the British league averages but lacked support to make Norwich a championship contender. However, fellow Swede Olle Nygren was signed in 1962 and Terry Betts' improvement supported Fundin and as a consequence the Stars won the 1963 National Trophy to equal their highest honour. Additionally, the team finished runner-up to Belle Vue Aces in the 1963 Speedway National League. ^{[12] [13]}

The Stars raced in the top flight until the stadium was closed at the end of the 1964 season, when the track and stadium were sold for re-development. ^{[1] [14]}

2010s

In July 2012, former rider Ove Fundin played a part in announcing a return of speedway in the city of Norwich. Plans, which did not come to fruition, were outlined for a new track to be built on the city's outskirts, with the hope of a return to the British league structure.

Season summary

Year and league	Position	Notes
1937 Provincial Speedway League	5th
1938 Speedway National League Division Two	2nd	Provincial Trophy & National Trophy (div 2) winners
1939 Speedway National League Division Two	4th+	+ when league suspended
1946 Speedway Northern League	3rd	A.C.U Cup winners
1947 Speedway National League Division Two	3rd
1948 Speedway National League Division Two	5th
1949 Speedway National League Division Two	3rd
1950 Speedway National League Division Two	1st	champions
1951 Speedway National League Division Two	1st	champions & National Trophy (div 2) winners
1952 Speedway National League	10th
1953 Speedway National League	7th
1954 Speedway National League	4th
1955 Speedway National League	6th	National Trophy winners
1956 Speedway National League	4th
1957 Speedway National League	4th
1958 Speedway National League	2nd
1959 Speedway National League	4th
1960 Speedway National League	5th
1961 Speedway National League	7th
1962 Speedway National League	5th
1963 Speedway National League	2nd	National Trophy winners
1964 Speedway National League	3rd

Notable riders

• Billy Bales
• Terry Betts
• Phil Clarke
• Ove Fundin
• Jimmy Gooch
• Max Grosskreutz
• Trevor Hedge
• Aub Lawson
• Bob Leverenz
• Paddy Mills
• Wal Morton
• Olle Nygren
• Geoff Pymar
• Cyril Roger
• Fred Rogers
• Bert Spencer
• Dick Wise

Fatalities

Four riders from 1947 to 1951 died at the Norwich track. Norwich's 38-year-old rider Cyril Anderson died instantly on 16 August 1947, during a Best Pairs event. Anderson was leading when he skidded and was hit by a rider from behind. ^[15] 32-year-old Bill Wilson of the Middlesbrough Bears was fatally injured, on 3 July 1948, at Norwich and died two days later in hospital. ^{[16] [17]}

The third rider died on 1 July 1950. Jock Shead riding for Halifax Dukes was killed during the semi-final of the National Trophy. Shead's bike collided with another bike and he somersaulted before landing, he was taken to hospital but died shortly afterwards. ^[18] The following year, 21-year-old Bob Howes was killed when he hit the fence during a training practice race on 10 November 1951. ^{[19] [20]}

Norwich rider Malcolm Flood died on 2 April 1956, at Poole. The 25-year-old rider suffered fatal injuries despite an earlier warning from the race steward that he was riding too erratically into the bends. ^[21]

The Firs Stadium was arguably the deadliest track in the country and claimed another life on 24 July 1960. Derek 'Tink' Maynard of the Belle Vue Aces was fatally injured in a crash on 23 July 1960. Maynard was competing in the second leg of the National Trophy against Norwich when Slant Payling lost control of his bike and it hit Maynard. Both riders were taken to Norwich Hospital but Maynard died the following morning. ^[22]

References

1. Bamford, R & Jarvis J.(2001). Homes of British Speedway. ISBN   0-7524-2210-3
2. "Norwich Speedway". Defunct Speedway. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
3. "Eastern Speedways" . Yarmouth Independent. 8 April 1933. Retrieved 6 October 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
4. "Speedway Ace to retire" . Liverpool Echo. 21 January 1937. Retrieved 6 October 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
5. "1937 season" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
6. "Return of Grosskreutz" . Yarmouth Independent. 14 May 1938. Retrieved 6 October 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
7. "Rider averages 1929 to 2009" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
8. Rogers, Martin (1978). The Illustrated History of Speedway. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. ISBN   0-904584-45-3.
9. "Cycle Speedway Dance" . Diss Express. 14 November 1947. Retrieved 6 October 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
10. Bott, Richard (1980). The Peter Collins Speedway Book No.4. Stanley Paul & Co Ltd. ISBN   0-09-141751-1.
11. "Speedway Teams UK 1958-1963". Cyber Motorcycle. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
12. Oakes, Peter (1981). 1981 Speedway Yearbook. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. ISBN   0-86215-017-5.
13. Jacobs, Norman (2000). Speedway in East Anglia. ISBN   0-7524-1882-3
14. "Little hope now for Norwich" . Coventry Evening Telegraph. 23 December 1964. Retrieved 6 October 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
15. "Another Speedway rider killed" . Weekly Dispatch (London). 17 August 1947. Retrieved 11 August 2021– via British Newspaper Archive.
16. "Norwich the Firs Stadium". National Speedway Museum. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
17. "Still unconscious" . Coventry Evening Telegraph. 5 July 1948. Retrieved 11 August 2021– via British Newspaper Archive.
18. "Two Riders Killed" . Weekly Dispatch (London). 2 July 1950. Retrieved 12 August 2021– via British Newspaper Archive.
19. "Speedway death" . Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail. 10 November 1951. Retrieved 11 August 2021– via British Newspaper Archive.
20. "Norwich The Firs Stadium". National Speedway Museum. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
21. "Speedway rider died after warning" . Birmingham Daily Post. 10 April 1956. Retrieved 13 August 2021– via British Newspaper Archive.
22. "Speedway rider killed" . Birmingham Daily Post. 25 July 1960. Retrieved 13 August 2021– via British Newspaper Archive.