Speedway promoter Steve Ribbons at the Norfolk Showground where he hopes to build a new track and stadium. Photo by Simon Finlay

Norwich speedway bid at Norfolk Showground “back on track”

Exclusive by Tom Bristow Friday, February 22, 2013
3:57 PM

An ambitious dream to build a speedway track at the Norfolk Showground is back on track after months of delays, according to developers.

The proud history of speedway in the city

Grass track racing started in Norwich in the late 1920s.

The first genuine meeting took place in 1931 when a Norwich team took on Staines. During the 1930s, proper speedway was introduced by “Mad” Max Grosskreutz from Australia who transformed The Firs and entered the Norwich Stars in a new league. Fans flocked to the stadium in Hellesdon to watch the likes of Bert Spencer and Dick Wise in full flow. After the war, Wise took over control and this heralded the start of a glory era for speedway with average gates of around 20,000. The riders came from around the world and they were local heroes who always had time for the fans. By the end of the 1940s The Firs stadium was extended to hold 26,000 and it attracted some of the best riders around – along with Aussies Bert Spencer and Bob Leverenz there were local lads such as Phil Clarke and the mighty atom himself, Billy Bales.

Then a new star arrived from Sweden. Ove Fundin went on to become the best speedway rider in the world, earning himself the nickname, the Flying Fox.

In the early 1960s the crowds were still flocking to the Firs to watch the likes of Fundin and Olle Nygren, along with rising stars such as young Trevor Hedge.

The team was finishing near the top of the table, picking up trophies and honours, and then in October 1964 it suddenly closed with the shock announcement that the land off Cromer Road was to be redeveloped.

Our photos show action shots taken over the years.

A consortium first announced its intention to revive the sport in Norwich after nearly 50 years in July 2012. The company, called New Firs Ltd, hoped to put a planning application in for the track and stadium last autumn.

But as reported in January, their dreams hit delays when New Firs and their planning consultants Lanpro had a disagreement over fees.

Lanpro said the project required “greater resources than initially envisaged”.

Steve Ribbons from New Firs said the consortium had now moved on and new planning consultants had been hired, meaning the track and stadium could be built by the summer, although no planning application has been submitted to South Norfolk Council yet.

Mr Ribbons said: “Speedway remains on course for a return to Norwich this year.

“The last few months have been frustrating and painful.

“It is a project I have pinned a lot of my own self-worth on but I can see light at the end of the tunnel.”

The businessman, who has previously been involved in speedway projects at Rye House in Hertfordshire and Wimbledon, has hired Leicester Lions Speedway boss David Hemsley, speedway track designer Clive Williams and appointed a new director, Adrian Brill, to submit the plans.

Mr Williams, an architect, designed the track at Leicester Speedway and brought the sport back to the city in 2011 with Mr Hemsley.

Mr Ribbons said: “We’ve had a tough few months up to now, but things are definitely looking up.

“With the solid backing of the showground and the enthusiasm of David, Clive and Adrian, I am still confident we will see the bikes at the showground sometime in the summer.”

When the plans were revealed last July, opinion was split over whether a track should be built on the showground’s eastern edge.

Opponents believe speedway is too noisy for a track to be built close to homes in Costessey and Easton and new housing developments at Queen’s Hills and Lodge Farm.

But supporters argue the noise is far less than opponents make out and want to see the sport brought back to the city.

The plans are for a 360-metre track with a 480-seater temporary stadium on an 11-hectare development on the site of the former golf driving range.

It would revive the sport in the city for the first time since the Firs stadium in Hellesdon closed in 1964.

The team would enter the national league, the third division of speedway, and Mr Ribbons said he hoped to establish the team over a couple of years and be promoted to higher leagues.

16 comments

I would just like to add in response to ian presslises letter one night a week is just not to much to ask.

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ove mel

Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Dont let these people stop somthing that a very large number of norfolk people want and have wanted for years,if the residents of queenshill dont like it thats just hard luck they always have the option to move,we the people of norwich and surrounding areas have waited yeears for this please dont let these few residents of queenshill stop something which is only on a few nights a year.ps its about time that showground which stands empty most of the year is going used more and bring alot of pleasure to the people of norwich and norfolk.

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ove mel

Tuesday, February 26, 2013
As has already been well established, it won't just be one meeting a week. There will be training nights etc that mean the track will be in use three or four nights a week throughout the season. There have got to be plenty of other sites around Norfolk that are better suited to such activities, and won't add traffic to an area that already suffers from complete gridlock at times. There's also the issue that Motorsport is expressly prohibited at the show ground, according to the council's guidelines for use.

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MJH

Saturday, February 23, 2013
One meeting a week that lasts for between one and a half to two hours and will give fans much enjoyment isn't a lot to ask! Speedway is a family sport.

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Ian Presslie

Saturday, February 23, 2013
What a good idea Longsuffering, speedway should go to Snetterton. The infrastructure is already there and that junction is certainly not as busy as the Longwater interchange. The difference between the Norfolk Show and speedway (and events like Sundown) is that they they go on into the evening and disturb what little peace and quiet we have left!

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tigger449

Saturday, February 23, 2013
I understand where the NIMBYS are coming from. but I don't have too much time for them. I first moved in 100 yards down the road from whereTim East now lives in 1964 and completely endorse and support the wonderful rebirth of speedway at the Norfolk Showground.

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blackcab

Friday, February 22, 2013
Longsufferingpublic. Think you need to get your facts right. Point 1 i'm male not female ! & Point 2 i'll be able to see & hear the speedway from my kitchen window !. Have a nice day.

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Bunny160

Friday, February 22, 2013
Rugby at lords? Hardly fair. Motorsport at a Motorsport venue. Seems reasonable to me. NIMBYs? No. Concerns over a minority sport having an effect on your quality of life are not NIMBYism. They're perfectly reasonable. Despite their protestations, I'd bet a large proportion of the people saying they want speedway at the show ground wouldn't want it 500yds from their back yard, as it will be for residents on the closest development. To the person saying the exchange is designed to feed the show ground...obviously you've never experienced the area at peak times. It doesn't take much before it grinds up a halt. It's not up to the job it had up cope with as it is. Adding up it would be ridiculous.

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MJH

Friday, February 22, 2013
Put in near Bunny 160's house. She doesnt mind it in her backyard.

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Longsufferingpublic

Friday, February 22, 2013
Here we go again ! "Not in my back yard" Rah ! Rah ! Rah !

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Bunny160

Friday, February 22, 2013
Here we go again ! "Not in my back yard" Rah ! Rah ! Rah !

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Bunny160

Friday, February 22, 2013
I expect those who agree with this dont live near the showground! I live in Costessey and those of us in this area and Easton will have constant noise on a regular basis. I will be opposing this and expect other to do so

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Julie

Friday, February 22, 2013
Great news for the city. This area of the City is perfectly suited to this development. The junction was designed to feed the showground & the area is mainly retail & industrial & if the junction can cope with a park & ride everyday it should be up to a speedway meeting.

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el84

Friday, February 22, 2013
That's nice trolling from longsuff there. Love the Snetterton one- like having rugby at Lords! Anyway, best of luck to the developers of this, it will be great to have more decent spectator sport in the area and this is the perfect place for it.

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john smith

Friday, February 22, 2013
A speedway proposal for this site is little more than ridiculous. The Longwater interchange is already at capacity and often overwhelmed. The emergency services already battle to reach emergencies even outside peak times. There are housing developments planned including Lodge Farm Phase 2 that will border the showground hence making this a residential area and not one fit for speedway. Anyone who borders the site will suffer from the inevitable noise pollution. Snetterton is the place for speedway...not a developing residential zone.

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Longsufferingpublic

Friday, February 22, 2013
Great news, the sooner it comes back to Norwich the better. How about Ove Fundin cutting the ribbon at official opening? And do a lap if still possible.

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Christopher Neave

Friday, February 22, 2013

Norwich speedway bid at Norfolk Showground “back on track”

The proud history of speedway in the city

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