RESPECTED speedway journalist John Chaplin is planning a March launch for his long-awaited book on the life of the great Ove Fundin. The five-times World Champion has co-operated fully with Chaplin who has produced a searing, no-holds-barred account of the fiery Swede's career on and off the speedway tracks of the world.
'Ove gave me unique access to his personal archives and encouraged me to tell all about his extraordinary life,' says Chaplin. 'He was such a controversial personality and I have tried to cover all facets of his World Championship achievements of course, but also his hugely successful and volatile relationship with mechanical maestro Les Mullins who looked after his legendary machine, Norwich Track Spare No.2.' Chaplin has uncovered many upclose and personal facets of the amazing life of a speedway superstar who was at once respected and feared, hated and adored.
True believers will not have it any way other than that this was the most fantastic speedway rider who has ever lived. It all adds up to an intimate portrait of one of the greats of the sport from the people who know him, raced with him and against him, including track rivals Barry Briggs, Ronnie Moore, Bjorn Knutsson, the other 'naughty boy' of Swedish speedway Olle Nygren, Norwich team mates and top journalists Eric Linden and Dave Lanning.
Ove Fundin: Speedway Superstar (ISBN 0 7524 2944 2) is published by Tempus at £16.99 (P&P UK £2).
Copies can be ordered in advance now from:
sales@tempus-publishing
or:
Tempus Publishing, The Mill, Brimscombe Port, Stroud, Gloucestershire GL5 2QG, United Kingdom. Tel: 01453 883300 / Fax: 01453 883233
