It was more than just a race meeting... it was a reunion, a gathering of friends. Men, women and children from all walks of life coming together to enjoy the thrills and spills of speedway.

Eastern Daily Press: Speedway rider Billy BalesSpeedway rider Billy Bales (Image: Archant)

As with the football fans, the Norwich supporters were the most loyal and devoted in the country. They loved their sport with a passion and there was a special atmosphere at the fabulous Firs stadium with its social clubs where the people met their heroes after the meetings, and where boys met girls and danced to the young Norfolk beat bands.

It is now 50 years since the Firs, on Holt Road, suddenly closed its gates for the last time leaving thousands of people heartbroken and even the public house carrying its name is now a supermarket.

This year we have telling the story of the Norwich Stars and The Firs and many of you have been in touch with your memories of those fantastic days.

Thank you for all your response. You will make sure that the memory of the glory days of speedway in Norwich will never be forgotten. A time, back in the 1940s, 50s and early 60s, when crowds of around 20,000 went to speedway on a Saturday night.

Eastern Daily Press: NORWICH / AERIAL VIEWSNORWICH FIRS SPEEDWAY STADIUMDATE UNKNOWN 1950 ?C1372NORWICH / AERIAL VIEWSNORWICH FIRS SPEEDWAY STADIUMDATE UNKNOWN 1950 ?C1372 (Image: Archant)

Let's have a look at some of your memories:

Sheila Rix of Gressenhall:

'I started going to the Firs when I was about 13 or 14 when my brother-in-law introduced me to speedway. We went to every home match and always stood on the first bend. We had quite a little 'gang' who stood in the same place every week.

'Aub Lawson, Billy Bales, Phil Clarke were the stars, then along came Ove Fundin. How we loved his style of riding, always on the white line, edging his way through to the front. We also loved the Golden Helmet races with Barry Briggs, Ronnie Moore, and of course the very small, the late Peter Craven.

'I think Ove Fundin was one of the greatest speedway riders ever. We loved the grand parade at the beginning of every meeting. It was a very sad night at the last meeting. I can't remember much about the racing that night, but I know we all left with heavy hearts to think that it had really happened and there would be no more racing at the grand Firs,' said Sheila.

Ivan Howard of Horsford:

'I was a very keen supporter of the Stars with my first visit being for the last meeting in the old Division 2 in 1950. I recall the team was Leverenz, Clarke, Hunter, Mills, Pawson, Rogers, Freeman and Codling. I also saw the first meeting Ove had at Norwich which, as you said, was a World Championship meeting.

'I used to travel to Norwich every Saturday from a village near Cambridge. One memory I have is that if we left the stadium immediately at the end of racing we were often passed on the road by Reg Trot in an old station wagon as he was taking Ove to Heathrow. There were no speed limits on the open roads then and I believe that they would travel at speeds of up to 100mph to get to Heathrow in under three hours.

'We often stayed behind though to go in one of the two supporters' clubrooms where you were always guaranteed to meet up with some of the riders. We became good friends with a number of them. In particular we were invited to Fred Brand's home and also had visits from Cyril Roger who went shooting with my father.

'I now live at Horsford and so often drive along the Holt Road which stirs up many memories,' said Ivan.

Len Harvey:

'I had just turned 14 years of age one month before the Firs closed its gates for the last time. I don't think anyone would have believed there would never be speedway in Norwich again. Now we are 50 years on and all we have are memories of the Firs and the happy times spent there.

'I can remember my first visit to the speedway with my uncle Donny and aunt Hazel around 1958 and my dad taking me to see the stock cars about the same time. I loved it. I have also seen motor cycle scrambling, midget cars and sidecar racing there. On Boxing Day 1962 my dad took me to watch the stock cars, it was an England v Scotland meeting. Snow covered the track which was frozen solid - so were we. It was the start of the big winter freeze.

'The Heather Avenue school in Hellesdon which I attended had no playing field so we would walk to the Firs each week to play cricket or football, our boots hanging round our neck stuffed with our football socks and shin pads. We changed into our football shorts in the front row of the main stand then ran across the track by the starting gate.

'I always stopped to have my riders' eye view of the first corner. We also had our annual sports day there as well, but I was more interested in the shale track than the running track.

' As my late dad would say: 'Happy days, old son,'' said Len.

Angela Bridge:

'I remember all the names and fondly think back to many Saturday nights in the 1950s and early 60s with friends piling into the back of my uncle's open-backed Land Rover to get to the Firs. Ove was someone I had a crush on when still at school and had his name written on books, pencil cases etc! I drew a speedway picture for a Royal Society of Arts exam at school and passed with honours.

'I was obviously a big fan and remember being very upset when the track closed. I never forgot the smell of the 'dope'' said Angela.

Ann Wootton:

'I started going to speedway at the Firs in the late 1950s until the stadium closed. During this time I met Ove and the other riders several times but Ove was always the 'Star.' Such a shame speedway has never returned to Norwich,' said Ann.

The Firs was a second home for so many people in Norwich and across the county who were so proud of their beloved Stars... and so heartbroken when the gates slammed shut for the last time in 1964.

Happy days indeed.