1979 British League season

British speedway season October 2023 October 2023 British League 18 Champions Coventry Bees Knockout Cup Cradley Heath Heathens Individual John Louis Gold Cup Wimbledon Dons Midland Cup Coventry Bees Northern League Sheffield Tigers London Cup Hackney Hawks Scott Autrey 1979 National League 1978 1980 The 1979 Gulf British League season was the 45th season of the top tier of motorcycle speedway in the United Kingdom and the 15th season known as the British League.http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/p/compet.html Historic league tables Speedway ArchiveBott Richard The Peter Collins Speedway Book No.4 1980 94 Stanley Paul & Co Ltd 0-09-141751-1 Summary The league was sponsored by Gulf Oil for a fifth season. It comprised 18 teams - one fewer than the previous season.Oakes Peter 1981 Speedway Yearbook 1981 80 Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd 0-86215-017-5 White City Rebels had folded and their riders became Eastbourne Eagles assets as Eastbourne were promoted from the National League. Bristol Bulldogs also dropped out after only two seasons back in the top flight.https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/historyarchive HISTORY ARCHIVE British Speedway 2 July 2021 Coventry Bees won the league for the second year running. Hull Vikings' second place was their best ever finish. The Coventry Bees team was similar to the previous season with a young 18 year-old Danish newcomer Tommy Knudsen replacing Jiří Štancl from the previous season. Alan Molyneux once again backed up the Coventry overseas contingent with a solid average.http://www.speedwaygb.co/history/leaguetables1979.php 1979 league tables Speedway GB Cradley Heath won the Knockout Cup mainly thanks to their USA superstar Bruce Penhall. The Cradley team also had their own young Danish newcomer in 20 year-old Erik Gundersen and 20 year-old Hans Nielsen posted a 10 plus average for the season riding for Wolves. The future looked extremely bright for Denmark. During the new British League Fours tournament a horrific accident took place at Hackney Wick Stadium on Friday 8 June. In the final heat between Hackney and Eastbourne all four riders were competing when Hackney's Vic Harding and Eastbourne's Steve Weatherley touched and their bikes became locked together. They were both thrown from their bikes into the fence and the metal post supporting one of the track lights. Both riders were taken to hospital but Harding died later that night and Weatherley was left paralysed.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002471/19790609/465/0018 Vic Harding killed Reading Evening Post 9 June 1979 British Newspaper Archive subscription 28 September 2024http://www.speedwaymuseumonline.co.uk/vicharding.html Vic Harding Speedway Museum Online 30 July 2021 Further bad news filtered though in December after the season had finished, when Poole Pirate's Christer Sjösten died following serious injuries sustained in a race in Australia. Final table Pos Team PL W D L Pts1Coventry Bees342608522Hull Vikings342428503Cradley Heath Heathens3424010484King's Lynn Stars3422111455Exeter Falcons3320013406Halifax Dukes3418016367Reading Racers3417017348Swindon Robins3315315339Wimbledon Dons34161173310Belle Vue Aces34144163211Wolverhampton Wolves34151183112Poole Pirates34143173113Sheffield Tigers34142183014Birmingham Brummies34132192815Ipswich Witches34122202616Eastbourne Eagles34102222217Leicester Lions34100242018Hackney Hawks34912419M = Matches; W = Wins; D = Draws; L = Losses; Pts = Total Points Fixtures and results main FBR grey BV BIR COV CH EAS EX HAC HAL HV IPS KL LEI PP RR SHE SWI WIM WOL Belle Vue 39–39 42–36 42–36 46–32 38–40 46–32 42–36 29–49 47–31 40–38 44–33 47–31 43–35 38–40 39–39 39–39 39–39 Birmingham 28–50 38–40 37–41 38–40 40–38 46–32 59–19 38–40 32–45 40–38 41–37 39–38 42–36 49–29 38–40 43–35 41–37 Coventry 42–36 43–35 42–36 54–24 40–38 48–30 43–34 42–36 42–36 45–33 52–26 48–30 43–35 51–27 43–35 54–24 48–30 Cradley Heath 46–32 51–27 49–29 51–27 57–21 50–25 64–14 41–37 52–26 49–29 53–24 47–31 40–38 45–33 50–28 57–21 47–31 Eastbourne 38–40 36–42 43–35 36–41 49–28 51–27 44–34 50–27 39–39 35–43 48–30 39–39 37–41 50–28 31–47 42–36 32–46 Exeter 41–37 53–25 45–33 40–38 50–28 50–27 42–35 45–33 55–23 38–40 57–21 51–27 40–38 42–35 44–34 52–26 55–23 Hackney 41–37 46–31 43–35 37–41 38–40 43–35 34–44 33–45 41–37 36–42 42–36 41–37 46–32 39–39 29–49 22–56 44–34 Halifax 49–29 44–34 38–40 46–31 42–36 41–37 55–23 38–40 43–35 49–29 44.5–33.5 53–25 46–32 47–31 45–33 45–33 43–35 Hull 42–36 58–20 51–27 41–37 50–28 45–33 56–22 43–34 57–21 56–22 60–18 62–16 51–27 57–21 55–23 51–27 43–35 Ipswich 47–31 39–39 36–41 33–45 41–37 41–37 52–26 44–34 42–33 37–41 35–42 44–34 33–45 45–33 43–35 42–36 35–42 King's Lynn 43–35 41–37 50–28 47–31 53–25 45–33 55–23 38–40 40–38 42–36 40–38 42–36 49–29 58–20 44–34 52–26 44–34 Leicester 28–50 30–48 30–48 41–37 44–33 32–46 44–34 35–43 38–40 36–42 34–44 40–38 40–38 44–34 41–37 46–32 45–33 Poole 51–26 43–35 55–23 41–37 44–34 33–45 59–19 44–34 39–39 44–34 44–34 50–28 33–45 45–33 39–39 40–37 41–37 Reading 37–41 44–34 35–42 32–46 49–29 46–32 48–30 48–30 42–35 42–36 46–32 52–26 43–35 45–33 43–35 41–37 45–33 Sheffield 41–36 42–36 34–44 44–34 49–29 36–42 48–30 44–34 29–49 47–31 39–39 44–34 46–32 41–37 46–32 45–32 41–37 Swindon 41–37 49–29 37–41 40–38 48–30 38–39 46–31 40–38 39–39 46–32 38–40 59–19 36–42 45–33 50–27 40–38 46–32 Wimbledon 44–34 63–15 37–41 36–42 42–36 41–36 45–32 48–30 41–36 41–37 43–35 50–28 41–37 45–33 56–22 44–34 33–45 Wolverhampton 42–36 36–42 28–50 33–45 44–34 42–33 46–32 43–35 26–52 44–34 44–34 49–29 54–24 45–33 51–27 40–38 36–42 complete https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1979.html Speedway Researcher 1979 fixtures & results 18 March 2025 Top ten riders (league averages) Rider Nat Team C.M.A. 1 Scott Autrey USA Exeter 10.91 2 Ivan Mauger NZL Hull 10.54 3 Phil Crump AUS Swindon 10.36 4 Michael Lee ENG King's Lynn 10.29 5 John Davis ENG Reading 10.22 6 Hans Nielsen DEN Wolverhampton 10.16 7 Gordon Kennett ENG Eastbourne 10.13 8 Ole Olsen DEN Coventry 10.03 9 Bruce Penhall USA Cradley 10.02 10 Dave Jessup ENG King's Lynn 9.80 British League Knockout Cup The 1979 Speedway Star British League Knockout Cup was the 41st edition of the Knockout Cup for tier one teams. Cradley Heath were the winners.http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/2014/03/british-league-ko-cup-1979.html 1979 British League Knockout Cup Speedway archive First round Date Team one Score Team two16/06 Cradley Heath66-42 Leicester29/05 Leicester 40-68 Cradley Heath20/04 Eastbourne 65-43 Ipswich19/04 Ipswich 53-54 Eastbourne Second round Date Team one Score Team two10/09 Cradley Heath 78-29 Wimbledon09/08 Wimbledon 54-53 Cradley Heath06/07 Eastbourne 65-43 Reading18/06 Birmingham 59-49 Swindon16/06 Coventry 74-34 Poole16/06 King's Lynn 53-55 Wolverhampton16/06 Swindon 62-46 Birmingham15/06 Poole 59-48 Coventry15/06 Wolverhampton 56-52 King's Lynn11/06 Reading 77-31 Eastbourne02/06Belle Vue 61-47 Exeter01/06 Hull 81-25 Sheffield31/05 Exeter 70-38 Belle Vue31/05 Sheffield 60-48 Hull Quarter-finals Date Team one Score Team two24/09 Cradley Heath 71-37 Wolverhampton21/09 Wolverhampton 52-56 Cradley Heath20/08 Reading 53-55 Halifax14/07 Halifax 79-29 Reading03/08 Exeter 56-52 Swindon18/07 Hull 75-34 Coventry14/07 Coventry 60-48 Hull14/07 Swindon 46-62 Exeter Semi-finals Date Team one Score Team two07/10 Halifax 49-59 Cradley Heath06/10 Cradley Heath 43-23 Halifax19/09 Hull 70-38 Exeter17/09 Exeter 60-48 Hull Final First leg 15 October 1979 Cradley HeathBruce Penhall 11Alan Grahame 11Phil Collins 9Erik Gundersen 9Dave Perks 9Bobby Schwartz 6Kristian Praestbro 4John Hack 3 62 - 46 Hull VikingsIvan Mauger 14Bobby Beaton 13Joe Owen 6Dennis Sigalos 6Frank Auffret 6Nigel Close 1Brian Havelock 0Graham Drury 0 Second leg 31 October 1979 Hull VikingsDennis Sigalos 13Kelly Moran 8Louis Carr 7Bobby Beaton 6Joe Owen 5Frank Auffret 4Nigel Close 4Ivan Mauger 3 50 - 58 Cradley HeathBruce Penhall 13Bobby Schwartz 11Kristian Praestbro 9Phil Collins 9Alan Grahame 6Erik Gundersen 5John Hack 5Dave Perks 0 Cradley Heath were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate 120-96. Riders' Championship John Louis won the British League Riders' Championship, held at Hyde Road on 20 October and sponsored by Gauntlet (Leyland Used Cars).Speedway The People 21 October 1979 4 June 2023 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002454/19791021/046/0046 British Newspaper Archive subscription Pos. Rider Heat Scores Total1 ENG John Louis 2 3 3 3 3 142 USA Bruce Penhall 3 2 3 3 2 133 ENG Michael Lee 3 3 2 1 3 124 ENG Peter Collins 2 3 2 3 1 11 5 NZL Larry Ross 3 2 1 1 3 10 6 AUS Phil Crump 0 3 3 3 0 9 7 DEN Hans Nielsen 2 2 1 2 2 9 8 USA Scott Autrey 1 1 3 1 2 8 9 DEN Ole Olsen 2 2 0 2 1 710 NZL Ivan Mauger 1 R 2 0 1 611 ENG Malcolm Simmons 3 0 0 1 1 5 12 AUS John Titman 0 1 0 2 2 513 ENG Ian Cartright 1 1 1 2 0 514 ENG John Davis 0 1 2 0 1 4 15 ENG Andy Grahame 0 0 1 0 0 1 16 ENG Gordon Kennett 1 0 0 0 0 1 ef=engine failure, f=fell, x=excluded r-retired Final leading averages The top ten averages recorded at the end of the season.Bott Richard The Peter Collins Speedway Book No.4 1980 96 Stanley Paul & Co Ltd 0-09-141751-1 Rider Nat Team C.M.A. 1 Scott Autrey USA Exeter 10.83 2 Ivan Mauger NZL Hull 10.38 3 Phil Crump AUS Swindon 10.34 4 John Davis ENG Reading 10.32 5 Hans Nielsen DEN Wolverhampton 10.29 6 Michael Lee ENG King's Lynn 10.21 7 Ole Olsen DEN Coventry 9.92 8 Gordon Kennett ENG Eastbourne 9.91 9 Bruce Penhall USA Cradley 9.88 10 Dave Jessup ENG King's Lynn 9.72 Gold Cup East Group Team PL W D L PtsIpswich 6 4 0 2 8 King's Lynn 6 4 0 2 8 Reading 6 2 0 4 4 Hackney 6 2 0 4 4 West Group Team PL W D L Pts Wimbledon 6 4 1 1 9 Exeter 6 3 1 2 7 Eastbourne 6 3 0 3 6Poole 6 1 0 5 2 East Group main FBR grey HAC IPS KL REA Hackney 39–38 42–36 35–43 Ipswich 44–34 40–38 42–36 King's Lynn 43–35 46–32 42–36 Reading 52–26 38–39 32–36 complete https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1979fixtures.pdf Speedway Researcher 1979 fixtures & results 1 October 2025 West Group main FBR grey EAS EX PP WIM Eastbourne 40–38 43–35 37–40 Exeter 52–25 54–24 39–39 Poole 35–43 38–40 44–34 Wimbledon 44–33 49–29 48–30 complete https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1979fixtures.pdf Speedway Researcher 1979 fixtures & results 1 October 2025 Final Team one Team two ScoreIpswich Wimbledon 41-37, 35-43 Northern Trophy M W D L Pts 1Sheffield 6 4 1 1 9 2 Halifax 6 3 0 3 6 3 Hull 6 2 1 3 5 4 Belle Vue 6 2 0 4 4 main FBR grey BV HAL HUL SHE Belle Vue 40–37 38–40 43–35 Halifax 44–34 47–31 33–45 Hull 46–32 36–42 39–39 Sheffield 41–37 43–35 48–28 complete https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1979fixtures.pdf Speedway Researcher 1979 fixtures & results 1 October 2025 Midland Cup Coventry won the Midland Cup for the fourth consecutive year. The competition consisted of six teams and was sponsored by the Trustee Savings Bank....and they're cup kings, too! Coventry Evening Telegraph 15 October 1979 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000769/19791015/360/0032 British Newspaper Archive 21 October 2023 subscription First round Team one Team two ScoreBirmingham Swindon 32–46, 31–47WolverhamptonCradley39–38, 32–46 Semi final round Team one Team two ScoreLeicester Swindon44.5–33.5, 38–40 Coventry Cradley46–32, 34–44 Final First leg 9 October 1979 LeicesterMike Farrell 12 John Boulger 8 John Titman 7 Chris Turner 4 Dave Gooderham 2 Tom Godal 2 Colin Cook 0 35–43 CoventryOle Olsen 12 Alf Busk 12 Tommy Knudsen 7 Gary Guglielmi 7 Mick Bell 4 Mitch Shirra 1 Kevin Hawkins 0 Alan Molyneux r/r Leicester Stadium Second leg 13 October 1979 CoventryOle Olsen 13Mitch Shirra 8 Alf Busk 8 Tommy Knudsen 8 Gary Guglielmi 5 Mick Bell 5 Kevin Hawkins 3 Alan Molyneux r/r 50–28 Leicester John Titman 9 Colin Cook 7John Boulger 6 Rob Henry 4 Ian Clark 1 Tom Godal 1Mike Farrell 0 Brandon Stadium Coventry won on aggregate 93–63 London Cup Hackney won the London Cup but the competition consisted of just Wimbledon and Hackney.https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1979record.pdf 1979 fixtures and results Speedway Researcher 1 October 2023 Results Team Score TeamHackney 44–34 WimbledonWimbledon 43–35 Hackney Riders & final averages Belle Vue 22em ENG Peter Collins 9.76 ENG Chris Morton 9.06 ENG Les Collins 7.60 ENG Dave Allen 6.00 FRG Karl Maier 5.56 FIN Pekka Hautamaki 5.17 TCH Emil Sova 4.81 AUS Rob Maxfield 4.25 ENG Derek Richardson 4.21 ENG Arnold Haley 3.08 ENG Keith Bloxsome 0.86 Birmingham 22em AUS Billy Sanders 9.15 AUS Phil Herne 7.91 ENG Andy Grahame 7.60 DEN Finn Jensen 6.14 ENG Alan Emerson 5.90 FIN Ari Koponen 5.05 ENG Ray Wilson 5.05 ENG Ted Howgego 4.33 AUS Stuart Mountford 2.72 Coventry 22em DEN Ole Olsen 9.92 NZL Mitch Shirra 9.13 ENG Alan Molyneux 8.00 DEN Alf Busk 6.62 DEN Tommy Knudsen 6.41 AUS Gary Guglielmi 5.93 ENG Kevin Hawkins 5.73 ENG Mick Bell 4.95 Cradley Heath 22em USA Bruce Penhall 9.88 ENG Alan Grahame 8.34 ENG Phil Collins 7.85 USA Bobby Schwartz 7.83 ENG Steve Bastable 7.71 DEN Kristian Praestbro 7.54 DEN Erik Gundersen 7.35 ENG Dave Perks 6.84 ENG John Hack 4.77 ENG Les Rumsey 4.76 Eastbourne 22em ENG Gordon Kennett 9.91 FIN Kai Niemi 8.76 ENG Steve Weatherley 6.98 ENG Dave Kennett 5.59 ENG Trevor Geer 5.09 ENG Eric Dugard 4.27 NZL Roger Abel 3.91 ENG Steve Naylor 3.75 ENG Paul Woods 3.41 ENG John Barker 3.09 FIN Veijo Tuoriniemi 2.96 Exeter 22em USA Scott Autrey 10.83 CZE Václav Verner 8.49 ZIM Peter Prinsloo 6.94 CZE Aleš Dryml Sr. 6.47 CZE Jan Verner 6.40 AUS Steve Koppe 6.17 ENG Nigel Boocock 6.06 CZE Zdeněk Kudrna 6.05 Hackney 22em POL Zenon Plech 7.78 DEN Bo Petersen 7.74 DEN Finn Thomsen 7.70 ENG Barry Thomas 5.09 ENG Vic Harding 4.33 ENG Bobby McNeil 4.00 ENG Sean Willmott 3.80 ENG Keith White 3.63 Halifax 22em ENG Ian Cartwright 8.95 ENG Kenny Carter 8.13 DEN Mike Lohmann 7.59 NOR Tormod Langli 6.93 AUS Mick McKeon 6.87 DEN Klaus Lohmann 5.18 AUS Merv Janke 4.84 ENG Steve Wilcock 4.24 Hull 22em NZL Ivan Mauger 10.38 SCO Bobby Beaton 8.62 USA Kelly Moran 8.47 ENG Joe Owen 8.40 USA Dennis Sigalos 7.46 WAL Graham Drury 6.75 ENG Frank Auffret 6.01 Ipswich 22em ENG John Louis 9.32 AUS Billy Sanders 9.21 ENG Tony Davey 7.51 ENG Kevin Jolly 7.43 SWE Anders Michanek 7.33 ENG Mike Lanham 6.43 ENG Tim Hunt 4.95 DEN Preben Eriksen 4.45 ENG Colin Cook 4.00 CZE Milan Spinka 3.76 ENG Andy Hines 3.41 ENG Nigel Flatman 3.27 ENG Kevin Teager 2.10 King's Lynn 22em ENG Michael Lee 10.21 ENG Dave Jessup 9.72 SWE Richard Hellsen 8.58 ENG Ian Turner 5.98 DEN Bent Rasmussen 5.24 ENG David Gagen 5.00 ENG Pete Smith 4.97 ENG Derek Harrison 4.26 ENG Bob Garrad 3.87 ENG Rob Hollingworth 2.27 Leicester 22em AUS John Titman 8.47 FIN Ila Teromaa 6.28 AUS Mike Farrell 5.99 AUS John Boulger 5.88 ENG Colin Cook 5.40 NOR Tom Godal 4.75 AUS John McNeill 4.14 ENG Chris Turner 3.49 ENG Robert Henry 3.47 Poole 22em ENG Malcolm Simmons 9.04 USA Ron Preston 8.58 SWE Christer Sjösten 6.49 ENG Neil Middleditch 6.48 AUS Danny Kennedy 6.06 POL Andrzej Tkocz 5.82 ENG Martin Yeates 4.33 ENG Kelvin Mullarkey 2.57 Reading 22em ENG John Davis 10.32 SWE Jan Andersson 8.64 ENG Terry Betts 7.75 ENG Bernie Leigh 6.31 ENG Melvyn Taylor 5.65 NOR Reidar Eide 5.23 AUS Bob Humphreys 5.16 CZE Jiří Štancl 5.12 ENG Ashley Pullen 3.75 Sheffield 22em ENG Reg Wilson 8.74 ENG Doug Wyer 7.57 ENG Craig Pendlebury 6.47 ENG Eric Broadbelt 6.03 NED Henny Kroeze 4.92 ENG Nicky Allott 4.84 ENG Steve Finch 4.52 ENG Phil White 4.37 ENG Keith Evans 4.17 USA Tommy Morley 3.61 ENG Neil Collins 3.33 Swindon 22em AUS Phil Crump 10.34 ENG Bob Kilby 7.65 USA Steve Gresham 6.98 ENG Geoff Bouchard 6.30 ENG Martin Ashby 6.06 DEN Steen Mastrup 5.92 NOR Rolf Gramstad 4.66 ENG Malcolm Holloway 3.52 Wimbledon 22em POL Edward Jancarz 9.26 NZL Larry Ross 8.97 ENG Roger Johns 7.89 SWE Stefan Salomonsso 7.38 NED Rudy Muts 6.91 ENG Mick Hines 5.47 ENG Colin Richardson 5.39 ENG Richard Knight 4.35 NZL Pat Pawson 1.86 ENG Dave Brewer 1.38 Wolverhampton 22em DEN Hans Nielsen 10.29 SCO Jimmy McMillan 7.93 ENG Dave Morton 6.81 SCO George Hunter 6.73 SWE Hasse Danielsson 6.39 NZL Bruce Cribb 5.84 NOR Edgar Stangeland 5.44 ENG Dave Trownson 5.23 NOR Trond Helge Skretting 3.52 See also List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions Knockout Cup (speedway) References Category:British League League British League