1975 British League season

British speedway season October 2023 October 2023 British League 18 Champions Ipswich Witches Knockout Cup Belle Vue Aces Individual Peter Collins Spring Gold Cup Newport Wasps Midland Cup Oxford Rebels Northern Trophy Belle Vue Aces London Cup Wimbledon Dons Ivan Mauger 1975 National League 1974 1976 The 1975 Gulf Oil British League season was the 41st season of the top tier of motorcycle speedway in the United Kingdom and the 11th season known as the British League.http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/p/compet.html Historic league tables Speedway Archive Summary The league was sponsored for the first time by Gulf Oil. Reading Racers returned after a one-season absence to increase the size of the league back to eighteen teams and the ban on overseas riders that rode in other leagues abroad was lifted.Oakes Peter 1981 Speedway Yearbook 1981 100 Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd 0-86215-017-5 The Ipswich Witches won their first title, defeating Belle Vue Aces by a solitary point. John Louis and Billy Sanders scored heavily throughout the season for Ipswich. Belle Vue found consolation by winning the Knockout Cup.https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/historyarchive HISTORY ARCHIVE British Speedway 2 July 2021Rogers Martin The Illustrated History of Speedway 1978 129–133 Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd 0-904584-45-3 In their last season at the Cowley track, Oxford Rebels won the Midland Cup, beating Wolverhampton WolvesLawson, K (2018) “Rebels 1975 – The Last Season”. 978-0-244-99725-0Bamford, R & Shailes, G (2007). "The Story of Oxford Speedway". 978-0-7524-4161-0 but the competition was overshadowed by the death of rider Gary Peterson.Speedway rider Gary Peterson killed Reading Evening Post 18 October 1975 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002471/19751018/394/0014 British Newspaper Archive 21 October 2023 subscription Final table Pos Team PL W D L Pts1 Ipswich Witches 34 26 1 7 532 Belle Vue Aces 34 25 2 7 523 Newport 34 24 1 9 494 Exeter Falcons 34 20 3 11 455 Sheffield Tigers 34 21 0 13 426 Reading Racers 34 21 0 13 427 Oxford Rebels 34 18 0 16 368 Leicester Lions 34 16 4 14 369 Wimbledon Dons 34 16 2 16 3410 Halifax Dukes 34 15 3 16 3311 Cradley United 34 15 2 17 3212 King's Lynn Stars 34 14 3 17 3113 Wolverhampton Wolves 34 13 1 20 2714 Hull Vikings 34 10 4 20 2415 Poole Pirates 34 10 3 21 2316 Coventry Bees 34 9 2 23 2017 Hackney Hawks 34 9 1 24 1918 Swindon Robins 34 8 0 26 16M = Matches; W = Wins; D = Draws; L = Losses; Pts = Total Points Fixtures and results main FBR grey BV COV CH EX HAC HAL HV IPS KL LEI NEW OX PP RR SHE SWI WIM WOL Belle Vue 49–29 42–36 55–23 49–29 42–36 46–32 50–28 46–32 47–31 49–29 42–36 45–33 50–28 51–27 48–30 53–25 55–23 Coventry 30–48 44–34 42–36 44.5–33.5 35–43 39–39 41–37 39–39 38–40 33–45 52–26 41–7 38–40 37–41 44–34 41–37 35–42 Cradley Heath 39–39 58–20 39–39 42–36 47–31 51–27 38–40 45–33 42–35 45–32 40–38 44–34 35–43 43–35 43–35 35–43 50–28 Exeter 41–37 58–20 30–48 55–23 41–37 51–27 45–33 46–32 45–33 36–42 43–35+ 46–32 43–35 42–36 47–31 43–35 50–28 Hackney 35–43 43–35 58–20 39–39 52–26 41–37 31–47 38–40 30–48 43–35 37–41 36–42 35–43 42–36 49–29 34–44 42–36 Halifax 34–44 40–38 45–33 43–35 43–35 39–39 35–43 42–36 39–39 47–31 44–34 49–29 44–34 33–44 42–36 47–31 41–37 Hull 39–39 42–36 47–31 36–42 42–36 39–39 37–41 36–41 43–35 35–43 40–38 49–29 36–42 38–40 43–35 42–36 47–31 Ipswich 42–36 53–25 45–33 42–36 46–32 59–19 50–28 50–28 42–36 42–36 40–38 43–34 50–27 55–23 47–31 50–28 46–32 King's Lynn 36–42 52–25 36–42 35–43 52–26 41–37 37–41 33–45 39–39 40–38 41–37 39–39 48–30 41–37 41–37 51–27 54–24 Leicester 40–38 45–33 49–29 37–41 43–35 34–44 43–35 39–39 47–31 43–35 43–35 43–35 45–33 43–35 46–32 48–30 45–33 Newport 55–23 58–20 49–29 40–38 58–20 53–25 46–32 56–22 52–26 52–26 52–26 56–22 51–27 61–17 47–31 47–30 50–28 Oxford 34–44 58–20 58–14 35–43 44–34 49–29 49–29 40–38 49–29 40–38 36–42 44–34 46–32 44–34 44–34 44–34 43–35 Poole 37–41 42–36 48–30 42–36 46–32 46–32 42–36 36–42 43–35 39–39 39–39 45–33 37–41 31–47 45–33 36–42 37–41 Reading 41–37 48–30 40–38 43–34 53–25 42–36 48–30 36–42 46–32 41–37 42–36 41–37 50–28 41–37 50–28 40–38 52–26 Sheffield 38–40 47–31 46–32 41–37 51–27 40–38 48–30 42–36 50–28 45–33 34–44 41–36 51–27 42–36 51–27 44–33 49–29 Swindon 40–38 37–41 33–45 36–41 46–31 32–46 42–36 36–42 36–42 42–36 29–49 37–41 44–34 48–30 33–45 41–37 40–38 Wimbledon 36–42 45–33 53–25 39–39 40–38 52–26 45–33 44–34 35–43 43–35 40–38 42–35 50–28 42–36 37–41 42–35 43–35 Wolverhampton 40–38 47–31 45–33 32–46 34–44 40–38 42–36 31–47 46–32 43–35 37–41 31–47 46–32 47–31 45–33 46–32 39–39 complete https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1975.html Speedway Researcher 1975 fixtures & results 10 March 2025 + Match awarded to Oxford Top ten riders (league averages) Rider Nat Team C.M.A. 1 Ivan Mauger NZL Exeter 11.45 2 Peter Collins ENG Belle Vue 11.27 3 Phil Crump AUS Newport 11.17 4 Anders Michanek SWE Reading 11.03 5 Ole Olsen DEN Wolverhampton 10.79 6 John Louis ENG Ipswich 10.67 7 Dave Jessup ENG Leicester 10.45 8 Malcolm Simmons ENG Poole 10.37 9 Dag Lövaas NOR Oxford 10.22 10 Reg Wilson ENG Sheffield 10.18 British League Knockout Cup The 1975 Speedway Star British League Knockout Cup was the 37th edition of the Knockout Cup for tier one teams. Belle Vue Aces were the winners.http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/2014/03/british-league-ko-cup-1975.html 1975 British League Knockout Cup Speedway archive First round Date Team one Score Team two22/05 Sheffield 44–34 Exeter19/04 Belle Vue 49–29 Wolverhampton18/04 Wolverhampton 37–41 Belle Vue14/04 Exeter 47–31 Sheffield Second round Date Team one Score Team two01/07 Leicester 47–31 Hackney27/06 Hackney 40–38 Leicester23/06 Cradley Heath 46–32 Kings Lynn21/06 Kings Lynn 42–36 Cradley Heath19/06 Oxford 60–18 Coventry19/06 Ipswich 42–36 Belle Vue16/06 Exeter 43–35 Poole16/06 Reading 38–40 Newport14/06 Swindon 47–31 Hull14/06 Coventry 33–45 Oxford11/06 Poole 41–37 Exeter11/06 Hull 46–32 Swindon07/06 Halifax 58–20 Wimbledon06/06 Newport 46–32 Reading05/06 Wimbledon 49–29 Halifax04/06 Belle Vue 49–28 Ipswich Quarter-finals Date Team one Score Team two09/08 Cradley Heath 51–27 Newport09/08 Belle Vue 45–33 Oxford08/08 Newport 49–29 Cradley Heath07/08 Oxford 36–42 Belle Vue02/08 Swindon 32–46 Leicester29/07 Leicester 42–36 Swindon17/07 Exeter 43–35 Halifax05/07 Halifax 47–31 Exeter Semi-finals Date Team one Score Team two05/10 Belle Vue 44–34 Cradley Heath27/09 Halifax 37–40 Leicester26/09 Leicester 47–31 Halifax22/09 Cradley Heath 32–45 Belle Vue Final First leg 7 October 1975 Leicester LionsDave Jessup 11Ila Teromaa 10Ray Wilson 9Frank Auffret 6Doug Underwood 2Tony Lomas 0Keith White 0 38–40 https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/result-archive/heatdetails/season1975.pdf Season 1975 British Speedway 25 June 2021 Belle Vue AcesPeter Collins 12Chris Morton 9Sören Sjösten 7Geoff Pusey 4Alan Wilkinson 4Russ Hodgson 3Paul Tyrer 1 Leicester Stadium Second leg 22 October 1975 Belle Vue AcesPeter Collins 12Sören Sjösten 8Paul Tyrer 8Alan Wilkinson 8Chris Morton 7Russ Hodgson 2Geoff Pusey 1 46–32 Leicester LionsDave Jessup 8Ray Wilson 7Frank Auffret 6Doug Underwood 6Tony Lomas 3Ila Teromaa 1Keith White 1 Belle Vue Stadium Belle Vue Aces were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate 86-70. Riders' Championship Peter Collins won the British League Riders' Championship for the second time, it was held at Hyde Road on 18 October.Collins keeps his title Sunday Sun (Newcastle) 19 October 1975 2 June 2023 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001723/19751019/026/0026 British Newspaper Archive subscription Pos. Rider Heat Scores Total1 ENG Peter Collins 3 3 3 3 3 152 AUS Phil Crump 2 3 3 1 3 12 3 ENG Martin Ashby 3 1 2 3 2 114 ENG John Louis 3 2 0 3 3 11 5 ENG Doug Wyer 3 2 1 2 2 10 6 ENG Malcolm Simmons 2 3 1 2 1 97 ENG Chris Pusey 1 0 3 3 2 98 ENG Dave Jessup 2 0 2 2 2 89 SWE Anders Michanek 2 1 2 R 3 810 NZL Ivan Mauger 1 0 3 1 1 6 11 SWE Tommy Jansson 0 3 1 1 1 612 ENG Terry Betts 1 1 2 0 1 513 SCO Jim McMillan 2 0 2 0 0 4 14 AUS Bob Valentine 0 1 1 1 EF 3 15 NOR Dag Lövaas 1 2 0 0 0 3 16 AUS John Boulger 0 0 0 0 0 0 ef=engine failure, f=fell, x=excluded Leading final averages Rider Nat Team C.M.A. 1 Ivan Mauger NZL Exeter 11.52 2 Phil Crump AUS Newport 11.15 3 Peter Collins ENG Belle Vue 11.13 4 Anders Michanek SWE Reading 10.90 5 Ole Olsen DEN Wolverhampton 10.79 6 John Louis ENG Ipswich 10.58 7 Dave Jessup ENG Leicester 10.41 8 Malcolm Simmons ENG Poole 10.41 9 Martin Ashby ENG Swindon 10.13 10 Tommy Jansson SWE Wimbledon 10.12 11 Dag Lövaas NOR Oxford 10.04 12 Ray Wilson ENG Wolverhampton 9.90 13 Reg Wilson ENG Sheffield 9.79 14 Jim McMillan SCO Hull 9.69 15 Billy Sanders AUS Ipswich 9.58 16 Doug Wyer ENG Sheffield 9.37 17 Chris Morton ENG Belle Vue 9.27 18 Barry Briggs NZL Wimbledon 9.23 19 Scott Autrey USA Exeter 9.19 20 Reidar Eide NOR Newport 8.98 Spring Gold Cup East Group Team PL W D L PtsReading 6 3 1 2 7 Ipswich 6 3 1 2 7 Hackney 6 3 0 3 6 King's Lynn 6 2 0 4 4 West Group Team PL W D L PtsNewport 6 5 0 1 10 Poole 6 4 0 2 8 Exeter 6 2 0 4 4 Wimbledon 6 1 0 5 2 East Group main FBR grey HAC IPS KL REA Hackney 38–40 45–33 41–37 Ipswich 42–36 45–33 39–39 King's Lynn 37–41 44–34 44–34 Reading 51–27 41–37 44–34 complete https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1975fixtures.pdf Speedway Researcher 1975 fixtures & results 29 September 2025 West Group main FBR grey EX NEW PP WIM Exeter 34–42 44–34 50–28 Newport 46–32 58–20 54–24 Poole 42–36 40–38 45–33 Wimbledon 40–38 34–44 34–44 complete https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1975fixtures.pdf Speedway Researcher 1975 fixtures & results 29 September 2025 Final Team one Team two ScoreNewportReading 53–25, 33–54 Midland Cup Oxford won the Midland Cup. The competition consisted of six teams. First round Team one Team two ScoreOxfordSwindon 39–39, 39–39OxfordSwindon 53–25, 33–44CoventryCradley40–37, 35–43 Semi final round Team one Team two ScoreWolverhamptonCradley 42–35, 44–34 Oxford Leicester46–32, 35–43 Final First leg 5 October 1975 OxfordDag Lovaas 10 Gordon Kennett 9 John Dews 6 Richard Greer 6 Trevor Geer 5 Paul Gachet 2 Richard Hellsen 2 40–38 WolverhamptonMartin Ashby (guest) 13 Finn Thomsen 10 George Hunter 10 Malcolm Shakespeare 4 Colin Meredith 1 Gary Peterson 0 Leif Berlin r/r Oxford Stadium Second leg 17 October 1975 WolverhamptonOle Olsen 11 Malcolm Shakespeare 7 Finn Thomsen 6 Leif Berlin 6 Gary Peterson 4 Keith Anderson 3 Colin Meredith 1 38–39 OxfordAlan Grahame 12Dag Lovaas 9 Gordon Kennett 7Richard Greer 7John Dews 3 Richard Hellsen 1Brian Clark 0 Monmore Green Stadium Oxford won on aggregate 79–76 Northern Trophy M W D L Pts 1Belle Vue 6 5 0 1 10 2 Sheffield 6 4 0 2 8 3 Halifax 6 3 0 3 6 4 Hull 6 0 0 6 0 main FBR grey BV HAL HUL SHE Belle Vue 52–26 45–33 40–38 Halifax 35–43 48–30 44–34 Hull 37–41 37–40 36–42 Sheffield 42–36 46–32 49–29 complete https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1975fixtures.pdf Speedway Researcher 1975 fixtures & results 29 September 2025 London Cup Wimbledon retained the London Cup but there were now only two teams remaining in London.https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1975record.pdf 1975 fixtures and results Speedway Researcher 1 October 2023 Results Team Score TeamWimbledon 48–30 HackneyHackney 46–32 Wimbledon Riders & final averages Belle Vue 22em ENG Peter Collins 11.13 ENG Chris Morton 9.27 SWE Sören Sjösten 8.76 ENG Alan Wilkinson 7.14 ENG Paul Tyrer 6.21 ENG Russ Hodgson 5.03 ENG Ian Hindle 4.00 ENG Geoff Pusey 3.55 Coventry 22em AUS Bob Valentine 8.66 ENG Nigel Boocock 8.02 SWE Tommy Nilsson 5.37 ENG John Harrhy 5.14 ENG Ian Hindle 4.82 ENG Alan Molyneux 4.43 ENG Alan Jay 4.36 ENG Frank Smith 3.84 NZL Mitch Shirra 2.23 ENG Roger Hill 1.71 Cradley Heath 22em AUS John Boulger 8.73 SWE Bernt Persson 8.58 ENG Arthur Price 7.68 NZL Bruce Cribb 7.53 HUN Sándor Lévai 4.87 ENG Steve Bastable 4.84 ENG Dave Perks 4.56 ENG Russell Osborne 3.08 Exeter 22em NZL Ivan Mauger 11.52 USA Scott Autrey 9.19 ENG Kevin Holden 7.50 AUS Steve Reinke 6.07 AUS John Titman 5.89 ENG Les Rumsey 5.71 AUS Geoff Mudge 4.96 AUS Mike Farrell 4.72 ENG Chris Julian 3.44 Hackney 22em ENG Dave Morton 8.54 ENG Barry Thomas 7.81 SWE Christer Löfqvist 7.61 ENG Laurie Etheridge 5.84 ENG Dave Kennett 4.68 ENG Steve Lomas 4.60 ENG Mike Broadbank 4.46 ENG Ted Hubbard 3.86 Halifax 22em ENG Chris Pusey 8.77 ENG Rick France 8.03 ENG Graham Plant 7.58 AUS Charlie Monk 7.11 ENG Ian Cartwright 5.92 NED Henny Kroeze 5.74 ENG Dave Gatenby 4.89 ENG Mike Hiftle 4.32 ENG Andy Cusworth 3.83 Hull 22em SCO Jimmy McMillan 9.69 ENG Joe Owen 7.29 SCO Bobby Beaton 7.20 SWE Tommy Johansson 6.64 ENG Mitch Graham 6.53 AUS Lou Sansom 5.22 ENG Brian Havelock 5.14 AUS Kym Amundson 5.10 ENG Alan Cowland 3.49 AUS Robin Amundson 3.45 Ipswich 22em ENG John Louis 10.58 AUS Billy Sanders 9.58 ENG Tony Davey 7.75 ENG Mike Lanham 6.44 ENG Mick Hines 5.13 ENG Trevor Jones 4.99 ENG Ted Howgego 4.78 ENG Dave Gooderham 4.00 King's Lynn 22em ENG Terry Betts 8.87 ENG Ian Turner 7.48 ENG Michael Lee 7.43 ENG Trevor Hedge 6.20 ENG Ray Bales 5.77 AUS Garry Middleton 5.76 SWE Olle Nygren 4.75 ENG David Gagen 4.56 DEN Jan Henningsen 4.07 ENG Billy Burton 4.00 ENG Eddie Reeves 4.00 Leicester 22em ENG Dave Jessup 10.41 ENG Ray Wilson 9.90 FIN Ila Teromaa 5.91 ENG Frank Auffret 5.84 ENG Tony Lomas 5.70 ENG Keith White 4.93 AUS Doug Underwood 4.17 ENG Norman Storer 3.75 Newport 22em AUS Phil Crump 11.15 NOR Reidar Eide 8.98 AUS Phil Herne 8.70 AUS Neil Street 7.32 ENG Bob Coles 7.13 USA Steve Gresham 6.34 ENG Tom Owen 6.11 ENG Jim Tebby 3.26 Oxford 22em NOR Dag Lövaas 10.04 ENG Gordon Kennett 8.41 ENG Richard Greer 7.48 ENG John Dews 6.57 ENG Trevor Geer 5.73 SWE Richard Hellsen 4.75 ENG Paul Gachet 4.15 NOR Helge Langli 2.46 Poole 22em ENG Malcolm Simmons 10.41 ENG Eric Broadbelt 7.50 SWE Christer Sjösten 6.23 ENG Colin Gooddy 5.39 ENG Pete Smith 5.29 ENG Neil Middleditch 4.48 AUS Neil Cameron 3.77 ENG Martin Yeates 2.53 Reading 22em SWE Anders Michanek 10.90 ENG John Davis 7.37 SWE Bengt Jansson 7.06 ENG Bernie Leigh 5.59 AUS Bob Humphreys 5.56 ENG Mick Bell 5.21 ENG Richard May 4.99 Sheffield 22em ENG Reg Wilson 9.79 ENG Doug Wyer 9.37 ENG Arnold Haley 7.91 ENG Carl Glover 6.41 SWE Soren Karlsson 6.09 ENG Craig Pendlebury 5.88 ENG Nicky Allott 3.17 Swindon 22em ENG Martin Ashby 10.13 ENG Bob Kilby 8.26 ENG Norman Hunter 5.43 ENG Alan Grahame 4.95 SWE Jan Andersson 4.56 ENG Geoff Bouchard 4.42 ENG Bobby McNeil 4.27 ENG Mike Keen 3.18 ENG David Ashby 2.79 Wimbledon 22em SWE Tommy Jansson 10.12 NZL Barry Briggs 9.23 NOR Edgar Stangeland 7.24 SCO Bert Harkins 6.11 ENG Barry Crowson 4.97 NZL Larry Ross 4.85 ENG Reg Luckhurst 4.76 ENG Roger Johns 4.40 ENG Graham Banks 2.19 Wolverhampton 22em DEN Ole Olsen 10.79 SCO George Hunter 6.99 DEN Finn Thomsen 6.29 NZL Gary Peterson 5.85 ENG Malcolm Shakespeare 4.55 ENG Colin Meredith 3.19 ENG Tony Clarke 3.16 ENG Nigel Wasley 2.96 See also List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions Knockout Cup (speedway) References Category:British League Category:1975 in British motorsport Category:1975 in speedway