# 1979 British League season

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.

## Summary

The league was sponsored by Gulf Oil for a fifth season. It comprised 18 teams - one fewer than the previous season. 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.
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. 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. 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 | Pts |
| 1 | Coventry Bees | 34 | 26 | 0 | 8 | 52 |
| 2 | Hull Vikings | 34 | 24 | 2 | 8 | 50 |
| 3 | Cradley Heath Heathens | 34 | 24 | 0 | 10 | 48 |
| 4 | King's Lynn Stars | 34 | 22 | 1 | 11 | 45 |
| 5 | Exeter Falcons | 33 | 20 | 0 | 13 | 40 |
| 6 | Halifax Dukes | 34 | 18 | 0 | 16 | 36 |
| 7 | Reading Racers | 34 | 17 | 0 | 17 | 34 |
| 8 | Swindon Robins | 33 | 15 | 3 | 15 | 33 |
| 9 | Wimbledon Dons | 34 | 16 | 1 | 17 | 33 |
| 10 | Belle Vue Aces | 34 | 14 | 4 | 16 | 32 |
| 11 | Wolverhampton Wolves | 34 | 15 | 1 | 18 | 31 |
| 12 | Poole Pirates | 34 | 14 | 3 | 17 | 31 |
| 13 | Sheffield Tigers | 34 | 14 | 2 | 18 | 30 |
| 14 | Birmingham Brummies | 34 | 13 | 2 | 19 | 28 |
| 15 | Ipswich Witches | 34 | 12 | 2 | 20 | 26 |
| 16 | Eastbourne Eagles | 34 | 10 | 2 | 22 | 22 |
| 17 | Leicester Lions | 34 | 10 | 0 | 24 | 20 |
| 18 | Hackney Hawks | 34 | 9 | 1 | 24 | 19 |
M = Matches; W = Wins; D = Draws; L = Losses; Pts = Total Points

## Fixtures and results

| Home \ Away | 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 | 40–38 | 45–33 | 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 | |

## Top ten riders (league averages)

| | Rider | Team | C.M.A. |
| 1 | Scott Autrey | Exeter | 10.91 |
| 2 | Ivan Mauger | Hull | 10.54 |
| 3 | Phil Crump | Swindon | 10.36 |
| 4 | Michael Lee | King's Lynn | 10.29 |
| 5 | John Davis | Reading | 10.22 |
| 6 | Hans Nielsen | Wolverhampton | 10.16 |
| 7 | Gordon Kennett | Eastbourne | 10.13 |
| 8 | Ole Olsen | Coventry | 10.03 |
| 9 | Bruce Penhall | Cradley | 10.02 |
| 10 | Dave Jessup | 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.
First round
| Date | Team one | Score | Team two |
| 16/06 | Cradley Heath | 66-42 | Leicester |
| 29/05 | Leicester | 40-68 | Cradley Heath |
| 20/04 | Eastbourne | 65-43 | Ipswich |
| 19/04 | Ipswich | 53-54 | Eastbourne |
Second round
| Date | Team one | Score | Team two |
| 10/09 | Cradley Heath | 78-29 | Wimbledon |
| 09/08 | Wimbledon | 54-53 | Cradley Heath |
| 06/07 | Eastbourne | 65-43 | Reading |
| 18/06 | Birmingham | 59-49 | Swindon |
| 16/06 | Coventry | 74-34 | Poole |
| 16/06 | King's Lynn | 53-55 | Wolverhampton |
| 16/06 | Swindon | 62-46 | Birmingham |
| 15/06 | Poole | 59-48 | Coventry |
| 15/06 | Wolverhampton | 56-52 | King's Lynn |
| 11/06 | Reading | 77-31 | Eastbourne |
| 02/06 | Belle Vue | 61-47 | Exeter |
| 01/06 | Hull | 81-25 | Sheffield |
| 31/05 | Exeter | 70-38 | Belle Vue |
| 31/05 | Sheffield | 60-48 | Hull |
Quarter-finals
| Date | Team one | Score | Team two |
| 24/09 | Cradley Heath | 71-37 | Wolverhampton |
| 21/09 | Wolverhampton | 52-56 | Cradley Heath |
| 20/08 | Reading | 53-55 | Halifax |
| 14/07 | Halifax | 79-29 | Reading |
| 03/08 | Exeter | 56-52 | Swindon |
| 18/07 | Hull | 75-34 | Coventry |
| 14/07 | Coventry | 60-48 | Hull |
| 14/07 | Swindon | 46-62 | Exeter |
Semi-finals
| Date | Team one | Score | Team two |
| 07/10 | Halifax | 49-59 | Cradley Heath |
| 06/10 | Cradley Heath | 43-23 | Halifax |
| 19/09 | Hull | 70-38 | Exeter |
| 17/09 | Exeter | 60-48 | Hull |

### Final

First leg
Second leg
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).
| Pos. | Rider | Heat Scores | Total |
| 1 | John Louis | 2 3 3 3 3 | 14 |
| 2 | Bruce Penhall | 3 2 3 3 2 | 13 |
| 3 | Michael Lee | 3 3 2 1 3 | 12 |
| 4 | Peter Collins | 2 3 2 3 1 | 11 |
| 5 | Larry Ross | 3 2 1 1 3 | 10 |
| 6 | Phil Crump | 0 3 3 3 0 | 9 |
| 7 | Hans Nielsen | 2 2 1 2 2 | 9 |
| 8 | Scott Autrey | 1 1 3 1 2 | 8 |
| 9 | Ole Olsen | 2 2 0 2 1 | 7 |
| 10 | Ivan Mauger | 1 R 2 0 1 | 6 |
| 11 | Malcolm Simmons | 3 0 0 1 1 | 5 |
| 12 | John Titman | 0 1 0 2 2 | 5 |
| 13 | Ian Cartright | 1 1 1 2 0 | 5 |
| 14 | John Davis | 0 1 2 0 1 | 4 |
| 15 | Andy Grahame | 0 0 1 0 0 | 1 |
| 16 | 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.
| | Rider | Team | C.M.A. |
| 1 | Scott Autrey | Exeter | 10.83 |
| 2 | Ivan Mauger | Hull | 10.38 |
| 3 | Phil Crump | Swindon | 10.34 |
| 4 | John Davis | Reading | 10.32 |
| 5 | Hans Nielsen | Wolverhampton | 10.29 |
| 6 | Michael Lee | King's Lynn | 10.21 |
| 7 | Ole Olsen | Coventry | 9.92 |
| 8 | Gordon Kennett | Eastbourne | 9.91 |
| 9 | Bruce Penhall | Cradley | 9.88 |
| 10 | Dave Jessup | King's Lynn | 9.72 |

## 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.
First round
| Team one | Team two | Score |
| Birmingham | Swindon | 32–46, 31–47 |
| Wolverhampton | Cradley | 39–38, 32–46 |
Semi final round
| Team one | Team two | Score |
| Leicester | Swindon | 44.5–33.5, 38–40 |
| Coventry | Cradley | 46–32, 34–44 |

### Final

First leg
Second leg
Coventry won on aggregate 93–63

## London Cup

Hackney won the London Cup but the competition consisted of just Wimbledon and Hackney.
Results
| Team | Score | Team |
| Hackney | 44–34 | Wimbledon |
| Wimbledon | 43–35 | Hackney |

## Riders & final averages

Belle Vue
* Peter Collins 9.76
* Chris Morton 9.06
* Les Collins 7.60
* Dave Allen 6.00
* Karl Maier 5.56
* Pekka Hautamaki 5.17
* Emil Sova 4.81
* Rob Maxfield 4.25
* Derek Richardson 4.21
* Arnold Haley 3.08
* Keith Bloxsome 0.86
Birmingham
* Billy Sanders 9.15
* Phil Herne 7.91
* Andy Grahame 7.60
* Finn Jensen 6.14
* Alan Emerson 5.90
* Ari Koponen 5.05
* Ray Wilson 5.05
* Ted Howgego 4.33
* Stuart Mountford 2.72
Coventry
* Ole Olsen 9.92
* Mitch Shirra 9.13
* Alan Molyneux 8.00
* Alf Busk 6.62
* Tommy Knudsen 6.41
* Gary Guglielmi 5.93
* Kevin Hawkins 5.73
* Mick Bell 4.95
Cradley Heath
* Bruce Penhall 9.88
* Alan Grahame 8.34
* Phil Collins 7.85
* Bobby Schwartz 7.83
* Steve Bastable 7.71
* Kristian Praestbro 7.54
* Erik Gundersen 7.35
* Dave Perks 6.84
* John Hack 4.77
* Les Rumsey 4.76
Eastbourne
* Gordon Kennett 9.91
* Kai Niemi 8.76
* Steve Weatherley 6.98
* Dave Kennett 5.59
* Trevor Geer 5.09
* Eric Dugard 4.27
* Roger Abel 3.91
* Steve Naylor 3.75
* Paul Woods 3.41
* John Barker 3.09
* Veijo Tuoriniemi 2.96
Exeter
* Scott Autrey 10.83
* Václav Verner 8.49
* Peter Prinsloo 6.94
* Aleš Dryml Sr. 6.47
* Jan Verner 6.40
* Steve Koppe 6.17
* Nigel Boocock 6.06
* Zdeněk Kudrna 6.05
Hackney
* Zenon Plech 7.78
* Bo Petersen 7.74
* Finn Thomsen 7.70
* Barry Thomas 5.09
* Vic Harding 4.33
* Bobby McNeil 4.00
* Sean Willmott 3.80
* Keith White 3.63
Halifax
* Ian Cartwright 8.95
* Kenny Carter 8.13
* Mike Lohmann 7.59
* Tormod Langli 6.93
* Mick McKeon 6.87
* Klaus Lohmann 5.18
* Merv Janke 4.84
* Steve Wilcock 4.24
Hull
* Ivan Mauger 10.38
* Bobby Beaton 8.62
* Kelly Moran 8.47
* Joe Owen 8.40
* Dennis Sigalos 7.46
* Graham Drury 6.75
* Frank Auffret 6.01
Ipswich
* John Louis 9.32
* Billy Sanders 9.21
* Tony Davey 7.51
* Kevin Jolly 7.43
* Anders Michanek 7.33
* Mike Lanham 6.43
* Tim Hunt 4.95
* Preben Eriksen 4.45
* Colin Cook 4.00
* Milan Spinka 3.76
* Andy Hines 3.41
* Nigel Flatman 3.27
* Kevin Teager 2.10
King's Lynn
* Michael Lee 10.21
* Dave Jessup 9.72
* Richard Hellsen 8.58
* Ian Turner 5.98
* Bent Rasmussen 5.24
* David Gagen 5.00
* Pete Smith 4.97
* Derek Harrison 4.26
* Bob Garrad 3.87
* Rob Hollingworth 2.27
Leicester
* John Titman 8.47
* Ila Teromaa 6.28
* Mike Farrell 5.99
* John Boulger 5.88
* Colin Cook 5.40
* Tom Godal 4.75
* John McNeill 4.14
* Chris Turner 3.49
* Robert Henry 3.47
Poole
* Malcolm Simmons 9.04
* Ron Preston 8.58
* Christer Sjösten 6.49
* Neil Middleditch 6.48
* Danny Kennedy 6.06
* Andrzej Tkocz 5.82
* Martin Yeates 4.33
* Kelvin Mullarkey 2.57
Reading
* John Davis 10.32
* Jan Andersson 8.64
* Terry Betts 7.75
* Bernie Leigh 6.31
* Melvyn Taylor 5.65
* Reidar Eide 5.23
* Bob Humphreys 5.16
* Jiří Štancl 5.12
* Ashley Pullen 3.75
Sheffield
* Reg Wilson 8.74
* Doug Wyer 7.57
* Craig Pendlebury 6.47
* Eric Broadbelt 6.03
* Henny Kroeze 4.92
* Nicky Allott 4.84
* Steve Finch 4.52
* Phil White 4.37
* Keith Evans 4.17
* Tommy Morley 3.61
* Neil Collins 3.33
Swindon
* Phil Crump 10.34
* Bob Kilby 7.65
* Steve Gresham 6.98
* Geoff Bouchard 6.30
* Martin Ashby 6.06
* Steen Mastrup 5.92
* Rolf Gramstad 4.66
* Malcolm Holloway 3.52
Wimbledon
* Edward Jancarz 9.26
* Larry Ross 8.97
* Roger Johns 7.89
* Stefan Salomonsso 7.38
* Rudy Muts 6.91
* Mick Hines 5.47
* Colin Richardson 5.39
* Richard Knight 4.35
* Pat Pawson 1.86
* Dave Brewer 1.38
Wolverhampton
* Hans Nielsen 10.29
* Jimmy McMillan 7.93
* Dave Morton 6.81
* George Hunter 6.73
* Hasse Danielsson 6.39
* Bruce Cribb 5.84
* Edgar Stangeland 5.44
* Dave Trownson 5.23
* Trond Helge Skretting 3.52