Competition: | National League |
Season: | 1963 |
Competitors: | 7 |
Domesticcup1: | Champions |
Domesticcup1 Winners: | Belle Vue Aces |
Domesticcup2: | National Trophy |
Domesticcup2 Winners: | Norwich Stars |
Highestaverage: | Ove Fundin |
Leagues Below: | 1963 Provincial League |
Prevseason: | 1962 |
Nextseason: | 1964 |
The 1963 National League was the 29th season and the eighteenth post-war season of the highest tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain.[1]
The seven entrants were the same as those that had finished the previous season and matches were ridden home and away twice. Belle Vue Aces won their first title in 27 years.[2] [3] [4] [5]
Belle Vue's successful season was soured by a tragedy and the speedway world was in shock when the double world champion Peter Craven died following a challenge match at Edinburgh's Old Meadowbank stadium, on 20 September 1963.[6] [7] Just six days after he lost world crown, Craven swerved to avoid hitting fallen race leader George Hunter and hit the safety fence. Craven was rushed to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, where he died on 24 September.[8] [9]
Pos | Team | PL | W | D | L | Pts | |
1 | Belle Vue Aces | 24 | 17 | 0 | 7 | 34 | |
2 | Norwich Stars | 24 | 13 | 2 | 9 | 28 | |
3 | Wimbledon Dons | 24 | 12 | 1 | 11 | 25 | |
4 | Coventry Bees | 24 | 11 | 2 | 11 | 24 | |
5 | Swindon Robins | 24 | 10 | 2 | 12 | 22 | |
6 | Southampton Saints | 24 | 11 | 0 | 13 | 22 | |
7 | Oxford Cheetahs | 24 | 6 | 1 | 17 | 13 |
The top ten riders are listed by their points average and only applies to the league.[10]
Rider | Nat | Team | C.M.A. | ||
1 | Ove Fundin | Norwich Stars | 10.71 | ||
2 | Dick Fisher | Belle Vue Aces | 10.19 | ||
3 | Ronnie Moore | Wimbledon Dons | 10.17 | ||
4 | The late Peter Craven | Belle Vue Aces | 10.13 | ||
5 | Nigel Boocock | Coventry Bees | 9.84 | ||
6 | Ron How | Wimbledon Dons | 9.68 | ||
7 | Björn Knutson | Southampton Saints | 9.27 | ||
8 | Barry Briggs | Southampton Saints | 9.13 | ||
9 | Ken McKinlay | Coventry Bees | 8.99 | ||
10 | Peter Moore | Swindon Robins | 8.98 |
The 1963 National Trophy was the 25th edition of the Knockout Cup. Norwich were the winners.[11]
First round
width=80 | Date | width=250 | Team one | width=80 | Score | width=250 | Team two |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
22/06 | Norwich | 60-24 | Wimbledon | ||||
17/06 | Wimbledon | 38-46 | Norwich | ||||
20/06 | Oxford | 39-45 | Swindon | ||||
15/06 | Swindon | 53-31 | Oxford | ||||
18/06 | Southampton | 46-37 | Coventry | ||||
15/06 | Coventry | 54-30 | Southampton |
width=80 | Date | width=250 | Team one | width=80 | Score | width=250 | Team two |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
21/08 | Belle Vue | 55-29 | Coventry | ||||
14/08 | Coventry | 41-43 | Belle Vue | ||||
09/08 | Swindon | 48-36 | Norwich | ||||
31/07 | Norwich | 49-35 | Swindon |
First legSecond leg
Norwich were National Trophy Champions, winning on aggregate 90–78.
Belle Vue
Coventry
Norwich
Oxford
Southampton
Swindon
Wimbledon