1962 Speedway National League

Summary

With the withdrawal of New Cross Rangers and with Leicester Hunters moving down to the Provincial League, the entry list was 8 teams and so home and away fixtures were raced twice. Southampton Saints broke the domination of Wimbledon Dons by winning their first National League title.

Ipswich Witches' season was a complete disaster. Their new signing Olle Nygren did not even start the season due to ill-health and then Jack Unstead was killed in the first recorded fatal crash at Foxhall Stadium, on 13 April 1962. The club later withdrew from the league due to financial issues and their results were expunged.

League

Final table

• Ipswich Witches resigned in mid-season.

Fixtures and results

A fixtures

B fixtures

Top ten riders (league only)

National Trophy

The 1962 National Trophy was the 24th edition of the Knockout Cup. Wimbledon were the winners.

First round

Semi-finals

Final

First leg Ronnie Moore 14 Ron How 14 Bob Andrews 11 Gerry Jackson 7 Cyril Brine 5 Leo McAuliffe 3 Jim Tebby 1 Mike Broadbank 9 Arne Carlsson 7 Ian Williams 4 Martin Ashby 3 Peter Moore 3 Brian Brett 2 Neil Street 1 Second leg Martin Ashby 15 Mike Broadbank 7 Peter Moore 7 Arne Carlsson 6 Neil Street 5 Ian Williams 3 Brian Brett 2 Ronnie Moore 13 Ron How 12 Bob Andrews 9 Cyril Brine 3 Gerry Jackson 2 Jim Tebby 0 Leo McAuliffe 0

Wimbledon were National Trophy Champions, winning on aggregate 94–74.

Riders & final averages

Belle Vue

• 9.75
• 8.23
• 7.95
• 7.33
• 4.44
• 4.00
• 3.67
• 3.60
• 3.27
• 3.17
• 2.50
• 2.33

Coventry

• 8.74
• 8.63
• 8.20
• 7.61
• 6.33
• 6.11
• 5.33
• 4.47
• 3.35

Ipswich (resigned mid season)

• 8.73
• 6.63
• 6.06
• 6.00
• 5.85
• 5.17
• 4.44
• 2.24
• RSA Trevor Blokdyk 3.33
• 1.33
• n/a

Norwich

• 9.80
• 9.30
• 6.78
• 6.49
• 6.07
• 5.56
• 5.48
• 4.67
• 4.39
• 2.74
• 2.67

Oxford

• 6.91
• 6.88
• 5.84
• 5.56
• 5.20
• 5.20
• 4.93
• 4.42
• 2.73

Southampton

• 9.89
• 9.64
• 7.49
• 7.33
• 7.10
• 6.54
• 6.37

Swindon

• 9.71
• 8.27
• 8.00
• 6.94
• 6.21
• 6.00
• 5.62
• 5.30
• 4.45
• 2.67

Wimbledon

• 10.14
• 9.30
• 8.82
• 7.03
• 6.50
• 6.00
• 5.14
• 4.82
• 3.35

References

References

1. "Historic league tables". Speedway Archive.
2. "Year by Year".
3. Rogers, Martin. (1978). "The Illustrated History of Speedway". Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd.
4. "BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - POST-WAR ERA (1946-1964)".
5. (14 April 1962). "Rider killed in Speedway crash". Birmingham Daily Post.
6. (27 July 1962). "Close-Down at Ipswich". Daily Mirror.
7. "1962 fixtures & results". Speedway Researcher.
8. "1962 fixtures & results". Speedway Researcher.
9. "1962 National Trophy". Speedway archive.
10. "1962 National Trophy".