1963 Speedway National League

Summary

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.

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. 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.

Final table

Fixtures and results

A Fixtures

B Fixtures

+Norwich awarded points

Top ten riders

The top ten riders are listed by their points average and only applies to the league.

National Trophy

The 1963 National Trophy was the 25th edition of the Knockout Cup. Norwich were the winners.

First round

Semi-finals

Final

First leg Dick Fisher 14 Peter Craven 14 Sören Sjösten 10 Gordon McGregor 9 Cyril Maidment 4 Bill Powell 0 Jim Yacoby 0 Trevor Hedge 9 Terry Betts 8 Olle Nygren 8 Billy Bales 4 Jimmy Gooch 2 John Debbage 1 Reg Trott 1 Second leg Ove Fundin 15 Olle Nygren 14 Terry Betts 10 John Debbage 6 Reg Trott 5 Billy Bales 4 Jimmy Gooch 3 Sören Sjösten 7 Gordon McGregor 7 Cyril Maidment 6 John Dews 3 Jim Yacoby 2 Norman Nevitt 1 Ernie Baker 0

Norwich were National Trophy Champions, winning on aggregate 90–78.

Riders & final averages

Belle Vue

• 10.19
• 10.13
• 8.67
• 7.77
• 6.17
• 2.87
• 2.07
• 2.00

Coventry

• 9.84
• 8.99
• 7.31
• 5.52
• 5.35
• 4.00
• 3.59
• 3.05
• 1.33
• 0.80

Norwich

• 10.71
• 8.64
• 8.39
• 8.00
• 5.51
• 4.65
• 4.35
• 3.04

Oxford

• 8.28
• 7.39
• 6.83
• 6.00
• 6.00
• 5.16
• 4.31
• 4.27
• 3.67

Southampton

• 9.27
• 9.13
• 8.55
• 6.17
• 5.78
• 5.58
• 5.05
• 4.93
• 1.82

Swindon

• 8.98
• 8.74
• 6.57
• 6.44
• 6.36
• 5.80
• 5.01

Wimbledon

• 10.17
• 9.68
• 8.53
• 7.29
• 6.57
• 5.41
• 4.71
• 4.44

References

References

1. "Historic league tables". Speedway Archive.
2. "League Tables".
3. "Year by Year".
4. Rogers, Martin. (1978). "The Illustrated History of Speedway". Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd.
5. "BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - POST-WAR ERA (1946-1964)".
6. "Peter Craven Tragedy", ''[[Speedway Star]]'', 28 September 1963, p. 18
7. "In Memoriam".
8. (21 September 1963). "Crashed speedway rider serious". Coventry Evening Telegraph.
9. (25 September 1963). "Speedway Ace Peter Craevn is Dead". Torbay Express and South Devon Echo.
10. "1963 fixtures & results". Speedway Researcher.
11. "1963 fixtures & results". Speedway Researcher.
12. "Rider Averages".
13. "1963 National Trophy". Speedway archive.
14. "1963 National Trophy".