SPEEDWAY IN 1964

The 1964 season started in controversy, and like the previous year ended in disaster. The controversy was brought about by the refusal of Wolverhampton to move up to the National League after winning the Provincial League title in 1963. This caused a split between the leagues, and the Provincial League was outlawed by the Speedway Control Board and all National League riders were forbidden to ride on Provincial tracks. Provincial League riders were warned by the Speedway Control board that they were in breach of ACU regulations and could be suspended from all competitive racing. They were also barred from the World Speedway Championship, however the season was eventually concluded and the breach was healed during the close season. The Stoke Potters, St Austell Gulls and Rayleigh Rockets all withdrew from the league for various reasons before the season started. The Sunderland Stars joined the league but then withdrew after riding only three matches. However, Glasgow Tigers and the Newport Wasps joined and completed the season.

Sunday April 11th was the first occasion that a Newport Wasps team appeared on a speedway track. This was at Cradley Heath Speedway and the Wasps lost 42-36 but Peter Vandenberg scored a 12-point maximum. The Wasps' home debut at Somerton Park was the following Friday April 17th 1964 when a crowd in excess of 10,000 saw Newport lose to Cradley Heath by 40 to 38. Newport gained revenge later in the season winning the Provincial League Knock Out Cup by 97-95 (they won 58-38 at Somerton Park before going down 57-39 at Dudley Wood). The second meeting at Somerton Park on April 24th , an individual competition called the Newport Open Championship, was won by Len Silver (of Exeter), he beat Ross Gilbertson and Geoff Mudge (both of Poole) in a race off.