Hackney V Exeter 1975

[steve19620]

Can any Exeter historians help ?
I need to know the reason why the Hackney V Exeter league match result was amended in 1975.
After a search thru the 1975 Speedway Stars I still can't find the reason.
Can you help ?

[squibby]

I've done some research into this question, and although I cannot find any
' official ' reason for the alteration of the score for this meeting, I think I know what happened.

Hackney were utilising rider replacement for the absent-without-leave Swede Christer Lofqvist that night. Laurie Etheidge had just one ride in the meeting, according to the details in the Star dated 10 May 1975, so I think he must have been named as Hackney's number 8. If he had been at reserve i.e. no 6 or 7, I believe under the rules applying back then he would have had to have taken at least 2 rides on the night.

I have the programme for the meeting, and in heat 11 Lofqvist was programmed to ride. His ride was taken by Etheridge, who finished third, ahead of Chris Julian. I suspect that Exeter appealed that Etheridge, as no 8, was not allowed to take a ride as rider replacement, and that this appeal was upheld. Thus, Julian would be awarded the third place point, taking one point off Hackney's score and adding it to Exeter's total, making it 39 - 39 and not 40 - 38.

Hope this helps.

[steve19620]

Thanks for your reply.
You could be right, but I always thought that the No 8 rider was able to take r/r rides in those days. According to my records it appears that Dave Morton's and Chris Julian's points were affected by the amended scores - however this depends on the accuracy of the Speedway Star in 1975 which wasn't always correct and of course my records !

[squibby]

I didn't realise that it was Dave Morton's points total that was affected - that would seem to scupper my argument !

The only heat that featured Morton and Chris Julian was heat 5, where Morton came third and Julian last. I've no idea why that result would be overturned - sorry !!