At Last The Much Awaited Enquiry!

The much awaited enquiry into the SCB’s running of the sport finally got underway on

Oct 13^th. It was chaired by Lord Shawcross, a high ranking character who had been a major prosecutor in the Nuremburg war trials. However there was then a long period of silence with no details of the findings being published. The end of October came and went. After this date all riding contracts had expired. The PLPA maintained their stance that they would be meeting in early January 1965 to lay plans for the new season and would go ahead regardless, should the outcome of the enquiry be delayed into the new year. Then on December 3^rd, it happened! It made the following recommendations

• There would be one league of eighteen teams – the teams who finished the 1964 season, twelve from the Provincial League and six from the National League, Norwich having fallen prey to the redevelopers
• All suspensions were to be lifted. Provincial League riders could now have their ACU licences reinstated allowing them to compete in winter trials and grass track meetings. “The ACU will accept applications for licences on the understanding that the regulations will in future be loyally observed”
• No commuting foreigners were to be allowed
• A new Control Board was to be formed with promoters having a far greater say in all decisions. This was a major victory for the Provincial League promoters who previously had practically no input at all.

In many ways, this was just where we came in with one big league, but the salient point was that the former PL tracks were being admitted as full members and would each have a share from pooled events.

The British League would be the start of a golden era during which speedway was said to be the country’s second most popular spectator sport. Heady days from sixty years ago!