Glasgow topped the first British League table despite having lost at home to Wimbledon on a night skipper Maury Mattingley missed his flight to Glasgow. However they made amends the following night by winning at Belle Vue where the Aces Dick Fisher pulled out after two rides after a brave attempt to ride – no guest or Rider Replacement facility existed at the time.

Long Eaton broke their home duck by beating Halifax 51-45 in the KO Cup - a single tie competition in these days – thanks to John Mills scoring 8+1 when replacing Peter Moore whose recurrence of a back problem would mean him missing the entire season. They repeated the feat the following week by beating Belle Vue who were still missing Fisher. It is to be hoped the Archer fans enjoyed it as, with the injury bug continuing to strike, wins would be as rarer as hens’ teeth that year

Oxford were still struggling to field a recognisable side with Hensley, Hook and Leader in their side at Exeter. Bishop, Reeves and Chandler would soon be Cheetah regulars and by the end of the month had achieved a home and away double over Coventry and an away draw at Wimbledon which marked them down as title challengers.

Coventry swapped out Fred Hodder and Howie Booton for Col Smith and Peter Gay but neither impressed as the Bees avenged their heavy Easter defeat at Glasgow with a 51-26 win at Brandon. Ron Bagley and Chris Harrison were the next duo to be tried. Bagley rode in five meetings without scoring too well and retired.

Roy Trigg and Alan Cowland had the BL’s first dead heat at Hackney where skipper Colin Pratt briefly had a spell at reserve but was back in the main team after John Poyser broke his thigh during a narrow 51-45 defeat in the KO Cup defeat at Edinburgh. This injury would keep Poyser out for some years. Some joy for Hackney though winning at West Ham in speedways most local of derbies.

Newcastle had moved quickly to sign Brian Brett to cover for the injured Ivan Mauger and were hgping to retain him once the Kiwi was back.

Most former Provincial League tracks were holding their own certainly at home and were enjoying good crowds particularly when the former National League “big names” were riding.

Non League tracks at Cowdenbeath and Kings Lynn opened but would have very different fortunes. The Fifers only manged about half a dozen meetings before folding while the Stars joined the BL the following year and have raced for 60 consecutive seasons.

Charlie Monk was Barry Briggs first Golden Helmet challenger. He won the first leg at Poole after two protracted heats. In the first Briggs stopped when leading and Monk sportingly pulled up too. The mechanically troubled Briggs was wanting to concede the leg but was persuaded to continue with Monk winning both heats. It was a different story at Sheffield and West Ham where Briggs won both by 2-0.

The World Championship began with Preliminary Rounds at non-league tracks – Middlesbrough, Kings Lynn, Cowdenbeath, Rayleigh and Ipswich – featuring BL tracks sixes and sevens. Cowdenbeath had the honour of staging the most northerly WCQR ever staged in the UK.