The 1938 National League Division One was the tenth season of the highest tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain.
Summary The only change from the previous season was Bristol Bulldogs moving up from the Provincial League and Hackney Wick Wolves moving down to take their place. They also swapped licences and riders as well as divisions.
New Cross Rangers won their first national title.
Final table Pos Team PL W D L Pts1 New Cross Rangers 24 15 1 8 312 West Ham Hammers 24 13 1 10 273 Wembley Lions 24 13 1 10 274 Wimbledon Dons 24 12 3 9 275 Belle Vue Aces 24 11 0 13 226 Harringay Tigers 24 10 1 13 217 Bristol Bulldogs 24 6 1 17 13
Fixtures & results A fixtures
B fixtures
Top ten riders Rider Nat Team C.M.A. 1 Jack Milne New Cross 10.96 2 Wilbur Lamoreaux Wimbledon 10.93 3 Bluey Wilkinson West Ham 10.67 4 Lionel van Praag Wembley 10.50 5 Bill Kitchen Belle Vue 10.24 6 Cordy Milne Hackney 9.46 7 Frank Varey Belle Vue 9.16 8 Jack Parker Harringay 9.16 9 Les Wotton Harringay 8.92 10 Frank Charles Wembley 8.59
National Trophy The 1938 National Trophy was the eighth edition of the Knockout Cup.
Qualifying rounds Norwich Stars won the Division Two final and therefore secured a place in the quarter-finals.
Quarterfinals Date Team one Score Team two01/07 Bristol 50-56 West Ham05/07 West Ham 73-35 Bristol06/07 New Cross 50-57 Wimbledon07/07 Wembley 61-47 Belle Vue09/07 Belle Vue 60-48 Wembley11/07 Wimbledon 62-46 New Cross21/07 Norwich 58-50 Harringay
Semifinals Date Team one Score Team two06/08 Norwich 53-55 Wembley15/08 Wimbledon 78-29 West Ham16/08 West Ham 53-55 Wimbledon25/08 Wembley 38-15 Norwich
Final
First leg
Second leg
Wimbledon were National Trophy Champions, winning on aggregate 123-92.
A.C.U Cup The 1938 Auto-Cycle Union Cup was the fifth edition of the Cup and was won by West Ham Hammers, which ended the five year winning run of Belle Vue. The groups were decided on the number of heat points scored within matches, rather than match wins.
First round
Group 1 Team PL W D L Race Pts West Ham Hammers 4 3 1 0 252New Cross Rangers 4 1 1 2 227 Harringay Tigers 4 1 0 3 166
Group 2 Team PL W D L Race Pts Wimbledon Dons 6 4 1 1 355 Wembley Lions 6 3 1 2 335 Belle Vue Aces 6 3 0 3 320 Bristol Bulldogs 6 1 0 5 283
Group 1
Group 2
Final Date Team one Team two Score05/09Wimbedon West Ham 50–5806/09West Ham Wimbledon 64–43
London Cup First round Team one Score Team two Harringay59–49, 44–60 Wembley
Semi final round Team one Score Team twoWimbledon 66–42, 61–47 Wembley West Ham 56–52, 46–62 New Cross
Final
First leg
Second leg
Wimbledon won on aggregate 109–104
Riders & final averages Belle Vue
10.24 9.43 8.39 5.68 5.43 5.25 4.42 3.59 3.43 1.38
Bristol
9.46 7.14 5.95 5.93 5.69 4.87 4.20 3.29 3.28
Harringay
9.14 8.88 8.00 6.31 5.30 5.13 4.78 3.64 3.58
New Cross
10.96 8.35 7.87 6.61 6.45 6.09 Goldy Restall 5.05 4.10 4.00
Wembley
10.50 8.48 6.99 6.91 6.52 6.14 5.95 4.88 4.59 4.00
West Ham
10.67 8.42 Eric Chitty 8.00 7.88 Jimmie Gibb 6.69 5.80 4.75 5.41 4.69 3.83 3.53
Wimbledon
10.93 8.46 7.96 7.56 5.74 5.28 4.44 4.12 2.26 2.12
See also List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions Knockout Cup (speedway)
References