Exeter's return to League Racing soon earned the Falcons the title of "The Team that Was". For just as quick as Wally and Pete persuaded riders to sign forms for Exeter, so the St. John Amulance Brigade were picking them up from the track and rushing them to hospital.

Bob Innocent set the ball rolling at Plymouth on April 7th when he broke an ankle, Billie Smith broke a collar-bone at Exeter on April 10, George Summers a wrist at Plymouth on April 14th, Francis Cann a collar-bone at Cradley Heath the following night. Len Silver was another collar-bone victim in his debut match for Exeter at Rayleigh on April 28th.

Exeter never recovered from that bad start, and there was even more to come later in the season. Eric Howe piled up in a World Championship round at Rayleigh on May 26th, he rode at Stoke the following night, but was in such pain with an ankle injury that he had to withdraw from the meeting. Eric Hockaday damaged a wrist and received concussion at Wolverhampton on June 2nd, and missed Exeter's home meeting on June 5th. The first home meeting in July saw, Frankie Johnson carried off with back injuries. A second injury at St. Austell on August 8th caused Frankie to call it a day, and but for one match for Neath in 1962 he's not been on the track since.

Francis Cann damaged that collar-bone again at Exeter on August 21st, he was back for the final home meeting, but was unable to race in the two remaining away matches. Eric Howe damaged his ankle again on September 11th, and Pete Lansdale collected minor injuries at our final 1961 meeting. Pete had to miss the remaining matches. Eric gamely tried to race at Stoke, but had to withdraw from the Newcastle match. Illness also robbed the Falcons on several occasions. Pete Lansdale missed matches at Middlesbrough (July 20th) and Exeter (July 24th) because of flu which also claimed Roy Bowers from the August 14th match.

Pictured Left, one of Exeter's teams in 1961. Left to right: (Back row) FRANCIS CANN, BILLIE SMITH, co-promoter WALL MAWDSLEY, ERIC HOWE, and then captain ERIC HOCKADAY. Front row - LEN SILVER, PETE LANSDALE and CLIVE HITCH.

There was plenty of ballyhoo about the track record; many riders came near the record, but it was only broken three times. Tony Lewis (Poole) beat Eric Hockaday's 77.0 seconds with a time of 75.8 seconds on April 24th. But the fastest times were reserved for Plymouth's Jack Scott. On May 8th he returned a time of 73.6 seconds and on June 19th he made 73.4 seconds - a Provincial League record for the track, which still stands.

The early season injuries caused many last-minute panic signings. Terry Stone debuted at Cradley Heath on April 15th at four hours notice - and he had to get from his Rainham (Essex) home in that time! Keir Prince was signed at New Cross on April 19th, and rode at Sheffield the following night. He took a nasty tumble in a second-half race, fortunately without personal injury. Clive Hitch and John Leggett came in at Exeter on April 24th. Len Silver joined-up at Rayleigh on April 28th - and went out the same night! Frankie Johnson joined on May 1st, and was followed by another former Oxford team mate, Roy Bowers, a week later. The last full-time signing of the season was Howdy Byford, on July 20. He signed-up in his mother's cafe at Rainham at 11 a.m. and at 7 p.m. the same day was riding at Middlesbrough.

Howdy's arrival allowed Eric Hockaday to move to Stoke. The management didn't want to lose him, but he never fully recovered from his injuries at Wolverhampton and felt that a change of track would change his luck. At the beginning of June, Clive Hitch reverted back to Rayleigh, and a short while later was transferred to Middlesbrough. Twenty riders were used in the League campaign, and with no opportunity of one regular set of seven being able to combine as a team, little wonder that the Falcons finished in the bottom half of the league. They failed to win a match away from home, but only Poole were to take the points away from Exeter. There were a couple of tight matches away from home, and the Falcons lost League matches at Cradley Heath by two and at Stoke (when minus Roy Bowers on World Championship duty at Cradley Heath) by four points.

But the best away display was reserved for the Knock-out Cup at Rayleigh on May 19th. Beaten in a League match only three weeks earlier on the same track by 25 points, Exeter came within four points of entering the next round, with a 46-50 defeat, hard to believe that Len Silver was reserve for that match. On May 29th at Exeter he was the Falcons number six, and the following Monday he scored his first ever maximum for the Falcons, riding at number two.

The Falcons other cup competition, the Devon Derby with Plymouth, went to their rivals on both occasions, by five points the first time and 32 points in the second meeting. Bob Innocent and George Summers were slow to recover from their injuries, and in order to have places available for any rider that might be signed, their contracts were cancelled on July 3.

Pictured Right, three of the many Falcons not depicted in the Team Picture above. From Left to Right, George Summers, Len Glover and Bob Innocent along with promoter Wally Mawdsley.

During the season, Exeter had several visits from National League select sides. Swindon, who included former Falcon Neil Street, proved the most popular attraction, and visited the County Ground twice. Another ex-Falcon, Jack Geran, made several guest appearances for Exeter, and was a regular for our last three home meetings. Eric Hockaday, Pete Lansdale and Len Silver all reached the second round of the World Championship, and Pete and Len represented the the Falcons in the Provincial Riders' Championship final at Harringay (London). Unfortunately, they met with little success in these stages of the competitions.

For the final meeting of 1961, the management lined-up several treats and surprises. The first Exeter Speedway Queen competition was also held with Miss Ann Parker of Heavitree being crowned Queen. There was also a surprise signing for this match. Jack Unstead arrived from Ipswich, ` cleaned-up' the meeting and scored heavily for the Falcons in their remaining two matches at Stoke and Newcastle in addition to some high points in Provincial League v. National League test matches at Wolverhampton and Newcastle. Little did Exeter Speedway realise then what fate had lined up for them in 1962.

The list of Riders that appeared for Exeter were - Pete Lansdale (19), Len Silver (16), Eric Hockaday (15), Roy Bowers (13), Francis Cann (16), Billy Smith (17), Eric Howe (17), Clive Hitch (8), Howdy Byford (3), Jack Unstead (1), Terry Stone (3), Len Glover (5), George Summers (1), Peter Sampson (1), Bob Innocent (1), Frank Johnson (2), John Leggett (2), Norman Redmond (1), Fred Fewsdale (2), Keir Prince (2) and Norman Johnson (1).

Elsewhere in 1961

Ove Fundin wins the World title again, this time his 14 pts were to beat Bjorn Knuttson 12pts and Gote Nordin also on 12pts. Ove had also taken the European Championship as well as the Internationale which was (in everything but name), the National League Championship. In the Internationale he again scored 14pts, this time beating Ronnie Moore into second place also on 14pts and Peter Craven third with 12pts.

Poland won the World Team Cup staged in Wroclaw. The home side scored 32pts to beat Sweden 31pts, Gt.Britain 21pts and Czechoslovakia 12pts.

On the Home front, Southampton took over the mantle worn by Wimbledon for so long by taking both the National Trophy and the National Knock Out Cup although the "Dons" had won the National Leagur Title. In The National Trophy Final, Southampton had beaten Swindon 98 -70 over two legs whilst in the K.O Cup they had beaten belle Vue 95 81 on aggregate.

Poole, (Pictured left), had taken the Provincial League Title with the P.League Knockout Cup going to Cradley Heath who had beaten Edinburgh by 102 - 87 on aggregate. In the picture are (Back Row) Ron Hart, Tony Lewis, Geoff Mudge, Tim Bungay. (Front Row), Ross Gilbertson, Ken Middleditch, Allan Kidd and Norman Strachan.

Reg Reeves of Rayleigh was unbeaten at harringay to clinch the Provisional Riders Championship title. he scored 15pts to beat runner up Trevor Redmond (Wolves) on 12pts and Maurie Mattingly (Plymouth) also on 12pts.

Other individual title winners included Jack Geran (Midland Riders Championship), Ivor Brown (Battle of Britain Trophy), Tony Robinson (Northern Riders Championship), Trevor Redmond (Scottish Open), Barry Briggs (The Laurels and Pride of the Midlands), Arne Pander (Pride of the South), Peter Craven (Pride of the East), Jack Young (Tom Farndon Trophy) and Ken McKinlay (Jack Parker Trophy).