In April, Exeter were held to a draw at home to Ipswich 39-39 with Bob Kilby and Kevin Holden the only two Falcon's to make any real impact. Shortly after, Exeter lost at home 28-50 to B.Vue with Kilby going to hospital for X-Rays after a first race smash and a week later, still minus Kilby, they lose again at home, this time 35-43 to Leicester. What the Falcon's needed this early in the season was a miracle - and it was during that Home defeat to Leicester that their prayers were answered.

It was announced that World Champion Ivan Mauger had agreed terms and would soon be joining the Falcon's. Wally Mawdsley secured Ivan's signature at the Eleventh hour when it seemed he would be retiring from B.L Racing, and Exeter's fortunes were about to be reversed.

When a team reaches the latter stages of the season and finds itself with no chance of achieving league or cup honours, a slump in attendance is very much on the cards. However, at Exeter they were still pulling in anything up to a thousand more people than they were the previous year. There just had to be a reason. It was not very hard to find, the Falcons had as their captain early season signing Ivan Mauger.

Mauger was just one of three important signings made by promoter Wally Mawdsley during the 1973 campaign. But there is no doubt that the arrival of the four-times world champion at the County Ground was the most significant. When Mawdsley signed Mauger under almost cloak and dagger circumstances, there were many people who thought he was taking an almighty gamble. It was obvious that Mauger was going to cost a lot of money, he didn't ride for peanuts!

In addition to the money paid directly to Mauger, there was also the far from negligible expenditure incurred in ferrying the rider to and from home meetings by private plane. Could all this be justified? The answer was yes. Mauger settled in immediately, was made skipper and his influence spread throughout the team His presence proved invaluable to pre-season signing Autrey who had arrived from the States as a virtually unknown rider. Mauger's prescence also helped mid-season capture Tony Lomas. Lomas, a former world finalist, was under a cloud following pre-season disputes with Coventry and a far from happy spell at Oxford. However, when he arrived in a straight swap for Bob Kilby, he was allowed to settle in quietly and find his feet without undue pressure. He hadn't been signed as a panic measure and he wasn't expected to start reeling off maximums straight away.

So Lomas, Autrey and Exeter in general benefited from the arrival of Mauger. He continued to be a points machine and scored 17 maximums in 24 matches. His final average was a mighty 11.30, and it had to rub off on the others. Lomas finished with an average of 7.78, something that had seemed most unlikely after his troubled start to the season. Autrey finished with 6.51 which is very impressive for a rider making his British League debut. Kevin Holden, riding his first full season for Exeter scored 203 points and was obviously one to watch for in 1974. Holden, incidentally, was the only Falcon to ride in all their 1973 matches.

Pictured Right, the Exeter sqaud at the opening of the season before the swap deal involving Tony Lomas for Bob Kilby, and of course minus Ivan Mauger who had yet to sign. Left to Right, Chris Julian, Frank Shuter, Peter Ingram, Scott Autrey, Kevin Holden, Bob Coles, John Richards (Co- Promoter), and Bob Kilby on machine with Mascot.

Frank Shuter made a tremendous comeback, after a disastrous start to the season when he was plagued by mechanical troubles. He recovered well to average 5.59 with many of his best matches away from home. The rest of the team showed patchy form. Chris Julian struggled during most of the season but gave indications of his true worth with good performances towards the close when he helped the Falcons to away victories at Cradley and Poole. Bob Coles was the biggest disappointment and his cause was not helped when he broke his collar-bone in a match at Coatbridge.

Final member of the team was Mike Sampson who divided his time between the Devon track and secopd division Barrow. His main problem was an inability to really get to grips with the County Ground circuit. But in many of the away matches he showed enough flashes to suggest that after another season of combined Second and First Division riding he could be ready for the big-time.

1973 was the best year at Exeter for some time. Their final league placing, 8th was better than they might have hoped, but something that Wally Mawdsley expected to be drastically improved upon the following year.

Basically, the Falcons will look to the same riders to launch their 1974 challenge but, as always, Wally Mawdsley will be keeping an eye out for additional strength. With the signings of Autr°y, Mauger and Lomas behind him, he has an impressive record. He has shown an interest in several up-and-coming youngsters like John Davis and attempted to sign the teenage Peterborough and Oxford starlet last 1n 1972 but was turned down.

Elsewhere in 1973

Jerzy Szczakiel (Pictured Left) was the suprise winner of the World Final staged in Katowice (Poland). He scored 13 points to head home from Ivan mauger 13pts and third placed rider Zenon Plech.

Great Britain won the World Team Championship, they scored 37pts to beat Sweden 31pts, Soviet Union 20pts and Poland 8pts. Sweden however, went on to win the World pairs. They scored 24pts to beat Poland 21pts, Soviet Union 20pts and Norway 17pts.

Reading are crowned BL Champions on 51pts ahead of runners up Sheffield on 47pts and K.Lynn third on 43pts. Boston win the Division 2 Title scoring 58pts ahead of runners up Workington 44pts with Eastbourne third on 40pts.

Reading are crowned BL Champions on 51pts ahead of Sheffield 47 and K.Lynn 43 whilst Boston win the Div 2 Title scoring 58. Runners up were Workington (44) with Eastbourne third on 40.

Belle Vue win the Speedway Star KO Cup beating Reading 78-78 after Peter Collins beat Anders Michanek in a run-off

John Boulger won the Midland Riders Final at Coventry with an unbeaten 15pts ahead of runner up B.Persson (13) and G.Middleton (11). Barry Thomas scored 14 pts to win the London Riders Championship after a run off with Dave jessup who also scored 14pts, with Hugh Sanders third on 13, Roger Johns won the Evening Argus trophy at Eastbourne, Ivan mauger the Westward TV Trophy at Exeter, Anders Michanek the Brandonapolis at Coventry, Arthur Browning the Lunn-Polly Trophy at Long Eaton, Brian Foote the Kent messenger trophy at Canterbury, Bengt larsson the Bass Yorkshire Open, Dave Morton the Open Championship at Peterborough, Anders Michanek the Manpower Trophy at Reading, Dave Mills the Hull Open, Arthur price the Teeside Open, Ivan mauger the Littlechild trophy at K.Lynn and Eric Boocock the Dews trophy.

Pictured Right, Arthur Price in centre who won the Division 2 Riders Final. Runner up Lou Sansom is on the left with third placed man Bobby McNeil pictured right.

Anders Michanek took the European Final, unbeaten from his five Heats to beat Ivan Mauger (14) and Vladimir PPaznikov (12) whilst Ivan Mauger wons the BL Riders Championship in front of a 25,000 crowd at B.vue. He reeled off four immaculate wins before dropping a point to Anders Michanek in heat 19. Four riders tie on 11pts for second place, and Ray Wilson headed home from Anders Michanek, Ole olsen and Arnie Haley in the run off.

Anders Michanek won the Champion of Champions meeting scoring 13pts to beat O.Olsen (13) and third placed Peter Collins on 12 whilst Terry betts scored 16pts to win the Champions trophy from Ole Olsen (15) and Hans Holmqvist who scored 12.

Peter Collins was crowned Gt.Britain Junior Champion at Canterbury scoring 14pts. Runner up was Barney Kennett (13) and David gagen third (12).