The first signing for Exeter at the start of 1976 was Rhodesian Champion Peter Prinsloo who joined following a discussion with Ivan Mauger who was out in Africa during the winter. Peter had told Ivan that if he came to England he would join him at Exeter, which is exactly what he did.

Geoff Mudge had retired whilst Steve Reinke had departured and Les Rumsey was in the start line up and the Falcon's were quietly confident they could challenge for the Title. Action Picture (Below) shows Exeter's Scott Autrey in a tussle with Poole's Christer Sjosten.

Practice day was put back a few hours with a snow covered track, and started the season with a shock home defeat by Wimbledon in the opening Spring Gold Cup meeting going down 36-41 and lost the away Leg by exactly the same margin.

The opening B.L match at home to Swindon was a very close encounter with the Falcon's scraping home by just two points amd some concerns as to the form of some of the Exeter riders. The following Monday saw them beat Newport at the County Ground by 42-35. But the win cost Exeter Mike Farrell suffered a broken bone in his wrist and Peter Prinsloo was involved in a spectacular spill but managed to walk away.

To cover for Farrell, Geoff Mudge agreed to come out of his retirement, but not before the Falcon's lost at home again, this time going down 33-44 at home to Poole, and again in the Spring Gold Cup.

Exeter snapped up a young Pole called Kazimierz Adamczak who had started out with Hull where he failed to make an impression and was seen as a possible boost to Exeter's tail end, but the results were still not good and by the end of May, Exeter were near the bottom of the League.

In June,it looked as if the Falcons had at last turned the corner when they beat high flying B.Vue in Manchester by a 36-42 margin, but a home win a couple of weeks later at home to Sheffield saw Mike Farrell make his return, fall and re aggrevated his wrist injury whilst Geoff Mudge got in a tangle with John Titman and broke his upper arm and nose.

Despite winning the home leg, Exeter crashed out of the S.Star K.O Cup going down by just two points to Newport who won the tie 79-77 on aggregate. A week later saw another new signing when Australian Steve Koppe made his British League debut for Exeter away to Poole where his three points failed to prevent the Falcons going down 43-34.

Youngster Chis Robins was signed on and promptly loaned back to Weymough where he had been riding although he did appear in the Exeter line up once or twice.

Without making too much noise, the Falcons soldiered on and with a couple of wins away from home, they found themselves in fifth place by the begining of September. Kazimierz Adamczak never made any real impression for Exeter and in mid September he joined Newport.

Kevin Holden (Pictured Right) requested a transfer at the the end of the season, stating he wanted to try another circuit away from the big banked County Ground and was snapped up by Poole.

Juniors Bob Spelta and Les Rumsey tussled for the No 7 position, both showing excellent form as Exeter finally closed the season in a very respectable third position in the B.L.

Ivan Mauger had again been the mainstay of the side, and despite a slow start to the season, Scott Autrey improved in every meeting to lend solid support. Both Peter Prinsloo and Steve Koppe took time to adjust and settle into the British scene, and both had saved their best to the latter part of the seaon. Kevin Holden was somewhat dissapointing as his seasonal scores tapered away, and Mike farrell never had the chance to get started, managing to finish just six races for the Falcon's as he battled with injury.

Elsewhere in 1976

The Speedway world was rocked in 1976 by the tragic news of the death of 23 year old Tommy Jansson who was killed during a Swedish World Championship meeting.

This was the year in which Peter Collins started to make a huge impact on the sport as he claims the World Championship crown in Katowice, Poland. He scored 14 points to beat runner up Malcolm Simmons with 13pts and Phil Crump third on 12pts. On route he also won the Inter Continental Final after a run off against Ivan Mauger, both having scored 12 points apiece in the main event. He made it a hat trick when he won the Daily Mirror Grand prix from G.Kennett, O.Olsen and M. Simmons.

Australia win the World Team Championship at White City, England, scoring 31 to beat Poland 28, Sweden 26nd the Soviet Union 11. England however win the World Pairs Chamionship, scoring 27pts to beat Denmark 24, Sweden 22 and Australia 16. Representing England were John Louis and Malcolm Simmons.

Ipswich are crowned BL Champions on 55pts beating runners up Belle Vue 48 and Exeter 48 and they made it a double by winning win the Speedway Star KO Cup beating K.Lynn 91-63. Newcastle are NL Champions, they ended on 61pts to win comfortably from Ellesmere Port (49) and third place going to Workington with 41.

The Diamonds also won the N.L Fours Title and the N.L KO Cup to make it a hat trick of honours.

Malcolm Simmons is crowned British Final Champion, his superb 15 pts maximum overcame C.Morton 13, D.Wyer 13 and Peter Collins (12). In the BL Riders Championship, Ole Olsen also hit a 15 point maximum to beat Peter Collins 14 and John Louis 13.

In the B.L Best Pairs Final, The Ipswich pairing of J.Louis and B.Sanders score 22pts to beat Coventry 21, B.Vue 21, Cradley 21, Poole 18, Hackney 12, Sheffield 8, whilst in the N.L Pairs, Ellesmere's Chris Turner and John Jackson win the title.

In other events, Doug Wyer won the Northern Riders Championship scoring 15pts to beat Peter Collins 13 and Chris Pusey 13. The Midlands Riders Championship went to Ole Olsen (13) beating martin Ashby (13) and Alan Molyneux (12). Michael Lee won the British Junior Championship scoring a maximum 15 to beat Steve Weatherley 14 and Colin Richardson 12 whilsy Joe owen (Newcastle) took the NL Riders Championship with 14pts to beat John Jackson (Ellesmere) 12 and third placed Ted Hubbard (Rye House) also on 12.

Elsewhere, O.Olsen won the Jubilee trophy at Reading, Dave Jessup took the Yorkshire Television Trophy and the Bass Yorkshire open, Malcolm Simmons the Littlechild trophy at Kings Lynn, Les Collins the Seyco Trophy at Weymouth, Phil Crump won the Brandonapolis at Coventry, Peter Collins the Manpower trophy at Reading Billy Sanders the Golden Sovereign at Ipswich, Joe owen the Millenium Trophy at Boston, Martin Ashby the Laurels at Wimbledon and Ivan Mauger was crowned World Longtrack champion.

John Louis (Ipswich) topped the BL averages on 11.10, ahead of Exeter's Ivan mauger 11.0 and Ole Olsen (Coventry 11.0 whilst in the NL, Newcastle's Joe Owen topped the charts on 11.55 ahead of Tom Owen (Newcastle) 10.28 and Steve Weatherley (Eastbourne) 10.27