1973 was a roller-coaster year of success for Reading Speedway. The Racers were crowned British League Champions and at the end of the season lined-up in the KO Cup Final against 1972 Champions Belle Vue Aces.
In those days Reading were racing at their old Tilehurst Stadium, but some bad news was around the corner as towards the end of the season, the news broke that Tilehurst had been sold and warehouses would he built on the site. The feeling within the team and the promotion, was a burning desire to go out as league champions (which they did) and also as KO Cup winner - and thus put more pressure on Reading Council to come up with a new site.
The first leg of the Cup Final was raced at Tilehurst on Monday 1st October 1973. The Racers line-up was as follows (in riding order): Anders Michanek, Mick Bell, Dag Lovaas, Geoff Curtis, Richard May, Bernie Leigh and Bobby McNeil. Belle Vue went with: Peter Collins, Chris Morton, John Louis (guest replacement for Chris Pusey), Paul Tyrer, Soren Sjosten, Eric Broadbelt and Alan Wilkinson.
The final was thought to be and did prove to be a tie of two halves. Reading were strong at home, having already beaten the Aces in their league encounter 46-32 earlier in the season. However, the Aces were no slouches around their world-famous Hyde Road track and had thumped the Racers 55-23 a few weeks before the final, although it has to be said that Reading were without Michanek on that occasion.
So onto the final showdown. Reading opened up in the first leg at Tilehurst with a 4-2 in heat 1 from Michanek and Bell against Collins and, then another 4-2 in heat 2 from McNeil and Leigh put them 8-4 up.
The Racers lead was increased with a 4-2 in heat 5 and then a Michanek and Bell 5-1 in heat 6 put Reading into a ten-point lead (23-13). The two teams then exchanged 4-2's in heats 7 and 8, but another maximum from Michank and Bell in heat 10 over Tyrer and Sjosten increased the Racers lead to 37-23 with three races to go.
Lovaas won a shared heat 11, but a Curtis and Michanek 5-1 in heat 12 put the Berkshire men into poll position as they led by eighteen points 45-26. Unfortunately, the final race saw Collins halt Lovaas' maximum hopes when the Aces star took the chequered flag and, with Tyrer beating May for third place, Belle Vue pulled a couple of points back, which were to prove crucial in the final reckoning.
The Racers had won the first leg 47-31 and travelled north to Manchester on Saturday 24th October confident they could defend their lead. However they would have to defend that sixteen-point advantage without Geoff Curtis, who was sidelined with a serious eye infection - the Aussie had ridden his last-ever match for the club. Reading had to operate rider-replacement for the second leg at Hyde Road, so the Racers scoring power was severely hampered. The Racers also tracked Mitch Graham in place of McNeil, who was ineligible and, had another second divison rider Paul Gachett at number 8.
Belle Vue did have their own problems though. Scotland's number one Jimmy McMillan came in for the injured Chris Pusey and, British Speedway's golden boy Peter Collins was having to race with a broken bone in his left hand after a grasstrack crash. It was going to be a tough night for Reading, but with a sixteen-point lead to defend they fancied their chances. Belle Vue aimed to half that deficit in the first four races, but instead Michanek and Bell kicked off the second leg with an unexpected 4-2 over Collins and Wilkinson. Racers team manager Bob Radford was cockahoop with the start his team had made.
The Aces gnawed away at Reading's lead but, with only four races remaining, the Racers were still 10 points ahead on aggregate and looked to have the cup sewn up (where have we heard that before?).
Radford sent out the big guns of Michanek and Lovaas in heat 11 to finish the job off and they were first out of the gate and looked set for the 5-1. The cup was won? - Don't you believe it! Collins and Wilkinson came from the back to clinch an Aces 5-1 and Reading were on the brink of panic. Further Belle Vue heat advantages took the cup to a last heat decider where the Manchester club needed a 5-1 in heat 13 for an aggregate victory.
They looked set to get it from Sjosten and McMillan, but McMillan made an uncharacteristic mistake and Michanek was through and the ensuing 4-2 made the score 47-31 - the exact same reverse as the first leg at Tilehurst. The two teams were tied at 78-78 on aggregate.
A replay was out of the question as demolition work had already started on the Tilehurst Stadium. The only solution was a run-off, and it was to provide one of the greatest races of all-time.
Reading went for Michanek and Belle Vue went for Collins - However, both riders had problems. Michanek boarded Bernie Leigh's bike, as his own had magneto problems and, Collins was riding with his clutch on the right hand side of his handlebars, as he was racing with a broken left hand.
Michanek led from the tapes, but in one of the greatest races of all time the lead changed hand SIXTEEN TIMES. Michanek passed Collins each time they entered the bends, but with Collins having the faster bike he would regain the lead as they came off the bend.
Michanek had the lead coming out of the last bend, but in a scrupulously fair race from both riders, Collins grabbed victory by inches on the line - and the KO Cup for the Belle Vue Aces.
What a great cup final and an epic climax to a memorable season for the Reading Racers.
