Story of Reading's rather unusual 1972 KO Cup run.
Between 1965 and 1972 Knock-Out cup ties were raced over just one leg. With away wins at a premium, so much depended on the vital home draw. During those eight years no team managed to overcome being drawn away three times in a row... but one very nearly did - the 1972 Reading Racers.
In many ways the 1972 Racers vintage was a better one than the following year's team that ended the season as League Champions. The '72 squad was better balanced with more strength in depth. The Racers cup run illustrated this perfectly. Racers started the 1972 KO Cup competition with a bye in Round
One. So it was, so far so good.
The trail started in earnest at Wolverhampton. Racers went six up after a heat 8 5-1 from Geoff Curtis and Bernie Leigh. After a drawn heat 9, Ole Olsen prevented Wolves going further behind when he found a way past Richard May on the final lap. Coming out as a tactical substitute Olsen also won heat 11. Out again in heat 12 Olsen recorded another win, but this time guest Pete Smith combined with him for a 5-1.
So to the deciding heat with two points between the teams and, who should be riding in red for the Wolves - yes it was that man Olsen again. This time it was a rider-replacement ride and, another win for the World Champion. But Racers guest Terry Betts and Richard May (replacing the absent Anders Michanek) took the minor places for a 40-38 win. Last in the race was Dave Gifford, who had so nearly become a Racer fifteen months earlier.
Ole Olsen had chalked up an unstoppable 18 point maximum winning heats 10, 11, 12 and 13! But Racers were victorious with a compact score chart.
Scorers: Terry Betts 8+1, Geoff Curtis 7+1, Dag Lovaas 6+1, Geoff Mudge 6+1, Bernie Leigh 5+1, Richard May 4+2, Mick Bell 4+1.
Next up on the last day of August was a visit to Ipswich, but after just six races Racers were eight points behind. A 5-1 from May and Lovaas kicked off the comeback. In the penultimate heat Lovaas and Mudge took a 4-2 over John Louis and Billy Sanders (then a 16 year old in his debut season), so the two sides reached the last heat on level terms (36-36).
The Witches hopes rested on Sandor Levai and Tommy Johansson. The pair gated for a match winning 4-2, but Bob Kilby (guesting for Michanek) passed Levai and May overhauled Johansson. The 4-2 went to Reading and with it the tie, so once again it was a case of "happiness is 40-38".
Scorers: Dag Lovaas 9+2, Richard May 7, Geoff Curtis 6+1, Geoff Mudge 5+1, Bob Kilby 5, Bernie Leigh 4+2, Mick Bell 4.
Despite finishing a creditable sixth in their Division One debut season Ipswich failed to take a point off Reading in three matches at Foxhall Heath that year!
Racers were the only team to win away in the third round and, their prize - another away draw in the semi-finals. This time the destination was Hackney. Once again Reading were without Anders Michanek, with John Boulger coming in to wear the number one race jacket. After a run of poor form Bernie Leigh found his team place under threat, so for the match against the Hawks he was subsequently replaced by Sunderland's Graeme Smith, the Racers regular number eight that season.
Hackney raced into an eight point lead in just five heats, but a 4-2 in heat 7, followed by a Mudge & Boulger 5-1 put Racers within two points of the Hawks. The same pair repeated the feat in heat 11 and Racers went ahead. Bengt Jansson completed a fine maximum in the next race, with the minor placings going to Curtis and Lovaas.
So going into the final heat of the night the Racers led 37-35. For the last race, Hawks team manager Len Silver replaced Geoff Maloney, who had fallen in his previous ride, with Hugh Saunders. His partner was a young Barry Thomas. Racers hopes rested with Boulger and May. Unfortunately they conceded a 5-1 to Thomas and Saunders, thus ending Reading's cup dreams. Happiness wasn't always 40-38!
Scorers: Dag Lovaas 11+1, John Boulger 9+2, Geoff Mudge 7+1, Geoff Curtis 7+1, Richard May 2+1, Mick Bell 2, G.Smith 0.
Although Racers guests made useful contributions in each match, Michanek's continued absence was frustrating. With a ten and a half point average, few potential replacements could adequately make up his scoring power and, that alone probably cost Reading ‘an against all odds' place in the 1972 KO Cup Final.
Hackney went on to lose in the final against an awesome Belle Vue team that had only lost two league matches all season - one of them at Reading.
The Reading Racers were certainly not easy meat in those early days of the club's history.
