Heat by Heat Results - September 1977

Guest Mitch Graham continued his good run of form at the Shay as he top scored again for the Dukes as they eased to one of their most impressive wins of the season.  Graham Plant and Mike Lohmann formed a good pairing, whilst Chris Pusey came good late on after problems in the pits early on.  The Tigers hopes were hit when Reg Wilson crashed heavily in heat 6 and was ruled out, and with Haley and Pendlebury scoring less than expected, it was left to Doug Wyer to keep the match interesting.

Halifax went down to an unlikely score of 43-32 at a wet Birmingham. as Chris Pusey and Mike Lohmann tried their hardest to keep the Dukes in touch.  Ian Cartwright scored three second places, but slid off in his other outing, whilst no Duke took to the track after heat 8 was stopped, with both Lohmann and Finch unable to return after being brought down by former-Duke Gravningen.  Graham Plant had another of his pointless away performances, with Godal and McKeon also not in contention, as Ray Wilson helped the Brummies to a rare win.

The 1977 Grand Prix round at the Shay was won convincingly by Sheffield's Doug Wyer with a 15 point maximum.  Wyer scorched to a fast win in heat one and set the scene, as he dominated throughout, with nearest challenger Broadbelt beaten in heat 11.  The Dukes skipper Chris Pusey came to grief in his first race and took no further part.  Leicester's Ila Teromaa took third place, whilst Ian Cartwright and Tom Godal (in for the injured Reg Wilson) were the most impressive of the Dukes.

The Dukes' first ever trip to Bristol saw them go down to an 8 point defeat.  Mike Lohmann was the class act on display with paid 15 points, and with support from Tom Godal, Halifax kept in contention, despite the absence of all three heat leader, Plant the latest to be missing with flu.  Norwegian Tormod Langli caught the eye for the hosts, giving the night a distinctive Nordic feeling.  The Dukes once again called on Weymouth pair Willmott and Swindells, and used guest Bernie Leigh from Reading, but none of them could help to change the outcome.

Mike Lohmann lifted the gloom with his career best score of 17 points, as the Dukes overcame Poole with a string of late heat advantages.  Lohmann was beaten by Pirates guest Ray Wilson in heat one, but was then in a different class as he won his remaining 5 outings.  Cartwright, Godal, McKeon and Finch all played a supporting role, but the returning Plant had electrical problems in heat 3, and declined to use the track spare machine in his other rides and withdrew from the match.  Poole's Eric Broadbelt showed his liking for the Shay track, top-scoring with 13 points.

The Dukes lost at Sheffield on a wet night, as Steve Finch put in the best performance of his career with a superb 13 points, marred only by a tapes exclusion in heat 11.  With Lohmann, Plant and Cartwright all having water-related mechanical problems, it was left to Finch and Tom Godal to try and keep Halifax respectable, but with only Plant's heat win in heat 9 to back up Finch's efforts, the Dukes fell to the expected defeat.

The dreadful September weather continued, wiping out the Dukes trip to Wolverhampton after a futile first race, where McKeon fell and Lohmann ground to a halt.  The rain grew heavier throughout the race, and the referee had no choice but to call a halt.