The following was written by Speedway Star Editor Richard Clark and appeared in Speedway Star magazine dated May 8, 2010
THE Seventies. The energy crisis, the three-day week, IRA bomb attacks, strange fashions and even stranger hair, glam-rock, Catweazle, chopper bikes, just a few things that spring to mind of that particular era.
But when it comes to speedway: Ivan Mauger, Ole Olsen, Anders Michanek, Peter Collins, Ray Wilson, Terry Betts, Malcolm Simmons, Dave Jessup, Michael Lee, Jerzy Szczakiel, Zenon Plech, Wembley, Gothenburg, Katowice.
And here all that little lot are in one jam-packed, four-hour plus dash down memory lane. Over two discs, Backtrack editor Tony McDonald (speedway's Jamie Oliver) guides you through the 10 World Finals from 1970-79. " What's a World Final, Dad?"
"Well, son, once upon a time, long, long before the Grand Prix, we used to celebrate speedway's World Championship on one big night, often in front of crowds of 80,000-plus."
"Have you been at the gin again, Dad?"
"No, really. Look, have a butcher's at this."
And a splendid time is guaranteed for all once you press play on this baby.
There's a feast of archive footage, the only exceptions being 1970 and 1971. Those apart, every memorable race, incident or talking-point comes under the microscope, alongside the huge added bonus of interviews with all the major players.
Yes, all of them.
And it's all absolutely fascinating. Catch Ivan Mauger talking about the "dark" days of Poland when, in 1970, he and his pit crew refused to discuss any tactics at their hotel for fear of being bugged. How they ignored the two-minute warning designed to get the western riders waiting out in the sun at Wroclaw while the Poles continued to relax in the shadows.
Trevor Hedge recalls doing Ivan a big favour by clambering on one of the Kiwi's spare bikes to stop a Polish reserve coming in to weigh the odds even more against one of New Zealand's greats.
The 1971 winner, Ole Olsen, tells how he'd always ask Ivan the same question three times and knew, if he got the same answer at least twice, that was the one to go for!
Bengt Jansson and Ray Wilson discuss where it went wrong for them in '71. And then it's 1972, we're at Wembley, watching the horrific pile-up that robbed Barry Briggs of a possible fifth title and a finger.And Briggo doesn't hold back when it comes to talking about Bernt Persson, who he blames for the crash.
Wait a minute, that looks like Nigel Boocock. It is! Yes, all the way from Australia, Little Boy Blue describes his World Final experiences.
And wait until you see the start Ivan gets on Bernie Persson to set up their run-off for the '72 world title. It's a Rawhide special (rollin', rollin', rollin' in case you're wondering). We're back in Poland for '73, this time Katowice where Anders Michanek considered going off to the pub after a tapes exclusion!
And laps don't come much fiercer than the two involving Olsen and Szczakiel. This meeting also includes one of the most baffling refereeing decisions known to man. Watch Zenon Plech being mugged in full daylight and try and work out how we end up at the verdict reached by Georg Transpurger.
"The referee's decision seems strange in this day and age," offers PC. Too right!And one of Britain's favourites is also spot-on when he describes that afternoon as "total anarchy at the starts." All this and you've still got that infamous Szczakiel v Mauger run-off to come. And, I confess, I was stunned into grabbing the re-wind, convinced all this recent silence across London's skies must be playing havoc with the King Lears.
No, heard it right the first time.
Ivan definitely says: "I made a mistake."
And, not for the last time in this collection, watch in amazement as the referee allows the race to carry on with a body and bike strewn across the track.Health and Safety?
As we motor on to Gothenburg for 1974, Tore Kittilsen's decision to carry on with Heat 5 is even more staggering as an injured Olsen lies against the back straight fence while his three opponents blast by him for three laps, doing 80-plus miles per hour inches from him.
Terry Betts talks about his only World Final, while Michanek couldn't be more candid in assessing his World Championship year and the one that followed.
Once the kettle's boiled, it's on with the second disc, peering through the dust-storm that is Wembley 1975.
That's a mere hors-d'oeuvre to the meat that is Katowice 1976. That PC bloke's a bit special!And there's a superb exchange of views between him and Ivan over who should really have won it for good measure.
A nice tribute to the late Tommy Jansson, too.
Oh, and when Egon Muller suddenly picks up while leading and piles into the fence, of course the show must go on yet again Mr. Kittilsen!
We're up to 1977 and you find out why PC always runs a mile if he sees anyone armed with a hosepipe.Speaking of water...conditions that night in Ullevi beggar belief. And you can also relive the longest race in speedway's World Championship history.
A typically honest Michael Lee talks about his Ullevi, and his dislike of Wembley.
And we're back there for 1978, Dave Jessup bravely reliving his mechanical nightmare, along with Gordon Kennett's own recollections.
This time it's Ivan's turn to hit the deck, as the filling in a Kennett/Olsen sandwich, and then lay there whilst the bikes come buzzing past him for another couple of laps.
A real treat for his legion of fans will be hearing the late Kelly Moran in his last-ever interview talking about Katowice 1979, and Ivan totalling up how many more gold medals he would have won under a GP system.
Every speedway home should have one. As a guide to 70s World Finals, this is indispensable. Nostalgia might well be a thing of the past, but this is truly gold-dust.
Speedway gold-dust.
And what others say...
I was first introduced to speedway in the early 1970s, so this DVD is from the era when I fell in love with the sport.
The audio and video interviews were of particular interest and enjoyment, especially with Michanek, PC, Briggs, Mauger and Olsen. Anders is my all-time favourite rider (my first ever sporting hero) so it is great that we can hear what he and all these riders have to say about their time at top of the sport.
Totally honest, from-the-heart interviews, unlike most of the bland interviews you get with professional footballers these days, and some great racing footage to go with them as well.
This DVD is an absolute must-buy for anyone who followed the sport during the 70s. Andy Povey
I loved the DVD, especially the PC and Kelly Moran interviews, for obvious reasons.
I loved Speedway in the 70s and 80s, so much fun, and great personalities. I will watch this DVD over and over again! Carol Stock
Can I just say "Wow!". The whole thing, from start to finish, is enthralling and absorbing.
Tony's interviews provide the perfect complement to the stills and the archive footage. I suppose the passing of years means that the riders can view their triumphs and disappointments a bit more dispassionately, which makes their interviews refreshingly honest.
A hundred out of10 would be my rating - anything less just wouldn't do justice to this superb four hours of speedway heaven. Dave Corbett
The new 70s World Final double DVD is absolutely brilliant and a fantastic nostalgic DVD - I'll watch it again and again. Howard Murphy
Just want to say how much I've enjoyed the DVD. The period exactly matches my own golden age of speedway since being taken to see the WCQR at Belle Vue as a 10-year-old in 1970 and seeing the World Champion (Ivan of course) at the very first opportunity. By 1979 I'd begun to find other things to do and Belle Vue, as a power, were fading along with my interest.
This DVD has brought back so many memories and filled in so much missing detail that just wasn't available to us at the time. It's clear that you have the respect of all the boys because there is a wonderful warmth that comes over through your interviews. I never expected them to be so candid.
Ivan is a much more generous person than you would have guessed at the time, and the reminiscences of Peter Collins and Ole Olsen are just wonderful. Ole's comments really had me laughing.
I can truly say that "I was there" because I went to all of the three Wembley finals (as well as the 1974 European Final). Your DVD isn't just a record of some great sporting moments, it's a moving scrapbook of my teenage years. I can only thank you for all your efforts. Ian Harwood
I've just finished watching your fantastic 1970s World Finals DVD. I loved every minute of it. I began watching Coventry in 1975, so only saw one final in the 70s and that was Wembley 1978, but the DVD was great. I was immediately transported back through the years.
It was good both to see the action and to hear the comments today of the riders as they looked back. So thank you so much for producing it.
I just love Backtrack magazine and have been a subscriber right from the start. Thank you for a fantastic magazine too. Julia Wilson
I was fortunate to win a copy of your World Finals of the 70s DVD, thanks to the South London Press. I have just watched disc one and it has been an absolute pleasure and an enlightening experience. I fancied this DVD when I first saw it advertised and it has exceeded my expectations.
So interesting to hear those great men - Ivan, Briggo, PC, etc - all talking about their racing days and to see those races mostly for the first time. Nigel Boocock really summed up why we admire the bravery of these racers so much with his answer to the question of what he considered his greatest achievement in speedway: "Waking up this morning".
We all have fond memories etched in our brains, and my memory of Nigel is of him blasting around that steel fence at Exeter, then swooping down off the banking on turn four of the last lap to win on the line.
I was very lucky to chat with the great Briggo at the recent Wimbledon Supporters' Club get-together, and what a true gentleman and hero he is. I was able to tell him that the first time I got his autograph was in the pits at Plymouth Speedway in 1961, when he was there with brother Wayne and Edinburgh came visiting, and that I proudly announced that my name was Briggs too.
I'm looking forward to viewing disc 2 but won't rush into it as I want to be able to enjoy every moment without disturbance. Thanks a million, and put me down for a copy of the 80s compilation when it's ready. David Briggs
I think these DVDs are a very valuable and unique contribution to speedway history. The race videos and the interviews go together perfectly to bring those World Finals back to life in the actions and words of the men who rode in them.
It was particularly interesting to hear the points of view of Simmons and Mauger on why each of them could have won in '76, and PC's response.
This is an entertaining format you've come up with, showing the racing and having the participants describe what they were doing and what was in their minds at the time.
It must have been a huge undertaking for you to have arranged and conducted all of the interviews, but I hope you're considering a similar DVD set to cover the finals of the 1980s. Cary Cotterman, California, USA
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