Speedway Center was nothing short of astonishing – a feat of human courage, endeavour and character. His story underlines the risks that speedway riders take on a nightly basis. But it also shows that riders can be a very special breed and it’s no wonder the likes of Greg Hancock, Billy Hamill and countless others hold the Cradley Heath great in such high regard. Let’s not forget he was pretty useful on a bike too. His World Final wins in 1984, 1985 and 1988 are all featured along with footage from all the other eighties title deciders, complete with superb commentary from the legend that is Dave Lanning – no wonder he’s still regarded by some as the voice of speedway.
The story of the eighties which shocked me most had to be Kenny Carter’s death in May, 1986, which saw him shoot his wife and then turn the gun on himself. I imagine reflecting on the tragedy leaves his rivals, promoters and fans stunned to this very day.
But his highlights on the track are also showcased and watching him win the British Final with a broken leg in 1984 showed just how tough he could be a bike.
The fact Carter was just one of many British riders capable of mixing it in World Finals also underlines how the sport in this country has gone into freefall. How many of the current crop would qualify for the World Championship without the aid of wild cards? That’s not to say the stars of the eighties were perfect – far from it. Lee’s demons were certainly testament to that. The DVD features interviews with Lee and his peers about his meteoric rise and fall from grace. There was also his one-man crusade against infamously uncompromising referee Frank Ebdon in England’s Test match with the USA at Ipswich in 1984.
In a bid to clamp down on movement at the start, riders were to be excluded if they touched the tapes while under starter’s orders. It’s
box…
something we just accept as part of the game in 2012 – 28 years ago, it caused absolute havoc for Lee, who accused referees of “ruining the sport” and admitting he was considering his future. Unpopular rule changes are clearly nothing new then, although I’m sure some fans would celebrate a return to the 50-point team-building limit imposed so controversially in 1980. While some of the
great venues of the eighties are no longer part of the sport, even the newest of fans could recognise Coventry’s Brandon Stadium and King’s Lynn’s Norfolk Arena in the footage. Very little appears to have
changed. But like every other track in the land – the terraces in the videos are far more packed than they are today.
And while promoters
can argue that the economy is to blame, you only have to look at speedway in the 80s to see the main reason.
British speedway had the likes of Lee, Carter, Simon Wigg, Dave Jessup, Chris Morton, Malcolm Simmons, Les Collins, Peter Collins, Kelvin Tatum, Jeremy Doncaster and many more all capable of mixing it at the highest level.
Fair enough, the Danes were dominant and their golden generation of Gundersen, Ole Olsen, Hans Nielsen and Co. ruled the decade. But if British speedway had the same volume of stars, headline-makers and characters it had back then, the sport would be in a far healthier state with far more fans and much more media coverage.
How we get back to that is the million pound question. But whether you fancy the ultimate history lesson or the chance to reminisce, this DVD is a must-have stocking filler for any speedway fan keen to find out more about a rollercoaster decade.
• YOU can order this double-disc DVD direct from Retro Speedway for £16 (post-free in the UK). Phone their credit/debit card hotline on (01708) 734502. Go online at
www.retro-
speedway.com. Or post a cheque (payable to Retro Speedway) to: Retro Speedway (Speedway in the 80s DVD), 103 Douglas Road, Hornchurch, RM11 1AW. (Add £2.50 per DVD when ordering from outside the UK). Review: PAUL BURBIDGE
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