1981 British Final, Coventry

Full ITV World of Sport coverage

[@ralphmason1440]

What a fantastic night that was. I watched most of the meeting standing towards the end of the back straight but it was difficult at times to see the action as there were so many people in the stadium. I first met Steve Bastable when he was a complete novice and his dad Harry was teaching him the ropes and I was looking to "have a go" at speedway myself. Obviously by this time he had moved on from Cradley but he was a local rider (to the Cradley area) and I was willing him to do well that night. I moved position and watched the run off from the tractor entrance to the track to get a better view. I was never a KC fan so for Steve to beat him so easily was for me a great end to the night.

[@mattyh491]

Wow.... wouldnt have those problems nowadays, what a shame. Halcyon days....

[@mohatchett8001]

I was there and I can tell you the crowd was fantastic and when Steve had won I remember I cried

[@Shads5]

I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve watched these old speedway meetings with Jessup having an engine failure

[@adrianchapman6871]

Great would of sport days I miss this track for speedway and stock car racing

[@RobertLowe-xs4xn]

Thank you guys for putting this on youtube brings back great memories of our superb Coventry track and wonderful speedway some really great soldiers of the speedway Boocock brothers Barry Briggs and the late Dereck Timms just to name a few all of which like so many riders from home and overseas who have performed with great courage and bravery on this very track Coventry Our thanks from fans around UK for some great entertainment not to forget the track owners for the work they put in.

[@PiousMoltar]

Michael Lee is unfortunately just before my time. But he's an absolute legend.

[@jasonburke2596]

Great video, great memories Heppy!

[@PiousMoltar]

Wow that was cool seeing Kevin Jolly admit Lee hadn't touched him, on the phone to the ref, and ultimately the ref reversed their decision. That's awesome.

[@ralphwiggins2170]

That was a great night's speedway and this track should not be lost to building housing

[@highhall]

Thanks for uploading Martyn. This was a great meeting. As a big JL fan this was almost the fairy tale '1st year away from Ipswich' story we all hoped for.

[@martynhepworthArchiveSpeedway]

I agree, fantastic meeting

[@yamhonbiker1484]

Thank you Martyn very good video.

[@robtatum5277]

Great video AGAIN thanks martyn

[@martynhepworthArchiveSpeedway]

My pleasure

[@artodysports]

I miss this shape of the track for both speedway and stock cars.

[@jerrybullent6798]

Great video. Keep your eyes out for the "77 and '78 finals Martyn. Especially the '78 final in full as I was there as a 12 year old Kings Lynn fan. It was the year Peter Collins failed to qualify for the World Final because someone had messed with his fuel tank - allegedly!

[@martynhepworthArchiveSpeedway]

Sugar!!!

[@martynhepworthArchiveSpeedway]

1978 kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6TGm6VvaLJkgZI

[@Andy-oe4wb]

Steve's bike used to be in his dads bike shop in black heath

[@paulsowney771]

Thank you so much martyn. Eric broadbelt. Always liked him at Hackney. I know he was not that lucky a rider but 100%. I remember simmo and him at hackney best pairs simmo my favourite total gentleman had time for everyone. Eric unfortunately I think scored 1 point but at the golden jubilee 1978 he beat Michael Lee in a race !! That warmed everyone up as it was freezing !!! Simmo was so classy he had a race with jack parker I remember. Would love to know the attendance that day !!

[@martynhepworthArchiveSpeedway]

Super Simmo, my hero.

[@michaelcampin1464]

I was there in the pits with my cousin the late Vic Harding. Still got the programme

[@ronsteadman4988]

Ian Cartwright a ex Crewe Kings back in the day

[@ronsteadman4988]

Les Collins ex Crewe Kings back in the day.👍👍👍

[@deanhall735]

Its fair to say Steve B rode out of his skin, probably the performance of his career. Just shows what can happen in a one off meeting. He was never in the same league as KC or Tiger but the record states he won it, and nobody can take that away from him.

[@geoffhodgson1853]

Nice of taylor to go round by the city centre to help lee out !!

[@martynhepworthArchiveSpeedway]

Think via Leicester too.

[@user-kg1bi8nr6f]

Далекие 80е,пацаны молодые еще,мотоциклы не такие навороченные....

[@martynhepworthArchiveSpeedway]

Некоторые говорят, что 1980-е были золотой эрой, но я думаю, что Speedway была фантастической во все времена.

[@user-kg1bi8nr6f]

@@martynhepworthArchiveSpeedway Да,в спидвей если влюбляешься,то навсегда!!

[@martynhepworthArchiveSpeedway]

Да, 1974 год был моей первой встречей, и я до сих пор люблю каждую гонку, которую вижу, хотя некоторые из них лучше других. Спасибо за просмотр.

[@dpshtfc764]

Halifax supporters Paul dave and Mick 1976

[@nervo6321]

Stevie B rode like a World Champion that day...what happened ?

[@martynhepworthArchiveSpeedway]

Same applies for Andy Graham really, but then one off finals were all about the rider on the day most of the time. The Big Guns were there but didn't produce for once, Stevie B's gain I say.

[@jacksonirving4594]

I remember , Charlie mckinna and Rob grant had a collision at the old Blantyre Glasgow track , the referee excluded Rob grant , but Charlie mckinna got on the phone too the referee and told him " it was my fault ref , I knocked him off " it was a similar incident ...