DVD Review: Speedway 75

The latest in Retro Speedway's DVD series covering some of the sport's golden years is now available. Speedway '75 features a range of speedway races, meetings and stories from the 1975 season. This is the third edition, following on from volumes that covered 1973 and 1974.

The format will be familiar to anyone who has purchased one of these previously. There's a mix of television footage, old cine film, photographs, interviews and press articles. Tony McDonald provides an informed and nostalgia-laden commentary throughout, combining hard facts, personal recollections and explanatory points as we progress through the story.

The cine film, originally recorded by Oxford fan Michael Bratley, offers some rare chances to see races from tracks such as Boston, Reading, Halifax, Swindon and many others. The sight of fans hanging directly over the fence during the racing will horrify anyone who has only watched the sport in the health and safety era.

As well as the racing, the cine film captures many scenes in the pits - such as Ivan Mauger and Peter Collins preparing for a series of match races at Ellesmere Port.

PC prepares at Ellesmere Port

The year's biggest meetings are generally represented by archive television footage. 1975 was a year for a Wembley world final, one remembered for a bumpy, dusty track and an unwise intervention from a fan with a hose pipe. We hear from the eventual meeting winner and also witness the construction of his own track in his native Denmark.

The New World Champion

Pairs action from Yugoslavia is also included, some racing from the Sydney Showground, along with a rather controversial British Final from Brandon. All guaranteed to bring back memories for those who were following the sport at the time.

Some of the main protagonists are interviewed in more recent times, including Martin Ashby who we lost very recently. Others such as Malcolm Simmons and John Louis have also now passed on, making their contributions seem all the more poignant.

A lot of love and care goes into producing these DVDs and it's always evident from the final product. They are aimed very squarely at the nostalgia market and are building very nicely into a video record of the speedway's history.

You can find out more and order your copy directly from the Retro Speedway website.

At time of writing the double-DVD boxset will set you back a very reasonable £20 (additional cost for international posting).

This article was first published on 15th November 2026