The 30^th of July 1983. A date that will always stick in my mind. The venue – Cowdenbeath. The occasion – The Saloon World final. It was the first time that the race had been held in the UK, let alone Scotland. I sat in the grandstand and watched all the build up unfold under the superb presentation of the late John Kelly. The race itself turned out to be everything expected of it. Classic team racing in every sense of the word with Englishmen Eddie George and Eddie Aldous literally hiding and waiting on Scottish cars coming round so they could take pot shots at them. At the end of it all it didn’t really matter as Gordon Brown, became a hero overnight as he led home the late Neil Pitrie for a famous Scottish 1 -2. I have never witnessed an atmosphere like it at a stock car meeting. The packed stands and terraces all rose as one to salute a new Scottish hero, who for a few short moments stood in as high esteem as William Wallace and Robert the Bruce. Gordon still comes to the Racewall to spectate and, on the few occasions that our paths cross always evokes memories of that night when he literally struck gold.

The Saloon World has many tales associated with it. 1984 saw in my opinion the best achievement ever in stock car racing when Belgium racer, Dirk Thomas, came to the now closed Wisbech with a car that had been converted from left to right hand drive literally with a bicycle chain and promptly drove the race of his life to take the spoils. You could accept the fact nowadays that F2 drivers can come over and win on the UK mainland as the cars go in the same direction but in the hurly burly theatre heading round the opposite way that you are used to the victory was immense. The irony about his victory was that the chain snapped less than a lap into his next race on the track. It is a feat that is unlikely to be surpassed.

There are many other great memories I could mention about the race down the years, such as now Spedeworth supremo, Deane Wood, jumping over the fence at Buxton in 1987 and back into his stricken car so he could try to stop Scot Robert Jones winning the race. John Halifax winning here then have the tyre blow out on him metres after crossing the line and the scenes of jubilation when Harry and Ernie Burgoyne won titles in the 90’s. The last time the World was held here in 2003 when the Scots went into self destruct mode with the first five wiping themselves in one fell swoop allowing David Aldous to take the spoils.

Nowadays, it is the off spring of the drivers of those halcyon days who are stealing the limelight. Pole sitter David Aldous has achieved more as far as major titles are concerned that dad Eddie ever did. Eddie though would be the first to admit he was at his happiest when spinning someone out or sticking them into the wall whilst David mixes speed and aggression to great affect. Another driver who might make the grid for the big race is that of Michael Mallett. Cast your mind back to 1990. The last lap of the National championship here at the Racewall. Scot Bill Auld coasting in the lead and only has the last corner to negotiate and victory would be his. However he made the fatal mistake of going round the outside of Jock Burgoyne who promptly run him round the wall allowing Michaels dad, Gary, to come thru for victory. Gary had one of the quotes of all time attributed to him after the race when he was asked how he felt on taking a victory which looked unlikely a lap earlier to which he replied “I would have caught him anyway”!! We were reminiscing about that magical moment in Gary’s career down at the NEC last January and he was very enthusiastic about how his son would progress in the formula.

The formula of today will never reach those heady days of the eighties where each promotion were able to have their own nucleus of cars and the only time that they all raced together was at the major championships during the year. The circus we have today sees the Scots as one entity and the English as the other with a smattering of cars still racing in Northern Ireland. The characters have gone. The biggest cheer here at The Racewall is always reserved for F2 driver Gordon Moodie who has fans split 50/50 with the noise just as loud when he crashes out as when he wins. Stock car racing today needs more people like him. The Webster boys in the Saloons and Chris Burgoyne in do a good job in crowd relations. As a commentator it makes the job a whole lot easier knowing that the driver will goad the spectators into cheering for them.

It will be a pleasure to work this weekend with Richard Kaleta who will put me to shame with his flamboyant dress sense whilst Scott Keith gets the opportunity to commentate on the World final. It made me laugh when I was down at the Ipswich Speed weekend where the commentators were arguing about who was going to commentate on the Hot Rod World final. Bottom line is Scott always commentates on the Saloons when he is here and you will hear his voice go up three or four octaves as the race reaches its climax.

When you leave the stadium after witness the spectacle of the 2008 Saloon World final, remember that you have witnessed a piece of stock car history. Will you still be talking about it 25 years after the event?? Only time will tell.