Remembering a Hollywood blockbuster at the Racewall

Allister King was the defending champion and favoured to retain his title.

Amongst the Scottish drivers were World Champion Jimmy Wallace, track points champion Jimmy Moodie (Kennoway) and Keith Stanford (Wormit).

The heats were won by McCrory and Alastair Forsyth with Paul Broatch winning the consolation race.

Little did we know what was in store for us in the final. Not even in our wildest dreams could you have anticipated the action – it was like a Hollywood action movie.

The cars were lined up in their graded order and as the tension built up they moved slowly onto their warm up lap and to a roar of approval the race started.

Will Lindsay lead the field away but when Gordon Naismith “kissed” concrete he caused David Stanford to spin but was then promptly collected by King, Broatch and Speak who had to retire.

A few laps later there was another stoppage after John Fortune crashed and hit the parked car of Iain McLean. That was nothing compared to the restart which was explosive to say the least!

McCrory hit a patch of oil, headed to the wall and carried out a death defying aerial display with his car hitting the wall before crashing back down onto the track on its roof. Those in close order couldn’t miss and there was a massive pile up as a result. Forsyth, Moodie and Wallace were caught up but managed to restart before the race was suspended.

Hopes of a Fife win were high when Moodie burst through into the lead but soon afterwards his engine began to misfire. As K Stanford went to pass, Forsyth made contact sending both spinning out of the race. Stanford’s car rolled and burst into flames and the race was again suspended.

Forsyth was back in the lead but there were only four cars remaining, two having problems and one a lap down. When the green flag dropped Forsyth was away, Wallace limped on in second but when the chequered appeared it was for Al Forsyth who swept to victory crossing the line ahead of Wallace, Harris and Moore.