VIDEO OF THE FULL 1981 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL RACE WHICH LEN WOLFENDEN DROVE TO VICTORY BUT A HARD CHARGING BRIAN POWLES WAS THE FASTEST ON THE NIGHT AND DEFENDING CHAMPION DIDN'T DO ONE LAP SMIFFY WENT OUT WITH A FLAT TYRE ON THE FIRST BEND.
I never thought I'd see that race again. Thank you so much for posting. Was on the back straight screaming my head for Len and counting down the last 5 laps much to the bemusement of some Dutch fans :-)
On a sad note, as much as I took the rivalry between Len and "Super" Stu Smith very seriously at the time I was dumbstruck to learn of Smithy's death on Dec 23rd. There will never be another. :-(
I remember when the axle came off the car and went into the stand at Odsal. For the first time me ans my dad stood on the rooley lane end instead of in the main stand.
The problem was not the water injection system, it was what Len used in it. many drivers noticed on the night that there was a very bright blue flame on engine overrun. It out that Len had put a high percentage of ethonol or methonol in the water reservoir, claiming it was an anti-freeze. It was decided several weeks later to ban the system altogether as it was thought that policing the use of additives would be very difficult. Because no rules were broken there was no punishment.
My mum used to take me to these races at odsal when i was a kid i loved it and still like oval racing today, i remember super stu and have a autograph book somewhere with loads of there sigs in remember it was dark and noisey and between races you could go see the drivers
Wolfy had put a water injection manifold on his engine which gave him extra power. No one else had it. Thats why he just drove off into the distance. It was outlawed for the following race. Smithy for ever :) i was ten years old. Thanks for posting. Great memories
The Wild Wolf himself :-)
I never thought I'd see that race again. Thank you so much for posting. Was on the back straight screaming my head for Len and counting down the last 5 laps much to the bemusement of some Dutch fans :-)
On a sad note, as much as I took the rivalry between Len and "Super" Stu Smith very seriously at the time I was dumbstruck to learn of Smithy's death on Dec 23rd. There will never be another. :-(
elan4872 1 year ago
brilliant - so much better than todays sanitised racing.
looks like you were another Brian Powell fan - RIP 154
dwguy2 1 year ago
I remember when the axle came off the car and went into the stand at Odsal. For the first time me ans my dad stood on the rooley lane end instead of in the main stand.
i can almost smell it just sat here watching this
ukvespa 1 year ago
At the end of the race when he won,their lifted his car onto a flatbed truck and drove round the track so you could all see him and cheer.
whiterabbit66 1 year ago
The problem was not the water injection system, it was what Len used in it. many drivers noticed on the night that there was a very bright blue flame on engine overrun. It out that Len had put a high percentage of ethonol or methonol in the water reservoir, claiming it was an anti-freeze. It was decided several weeks later to ban the system altogether as it was thought that policing the use of additives would be very difficult. Because no rules were broken there was no punishment.
uvpj4 2 years ago
Fanfare for the common man.
sspanzer 2 years ago
what was the name of the tune played at the begining of the races there
phardcare 2 years ago
My mum used to take me to these races at odsal when i was a kid i loved it and still like oval racing today, i remember super stu and have a autograph book somewhere with loads of there sigs in remember it was dark and noisey and between races you could go see the drivers
phardcare 2 years ago
Wolfy had put a water injection manifold on his engine which gave him extra power. No one else had it. Thats why he just drove off into the distance. It was outlawed for the following race. Smithy for ever :) i was ten years old. Thanks for posting. Great memories
zeroRSP 3 years ago
Fantastic to see that again. That was the first World Final I went to - I was 12. Great to see the old names....
pupbunny 3 years ago