Murray Walker was the best by far, none of the current commentators are a patch on him. It really grates when they try and imitate Murray at the start of F1 races. Try and be original rather than a sub par impersonation of the best ever.
My Only Claim to fame that's my Uncle Jeff Allam , Years before he took me around a track in his Rover SD1, I was about 5 or 6 and hanging onto the rear roll cage. Thanks for sharing, may have been there cant remember as I too old now!!!
Fantastic era of touring cars, still have most of the early to mid 90s on VHS I recorded at the time.. Daft thing is the cars don't look any slower than BTCC today.. ❤
I had one of those too due to it being in the BTCC. I seem to remember the BTCC one was based off the 4x4 version so that Vauxhall could run it as rear wheel drive.
There’s no one better at motor racing commentary than Murray Walker. He could make a snail race exciting. Miss him so much and BTCC in the late eighties and nineties was the ultimate in excitement. Thanks Geoff! John Clelland total legend
I was at that race (my first touring car race) and at that corner - stood 15 feet away from where John Cleland and Steve Soper ended in the barriers. Cleland was even less happy than the footage shows! And it was clear in person that Soper was on a deliberate mission, a definite case of the red mist at how he had been shoved around himself. It was an amazing recovery by Soper to get up to that position after his earlier contact. This race was why I fell in love with touring cars (later to lost interest again), so much more visceral than Formula 1 at the time...
Steve Soper had a huge amount of pace that race. His car was of course rather light after he lost his rear bumper! He was known for come from behind drives
Great days. Was working as a tech at a Vauxhall dealers back then in 92, won some gold vip tickets for a race at Knockhill in the monthly dealer draw. Got to meet John Cleland and Jeff Allam who were the works drivers. Sat down and had a drink and a 'spot of lunch' with them. Had a great convo with John about Gerry Marshall and Bertha. There was a cavalier outside the promo tent in full works livery and the guide said "this is the actual winning car from this years BTCC". Not with those non vented discs and stock pads I said. He replied "alright smart arse" most buy it. Priceless.
Thanks Geoff for making this video, it’s richly appreciated. It took me back to when I loved motor racing. And I thought it was quick, for its time. 👌 More videos like this please.
It was very quick for its time when all these cars in standard trim were lucky to hit the ton, & here they were doing as the legend MW kept saying 130 & 150pmh on the straights! Even todays F1 cars are seldom over 200mph for much of a lap on most circuits!
90s was the best. My dad (who had 240glt, 760 turbo intercooler and 850glt 2.5) and I would watch every sunday and love every minute. To us though, the introduction of the 850s was pinnacle BTCC ...... those plucky Swedes ;) All the cars and drivers back then were characterful, halcyon days. Thanks for posting Mr Geoff. Eggmeister.
19:44 “I’m going for 1st.” I’m sure he’s flipping him the bird but nice commentary from the legendary Murray Walker Remember this race well watching on tv as a child with my dad.
Maybe but having seen the other replays from different angles Clelland had forced Soper wide so he was braking with 2 wheels on the grass, no way he was going to make the corner without wiping them both out. Still great racing though!
Cleland only got past Soper in the first place because he drove into the side of Sopers car which helped him get round the corner, no way he would have got past if he didnt bash him out the way so what Soper did was fair play. Payback, karma!!
@@mattylamb9194 At that stage of the race Harvey was way faster than Bailey hence why he caught him so quickly. He went for the gap that was there and Bailey closed the door too late which obviously resulted in a PIT manoeuvre taking Bailey out. I dont see it as 100% Harvey's fault.
Really enjoyed that Geoff. Thanks for posting 👍🏼😁 Remember watching it live on TV at the time (when I was in my 20s 😮). Loved it so much that I bought the video review. Rumour had it at the time that Steve Soper was paid to take Cleland out to gift Harvey the championship. Certainly looked that way.
My 1992 Nissan 2.0 eGT was the greatest car I've ever owned - finally gave up the ghost after 220,000 miles in Croydon - Thanks Geoff that brought a tear to my eye
Thanks Geoff! I had forgotten how awesome British Touring Cars was in the '90s. This brings back lots of memories of Cleland vs Radisich a few years later. Absolutely brilliant! Thanks again!!
If memory serves me right, this used to be on BBC grandstand on saturdays. I was only 11 at the time, and I remember watching these races at my gran and grandads house, he never missed them. The seasons with the mondeo, laguna, volvo, vectras were great racing, too. Mansell raced then, too, if I remember right. And Murray Walker was brilliant, he got you so engrossed in whatever he was doing commentary on.
Yes, it was indeed on (mainly) Saturday Grandstands. Often around lunchtime. Highlights shows two or three weeks after the event. Nigel Mansell was a guest driver in the end-of season shoot-out at Donington one year - got injured after a scary crash.
Great race, I couldn't tell you my favourite race over the years. There have been so many but BTCC is still my favourite Motorsport 30+ years on. I gave up on F1 a few years back. I'm quite partial to Ginetta Jr's and the sorely missed Clio cup for exciting close races.
@@mattylamb9194 I don't doubt that , there will always be good races. But they were becoming fewer and further between year after year until I just lost interest . To me it just felt like all character was removed as more and more rules and restrictions were introduced causing a sterile feel to the races.
'92-'96 were great years for the BTCC. I was able to go Oulton Park in '95 and '96 and it was great. The whole place was buzzing, you could meet the drivers, buy some merchandise and enjoy the racing. And the noise. Good times.
I think the nineties were peak time for the automotive world. Cras in general were advanced enough to be comfortable, reliable etc whilst still being analogue enough for them to feel real behind the wheel. UK roads also weren't so much congested, pot-hole infested, ridiculous 20mph speed limit neutered hellholes then either
I remember my parents having this on when I was younger. You have to love Murray walker and his commentary. The racing definitely seemed more interesting and close back then, than touring car racing today. 🤔
I rememebr this race like it was yesterday, in particular Steve Soper from the back to the front, so close but no cigar. John Cleland to be fare was always my favourite, Touring Cars back then was just awesome!
BTCC used to be epic. When it ended I didn't realise how much I missed watching it and got back into it later in life, after I moved to NZ where they're mad for the racing.
I watched this race on Grandstand in the day. After speaking to all the parties in person, I was a big BTCC fan in the day, this was all on Soper. I think he'd been at Vic Lee's secret stash that day.
I started going to BTCC in 91. My Fav ever races are the 1993 Knockhill rounds 10 and 11 Cleland vs Bailey for the wins in both races and the each won one. My dad and i camped over in a small village for the weekend. I was only 14 but i remember it so clearly. Its weekends like that that get you hooked on cars for life - and it feels like that sort of magic has now gone with the country we now live in. My dad even took me to the press day at Donington Park when they revealed the Volvo estate for the first time. I still have all my photos from that day.
I used to love going to those BTCC races back in the day, when the cars looked like cars you could buy and the racing was fierce. I still have my Corgi John Clelland Cavalier model to remind me of all those great memories with my two eldest son’s happy days. Thanks for uploading this video Jeff, it was a great watch and I will now have to dig out my old VHS tapes of these championships
19.42.. Cleland 'slaute' :) Loved the old days of touring cars and still a fan today and head to watch live races as much as possible. Great vid Geoff.
Thanks for this. I still remember this incredible showdown! F1 was going thru a Mansell-dominated season, but the BTCC was full of characters, great-sounding cars and the BBC highlights package was always tightly-edited and unmissable. It even brought the very best out of Murray: "A wiggle woggle, that's Becketts!" and the infamous "I'm going for first, says John Cleland!" (as he flips the bird!)
There was that race at Donington when Valentino Rossi crossed the finish line standing up on his footrests playing the air violin. Rather hard to beat. It was the only bike race I watched with my Dad. As he saw Rossi perform that stunt upon winning the race, he looked at me with an expression that asked “How could he Do That?” Car races and car drivers will never perform anything as spectacular as that, and no car race fans will ever experience such a dramatic stunt. Peace 🏴
Fworrrrr......❤ Lots of memories watching this sat on my grandparents sofa! Priceless. Nothing comes close to 90s BTCC. It had absolutely everything. Aussie v8's is about as near as you can get these days.
Thanks for bringing this race to my attention. I was only 7 when this aired. You never see racing like this any more. What a glorious combination of commentary (cant beet Old Murry walker!), camera angels and a climax to a race season where anyone could take the trophy. Pure magic! It would be good to see this mix of racing again. Maybe pen it up to EV's and ICE vehicles battling it out too. Bet that would be fun to watch
I met John Cleland at that year's Motor Show. Andy Rouse is from Dymock, just outside Newent. David Leslie and Kieth O'dor (son of Janspeed founder Jan O'dor) no longer with us, sadly. Great days and proper racing.
Brilliant, thanks Geoff, I remember watching this race at the time. I loved motor racing then, proper cars and awesome drivers. Formula One, even then, became predictable and a bit boring to watch, but these guys were amazing - on the edge of my seat then and now watching this re-run. Can't be arsed watching it these days.
Loved that I'm always watching old touring cars and DTM racing, Go to watch some of these iconic cars at Super Touring Brands Hatch circuit awesome !! Murray Walker the best commentator ever !! 😃👍
I was fortunate enough to have been there that day along with several other meetings during the 92 season and onwards ! The BTCC of those glorious days was the epitome of spectator enjoyment , to my mind NEVER beaten.
Super Touring Cars replaced the Group A cars which had come to the end of their life. Agreed, the cars at this time looked like the car you could buy in your local dealer showroom.
I remember this race well. It was THE race that made me love the BTCC over ALL other forms of motorsport. Murray Walker is legendary, and I still miss his commentary. The death...well beginning of the death of BTCC was the addition of aero. The DTM also died in the late 90s.
Fun-bloody-tastic Geoff 🤙🏼 I remember watching this race the 1st time round when I was a school kid 👍🏼 and thinking to myself “WOW, that’s some proper motor racing” Great to see it again 👍🏼
Steve Soper was definitely one of the best drivers he just had soo much bad luck must of been frustrating for him. Watch the MG Montego Turbo promotional video it's very amusing you won't be disappointed.
My Uncle Ray Lancashire, a founder member of the MCMC, used to take me to Oulton Park when I was a sprog. No restrictions on where you could go, except the paddock,. Wish I could find my old b&w photos taken on box brownie in them days, but lost in the mists of time. That is when I first started taking pics.
I enjoyed that Geoff. It was the time when the "no contact sport" meant just really, really close racing, and it was only poor aero that spun your opponent off. Lol
This is absolutely fantastic analysis and much thanks for the upload of this glorious race! Fantastic as always with Murray commentating and as you say the camera work and editing is excitingly superior to any of todays!
I'm 56 now , followed btcc for many years, Silverstone 92 probably the best race, as championship at stake, other decent races over the years but think Silverstone 92 edges it. Bmw should have had there abs brakes nipped in the bud! But didn't Harvey had a dig at Bailey hoy cleland as super did. Still believe cleland robbed! The best race, in the best era! Rip will hoy, David Leslie. Steven.
I was there as an 11 year old watching that race live. Can remember the contact between the cav and Beemer well. So exciting watching it on that corner.Crowd went nuts!!
I saw that live ! We've had no decent racing since - It was all down to the driver there, man against man - there was something medieval about the BTCC When John Cleland had the Vectra he took his drivers side mirror off at Copse - it landed right at my feet - I took it back to the pits after the race and the team told me to keep it - John came out from the back and autographed it - What an absolute gentleman- I still have it and its my prize possession
These where popular mini cab cars back in the day. I remember my Saturday night journey home in a red top Cavalier being like a race round Silverstone 😅
My dad worked for Vauxhall so we had comp tickets for all these races…I even bought a Cavalier 2.0GLS ❤ as I couldn’t afford a GSI ….PS Allam’s car has been rebuilt and races still in classic races along with Cleland who drives his Vectra
What a fantastic race I really enjoyed it. Brilliant commentary from a much missed Murray walker too. Only let down being a Ford man was no cosworths lol
Used to watch the series and I always found it exiting, and would often go to Brands as it was local. All the great names of the sport including Murray Walker. Thanks for the memories.
Love the racing and the commentary of Murray Walker. Those where the days but I must admit BTCC still is one that i like to watch on RUclips. Its a still some good racing and even if I am Belgian if you like racing you still appreciate it.
This was definitely the best season for me. Would have been nice to have captured some of the Soper story in that season, eg: was fully committed to the DTM season, but helped out as BMW's 'hired gun' latter in the season to support Harvey. A few times that season he overtook Harvey after great drives from the back of the field but swapped places to help him out. Round 5 at Brands Hatch on the GP was a particular favourite of mine, not only being my local circuit, but the first of many Soper drives form the back of the field to make his way up the front. Great video.
This certainly was the closest racing I have seen for a very long time, but as John Clelland asked "Is this Stock cars or motor racing" ! Silverstone has changed since I used to go there in the 60's when the IMP's, Mini's and Anglia's used to do battle with the massive V8 yank tanks. Then the Cortina's and Escort's started to dominate!
Takes me back, used to follow that series in the day. Reminds me of the Dunlop Rover GTi one make series, same as the BTCC but 1600cc, but same action. In early 1991 bought a new Rover 216 3 dr twin cam GTi from Rider's in Helston, every dealer in Cornwall had 6 delivered pre reg, told to sell them as ex demonstrators. Two months on the new Dunlop Rover series appears on TV, I sit there thinking that's my car. It appeared talking to the dealer they had to make 2500 to homologate for the one make series, so just sold full race spec cars in the back water dealerships. They were about the fasted hot hatch and the most under sold one in the country back then. Really miss it now, would have made a fantastic track day car.
Great race and season. One of a number of amazing comeback drives by Soper from the back of the field. 1996 Snetterton also great and 1998 Donington in the rain with Mansell also amazing races.
There was a rumour at the time that Soper had an illegal engine in his car that would have disqualified him if he finished the race so "T" boning Clelland was deliberate on 2 counts; 1 to allow Harvey to win the drivers championship & 2 so his car would not be post race inspected! (his car was so much faster than the rest of them!)
@@johnmoncrieff3034 lol i doubt thats true he was v fast and the other BMW drivers played along Nissen and Sugden let him thru. Didnt the BMW have a weight penalty reduction part way thru season? They also along with 1-2 others had ABS brakes
@@leemorrison7113 - I think falling behind in races after some kind of early-race incident, (as happened here), regularly inspired Steve Soper to his best drives.
Super Touring Car Racing was the best! And this race as well. One can really relate to these cars. It is because of these racing cars that I bought E36 BMW's and an Alfa Romeo 155 as road cars.
As a Cavalier GSI owner at the time I loved watching this! The 90's were awesome and might explain why I prefer watching old cars race around Goodwood to F1...
Toward the late '90s, the success of the series led the organisers to make it faster and more of a spectacle, and thus more expensive to race in. In 1998-9, the series was at an all time high, but, not long after, nearly all manufacturers pulled out, and the series was plunged into a near-death state. New cost-cutting regs were introduced, and slowly It built back up into a slightly more modest series, before making a massive blunder in recent years by first allowing flared bodywork and wider track, then by adding a heavy and pointless hybrid system to the cars. As soon as that system was introduced, the racing more or less dried up( except when the system was disabled). Also, for some reason, this season ITV decided to replace the great action-packed intro showcasing the history of the series to an electronic soundtrack with a boring pan past social media posts accompanied by bargain hunt music. Utterly bizarre; Makes me think ITV are trying to reduce the viewership deliberately.
For one thing, I think the cars became less desirable from about the 2000's, one or two manufacturers excluded. I can relate to almost any of these old touring cars and would not mind their road going versions in my garage today.
@@C.I... All of the above, plus Alfa using illegal, (at the time), aero. TOCA told them to get rid or get out, so Alfa left. TOCA decided that the series needed Alfa, (where have we heard that before?), so they came back and the riles were changed so that aero was legal. The cars couldn't then run as close and the racing diminished. Regarding the coverage, Steve Ryder pushed hard for live coverage over the excellent highlights package being produced at the time. Who wants to sit in front of the TV all day? So this also had an impact on viewing figures, (negatively). Pretty much a perfect storm really.
Wow, the memories i have of this as a 9 year old kid. From a time when racing was racing adn contact was almost mandatory. If only racing had continued on like this... 'The mans an animal....'
Love Murray Walker on the commentary.
Murray Walker was the best by far, none of the current commentators are a patch on him. It really grates when they try and imitate Murray at the start of F1 races. Try and be original rather than a sub par impersonation of the best ever.
@@deanelsworth817There are talentless people in many roles in media these days😢 I am sad to say.
My Only Claim to fame that's my Uncle Jeff Allam , Years before he took me around a track in his Rover SD1, I was about 5 or 6 and hanging onto the rear roll cage. Thanks for sharing, may have been there cant remember as I too old now!!!
Murray walker is iconic. What a commentator!
Fantastic era of touring cars, still have most of the early to mid 90s on VHS I recorded at the time..
Daft thing is the cars don't look any slower than BTCC today.. ❤
much better racing
Utterly brilliant Geoff 👌 Thanks for posting such a little treat.
I was 19 in 92, that race made me determined to get a Cavalier GSi. It took me until 97 to afford one, but I did it. Loved that car!
I had one of those too due to it being in the BTCC. I seem to remember the BTCC one was based off the 4x4 version so that Vauxhall could run it as rear wheel drive.
There’s no one better at motor racing commentary than Murray Walker. He could make a snail race exciting. Miss him so much and BTCC in the late eighties and nineties was the ultimate in excitement. Thanks Geoff!
John Clelland total legend
I was at that race (my first touring car race) and at that corner - stood 15 feet away from where John Cleland and Steve Soper ended in the barriers. Cleland was even less happy than the footage shows! And it was clear in person that Soper was on a deliberate mission, a definite case of the red mist at how he had been shoved around himself. It was an amazing recovery by Soper to get up to that position after his earlier contact. This race was why I fell in love with touring cars (later to lost interest again), so much more visceral than Formula 1 at the time...
Same here! 👍👍 I was a bit further around the corner 👍
Steve Soper had a huge amount of pace that race. His car was of course rather light after he lost his rear bumper! He was known for come from behind drives
Great days. Was working as a tech at a Vauxhall dealers back then in 92, won some gold vip tickets for a race at Knockhill in the monthly dealer draw. Got to meet John Cleland and Jeff Allam who were the works drivers. Sat down and had a drink and a 'spot of lunch' with them. Had a great convo with John about Gerry Marshall and Bertha. There was a cavalier outside the promo tent in full works livery and the guide said "this is the actual winning car from this years BTCC". Not with those non vented discs and stock pads I said. He replied "alright smart arse" most buy it. Priceless.
This is bringing back marvellous memories. I was in awe of Soperman!
He was my favourite driver too! Had me cracking up racing with his full beam on flashing the drivers ahead to get out his way 😂😂😂
@@Bruce4lmighty such a quiet little feller out of the car - balls like watermelons when he saw a green light!
Thanks Geoff for making this video, it’s richly appreciated. It took me back to when I loved motor racing. And I thought it was quick, for its time. 👌
More videos like this please.
It was very quick for its time when all these cars in standard trim were lucky to hit the ton, & here they were doing as the legend MW kept saying 130 & 150pmh on the straights! Even todays F1 cars are seldom over 200mph for much of a lap on most circuits!
Fantastic!! John Cleland is an absolute muppet lol. Always dished it out but could never take it back at him. Cheers for the upload. Proper racing!
The mans an animal lol
he was always angry at someone!
90s was the best. My dad (who had 240glt, 760 turbo intercooler and 850glt 2.5) and I would watch every sunday and love every minute. To us though, the introduction of the 850s was pinnacle BTCC ...... those plucky Swedes ;)
All the cars and drivers back then were characterful, halcyon days. Thanks for posting Mr Geoff.
Eggmeister.
19:44 “I’m going for 1st.” I’m sure he’s flipping him the bird but nice commentary from the legendary Murray Walker Remember this race well watching on tv as a child with my dad.
What a race! Soper drive like a demon after the first smash but deffo cleaned out Clelland for Harvey near the end.
Maybe, but maybe he was just furious about Cleland's desparate passing antics too.
Maybe but having seen the other replays from different angles Clelland had forced Soper wide so he was braking with 2 wheels on the grass, no way he was going to make the corner without wiping them both out.
Still great racing though!
Cleland only got past Soper in the first place because he drove into the side of Sopers car which helped him get round the corner, no way he would have got past if he didnt bash him out the way so what Soper did was fair play. Payback, karma!!
@@YellowFTO And Tim Harvey blatantly punted Julian Bailey off the track earlier in the race!
@@mattylamb9194 At that stage of the race Harvey was way faster than Bailey hence why he caught him so quickly. He went for the gap that was there and Bailey closed the door too late which obviously resulted in a PIT manoeuvre taking Bailey out. I dont see it as 100% Harvey's fault.
Proper racing! This sort of racing, using real, everyday cars will always mean more to me than the F1 ponce-fest. Nice one, Geoff
Really enjoyed that Geoff. Thanks for posting 👍🏼😁 Remember watching it live on TV at the time (when I was in my 20s 😮). Loved it so much that I bought the video review.
Rumour had it at the time that Steve Soper was paid to take Cleland out to gift Harvey the championship. Certainly looked that way.
My 1992 Nissan 2.0 eGT was the greatest car I've ever owned - finally gave up the ghost after 220,000 miles in Croydon - Thanks Geoff that brought a tear to my eye
That’s what I loved about racing from those days. It was a full bodied contact sport! And of course the late great Murray Walker
Thanks Geoff! I had forgotten how awesome British Touring Cars was in the '90s. This brings back lots of memories of Cleland vs Radisich a few years later. Absolutely brilliant! Thanks again!!
If memory serves me right, this used to be on BBC grandstand on saturdays. I was only 11 at the time, and I remember watching these races at my gran and grandads house, he never missed them. The seasons with the mondeo, laguna, volvo, vectras were great racing, too. Mansell raced then, too, if I remember right. And Murray Walker was brilliant, he got you so engrossed in whatever he was doing commentary on.
Yes, it was indeed on (mainly) Saturday Grandstands. Often around lunchtime. Highlights shows two or three weeks after the event. Nigel Mansell was a guest driver in the end-of season shoot-out at Donington one year - got injured after a scary crash.
Thanks Geoff that reminded me of why I followed motorsport... way back when! GGG!!!
I remember watching it. Traditionally the last race of BTCC is always a demolition derby but this was fantastic
Great race, I couldn't tell you my favourite race over the years. There have been so many but BTCC is still my favourite Motorsport 30+ years on.
I gave up on F1 a few years back.
I'm quite partial to Ginetta Jr's and the sorely missed Clio cup for exciting close races.
Totally agree about the Ginetta Jr’s. My favourite support race of the current format by a good distance.
@@Readmedontbelieveme they are utterly fearless
Every so often you get a corking race in F1. German GP in 2019 must be one of the best of past ten years, helped by the changeable conditions
@@mattylamb9194 I don't doubt that , there will always be good races. But they were becoming fewer and further between year after year until I just lost interest .
To me it just felt like all character was removed as more and more rules and restrictions were introduced causing a sterile feel to the races.
Thanks Geoff. I'd completely forgotten that I had a Cavalier SRi in the mid 90's😂 only had it a year, when it failed it's MOT I was back in a Volvo.
'92-'96 were great years for the BTCC. I was able to go Oulton Park in '95 and '96 and it was great. The whole place was buzzing, you could meet the drivers, buy some merchandise and enjoy the racing. And the noise. Good times.
I think the nineties were peak time for the automotive world. Cras in general were advanced enough to be comfortable, reliable etc whilst still being analogue enough for them to feel real behind the wheel. UK roads also weren't so much congested, pot-hole infested, ridiculous 20mph speed limit neutered hellholes then either
I remember my parents having this on when I was younger.
You have to love Murray walker and his commentary. The racing definitely seemed more interesting and close back then, than touring car racing today. 🤔
oh my what a race that was when motorsport was exciting for sure!! loved that!!
❤🎉"with cars we saw in the showroom" ❤🎉Indeed Mate🤘✨️
Got to agree with you that was epic! Very enjoyable viewing. Wild.
👍😎
I rememebr this race like it was yesterday, in particular Steve Soper from the back to the front, so close but no cigar. John Cleland to be fare was always my favourite, Touring Cars back then was just awesome!
BTCC used to be epic. When it ended I didn't realise how much I missed watching it and got back into it later in life, after I moved to NZ where they're mad for the racing.
I watched this race on Grandstand in the day. After speaking to all the parties in person, I was a big BTCC fan in the day, this was all on Soper.
I think he'd been at Vic Lee's secret stash that day.
Lol, Vic Lee Supersnort...
The perfect race!
Loads of action? Check!
Murray Walker commentating? Check!
Thats all you needed for a great afternoon of motor racing.
BTCC end to end full on big balls driving. When motor sport was top quality.
That was such a joy to watch again. Soper drove quali laps to get back into the fight. Early to mid 90's BTCC was the best.
Excellent video Geoff. Took me back to when I'd go watch them live, driving over from NI. Proper racing, thanks for the reminder!
I started going to BTCC in 91.
My Fav ever races are the 1993 Knockhill rounds 10 and 11 Cleland vs Bailey for the wins in both races and the each won one.
My dad and i camped over in a small village for the weekend. I was only 14 but i remember it so clearly.
Its weekends like that that get you hooked on cars for life - and it feels like that sort of magic has now gone with the country we now live in.
My dad even took me to the press day at Donington Park when they revealed the Volvo estate for the first time. I still have all my photos from that day.
Very little magic in the world today. Everything is beige and boring
Or should I say silver and boring in the automotive world
I used to love going to those BTCC races back in the day, when the cars looked like cars you could buy and the racing was fierce. I still have my Corgi John Clelland Cavalier model to remind me of all those great memories with my two eldest son’s happy days. Thanks for uploading this video Jeff, it was a great watch and I will now have to dig out my old VHS tapes of these championships
19.42.. Cleland 'slaute' :)
Loved the old days of touring cars and still a fan today and head to watch live races as much as possible. Great vid Geoff.
Thanks for this. I still remember this incredible showdown! F1 was going thru a Mansell-dominated season, but the BTCC was full of characters, great-sounding cars and the BBC highlights package was always tightly-edited and unmissable. It even brought the very best out of Murray: "A wiggle woggle, that's Becketts!" and the infamous "I'm going for first, says John Cleland!" (as he flips the bird!)
There was that race at Donington when Valentino Rossi crossed the finish line standing up on his footrests playing the air violin. Rather hard to beat. It was the only bike race I watched with my Dad. As he saw Rossi perform that stunt upon winning the race, he looked at me with an expression that asked “How could he Do That?”
Car races and car drivers will never perform anything as spectacular as that, and no car race fans will ever experience such a dramatic stunt.
Peace 🏴
Fworrrrr......❤ Lots of memories watching this sat on my grandparents sofa! Priceless.
Nothing comes close to 90s BTCC. It had absolutely everything. Aussie v8's is about as near as you can get these days.
Peak racing and peak cars. Even the laguna mk1 looked fantastic in BTCC
They did.
My brother had an Airflow Laguna as a company car in deep green, metallic.
It was gorgeous.
Thanks for bringing this race to my attention.
I was only 7 when this aired. You never see racing like this any more. What a glorious combination of commentary (cant beet Old Murry walker!), camera angels and a climax to a race season where anyone could take the trophy. Pure magic! It would be good to see this mix of racing again. Maybe pen it up to EV's and ICE vehicles battling it out too. Bet that would be fun to watch
A lovely & unexpected rainy Thurs night treat. Happy memories. Cheers Geoff
I met John Cleland at that year's Motor Show.
Andy Rouse is from Dymock, just outside Newent. David Leslie and Kieth O'dor (son of Janspeed founder Jan O'dor) no longer with us, sadly.
Great days and proper racing.
Neither is Will Hoy. Died far too young from cancer, I believe
Kieth O'Dor died in 1995 in a horrible crash at AVUS. Got absolutely drilled in the drivers side by Frank Biela if i recall.
Brilliant, thanks Geoff, I remember watching this race at the time. I loved motor racing then, proper cars and awesome drivers. Formula One, even then, became predictable and a bit boring to watch, but these guys were amazing - on the edge of my seat then and now watching this re-run. Can't be arsed watching it these days.
Loved that I'm always watching old touring cars and DTM racing, Go to watch some of these iconic cars at Super Touring Brands Hatch circuit awesome !! Murray Walker the best commentator ever !! 😃👍
I was fortunate enough to have been there that day along with several other meetings during the 92 season and onwards ! The BTCC of those glorious days was the epitome of spectator enjoyment , to my mind NEVER beaten.
20.00 The best commentary in a motorsport event ever! God bless Murray Walker
Man this brings back memories. Used to watch these races with my brother and my dad. Good times. Fantastic video Geoff 👍
Super Touring Cars replaced the Group A cars which had come to the end of their life.
Agreed, the cars at this time looked like the car you could buy in your local dealer showroom.
I was 13 years old, sat in the old woodcote grandstands with my dad watching this live. Great memories, thanks ❤
I remember this race well. It was THE race that made me love the BTCC over ALL other forms of motorsport. Murray Walker is legendary, and I still miss his commentary. The death...well beginning of the death of BTCC was the addition of aero. The DTM also died in the late 90s.
Fun-bloody-tastic Geoff 🤙🏼 I remember watching this race the 1st time round when I was a school kid 👍🏼 and thinking to myself “WOW, that’s some proper motor racing”
Great to see it again 👍🏼
Steve Soper was definitely one of the best drivers he just had soo much bad luck must of been frustrating for him.
Watch the MG Montego Turbo promotional video it's very amusing you won't be disappointed.
My Uncle Ray Lancashire, a founder member of the MCMC, used to take me to Oulton Park when I was a sprog. No restrictions on where you could go, except the paddock,. Wish I could find my old b&w photos taken on box brownie in them days, but lost in the mists of time. That is when I first started taking pics.
I enjoyed that Geoff. It was the time when the "no contact sport" meant just really, really close racing, and it was only poor aero that spun your opponent off. Lol
SLOW you say , even today this is fast super fast.
This is absolutely fantastic analysis and much thanks for the upload of this glorious race! Fantastic as always with Murray commentating and as you say the camera work and editing is excitingly superior to any of todays!
I'm 56 now , followed btcc for many years, Silverstone 92 probably the best race, as championship at stake, other decent races over the years but think Silverstone 92 edges it.
Bmw should have had there abs brakes nipped in the bud! But didn't
Harvey had a dig at Bailey hoy cleland as super did.
Still believe cleland robbed!
The best race, in the best era!
Rip will hoy, David Leslie.
Steven.
I was there as an 11 year old watching that race live. Can remember the contact between the cav and Beemer well. So exciting watching it on that corner.Crowd went nuts!!
Love the sound of those Gear Boxes ❤🎉😊
I saw that live ! We've had no decent racing since - It was all down to the driver there, man against man - there was something medieval about the BTCC
When John Cleland had the Vectra he took his drivers side mirror off at Copse - it landed right at my feet - I took it back to the pits after the race and the team told me to keep it - John came out from the back and autographed it - What an absolute gentleman- I still have it and its my prize possession
What a decade of BTCC this was, no interference from the organisers and the tyres lasted the whole race
These where popular mini cab cars back in the day. I remember my Saturday night journey home in a red top Cavalier being like a race round Silverstone 😅
Soper was a beast.
I forgot about that, mind you it was years & years ago. That Murrayism "And Clelland wants 1st!", no Murray he was Flipping the Bird mate. LOL
I preferred BTCC to all other motorsport back then and I can remember watching that race live! Thanks for the memory Geoff 👍🏻
My dad worked for Vauxhall so we had comp tickets for all these races…I even bought a Cavalier 2.0GLS ❤ as I couldn’t afford a GSI ….PS Allam’s car has been rebuilt and races still in classic races along with Cleland who drives his Vectra
What a fantastic race I really enjoyed it. Brilliant commentary from a much missed Murray walker too. Only let down being a Ford man was no cosworths lol
Magnificent trip down Memory Lane, and the Legend that is Murray Walker. Fantastic.
Now that's real racing. I remember it like it was yesterday!
Murray Walker was a legend!
And you're right about the camerawork - real raw!
Brilliant.. spent a couple of weeks in '92 working at Prodrive on the BMW 3 series touring car, good times, great racing..
Used to watch the series and I always found it exiting, and would often go to Brands as it was local. All the great names of the sport including Murray Walker. Thanks for the memories.
Brilliant, edge of your seat racing at its absolute pinnacle. An adrenaline rush all the way. Thanks for uploading
Love the racing and the commentary of Murray Walker. Those where the days but I must admit BTCC still is one that i like to watch on RUclips. Its a still some good racing and even if I am Belgian if you like racing you still appreciate it.
This was definitely the best season for me. Would have been nice to have captured some of the Soper story in that season, eg: was fully committed to the DTM season, but helped out as BMW's 'hired gun' latter in the season to support Harvey. A few times that season he overtook Harvey after great drives from the back of the field but swapped places to help him out. Round 5 at Brands Hatch on the GP was a particular favourite of mine, not only being my local circuit, but the first of many Soper drives form the back of the field to make his way up the front. Great video.
This certainly was the closest racing I have seen for a very long time, but as John Clelland asked "Is this Stock cars or motor racing" ! Silverstone has changed since I used to go there in the 60's when the IMP's, Mini's and Anglia's used to do battle with the massive V8 yank tanks. Then the Cortina's and Escort's started to dominate!
I remember it well, I was there on that very corner!! 💥 Great to see again 👍🏻
Yes exactly dont see races like this anymore well done geoff brilliant❤
Takes me back, used to follow that series in the day. Reminds me of the Dunlop Rover GTi one make series, same as the BTCC but 1600cc, but same action. In early 1991 bought a new Rover 216 3 dr twin cam GTi from Rider's in Helston, every dealer in Cornwall had 6 delivered pre reg, told to sell them as ex demonstrators. Two months on the new Dunlop Rover series appears on TV, I sit there thinking that's my car. It appeared talking to the dealer they had to make 2500 to homologate for the one make series, so just sold full race spec cars in the back water dealerships. They were about the fasted hot hatch and the most under sold one in the country back then. Really miss it now, would have made a fantastic track day car.
To be fair, Clios provided some top entertainment ten to fifteen years ago too
First race I went to see live. Thx for putting this up
Great video Geoff, brightened up my rainy afternoon at work, cheers 🎉
Great race and season. One of a number of amazing comeback drives by Soper from the back of the field. 1996 Snetterton also great and 1998 Donington in the rain with Mansell also amazing races.
There was a rumour at the time that Soper had an illegal engine in his car that would have disqualified him if he finished the race so "T" boning Clelland was deliberate on 2 counts; 1 to allow Harvey to win the drivers championship & 2 so his car would not be post race inspected! (his car was so much faster than the rest of them!)
@@johnmoncrieff3034 lol i doubt thats true he was v fast and the other BMW drivers played along Nissen and Sugden let him thru. Didnt the BMW have a weight penalty reduction part way thru season? They also along with 1-2 others had ABS brakes
@@leemorrison7113 - I think falling behind in races after some kind of early-race incident, (as happened here), regularly inspired Steve Soper to his best drives.
I’m only a few seconds in and already I remember this. This was the era for me and that race…
Harvey only won that year because of soper !!!! I hope he paid him well !!
Super Touring Car Racing was the best! And this race as well. One can really relate to these cars. It is because of these racing cars that I bought E36 BMW's and an Alfa Romeo 155 as road cars.
The strength in depth in that field. Some absolute touring car legends in the field at differing stages of their careers.
Wow incredible scenes there, something engrossing about it and the commentary as well, thanks for posting 👍
LOOK at the commentators these days ??
NOW listen to that !
BRILLIANT RACE . BRILLIANT COMMENTARY .
Brilliant video Geoff, really miss those days. More of this kind of thing please
Cheers Geoff... That was a huge blast of nostalgia and I needed it.
They don't make them like that anymore. Top stuff 👍
As a Cavalier GSI owner at the time I loved watching this! The 90's were awesome and might explain why I prefer watching old cars race around Goodwood to F1...
BTCC was so exciting back then…
What changed and why??
As always, it got to complicated and expensive...
Money from sponsors and the introduction of overly punitive safety rules is my guess!
Toward the late '90s, the success of the series led the organisers to make it faster and more of a spectacle, and thus more expensive to race in. In 1998-9, the series was at an all time high, but, not long after, nearly all manufacturers pulled out, and the series was plunged into a near-death state.
New cost-cutting regs were introduced, and slowly It built back up into a slightly more modest series, before making a massive blunder in recent years by first allowing flared bodywork and wider track, then by adding a heavy and pointless hybrid system to the cars.
As soon as that system was introduced, the racing more or less dried up( except when the system was disabled).
Also, for some reason, this season ITV decided to replace the great action-packed intro showcasing the history of the series to an electronic soundtrack with a boring pan past social media posts accompanied by bargain hunt music. Utterly bizarre; Makes me think ITV are trying to reduce the viewership deliberately.
For one thing, I think the cars became less desirable from about the 2000's, one or two manufacturers excluded. I can relate to almost any of these old touring cars and would not mind their road going versions in my garage today.
@@C.I... All of the above, plus Alfa using illegal, (at the time), aero. TOCA told them to get rid or get out, so Alfa left. TOCA decided that the series needed Alfa, (where have we heard that before?), so they came back and the riles were changed so that aero was legal. The cars couldn't then run as close and the racing diminished.
Regarding the coverage, Steve Ryder pushed hard for live coverage over the excellent highlights package being produced at the time. Who wants to sit in front of the TV all day? So this also had an impact on viewing figures, (negatively). Pretty much a perfect storm really.
Wow, the memories i have of this as a 9 year old kid. From a time when racing was racing adn contact was almost mandatory. If only racing had continued on like this...
'The mans an animal....'
I’m old enough to remember this well, BTCC has always been such a lot of fun, not seen much of it lately, but feel like I should reconnect!
Those were the days before Alfa Romeo joined. Superb quality. Thanks Geoff