- "Wonderful pieces of aural history" Mike Nicks, Classic Bike
TT Audio 1958-68 (18 CD Box Set) - Description
During this golden era of racing around the world-famous Isle of Man TT course a series of exceptional recordings were made, capturing race commentary, interviews with the stars and, most importantly, the evocative sounds of wonderful machinery at speed around the 37¾ mile circuit.
The recordings were made available on vinyl as part of the Stanley Schofield Sound Stories collection. Duke is delighted to be able to offer fans old and new these exceptional recordings in one handsome collection.
The recordings have been lovingly restored, using the latest digital technology, and each year is presented with a reproduction of the original LP sleeve notes.
This box set features coverage of racing from 1958-68, featuring Hailwood, Agostini, Redman, McIntyre, Surtees and more, with commentary from Graham Walker, Murray Walker and Peter Arnold, plus plenty of fascinating interviews.
However, it is the exhaust notes of the Hondas, MVs, Nortons, AJSs, Gileras and many other classic machines which make these CDs so magical.
“I noticed these wonderful pieces of aural history are available on CD, from Duke Video. Of course, many of the bikes you hear on the recordings have now been restored or re-created and can be heard for real at certain classic festivals. But unfortunately, now that they are valuable pieces of history, they don’t get revved as hard as they did in the classic era. It’s not the same. One of my favourite sounds from the CDs is that of Agostini hammering through the Sulby crossroads flat in seventh on the 500 MV at around 150mph. Holding the motor wide open way into the distance, the exhaust note chirps as the rear wheel momentarily lifts from the ground on the bumps. It was full factory racing from an era when there were no noise restrictions. As an example of what these CDs contain, the 1967 double album covers seven races: Senior; Junior; 250cc; 125cc; 50cc; Production and Sidecar TTs. There are also interviews with Hailwood, Phil Read, Stuart Graham, Freddie Frith and Stanley Woods. But the deal-sealer is the scene at the Grandstand when Hailwood and Ago pitted in the Senior race, only two seconds apart, on lap three. You hear the cry ‘Hammer, Hammer’ as a mechanic tries to fix Hailwood’s loose throttle, the crowd urging on the two great champions, and that gorgeous sound of factory multi-cylinder bikes ripping into life. Ago’s chain broke, gifting the win to Mike. Asked after the race if he had slowed because of Ago’s retirement, Mike, with his wonderful understated English touch, replies: ‘I had no choice actually – me throttle kept falling off.’” Mike Nicks, Classic Bike
