Experience three wonderfully evocative films showing a golden age of road racing, when the Armoy Armada and Dromara Destroyers did battle on the circuits of Northern Ireland.
These archive gems, which featured in the celebrated TV series “Charge of the Bike Brigade”, bring you action from 11 gripping races, plus interviews with the stars and more. Newly-filmed introductions featuring TAS Racing team owner Hector Neill, road racing commentary giant Derek ‘Big D’ Mason and racing legend Tommy Robb bring a new appreciation to three classic confrontations, perfectly setting the scene before we are treated to truly historic showdowns.
Among the heroes seen in action are the original Dromara Destroyer Ray McCullough, Armoy Armada stars Joey Dunlop, Frank Kennedy and Mervyn Robinson, plus Mick Grant, Percy Tait, Tony Rutter, Charlie Williams, Stan Woods, Tom Herron, Abe Alexander and a young Steve Parrish.
Raining Champions charts the 1976 North West 200, bringing you highlights of four enthralling dices on the wet roads of County Antrim, including the amazing battle between the works entries from Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha and the heroics of the British Spartans. This was the first year of the Magic Roundabout, and we eavesdrop as Grant and Rutter discuss the course and the potential dangers of this new feature. The Embassy Final 1975 takes us to the Kirkistown circuit, and the exceptional colour footage treats us to some amazingly close racing – not least the showdown between McCullough and Dunlop. Finally, we travel to Dundrod for the 1975 Ulster Grand Prix and action from four races – including the first ever Superbike race at the Ulster. It is packed with history, including McCullough’s domination of the 350cc race, Tait’s emotional superbike win, the dramatic rain-hit 500cc contest and McCullough turning out for the 250cc on a Harley Davidson!
Filmed specially for this DVD are two fascinating features. In the first, Trevor Steele, an original member of the Dromara Destroyers, talks about the rivalry with the Armoy Armada. In the second, important racing figures past and present – including Isle of Man TT legend John McGuinness, World Superbike Champion James Toseland and multiple Duke Road Race Rankings champion Ryan Farquhar – reflect on the impact of road racing in the 1970s.