Jiří Kvapil

“In 1980, I took part in the renowned race in Višňovka, Prague. In 1975, I was the first one ever to win the race both on Saturday and on Sunday. In 1980, I was second or third on Saturday and I won on Sunday. And in 1981 – the year my mum died – I arrived in Višňovka and there was some communist officer who said I should go to the jury caravan. There was supposed to be a doctor who would infuse some vitamin directly in my veins. I said that my mum died and that I did not feel well and that I did not need any vitamin infusion right before the competition. And that was probably one of the reasons why I retired from professional sports. Today, everyone can imagine what had been inside.“

“What I regret the most is that I could not take part in the 1980 race in Wetzikon. They harmed me and Miloš Fišera by not putting us there because a year before that, in Saccolono, Miloš finished 12th and I 17th. Probably, they wanted to punish us. Meanwhile, I ended up second in the amateur race in Wetzikon a year prior to that. I really liked the track and I am really disappointed I wasn’t able to take part. That’s why I feel sorry today when sportsmen do not want to take part in the World Championship. We wanted to but we could not. That was the worst about that era, wanting to but not being allowed to.”