Tartan Laying at Crystal Palace

Detailed recording of the many process involved in laying the Tartan track at the Crystal Palace Athletics Stadium ahead of the 1968 Olympics.

Tartan, a brand of rubberised synthetic athletics surface, was the first of its kind in a move away from the common 'all weather' surfaces, which were typically made of cinder and stone. Tartan was manufactured by 3M, and would be the track of choice for the upcoming 1968 games in Mexico City. As such, British Olympians were keen to get practicing on the Crystal Palace track shown being laid in thie film. Sadly no Britain would win an athletics medal in Mexico.

This film is from the collection of Enfield Local Studies Library and Archive