Hey Pottel, here is what I found at Guy's Archive: Three posts referring to SAN. I do not think you will get it any clearer from him...
4th February 2009
So, Guy, what year was speedway originally written? Curious because it took me a year to really love that song. Just wondering if it was early Mark or middle-aged MK. Also, just found a 'new' DVD of Straits filmed in Germany in 1979. Ordered it from Amazon.com a minute ago. Looking forward to more great stuff from you guys!
ANSWER: I would guess the mid 90's. That DVD is a bootleg and Amazon are under investigation. You're perfectly within your rights to buy it of course, although I'm not sure how good the quality is.
4th February 2009
Guy - SAN is one of my all time favourites. Would you be willing to share a bit more of the inside history of the song and how it got be revived? Many thanks for all your efforts in keeping this forum active.
ANSWER: Well it got cut a couple of years before the album version at the Sound Stage studio in Nashville but just didn't do it. Mark thought the song worthy of another go. 2nd February 2009
hi doc,has there ever been an occassion where the band have been working on a song but for some reason or other it just hasnt worked out and been dropped? has there ever been an occassion where the input of one of the band has completly changed the direction or sound of a song from what it was to be like initially?
ANSWER: Plenty of times..there have also been songs which were recorded many years ago and scrapped, only to be revived...speedway at Nazareth is one example. Mid-Nineties would mean: Solo, not Dire Straits anymore. Right?
LE