Name: Competition Pro
Manufacturer: Kempston Micro Electronics
Year: 1983
Country of origin: UK
Category: Computer Hardware
Tags: Joystick,
Notes:
For me this is possibly the most iconic joystick of all time. You could argue for the Atari joystick too but I think the Competition Pro was an extremely good joystick to use as well as looking cool. Some say the Zip Stick was a superior joystick of the same style but my heart will always lie with the Competition Pro. It came out in several models including transparent, camouflage and blue/silver but the one pictured is one of the earliest models.
Kevin
Dec 21, 2016 -
Ahh, this brings back memories. Back in my Spectrum days I always favoured the Quickshot 2, but this outlasted it significantly. In fact it lasted well into my Atari ST days and beyond. The same stick was still going when my friends and I launched our Amiga Fanzine and BBS so made it into a comparison of Joysticks we ran then (and still pulled in third place).
Retromash
Dec 21, 2016 -
Ah, I had a Spectrum and then an Atari ST too. Nice. Yes the Competition Pros were virtually indestructible. Did you have an Amiga too though, if you wrote an Amiga fanzine? Have you got the fanzine online anywhere?
Bobbus74
Dec 21, 2016 -
My Competition Pro (transparent edition) was the most robust and responsive joystick ever. Got one for my Spectrum, then moved it on to my C64 which it outlived, and it then went on to serve me well on my Atari ST. I can still hear the click of those micro-switches now. They don’t make ’em like that anymore!
Retromash
Dec 21, 2016 -
Another Spectrum and ST owner. Excellent. Yes I had the transparent Competition Pro too. Loved it. Thought it looked so cool. Always wanted the camouflage one too and the shiny blue one to complete the collection. They must be made from the same thing that aeroplane black boxes are made from. Indestructible.
Bobbus74
Dec 21, 2016 -
The blue one was quality! My mate had one and it was a thing of beauty!
I do remember the buttons on mine getting a bit squeaky from time to time. I used to just open it up and squirt a bit of bike oil in there to fix it.
Stefano Pavone
Dec 26, 2016 -
I was under the impression this joystick was initially made in the Netherlands by Suzo International (founded in 1955), who also gave us “The Arcade”. Kempston rebranded the joystick under their own name for sale in the UK.
Grimly Feendish
Sep 4, 2021 -
Superb sticks, well built and lasted forever. I had three of the things. First was microswitched stick with leaf switched buttons in the classic black and red, second and third had microswitched everything, one in the classic colours the other transparent and red, with an autofire button.
Sadly no longer mine due to several house moves. I gave all my kit to a friend about 10 years ago.