Little known outside the municipality of George Town, Danny Clark would return with a silver medal, international recognition and firmly fixed on the road to cycling stardom.

Now a 68-year-old father-of-two enjoying the somewhat warmer climes of the Gold Coast, Clark has thanked his home state for the support he received on a journey that would yield five world titles and an Olympic silver medal.

From his home-coming open-top car reception in George Town to the public appeal that afforded him greater international experience, Clark said it was fellow Tasmanians that enabled him to join the state's illustrious list of cycling greats like Michael Grenda, Graeme and Matthew Gilmore and more recently Matt Goss, Amy Cure and Richie Porte.

"All the streets were lined with people," he said of his return to George Town in August 1970.

"That was magnificent. I cannot tell you how exciting that was. I'm getting emotional thinking about it now. It was phenomenal having the whole town cheering me."

A fund-raising campaign subsequently financed the first of Clark's world championship campaigns in 1971.

"I have the people of Tasmania to thank for starting me off in my career. I owe a lot to the Tasmanian people sending money into The Examiner to get me to Europe."

In an in-depth interview with The Sunday Examiner this week, Clark reflects on the events that thrust him onto the world cycling map.

He also reveals how the friendships forged in fierce competition in a rainy Scottish capital continue to this day in the Queensland sunshine.