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I think the moral of the story is "If you don't want the public to think of you as a dick who would viciously scrawl an obnoxious message on a book that a dying man had paid £20 for, then don't be a dick viciously scrawling an obnoxious message on a book that a dying man paid £20 for".

The book signing was public, for marketing- there is no obligation for this to remain private, especially as the buyer paid £20 for the privilege of getting a signature on the night. Outright vulgar behaviour to accept the cash then ruin the book, should have offered a refund and politely declined to sign.

That's true. But frankly the horse has long bolted and it was entirely avoidable with tact, sensitivity and a little foresight. I have long made the case that this project should not have seen the light of day. I am very much on the periphery of the sport, but even I was aware of the open secret that since his brain haemorrhage PC is not the man he used to be. Tony and Retro Speedway, being way more connected with the sport for decades and the many surrounding individuals would have been much more aware of it than I. PC is still a name in the sport, so this always had the potential to be a money maker, but also morally questionable. The former has trumped the latter in this calculation. You can take the financial benefit or the moral highground, but in this case you can't have both. You can't bemoan PC's unsavoury grievances being made public when you created the platform for them to become public. I have been pretty heavily castigated in this thread for making these points and plenty have weighed in to support that. I hope some will reflect now on previous assertions and assumptions. All that said, nothing is ever black and white and no-one needs to grab their pitch forks quite yet.... To reiterate, Retro Speedway and Tony have made a really, really positive overall contribution to the sport. Their books are a welcome presence on my bookshelf. This one will not join them and is a project that was - I believe - a bit naughty. I don't believe Peter Collins to be a bad guy. It is certainly never a reputation he had in the sport in his heyday and beyond - and as a young fan, he was always approachable and happy to sign a programme and interact with supporters. Some of his recent behaviour, I believe, is more medically related and - I hope - doesn't taint what should still be legendary status. Steve Casey I had the fortune to meet on a few occasions. A really positive, easy to talk to, likeable and inoffessive fella. He lived and breathed the sport. He is a sad loss to all those who knew and loved him. I wonder if a way to salvage some of this is a donation from the book's profits to a cancer charity?

The team suits and matching bikes is one of the few things British speedway does well and gets right. No team in any sport in the 21st century should be wearing kit that doesn't absolutely match.

I very much doubt MT is that stupid……..

Thanks Steve. That's a kind and classy post to make

Came in to the sport very late, makes you wonder what he’d have achieved if he’d have started in his teens/early 20’s rather than late 20’s. One of the real good guys of the sport as well, never heard a bad word said about him from anyone.

He was an exceptional speedway rider, one of the very best and very capable of coming from the back if he didn’t make the gate.

He was. Rode in four world finals finishing as bronze medallist in 1975 (4th 5th and 6th in the other three). World best Pairs Champion 1976, three times World Cup Winner (72, 74, 75) British Champion 1975 plus many more titles. I recommend his book 'A Life in Speedway.' https://www.amazon.co.uk/John-Louis-Life-Speedway/dp/0992742706

I agree with pretty much everything you say, especially PC's health problems. I haven't read the book and it'd be a pretty boring read I suspect if we didn't have his opinion on things, what I think has crossed the line is the sharing of a personal note written by PC. It has nothing to do with any of us really and shouldn't be used as a stick to beat him with by some.

Either would certainly be the most interesting signing Ipswich have made since Gollob in 98

Tomalin seems to be a shrewd successful business man so you can bet hes not paid that much for the club ( if he has), and with his extra drive to keep the Panthers on track he could end up with a club thats worth far more than what he paid for it and more so from a fans view hes the better person as a Peterborough fan to keep pushing and not let it just die

And most charity shops

Mine. "Pie 'n' Mash & Prefabs. Still available on Amazon and at all good book shops.

Might get a job at the Sun. Thats what you call Bad Press.

I am truly devastated at the loss of Steve. He was my friend and travelling companion on several memorable domestic and overseas trips. He had no side to him but was a straightforward gentle gentleman. He worked tirelessly to get Peter Collins to come back to Belle Vue - and don’t believe PC’s propaganda, he was told he would always be welcomed at the NSS as would any ex-Belle Vue rider. What wasn’t on offer though was his demand, not request, that nearly 200 of his cronies, some who’d had no involvement with speedway let alone Belle Vue, also got in free. Steve tried many times to talk sense into PC, including going round to his house, but PC would not change his mind, possibly because he’d backed himself into a corner. Steve was never one for taking offence and went to the Glossop signing of PC’s book. Having paid his £20, PC scrawled in his copy “Steve, I will never forgive you for what you have done to me and my family. I will never go to BV if you are there.” Steve shared a photo of the inscription but then said to me that he’d enjoyed reading the book. That is the sort of man that Steve was and I hope that, although Steve will never be at BV again, neither will PC as he’ll be barred. I am not alone in knowing that I will never forgive PC for what he wrote. Many men become world speedway champion, there’s one every year, but there will only ever be one Steve Casey. I knew Steve’s cancer would take him sooner rather than later but am still stunned that we have lost him. The world is a much sadder place today.

Might have been THJ................did have something of that nature prior to going to bobo's............probably to disperse the taste of the compulsory spoonful of malt forced upon us. Little did I suspect one, or perhaps a combination of both, would bring about my follicle challenging future. Anyway roll on the 2023 season.....my heed will get tanned, I hope....BTW ..Don't forget to seal off that possible rouge/cheaters free entrance next to bend two !!!.......UTC.

Yes................it was actually a cycling track.. great banking..(Comets won, Easter Sunday...1970's)

Nice wide, more circle than oval, track Dan B should enjoy himself around there. Jensen too...

Although we have disagreed over some aspects commented upon in the book (and elsewhere) ie "free" admission to ex-riders I think that some observations in your above post are to be congratulated.

It's a sad disease but it's moments like that, that really help you get thru.

I can understand them, sure, but I don’t like or prefer them.

That is true. But in this case i suspect MT has a good legal and finance team around him, that has helped him get to where he is today. A bloke on a market stall might not

I agree...looks more professional...

I imagine it was known Steve was ill at the book signing

Might depend on how much money changed hands, cant think that Panthers in current situation worth much or anything

Good bit of business by Buster to sell a team (if He has) that might not have anywhere to race next year.

NIce to see that Collins' publicists at Retro Speedway made this kind gesture to Mr Casey. Obviously Retro Speedway were innocent victims in this shameful episode, and their gesture is to be commended. No blame can be attached to them. I'm sure they will have been mightily embarrassed by their client's actions, and as shocked by his callous act as the rest of the Speedway world is. Having seen the photograph of the actual "message" which is currently doing the rounds all over Facebook, it seems even worse than described here. There seems a real spiteful venom in his bitter, angrily scrawled diatribe. However it seems there still has been no apology to the Casey family from the one person who needs to make a full and immediate apology. Collins says he doesn't do Facebook and other social media, and that may be best for him at the moment. At least he won't see how many ex-fans of his are disgusted by him and have disowned him. On the other side of the coin, his ignorance of current public feelings will probably mean he doesn't realise how much an apology is needed. Perhaps his publicists will be able to advise him of how badly he has tarnished his reputation. Finally a question for his publishers. Is there a mechanism in place where people who have bought Collins' book can return it for a refund in view of the recent ugly events?

It is fake, type Stansted Airport in Google and it's the second image that comes up. People will believe any bullrubbish posted on here.

Photo looks fake , hes wearing a tshirt everyone else in the picture has a coat on , if hes saying its that cold why's he sitting around in a tshirt

Wow , you really do have a rubbish memory .

I know Batch gets bad press but thought he'd end up somewhere

NFL commentary fits in well, Drag racing equally to stick with the Motorsport theme but "Ruml moves wide into Janeiro's lane" sounded more like the the Kentucky Derby.

Cant see holder if buster still involved.

Like you say John season ticket great value and rest of admission prices very well pitched, spot on me thinks.

Seems the joke was lost on you wasnt it…

Because they didn't change their team until the week of the play-offs, in fact Lambert didn't ride in the first leg of the play off semi. You should not be allowed to change your team mid playoffs.

I never personally met Steve Casey but saw him in the pits at BV and now and then watching last season at Owlerton. I’m aware of PC daft issues about BV but I said on the other thread that what PC did on signing his book was disgraceful and many will feel PC has gone from hero to zero. You did right thing Mr Pairman making this public. What PC did is unforgivable and people should no what a bitter little man he is.

So Newcastle Diamonds live on, well for one night only! Redcar have organised the tyne tees trophy with a Newcastle "select" Diamonds side on the 24th March I think. A good gesture by Redcar and hopefully a few Diamonds fans may make the trip down the a19. No idea who is riding for Newcastle though...

Well I've been wrong all winter but I don't like sitting on the fence...........I'm saying Holder 100% out for two key reasons. 1. Would Buster honestly go 2.30 under the limit risking attendances to drop after 1 month (If we start poorly) just so he can work with a rider he doesn't like? 2. Chris Holder got released for attitude reasons along with Troy Batchelor at KL and I think Buster got Auty and THJ in as replacements which speaks volumes, That's a case of get them out by all means necessary even if adequate replacements aren't available. Buster still owns the club, So he gets to have the final say on matters and I just cant picture Buster approving any move for Holder considering Buster will still be present around the Showground in 2023, I'm not even sure if Holder would want to work with Buster either because he's not exactly desperate to earn a living in the UK when he's got good money contracts in Poland & Sweden.

Really, really upsetting news, I owed him a great debt of gratitude when the 2008 financial crisis hit and I was made redundant he was able to help when all my funding partners gave me the cold shoulder. Despite my loss of appetite for the sport Steve was one of the guys I called from time to time to keep in touch, just awful news. One of his best decisions he made was to put an English speaking presenter into the Belle Vue 80th Anniversary celebrations, somebody who was used to the open top bus life!

Thanks Steve. Great photo of SKC and Jackie

A great 'Ego' feeding topic by looks of it

I take it that you don't have a wife

Even though I streamed it at the time. Might have a watch again tonight

Interesting choice of opening date - clashes with Eurovision in Liverpool - let's hope it is an early start

So sad

Is it still a guest for Kennett