IanCorcoran

I am going to simplify as much as possible. You have either not read my prior posts or are unable to absorb information and facts presented. I am not too sure but I will give you the benefit of the doubt. You brought the word status into the conversation, so I will go with that if it helps. The promoter of the speedway club decides who comes in on a free pass. The ex-rider who has no status in this decision making process does not. The criteria I would use if I was the promoter would be - I own the P&L and I am responsible for the financial success or failure of the club. Therefore I will make the call as to who gets in for free. This will not be decided for me and certainly not by an ex-rider who wants 100s of his associates and cronies to come in for free week in, week out. I also will not be told what I can and cannot do by a long retired ex-rider. For 7 years, said ex-rider has pursued a quest that he is never going to attain and believes he can on the basis of his own perceived status of himself that he has the power to enforce this. That in my book is delusional. I go back to another post (which you should read or re-read) - he has issued demands and threats for the above to be enforced, not requests. He is not entitled to it. End of. If Peter Collins decides to buy Belle Vue tomorrow and has a successful bid accepted (watch out for pigs flying in the skies over Gorton) then he is fully entitled as the business owner to decides who does and does not enter for free. Based on 1988 when he did have the promotion status - he did not issue passes to many, many riders. Hypocrisy of the highest order. Great rider, fantastic achievements and represented his country on the world stage Based on my own experience - despicable human being.

You really have got hold of the wrong end of the snooker cue. I make NO mention of comparing the riding status of Peter Collins and Mark Lemon. I will let you re-read the section :- I noticed in his book that ''all Mark Lemon needs to do is go to his house and sort it out with him'' which suggests he still believes he is the 'A' aide as they would say in boxing. He still believes he holds the power position and that is simply delusional. Please show me where I compare the respective riding achievements? Mark Lemon is the PROMOTER at Belle Vue Speedway and the person making the call on who does and does not enter on a free pass. Not Peter Collins. I also quote directly from his book. I do not compare them as speedway riders. For some strange and bizarre reason - you do.

He hasn't had a long running feud with Belle Vue at all. He fell out with Perrin at the end of the first season at the dog track and enjoyed cordial relations with Mole/Thomas and Mort/DG subsequent to that. To his credit, he supported BV at lots of events with his bike collection and other items. The idea of a 35 year long feud is patently not true. He was a regular at Belle Vue as you stated and flitted between the UK and Australia at that time. There was no feud over 35 years. PC came and went and did not take an active view aside from the casual visits. He was welcome on every such visit. This started in 2015 in the run up to the new stadium where Mort and DG made noises that the free list needed a big review as it had got out of hand. PC self appointed himself as the champion of the issue and started issuing demands that 100's and 100's should be allowed in with guests otherwise he was not attending. Many interpreted this as a noble gesture but nobody of sound mind in the Promoters/Business owner chair would ever accept the list presented. Especially as a great deal of the names were not connected to speedway or not ex-riders of any description. As I have mentioned in previous posts, he was sent 4 letters to my knowledge from the BV promotion (and have copies of all) but refused to acknowledge or reply to them. Lack of simple respect and courteousness. You cannot negotiate with a party that refuses to come to the table in any walk of life. Even after 7 years of bile and spite thrown out by him, I still believe he should be at Belle Vue despite the bridges he has burned. For his riding achievements. However, he needs to completely alter his perspective and view and take a conciliatory path. I noticed in his book that ''all Mark Lemon needs to do is go to his house and sort it out with him'' which suggests he still believes he is the 'A' aide as they would say in boxing. He still believes he holds the power position and that is simply delusional.

And sometimes you are just simply bang to rights. I am sure that there are many still of the opinion that Harold Shipman was just a little trigger happy with the flu jab and that Fred West was over enthusiastic when he was fitting damp proof courses.(cue the indignant comments of ''How dare you compare him to a mass murder etc etc) I have the list on my desk and it runs into the 100's and 100's and that's a fact. Whether you choose to believe that is none of my concern. The late Phil Rising was sent a copy and was well aware of its contents. This, I might remind you is from an ex-rider who retired some 36 years ago. According to some 20 odd riders I spoke with recently, all confirmed that they did not get a free pass during the one year PC was Promoter. In addition, the tone of the many letters received personally and by the BV management were abusive and demanding. I would challenge anyone reading this to say they would capitulate to such demands made this way. The P&L of any speedway club sits in the hands of the Promoter and so does the decision of the 'free list', Not an ex-rider of any description. Someone earlier mention Hans Nielsen. Does anyone think Hans would make such a demand of the current Oxford promotion and expected this to be granted? Its unthinkable. I have bitten my tongue on this subject for 7 years and have an A4 ring binder full of letters and notes that are appalling from the hand of the ex-World Champion. I also have copies of 3 letters sent to him from the BV management asking to come down and discuss the matter. Plus 1 inviting him to discuss a meeting to celebrate 40 years since his 76 victory in 2016. All unanswered. Interesting don't you think? The disgusting note scrawled in my late friends book really was the last straw and the facts need to be put out there. For those of you intimating that there are two sides of the story, its a witch hunt and it was a moment of aberration, you are welcome to your opinion. I much prefer facts. I have a clear conscience about all of my postings. The book incident was the last of many such abusive incidents and only 10% of the iceberg has been revealed. There is no getting away from the fact that Collins has totally brought this upon himself.

Heartfelt apology or cynical PR damage limitation exercise? mmm Of course there will be opinions as to both. I know what mine is. It resembles the statements you see when MPs or other such celebrities get their fingers caught in the till or other such indiscretions where they are bang to rights. Here's where I have a problem with it : 1. Why did it take from the 2nd November until now to get the apology? 2. Would the apology have been forthcoming if the incident had not been published on social media? 3. If the apology was based on the fact that he didn't know of Steve's illness - is he saying he would be justified if Steve had had a clean bill of health? 4. He didn't know Steve was ill. Very, very difficult to believe. Steve was in communication with his wife (again to try and resolve the 'issues') and she was well aware. Plus I know many of his inner circle who also knew. And apparently Peter didn't? 5. A 35 year long feud that exploded on that particular night? really? 6. A 35 year long feud that spanned 4 different promotions? That takes you back to the time when he was part of one such promotion! The situation commenced in 2016 at the start of the NSS opening. That I do know. Interestingly, some 20+ ex-riders have been in touch to commiserate and ask about arrangements, I asked them the same question. - ''Did you get a free pass when PC was Promoter?'' the answer was unanimous and I will let you guess the answer. It may surprise you. The good news is that I am reliably informed that book sales have not been affected. At least that is one consolation to this whole affair The truth sets you free

Perfect. Free speech - lets shut it down immediately. I see nothing but facts here personally - and if you don't like what is being said then you should jog on. It would be a pretty pointless forum if every thread was shut down on the basis of somebody not liking what they read. As a close personal friend of Steve's over many years - I am happy that a certain ex-rider is being exposed. And I know Steve's family feel the same way. There is way more to come out about this but might have to be on alternatives platforms if people like you insist on shutting down the truth.

Steve Casey was a very close friend of mine for many years and the most genuine guy you could ever wish to meet. We spoke every single day and I know every step of what happened here. In addition, I was named in PC's book along with Steve as we both tried to work at a solution to get PC back to the NSS and spent hours trying to find a bridge but it was very apparent that the man was not interested in a solution, perhaps because he would no longer have a cause to keep him in the limelight. Which I think is what this is all about. I couldn't care less about the opinions of those who don't know the story or those that think this is dirty laundry or those that still think Peter Collins is 'Mr Nice Guy'. He certainly is not and I was a PC fan for many, many years. What he did to a dying man is unforgiveable and doubly so given that the self same person was the only person still batting for him and trying to work with two different promotions to get him to come to the NSS. Both promotions by the way offered multiple olive branches and letters asking him to go to the stadium for a coffee to find a way and a resolution. Such letters went unanswered and ignored. You need to ask yourself why that is. The intransient and pig headed stance of the man was that he was insistent that EVERY rider who ever rode for Belle Vue should be allowed free admission along with a plus one. When I look up Belle Vue Club legends, I dont see riders with an average of 0.92 in there. But such a rider was indeed on the ''List''. In addition, there was a whole host of other unconnected people that were on ''the list''. Mainly Peter's friends. I know because I have that list and it adds up to hundreds. By this way, this wasn't an ''ask'' but a ''demand'' otherwise he was not going to appear at Belle Vue. Imagine owning a restaurant and being told by a long retired ex-waiter who should and should not be eating there for free?. Its preposterous. He was never ''banned'' or unwelcome as his propaganda would have you believe. Propaganda that is still being perpetuated by his circle of sycophants as he doesn't himself do social media. I know though that he is aware what is said as he is fed on a constant basis. I was disappointed to read Tony Mac's comments that appeared like the situation was resolved after communication with Steve. Not true. Retro Speedway apologised for the incident but they didn't need to as neither Susi nor Tony did anything wrong. The man who should be apologising so far has not. I would be shocked if he ever does. Steve's daughter told me that she had never seen her dad so upset and humiliated to the degree he was over this incident and as I say, to a man that was still batting for him when all others have given up. PC also has a daughter - I wonder how she would feel in the same circumstances? Steve battled hard over the last two years and went through a lot - 3 rounds of chemo and whole bunch of other treatments. He was suffering and in pain but chose to battle on, paint a smile on and go on supporting his beloved Belle Vue Aces in every way possible. Unlike some ex-riders - Steve 'put in' and did not 'take out'. Many people were surprised to learn of his illness and they thought he looked so well. He hid it well and carried on until he couldn't do any more. In my eyes, Peter Collins is an utter disgrace. Not just for the book signing incident but for other reasons which I am sure will come out in the fullness of time. Many people are already aware. Dont meet your heroes. As mentioned, for anyone who is going to pile in with the dirty laundry comments or two sides to the story or Steve wouldn't have wanted this please do yourself a favour. You have absolutely no idea. I am tired of hearing the BS and its about time people were put right and understand that things (and people) in Speedway are not what they appear to be. RIP Steve - you are 1000x the man.