Peter Collins

[Jim Blanchard]

All being well, I will be seeing the great PC this weekend at the Stafford Classic bike Show, where we both have a stand. Vaclav Verner normally comes over for it to and helps PC out. I would be be happy to put maybe a dozen or so sensible questions to him from forum members. Just in case if Vaclav is there - it would be nice to include some for him.

 

Email or PM them over to me and I will do my best. It has been confirmed that he is attending but If it does not work out for any reason, it will not be for the want of trying.

[AndyM]

Thanks Jim. I would have a host of questions for PC but for now here are a few:

• Looking back on your career, what if anything would you have done differently?
• What was the real reason you 'retired' for a year?
• Apart from the infamous match races with Mich in 1973, what was your most memorable race?
• Do you regret only winning the world championship once?
• Which riders of your era did you most admire? And which Belle Vue Aces riders?
• What would you change about modern speedway to reintroduce excitement?

[Jim Blanchard]

Thanks Jim. I would have a host of questions for PC but for now here are a few:

• Looking back on your career, what if anything would you have done differently?
• What was the real reason you 'retired' for a year?
• Apart from the infamous match races with Mich in 1973, what was your most memorable race?
• Do you regret only winning the world championship once?
• Which riders of your era did you most admire? And which Belle Vue Aces riders?
• What would you change about modern speedway to reintroduce excitement?

 

 

No problem Andy. I'll hit PC with them for you.

[asturmer]

Thanks Jim,

 

I was chatting to Peter in Perth, Aus, earlier this year at the Western Big One Speedway Meeting on a hot evening(about 37 centigrade)

He may remember talking to me about grasstrack mainly in Kent in the 70,s!

I forgot to ask Peter who he felt is the hottest property in British speedway right now?

Does he see anything done differently, or different attitudes etc at local speedway eg in Western Australia, that helps to create such talented and confident (arrogant sometimes) youngsters over here, from such a small population base?

Also for Vaclav, how is Jan his brother doing these days? He(Jan) suffered quite a few bad injuries in his time and hope all is well?

 

Thanks,

Andrew

Edited April 21, 2009 by asturmer

[fatface]

I got a few for the great man:

 

* How many World Championships does he think he might have won under the Grand Prix format?

* Apart from winning the World Title in 1976, which single meeting in his career gave him the most satisfaction?

* Which opponent did he most enjoy beating?

* What caused his split with Joe Screen, who he assisted in his early GP days?

* Are the days of one-club loyalty gone?

* Did he ever come close to leaving Belle Vue?

 

Thanks Jim

[Jim Blanchard]

My apologises AndyM Chris and Andrew, but unfortunately, every time I went to PC he had a customer with him or in some cases maybe a ‘fan’. So I did not manage to put to him the Questions from you guys - as yet. He gave me his number so when I can and at some time - I am going to call him with them.

 

I asked Vaclav about his brother Jan and he told he was doing okay and has been on disability pension for a few years now and is 58. He gets a bit tired in the afternoons and still suffers from a little double vision. Vaclav also told us some funny stories most of which I cannot repeat on here but there were others that involved the ‘Police Team’ of Red Star Prague where all the Czecho riders at the time we all members of the local police force.

 

Anyone have any more info on that?

 

Les Collins was also there with PC and I managed to get a couple of photo’s of them two and Vaclav.

 

PC Here

 

Vaclav & PC Here

 

PC & Les Here

 

 

Edited May 4, 2009 by Jim Blanchard

[AndyM]

Thanks for trying, Jim.

[DK Rides Again]

My apologises AndyM Chris and Andrew, but unfortunately, every time I went to PC he had a customer with him or in some cases maybe a ‘fan’. So I did not manage to put to him the Questions from you guys - as yet. He gave me his number so when I can and at some time - I am going to call him with them.

 

I asked Vaclav about his brother Jan and he told he was doing okay and has been on disability pension for a few years now and is 58. He gets a bit tired in the afternoons and still suffers from a little double vision. Vaclav also told us some funny stories most of which I cannot repeat on here but there were others that involved the ‘Police Team’ of Red Star Prague where all the Czecho riders at the time we all members of the local police force.

Anyone have any more info on that?

 

Les Collins was also there with PC and I managed to get a couple of photo’s of them two and Vaclav.

 

PC Here

 

Vaclav & PC Here

 

PC & Les Here

 

 

Was that the team that toured here in the very late 70s/early 80s?

 

I don't remember what year it was, but I did see them annihilate Milton Keynes Knights at the Groveway; I think Jiri Stancl was the Captain.

 

[Jim Blanchard]

Was that the team that toured here in the very late 70s/early 80s?

 

I don't remember what year it was, but I did see them annihilate Milton Keynes Knights at the Groveway; I think Jiri Stancl was the Captain.

 

I remember that DKRA as a Czech touring team that also raced at Mildenhall around 1979/80 as I have a few pictures from that meeting. I would not be sure if they were the ‘Police Team’ of Red Star Prague, though. Perhaps, someone can advise us?

 

Here

 

And Here

Edited May 6, 2009 by Jim Blanchard

[asturmer]

My apologises AndyM Chris and Andrew, but unfortunately, every time I went to PC he had a customer with him or in some cases maybe a ‘fan’. So I did not manage to put to him the Questions from you guys - as yet. He gave me his number so when I can and at some time - I am going to call him with them.

 

I asked Vaclav about his brother Jan and he told he was doing okay and has been on disability pension for a few years now and is 58. He gets a bit tired in the afternoons and still suffers from a little double vision. Vaclav also told us some funny stories most of which I cannot repeat on here but there were others that involved the ‘Police Team’ of Red Star Prague where all the Czecho riders at the time we all members of the local police force.

 

Anyone have any more info on that?

 

Les Collins was also there with PC and I managed to get a couple of photo’s of them two and Vaclav.

 

PC Here

 

Vaclav & PC Here

 

PC & Les Here

Thanks for trying,Peter will be back here again next summer and he is very relaxed, when on holiday in Aus. I just did not get enough time to talk to him last January as I was doing the foreign news Perth Meeting Report for Speedway Star, and that takes a lot of concentration as you can not miss out on capturing every moment of the meeting!

[AndyM]

Can always contact him via his business of course!

 

http://www.petercollinsvintagecars.co.uk/

[robbo55]

I remember that DKRA as a Czech touring team that also raced at Mildenhall around 1979/80 as I have a few pictures from that meeting. I would not be sure if they were the ‘Police Team’ of Red Star Prague, though. Perhaps, someone can advise us?

 

Here

 

And Here

if memory serves me correct the touring team was red star prague ,

it was the first meeting i ever saw at brough park newcastle in 1978,

red star had jiri stancl vaclac/jan verner milan spinka. petr ondasrik and i think the late zdenk kdruna