spin king Posted December 6, 2003 Report Share Posted December 6, 2003 Can anybody tell me whatever happened to the following; Shawn Moran Doug Wyer Bernie Persson Eric Broadbelt Roman Matousek All ex Sheffield riders who I was just wondered what had happened to them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
howling gorgon Posted December 6, 2003 Report Share Posted December 6, 2003 Roman's whereabouts has been on here before. It said he joined the police on his retirement, got into problems with drink, ended up in the nick, however, I believe he is now working on a farm in the Czech Republic. Not the best of tales, but hope it helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merlin Posted December 6, 2003 Report Share Posted December 6, 2003 Doug Wyer's career finished following a dreadful accident at Middlesborough (I think) in a qualifying round of the fours. He was in a crash with Rob Grant of Berwick Bandits (the father not the son!) and after a lengthy spell in hospital he retired as a result of his injuries. He rode with Les Collins in the Edinburgh Monarchs team at the time and along with Les was a tremendous inspiration. In fact he and Les won the Pairs Championship at Hackney (I think). Eric Broadbelt suffered a horrendous crash at Edinburgh's Powderhall stadium which effectively ended his career. I saw the accident and I honestly thought he was dead when he landed on the track (along with most of the rest of the crowd). He came out of the second bend rather wide and down the back straight his footrest got caught up in the wire link fence. The bike made a dead stop and Eric was thrown from his machine with enormous force into the air. He hit the lamp standard full on with his back and slid to the ground unconscious. I've never seen a stadium go as quiet as it did that night. Eventually, after a long spell in hospital, he made a recovery and rode for a bit at a lower level but he was never the same. This can be such a cruel sport. Sorry if this is a bit depressing but there it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest wes lake Posted December 7, 2003 Report Share Posted December 7, 2003 Eric Broadbelt runs a shop in Burnley selling household goods. Still loves his speedway. He was a rider who showed no fear and took some horrendous crashes remember at Long Eaton tried to go round Middlo and took a big one, the boy could crash!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandman Posted December 7, 2003 Report Share Posted December 7, 2003 i think Eric should be under the thread "He was a tough un". That man ate dynamite for breakfast.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spin king Posted December 7, 2003 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2003 Yes, I remember Doug, well both him and Reg Wilson carried Sheffield for sometime in the Mid Seventies. There was Doug in his white leathers with the flowing tassles on the arms of his leathers, he was a joy to watch. Eric like everybody says was as strong as an ox, I once saw lift his whole of bike of a trailer as if it was nothing,and believe when he did crash the doctors did say that it was only his fitness that saved him. Memories Memories Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
youngy105 Posted December 8, 2003 Report Share Posted December 8, 2003 Not one of the riders mentioned but Chris Morton currently sells ISA's/Insurance in and around the Chester area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spin king Posted December 8, 2003 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2003 Chris Morton selling insurance, god whats the world coming to, I remember at my home club Sheffield blasting around the boards,absolutely hopless out of the gate but an extremely great passer. You did him complain about the track, been unfair to home riders, mind you not many opposing riders did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm Posted December 9, 2003 Report Share Posted December 9, 2003 Phil Collins lives near me in California. I have a brief video of him at a local practice track on my RTS Viper. Check it out. http://xtremesport.org Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grachan Posted December 9, 2003 Report Share Posted December 9, 2003 I remember Eric Broadbelt having an accident where he collided either with a track raker or a grading tractor(?) I still recall the picture of him on the track with a badly cut face. I guess that must have been around 1974/75 time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spin king Posted December 10, 2003 Author Report Share Posted December 10, 2003 Phil Collins, what rider, of all the collins clan for me Phil was the most spectaular, he was an absolute joy to watch, he obviously settle in the States. I like a lot of people thought he would be the best of the clan, but some how he never for one reason or another fullfilled his true potential. WHAT A RACER Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greyhoundp Posted December 10, 2003 Report Share Posted December 10, 2003 I think Phil was the most naturally gifted of the brothers Collins,i think he was to nice a guy,had he been mentally tougher then he would have been world Champ. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spin king Posted December 11, 2003 Author Report Share Posted December 11, 2003 Could not agree more, Phil Collins was fine racer and on his day could beat anyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm Posted December 11, 2003 Report Share Posted December 11, 2003 Phil flat out at Herxheim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatface Posted December 11, 2003 Report Share Posted December 11, 2003 I think Phil was the most naturally gifted of the brothers Collins,i think he was to nice a guy,had he been mentally tougher then he would have been world Champ. Sorry guys I just can't let you get away with it. Phil Collins was smashing rider, but he was still some way short of being as gifted as Peter. Indeed many could quite legitimately argue PC was the most talented rider in the world ever, never mind just within a family. Surely I am not alone in thinking this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted December 11, 2003 Report Share Posted December 11, 2003 Don't know I'd go as far as most talented rider in the world ever, but certainly in the Collins family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spin king Posted December 11, 2003 Author Report Share Posted December 11, 2003 Yes Peter was probably better, rider, but for a racer Phil for me was a better racer, and was more exciting and more unpredictable, than Peter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grachan Posted December 11, 2003 Report Share Posted December 11, 2003 The only thing that made Peter more predicatable than Phil was that if he was behind you knew he was going to get past whereas with Phil he might not. Good rider, though - Phil Collins. I remember him winning the Overseas Final at Belle Vue one year. I'd have to agree that Peter had the edge in pretty much every department though. (Unless Phil could gate - I can't remember, though being a Collins I'd say it was unlikely) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatface Posted December 11, 2003 Report Share Posted December 11, 2003 (edited) Don't know I'd go as far as most talented rider in the world ever, but certainly in the Collins family. Wouldn't exactly stick my life on him being the best ever Norbold. But the Peter Collins of the mid-70s was definitely up there - he was magic. For what is worth I think that a general rule of "the older the better" works with the Collins boys. Take a look at their main achievements: Peter - World Champ, 4xWorld Pairs Les - World no2, Intercontinental Champ Phil - Overseas Champ, World Finallist Neil - World Team Finallist Steve - British Junior Grasstrack Champ Edited December 11, 2003 by falcace Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liontamer Posted December 11, 2003 Report Share Posted December 11, 2003 (edited) For what is worth I think that a general rule of "the older the better" works with the Collins boys. Take a look at their main achievements: Peter - World Champ, 4xWorld Pairs Les - World no2, Intercontinental Champ Phil - Overseas Champ, World Finallist Neil - World Team Finallist Steve - British Junior Grasstrack Champ Boris - Lives in the attic, seldom mentioned Well I never knew that. Edited December 11, 2003 by Liontamer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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