Issue 53 - Peter Collins Exclusive

[TonyMac]

Issue 53 is out now and includes:

 

PETER COLLINS INTERVIEW EXCLUSIVE (Part one)

A chance phone call from his wife Angela may well have saved former World Champion Peter Collins’ life. The Belle Vue and England legend suffered a brain haemorrhage when he was alone in his home in Cheshire on Thursday, September 9, 2010.

 

Angela, a hair-dresser, was out, attending to a client, but phoned home because she had forgotten something. Immediately, she realised something was terribly wrong because Peter’s speech was slurred.

 

In the first of a new two-part exclusive, Richard Bott catches up with his old pal PC and discovers just how fortunate the former World Champion is to be alive today . . .

 

BRITISH FINALS OF THE 70s

Beyond the mantle of World Champion, the title that holds most prestige to British speedway riders is that of national champion. We look back at the 10 finals of the 70s which brought victories for Ivan Mauger, Ray Wilson, Eric Boocock, John Louis, Malcolm Simmons, Michael Lee and Peter Collins. Relieve the drama and controversy of the most eagerly awaited meeting in the domestic calendar which drew five-figure crowds to Coventry.

 

BEST OF BERRY

John Berry sadly died on August 3 but his contribution to Backtrack lives on through a series of extracts from his first two acclaimed books. Here, from Confessions of a Speedway Promoter, JB recalls that momentous day when he introduced top flight speedway to Ipswich more than 40 years ago.

 

TIGERS ON THE MOVE

Glasgow are speedway’s most nomadic team, having had no fewer than eight ‘permanent’ homes in their history. Most of the moves were enforced, and the promotion had prior warning, but not always. We look back at the time when Tigers had to flit mid-season after being evicted from their Coatbridge home in the summer of 1977.

 

KLAUS LAUSCH INTERVIEW

He may not have been the greatest rider to come out of Germany but, as Klaus Lausch explains, the former Oxford youngster put his knowledge of engines to full use by becoming a leading tuner. We also recall the names of all the other Germans who rode for British teams in the Backtrack era, including Egon Muller, Georg Hack and Hans Wassermann.

 

THE BOSS: MARTIN ROGERS INTERVIEW

As a respected journalist, general manager, promoter and BSPA management committee member, Martin Rogers had an unrivalled insight into speedway throughout the Backtrack era. Here the articulate Australia-based former King’s Lynn, Leicester and Peterborough boss recalls the highs and lows and explains why he left it all behind for the Gold Coast sunshine.

 

STUCK FOR CHOICE

Following our appeal in the last issue for you to send in more of your stickers, we have been inundated with a multitude of colourful designs that once adorned car windows and programme boards in the 70s and 80s. So enjoy this second visual feast that will bring lots of memories flooding back.

 

Plus . . . Q&As with American international Eddie Ingels, former Long Eaton No.1 Roger Mills and ex-Doncaster, Birmingham and Berwick rider Ian Wilson.

 

To order this issue or subscribe, please go to www.retro-speedway.com