Peter Collins Article

[PHILIPRISING]

There is an in depth feature on this very topic in this month's Backtrack.

MUCH of which is also one-sided.

Which is exactly what PC says in the article.

 

In fact nothing that has been said here seems to contradict anything said in the article.

 

So just to be clear.

Is there anything in the article, or the quotes from Peter Collins, that is/are untrue?

LOTS. Read the WalterPlinge reply again.

 

PC refused to budge on his demand that hundreds of people should be afforded free entry. He tried to insist that the WSRA accept his view or would turn down their invitation to become President, which is what happened.

 

Like many on here, PC is not just a hero but a mate. Was at all his greatest triumphs. But, sadly, he finds it hard to accept that the NSS came into being without him and that his demands simply cannot be accommodated.

 

Very sad. As previously said, he is to BV what Bobby Charlton is to Man U and he should be the natural figure head for the stadium. The fact that he isn't is down to him as even some of his closest BV mates will testify.

is this a wrsa pass or a bv pass ? As I said I read this about him in backtrack and could of been writ before the wrsa pass

Belle Vue...

[Leicester Hunter]

Les on the other hand seems to be entirely different, and is held in great esteem for his riding right up through his long career, and loved by fans at tracks like Edinburgh with a special relationship.

And Leicester as well.

 

Back in Birmingham's return season in 2007, Les's son Aidan was a member of the team. During our visit to Kings Lynn (never an easy place in those days), Aidan picked up a knock in his second race and was withdrawn from the match by the track doctor. Les quietly reminded him his job then was to support his team mates, and he stayed, with both his bikes ready to go, should a a team mate require them. It's little things like that you remember as years go by.

[keepturningleft]

Taffy Owen is at Belle Vue quite a bit. He usually sits in the Peter Craven suite with a drink along with Eric Broadbelt and Billy Powell and a couple of other "oldies"

 

Sadly what the one-sided article in the Speedway Star doesn't show is that Peter Collins has sadly become a very bitter and awkward man. It's awful to have to say that because throughout the 70s I idolised Peter Collins (just as most British fans of that time did). He was a god to me.

 

Peter Collins always receives VIP invites to major meetings at Belle Vue, but always obstinately turns them down as he believes every ride who has ever turned a wheel for Belle Vue (and there are literally hundreds and hundreds of them) should be invited to every meeting. Last year I'm told he provided Chris Morton with a list of over one hundred names (ex-riders, friends and acquaintances) that he demanded must be given free tickets, and if they all weren't admitted free, he wasn't coming. It was a logistical impossibility, but he wouldn't back down or compromise.

 

Sad to see the Speedway Star run this one-sided article. If people only knew the truth, they would have a much different opinion. Peter Collins the rider will always be a hero to me with godlike status. But Peter Collins the man is, I'm sad to say, a different story.

 

If all this is true, then sadly I must revise the sentiments of my original post.

 

Either way, it's a sad story all round.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxQdxKchhFQ

 

Seems quite behind all things Belle Vue here...

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

Sad to hear about it, but not exactly a secret how negative he is about speedway. Always found Neil to be awkward with his attitude but a determined little rider who was good to be on your side, never gave up and prepared to press his own argument. Les on the other hand seems to be entirely different, and is held in great esteem for his riding right up through his long career, and loved by fans at tracks like Edinburgh with a special relationship.

i rode with Neil at stoke and les at Glasgow , you wouldnt believe they were brothers ,neil was not easy to get on with until you knew him , we doubled up a couple of times in his van to away meetings but I still wouldnt say I really knew him , les is one of the great team riders like jan staechmann, always there for advice and would team ride with you for 4 Laps, I remember him teaching me about rolling the throttle off mid turn to get the back wheel to gain traction , in general very friendly and approachable ,peter was before my time but we have crossed paths a few times more recently through collecting old bikes Edited October 26, 2017 by THE DEAN MACHINE

[topaz325]

He does (PC) have a point regarding the state of the sport though

He also says that referees get a life time pass too.

[Phil The Ace]

He does (PC) have a point regarding the state of the sport though

He also says that referees get a life time pass too.

I've not read the article yet so don't really understand the meaning of the referees getting a life time pass, if he means that they get a life time pass but he doesn't then that's a lie. He has one but he refuses to use it unless his 100+ friends and foes get one to. Including a person that loaned him a tractor while he first opened kirky lane.

[f-s-p]

When I was an ice hockey referee (for ten years) I could see every match in every rink in Finland for free. Out of the "million" matches in Finland every season special requests in advance had to be made but I was getting in IF I wanted to.

 

Then I quit and they didnt renew my card. End of.

[nw42]

There's a fair bit of vitriol towards PC in this thread, I can't argue with any of the stuff re his 100club etc but one point possibly being overlooked is that, like me, Peter suffered a brain haemorrhage back in 2010, it was actually the same week as I had mine. I was lucky, following 7hrs surgery I made what's considered to be a full recovery, back at work in 2 months.

However, if you were to ask my wife if I'm the same person I can guarantee she would say no, anyone who suffers a brain injury is very fortunate just survive the trauma, never mind return to their former selves.

 

I have no idea whether or not Peter is a changed man since 2010, I've met with him once since then at a grasstrack meeting, he seemed fine but who knows. Maybe some of those posting should have a think before calling him names, he certainly deserves better than that whatever he has or hasn't done in recent times.

[moxey63]

PC has given more to the sport and its fans in memories alone than any fly-be-night promoter. They come and go. It is sad that some are now smearing him for the comments in this week's article. But that's what speedway fans do, when they don't like what you say. The way the sport has gone, PC must be glad he has an excuse not to attend.

Edited October 26, 2017 by moxey63

[foamfence]

PC has given more to the sport and its fans in memories alone than any fly-be-night promoter. They come and go. It is sad that some are now smearing him for the comments in this week's article. But that's what speedway fans do, when they don't like what you say. The way the sport has gone, PC must be glad he has an excuse not to attend.

Well from what is posted here, it would seem that he has basically excluded himself from attending. Hopefully the full account will be revealed and soon.

[WalterPlinge]

There's a fair bit of vitriol towards PC in this thread

Don't think there's any vitriol towards PC here. Most (all?) people hold him in high regard for his achievements in the sport and the entertainment he gave on track.

 

All there is on this thread is people correcting untruths in a one-sided Speedway Star article, and responding to the vitriol which Peter Collins has spit towards Speedway in general and Belle Vue in particular - A sport and a club which allowed him to fulfil his talent and become a very rich man.

[Chadster]

When I attended the NSS there was a piece in the programme about welcoming old riders back, but on WSRA terms. It was accompanied by a photo of Eric Broadbelt on a recent visit. I think the people on here who have been critical of PC's stance have all expressed their great admiration for him as a rider and their reluctance to be critical. Of course, we also have the timely reminder from nw42 of the health issues which should always be borne in mind.

[Grand Central]

So ... the WSRA terms.

 

Are they reasonable ?

Or even sensible at all.

 

Does it not seem a little odd to say that an ex-rider must be accompanied my a full paying adult to gain free entry.

Why is he not allowed the human dignity of attending alone ?

 

Or is it acceptable for this 'deal' to treat him as someone in need of a 'carer' ?

Edited October 26, 2017 by Grand Central

[moxey63]

So ... the WSRA terms.

 

Are they reasonable ?

Or even sensible at all.

 

Does it not seem a little odd to say that an ex-rider must be accompanied my a full paying adult to gain free entry.

Why is he not allowed the human dignity of attending alone ?

 

Or is it acceptable for this 'deal' to treat him as someone in need of a 'carer' ?

 

Think it's a new push to increase crowds.

Edited October 26, 2017 by moxey63

[Aces51]

I would prefer to see all ex riders who have ridden a specified minimum number of meetings for a club given a free pass for themselves but not for any guests to accompany them.

[Phil The Ace]

The riders guests don't even pay full price aswell, I'm sure it's something like £10

[Grand Central]

The riders guests don't even pay full price aswell, I'm sure it's something like £10

That is NOT the information provided on the WSRA's own website.

 

A Former rider pass costs £30 plus a fee of £5 and the information given is that free admission is only available when accompanied by a full-paying adult.

 

It is disingenuous to call that person a 'guest'.

They are a pre-requisite of the discount 'offer' more akin to a voucher code or 'money off coupon' in human form.

 

Frankly I would not be 'President' of any club that treats it's members in such a fashion when negotiating with other parties.

It's degrading.

Edited October 26, 2017 by Grand Central

[moxey63]

Don't think there's any vitriol towards PC here. Most (all?) people hold him in high regard for his achievements in the sport and the entertainment he gave on track.

 

All there is on this thread is people correcting untruths in a one-sided Speedway Star article, and responding to the vitriol which Peter Collins has spit towards Speedway in general and Belle Vue in particular - A sport and a club which allowed him to fulfil his talent and become a very rich man.

 

Bit of a cheap shot. So alright, the sport may have made him rich and enabled him to live the dream, but his talents also helped raise awareness of the sport to what it became during the memorable seventies and eighties. I will always hold PC in high regard and he rarely seems to speak out about what he feels. His thoughts always seem to command a lot of interest. He helped make me love speedway and therefore I will always be interested in his thoughts. I think he feels a bit frustrated at the way things have gone. Don't we all feel like that (or many of us)?

Edited October 26, 2017 by moxey63

[Halifaxtiger]

I would prefer to see all ex riders who have ridden a specified minimum number of meetings for a club given a free pass for themselves but not for any guests to accompany them.

 

I think it is bizarre, insulting and ridiculous that a rider of Peter Collins stature at Belle Vue (there is only Chris Morton that would match his record) is required to bring a paying adult with him to get in for nothing.

 

On the other hand, he has no right whatsoever to dictate to a club that a condition of him being there is that a huge number of others also get in free.

 

It is for each individual club to decide who receives free entry and who does not.

[Aces51]

I think it is bizarre, insulting and ridiculous that a rider of Peter Collins stature at Belle Vue (there is only Chris Morton that would match his record) is required to bring a paying adult with him to get in for nothing.

 

On the other hand, he has no right whatsoever to dictate to a club that a condition of him being there is that a huge number of others also get in free.

 

It is for each individual club to decide who receives free entry and who does not.

Belle Vue gave him a free pass this year but he has chosen not to use it. They also invited Chris Morton, who has been helpful to the new promotion but he has not taken up the invitation. In Chris's case I can understand why he might not want to attend, the events of last year still being raw.

 

I am sure that most fans would love to see them both at the NSS and hope that a way can be found which enables them to do so.

Edited October 26, 2017 by Aces51