Peter Collins Article

[fatface]

Sad it has come to this. There are no winners. Ultimately the beef is about the Bernie Colliers, Barry Ayres's and Mark Crangs of the world getting a lifetime free pass to the NSS. I understand Belle Vue's stance entirely.

[waiheke1]

To side track, how would you rank those three? Ayres the best? Crang was the worst rider I ever saw given a regular aces spot. While Im not sure I ever saw Collier score a point in his sporadic aces appearances.

Fully agree, decent juniors/colts they may have been (Collier and Ayres, from memory crang was purchased, part of a disastrous 85 spending spree), but no way should they be getting free passes.

[cityrebel]

No one should get a lifetime pass, the sport can't afford it. It's one thing handing a few comps out to ex riders, but freebies to anyone who wore an aces jacket is not sustainable.

[iris123]

No one should get a lifetime pass, the sport can't afford it. It's one thing handing a few comps out to ex riders, but freebies to anyone who wore an aces jacket is not sustainable.

Disagree and it seems the BV management do too.Collins should as they have offered.Morton and Andy Smith,Joe Screen,that type have done enough to earn one,but i'd guess most of the 100 PC thinks should get one are not in that category.And it is also not up to any rider who is in the category to dictate to any promotion

Edited October 31, 2017 by iris123

[fatface]

There has to be some sort of criteria. I dunno 100 appearances for the Aces might be a decent benchmark?

 

There's obvious value in PC being at all Belle Vue meetings. He is a living legend and idolised by anyone with red, black and white blood in their veins. Fans there would love to see him and - in his advancing years - I'm sure he'd get a lot out of mixing with the fans too.

 

Sadly, it seems like he is cutting off his nose to spite his face over a rather petty cause.

[moxey63]

To side track, how would you rank those three? Ayres the best? Crang was the worst rider I ever saw given a regular aces spot. While Im not sure I ever saw Collier score a point in his sporadic aces appearances.

Fully agree, decent juniors/colts they may have been (Collier and Ayres, from memory crang was purchased, part of a disastrous 85 spending spree), but no way should they be getting free passes.

 

Would you give a pass to Ove Fundin? He rode just 12 matches for the Aces, Ayres and Collier appeared more times.

Edited October 31, 2017 by moxey63

[The White Knight]

Disagree and it seems the BV management do too.Collins should as they have offered.Morton and Andy Smith,Joe Screen,that type have done enough to earn one,but i'd guess most of the 100 PC thinks should get one are not in that category.And it is also not up to any rider who is in the category to dictate to any promotion

I would hope that they have offered a Pass to Alan Wilkinson.

[ouch]

Alan was head of the Heritage Club and was a regular last season, unfortunately ill health has hampered his visits this year. Id love to see him back again. He sent his regards to all at the dinner dance.

[The White Knight]

Alan was head of the Heritage Club and was a regular last season, unfortunately ill health has hampered his visits this year. Id love to see him back again. He sent his regards to all at the dinner dance.

Thank you for that ouch.

 

Sorry to hear of his poor health.

[Fromafar]

A bit sad really,surely there is more to PC huff than free passes.I can imagine him sitting in the pub on a Friday night with his 100 mates.!!!!!!!

[martinmauger]

Oops, text editor issues, lost all I typed (!)....

 

Edited October 31, 2017 by Martin Mauger

[Grand Central]

Great to read the PR opinion piece in this week's Star.

An object lesson in how to write an article that at first glance looks to be sat strictly on the fence.

But is in fact always firmly on one side of the debate.

Very nicely done.

 

It also neatly spares Mr Burford's puse-cheeked blushes by making no reference whatsoever to his hamfisted handling of the original article.

 

I am pleased that no one, from the new or old promotion, wants to 'wash their dirty linen in public' as that would not be their style.

 

The teaser at the end of the article though is quite mouth watering.

It seems that Mr Gordon is off down to the The Star Public Laundry next week with as much 2016 dirty washing as he can find.

 

Really quite stylish.

I can't wait.

Edited November 2, 2017 by Grand Central

[PHILIPRISING]

Great to read the PR opinion piece in this week's Star.

An object lesson in how to write an article that at first glance looks to be sat strictly on the fence.

But is in fact always firmly on one side of the debate.

Very nicely done.

 

It also neatly spares Mr Burford's puse-cheeked blushes by making no reference whatsoever to his hamfisted handling of the original article.

 

I am pleased that no one, from the new or old promotion, wants to 'wash their dirty linen in public' as that would not be their style.

 

The teaser at the end of the article though is quite mouth watering.

It seems that Mr Gordon is off down to the The Star Public Laundry next week with as much 2016 dirty washing as he can find.

 

Really quite stylish.

I can't wait.

THANKS for the comment

[bigcatdiary]

Great to read the PR opinion piece in this week's Star.

An object lesson in how to write an article that at first glance looks to be sat strictly on the fence.

But is in fact always firmly on one side of the debate.

Very nicely done.

It also neatly spares Mr Burford's puse-cheeked blushes by making no reference whatsoever to his hamfisted handling of the original article.

I am pleased that no one, from the new or old promotion, wants to 'wash their dirty linen in public' as that would not be their style.

The teaser at the end of the article though is quite mouth watering.

It seems that Mr Gordon is off down to the The Star Public Laundry next week with as much 2016 dirty washing as he can find.

Really quite stylish.

I can't wait.

I can only agree, I would like to see regular point of view articles as a lot of this needs to be said.

[keepturningleft]

Is there any evidence that riders who would have to pay, attend meetings anyway, such as the 'PC 100'?

 

I have no guilt about downloading some selected music off Youtube and other places 'illegally' and for free because I wouldn't buy that music/album anyway so I am not depriving anyone of any revenue.

 

Similar scenario here, if you see what I mean.

If they don't go anyway, no promoter is losing money by their absence.

[waiheke1]

Yeah, basically you should feel free to steal anything you probably wouldnt purchase because no one is really losing out...

[crescent girl]

Oh dear, ten pages and counting -- I always said Speedway Star was a better read in the close season!

 

Peter Collins was one of the most gifted riders of all time -- in a very, very exclusive 'club' like Ronnie Moore before him and Darcy Ward since.

 

He was almost certainly the prime reason Belle Vue were able to continue in speedway after 1987, and I've always thought his involvement in saving the famous club at that time has been air-brushed a wee bit from their wonderful history.

 

As such, he is entitled to his opinions, and it is better they be aired publicly -- be they right or wrong -- than left as unheard mutterings.

 

Regarding the BV policy, it might have been better to follow the example of Berwick Bandits, where the club announced to the world in 2016 that, excluding guests, every living rider -- whether he was a 15-year legend such as Rob Grant or a wobbler who had only competed in one heat before crashing out -- who had raced as a Bandit since 1968 could, and should apply to the club for a lifetime pass to every meeting at Shielfield.

 

Many have done, and attend matches, often with (paying) friends and family members.

 

A great deal of goodwill has been generated. It isn't rocket science.

[bellevueace]

A good and fair response from Phil in the Star this week, this is a situation of PC,s own making.

[Fundin5]

The White Knight, on 31 Oct 2017 - 8:13 PM, said:

I would hope that they have offered a Pass to Alan Wilkinson.

 

Wilkie should be welcomed with opened arms. I would hope that Alan is allowed in for nowt, its the least they could do. As a rider, he gave his all for the club and paid a heavy price for it in June 1978. When I have seen him at the NSS, his wheelchair was on the raised concrete terrace outside the Peter Craven Suite near where meetings are videoed.

[moxey63]

A good and fair response from Phil in the Star this week, this is a situation of PC,s own making.

 

What I can't get, is that PC has never been outspoken. He could have sold a book, had he written one, of his past exploits. I'd have opened my purse for that. He could have told of his running with Carter, which I don't think he's ever aired. He was never outspoken on SKY, even when the likes of Tony Millard put questions his way during commentary.

 

So why now, when he has something to say, do some fans feel he's having a go at speedway and Belle Vue? I mean, Philip Rising's excellent piece portrays PC as someone who didn't like revealing too much. But when he does, like the ticket story, some on here a rapid with their keyboard to criticise the great man.

 

I have had experience myself. You criticise the sport, and some on here feel as though you are having a go at their missus or other close family members.

 

PC always wanted to be under the radar, just ride, entertain us, and not cause controversy. So why would he speak out now.. when he has no need to? I feel he's just frustrated... mainly at the way his beloved sport has gone. You either put up with it, keep attending without really realising why, or just have that daylight moment, like PC and I had, when you ask what is it about it that you actually like about modern speedway.

 

To me... you will never stain this great man's image.

 

Wilkie should be welcomed with opened arms. I would hope that Alan is allowed in for nowt, its the least they could do. As a rider, he gave his all for the club and paid a heavy price for it in June 1978. When I have seen him at the NSS, his wheelchair was on the raised concrete terrace outside the Peter Craven Suite near where meetings are videoed.

 

 

Wilkie.. yes. Allowed in for nowt. No question. A great team man. He of course is confined to a wheelchair after that 1978 accident while racing for the Aces.

 

Looking at PC... he broke his arm riding for Belle Vue, which I bet even today still troubles him (Cradley, KO Cup Final 1980). He almost lost a leg in a second half race (Belle Vue v King's Lynn, 1977) a week before the world title he was about to defend, rode in pain and finished second. A drain cover at Belle Vue cost him so dearly. He possible could have had two titles to his name.

 

Wilkie, what he gave and what happened to him, will always have respect. But PC gave a hell of a lot for the Aces.

 

And I still recall he had to wear a leg harness for much of his final year, 1986, after that start-of-season incident when Carter took him into the fence on the second turn at Hyde Road. Injuries, riding for the Aces, took a good few years off his career. It was a terrible year, 1986, his worst ever, caused I believe by that Carter incident and what subsequently happened affected his mind and body.

 

All this was riding for Belle Vue.

 

But, as has been told, PC does not have to pay to get in Belle Vue... so there must be something else buried in this story. I doubt, reading his piece last week, he actually has 100 people who actually want to go to speedway. Didn't he say it was an embarrassment? Has this 100 figure been made up to smear him? He doesn't seem to be missing his speedway, so is he merely, afterall, being that good sort of person I always thought he was... and actually trying to do something for ex-team mates. It could be that simple. And how many of the magic 100 people PC wants on the list may bring some form of sponsorship to the club?

Edited November 3, 2017 by moxey63