screm Posted July 25, 2020 Report Share Posted July 25, 2020 Reported this morning that Alan Wilkinson has passed away, below is taking from Speedway Star twitter page. So sad to learn that Belle Vue legend Alan Wilkinson has died. A true giant of the sport in every way and a fabulous guy. Our condolences to his family and especially his wife Jea 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topaz325 Posted July 25, 2020 Report Share Posted July 25, 2020 Sad news RIP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunner85 Posted July 25, 2020 Report Share Posted July 25, 2020 Alan was a great servant to Belle Vue and a brilliant team man. Every successful side needs a Wilky my thoughts are with his family 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Posted July 25, 2020 Report Share Posted July 25, 2020 A great shame. I'd just bought his book 'from two wheels to four' a couple of day ago as well. It will make the read more poignant now. RIP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyretrax Posted July 25, 2020 Report Share Posted July 25, 2020 Sad news, R.I.P. Alan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoff100 Posted July 25, 2020 Report Share Posted July 25, 2020 Sad news read the book when it came out a good read , a storey about the bikes but what came across was the love of his wife for alan after his accident, i wonder if he and alan cowland will make up if they meet upstairs lol 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dontforgetthefueltapsbruv Posted July 25, 2020 Report Share Posted July 25, 2020 Sad news - RIP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fromafar Posted July 25, 2020 Report Share Posted July 25, 2020 (edited) Sad news ,have just read his book last week ,great read.Certainly typical no nonsense type of rider and person.Who knows how far he would have went in sport but was certainly a great Team Person.Saw his first ever match at Newtongrange when he got a maximum riding at No 1!!!!! Nobody knew he was!!!.Condolences to his wife Jean she was his rock ,a special woman IMO. R.I.P . Alan. Edited July 25, 2020 by Fromafar 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobMcCaffery Posted July 25, 2020 Report Share Posted July 25, 2020 I saw Alan ride at Ellesmere Port the night before the crash, putting on his usually robust performance for the Aces. The memory of a fine performance was still fresh as the awful news came in the next day. He deserved better. Rest in peace Alan. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted July 25, 2020 Report Share Posted July 25, 2020 Very sad news...a hard but fair competitor. Always recall when the "Rebels" won at Belle Vue in 1977 Alan insisted that they take a victory parade. RIP. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney the robin Posted July 25, 2020 Report Share Posted July 25, 2020 God what a shock RIP Wilko!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted July 25, 2020 Report Share Posted July 25, 2020 My first hero... A true giant as a leader of men.. He rode in the days when it truly meant something to follow a speedway team in the UK.. But whatever it meant to follow the Aces as a passionate fan, you always felt that somehow Wilkie felt that passion even more... Not been many like him, (if any at all).. The incredibly positive way he handled that tragic nights legacy through the rest of his life, and the perspective with which he viewed it, should serve as an inspiration to everyone. Gutted tonight to be honest.. RIP Wilkie, God Bless.. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sotonian Posted July 25, 2020 Report Share Posted July 25, 2020 (edited) Devastated to read this on the same day as another of my heroes, Peter Green died too. Condolences to Jean, a special lady indeed. RIP Wilkie, the ultimate Team Captain. Edited July 25, 2020 by Sotonian 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted July 25, 2020 Report Share Posted July 25, 2020 Recall the time that Wilkie was excluded at Cowley on one occasion and proceeded to rip the tapes out of their sockets...and didn't he get a response from the fans! Great memories from a great man. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted July 25, 2020 Report Share Posted July 25, 2020 I was so sorry to hear this news. I did not know Alan, but what a great Rider he was. My condolences to his family and friends. R.I.P. + Alan. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Clemens Posted July 25, 2020 Report Share Posted July 25, 2020 I always thought that Alan Wilkinson, like Bob Kilby, was the epitome of what a speedway should be. A hard solid but fair rider, 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted July 25, 2020 Report Share Posted July 25, 2020 17 minutes ago, steve roberts said: Recall the time that Wilkie was excluded at Cowley on one occasion and proceeded to rip the tapes out of their sockets...and didn't he get a response from the fans! Great memories from a great man. A few refs certainly had to ensure that the locks were secure in their boxes... My over riding memory of Wilkie was of him standing on the fourth bend, inside the track where the tractor parked, wearing his Red, White and Black leathers, arms folded tightly, back ram rod straight, watching the racing intently as Captain of the team. He would then march across the track back to the pits at the end of the race to either pat his team mate on the back, or, if not succesful, and he felt it not a good enough effort, issue some 'motivational feedback' to his colleague... A proper Captain in every way... For some this might be a cliché, but not for Wilkie.. They truly don't make them like him anymore. . 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted July 25, 2020 Report Share Posted July 25, 2020 Very sad. Another real good'un gone... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted July 25, 2020 Report Share Posted July 25, 2020 6 hours ago, RobMcCaffery said: I saw Alan ride at Ellesmere Port the night before the crash, putting on his usually robust performance for the Aces. The memory of a fine performance was still fresh as the awful news came in the next day. He deserved better. Rest in peace Alan. Everyone has things in their life that as they get older they remember 'as clear as day' even as the years advance. . Wilkie's crash that night is one that I can still see unfold to this day.. One that even as a young kid I had seen happen dozens of times before... One that 999 times out a 1000 the riders get up from and walk away.. Truly tragic that Alan never did walk again following that crash.. But truly inspirational the way he reacted to it, and lived with it. I suppose you either have that strength of character, and the courage needed to go with it, or you don't... And as he proved over his racing years, and the many years since that night , he had both in abundance.. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinmauger Posted July 26, 2020 Report Share Posted July 26, 2020 Repeating my own post, doubt anyone will mind: That's a blooming shame, he guested for Hull a few times as Ian Thomas said "I booked Wilkie because you know what you will get; total effort, no more and no less". I was at his 'benefit' at Belle Vue in 1979, 'The Wilkie 4's' and such was his standing in speedway I don't think one rider, certainly none of the stars, dropped out - it was a seriously wet meet too riders covered in wet sludge, but they still rode. RIP.... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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