BOBBATH Posted October 2, 2021 Report Share Posted October 2, 2021 Sad to hear today of Colin's passing after a long illness at age 82. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
customhouseregular Posted October 2, 2021 Report Share Posted October 2, 2021 Very sad to hear this news. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted October 2, 2021 Report Share Posted October 2, 2021 Yes, very sad news. Colin gave so much to speedway not just as a rider, manager and promoter but also, after he retired, through the World Speedway Riders' Association, of which he was president in 2011. I used to see him every week at Hackney of course and then met him several times at various WSRA functions. But perhaps our strangest meeting was when I just happened to bump into him at Liverpool Street Underground Station and we travelled as far as Tottenham Court Road together. This was the first time I actually met him and he must have wondered who this strange person was who suddenly accosted him to talk about Hackney speedway! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted October 2, 2021 Report Share Posted October 2, 2021 5 hours ago, norbold said: But perhaps our strangest meeting was when I just happened to bump into him at Liverpool Street Underground Station and we travelled as far as Tottenham Court Road together. This was the first time I actually met him and he must have wondered who this strange person was who suddenly accosted him to talk about Hackney speedway! So, you weren't a famous author back then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Split Posted October 3, 2021 Report Share Posted October 3, 2021 On 10/2/2021 at 8:03 PM, norbold said: Yes, very sad news. Colin gave so much to speedway not just as a rider, manager and promoter but also, after he retired, through the World Speedway Riders' Association, of which he was president in 2011. I used to see him every week at Hackney of course and then met him several times at various WSRA functions. But perhaps our strangest meeting was when I just happened to bump into him at Liverpool Street Underground Station and we travelled as far as Tottenham Court Road together. This was the first time I actually met him and he must have wondered who this strange person was who suddenly accosted him to talk about Hackney speedway! You must have been there in 1963 when Colin Pratt, riding for a Provincial League Select against Southampton at New Cross (I think the home team had an away fixture) beat Björn Knutson, A Provincial League rider beating one of the "Big Five" was almost unheard of and shows just how well he was riding that year. Sad news indeed that Colin is no longer with us. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted October 3, 2021 Report Share Posted October 3, 2021 2 hours ago, Split said: You must have been there in 1963 when Colin Pratt, riding for a Provincial League Select against Southampton at New Cross (I think the home team had an away fixture) beat Björn Knutson, A Provincial League rider beating one of the "Big Five" was almost unheard of and shows just how well he was riding that year. Sad news indeed that Colin is no longer with us. I was indeed there, Split. It was the only time I ever saw Southampton. I still have the programme (of course!) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBBATH Posted October 3, 2021 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2021 Here is my best memory of Colin. 18th July 1967 at West Ham- GB vs. Poland. Poland won 69-37- GB got demolished-however Colin scored 13 points from 6 rides-won 5 of them-next highest scorer was Nigel Boocock with 8.. Colin beat all the top Poles e.g. Woryna, Wyglenda , Waloszek etc. Any forumlanders there that night- I think Norbold was-he might have been the geezer blocking my view !! Great days and great meetings. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ovalman Posted October 4, 2021 Report Share Posted October 4, 2021 14 hours ago, Split said: You must have been there in 1963 when Colin Pratt, riding for a Provincial League Select against Southampton at New Cross (I think the home team had an away fixture) beat Björn Knutson, A Provincial League rider beating one of the "Big Five" was almost unheard of and shows just how well he was riding that year. Sad news indeed that Colin is no longer with us. He mentioned that meeting when I spoke to him at Swindon a few years ago. I still have the prog as well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted October 4, 2021 Report Share Posted October 4, 2021 11 hours ago, BOBBATH said: Here is my best memory of Colin. 18th July 1967 at West Ham- GB vs. Poland. Poland won 69-37- GB got demolished-however Colin scored 13 points from 6 rides-won 5 of them-next highest scorer was Nigel Boocock with 8.. Colin beat all the top Poles e.g. Woryna, Wyglenda , Waloszek etc. Any forumlanders there that night- I think Norbold was-he might have been the geezer blocking my view !! Great days and great meetings. Yes, I was there as well! You could have just asked me to move instead of hitting me over the head with your umbrella though, BOBBATH! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted October 4, 2021 Report Share Posted October 4, 2021 (edited) 14 hours ago, BOBBATH said: Colin scored 13 points from 6 rides-won 5 of them You sure he won 5, Bob? Edited October 4, 2021 by chunky 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted October 5, 2021 Report Share Posted October 5, 2021 18 hours ago, chunky said: You sure he won 5, Bob? My trusty programme tells me he won four races and had one third. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted October 5, 2021 Report Share Posted October 5, 2021 2 hours ago, norbold said: My trusty programme tells me he won four races and had one third. That's the info I had - assuming it was 3 points for a win... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBBATH Posted October 5, 2021 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2021 Sorry for the confusion, my mistake-of course you are right Chunky and Norbold- I have my program and filled it out correctly so put it down to my over enthusiasm for Colin's performance. My other memories of Colin , and there are many, go back to the 1964 Prov. League when Hackney looked set to win the title- 3 excellent heat leaders in Colin, Roy Trigg and Les McGillivray- until they got overtaken by Newcastle Other than Roy are any members of the 64 Hackney squad still with us- I know that John Poyser has passed also Les' brother Sandy. That year Roy Trigg finished third in the PLRC after a run off with Pete Kelly. Does anyone know if Colin ever qualified for the PLRC Final?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted October 5, 2021 Report Share Posted October 5, 2021 14 minutes ago, BOBBATH said: Does anyone know if Colin ever qualified for the PLRC Final?? 4 points in 1963, and 7 (and two E/F's) in 1964. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBBATH Posted October 5, 2021 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2021 Thanks Chunky-getting back to PLRC-it's amazing to me that Ivor Brown never won it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Custom House Kid Posted October 7, 2021 Report Share Posted October 7, 2021 RIP Colin thanks for the memories Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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