Peter Collins Book

[25yearfan]

One of Englands best ever riders, very exciting and box office material in the 1970's!

 

I mean to get round to reading his book at some point cause it sounds good!

 

But the man has got some serious issues and is surely pushing everyone away from him. I remember seeing him in the pits with his son Chris when the boy had a go at speedway and recall being taken aback by how grumpy he sounded when talking to him.  I assumed this to be frustration at his sons limitations from a former World Champion who found speedway easy, but now I'm not so sure. 

Edited January 29, 2023 by 25yearfan

[PotteringAround]

On 1/26/2023 at 3:04 PM, TonyMac said:

 Susie and I both communicated personally with Steve, separately, over the book signing matter. Understanding the possible upset caused, we offered to try and resolve things to his satisfaction. He appreciated our sympathetic words.

Earlier this month, he phoned me to say how grateful he was to unexpectedly receive our new DVD, Defunct British Speedway Tracks 2, which we sent him as a goodwill gesture, to hopefully lift his spirits after another spell in hospital, and because he actually features on it in the BV Kirky Lane segment.
 

NIce to see that Collins' publicists at Retro Speedway made this kind gesture to Mr Casey.   Obviously Retro Speedway were innocent victims in this shameful episode, and their gesture is to be commended.  No blame can be attached to them.   I'm sure they will have been mightily embarrassed by their client's actions, and as shocked by his callous act as the rest of the Speedway world is.

Having seen the photograph of the actual "message" which is currently doing the rounds all over Facebook, it seems even worse than described here.    There seems a real spiteful venom in his bitter, angrily scrawled diatribe.  

However it seems there still has been no apology to the Casey family from the one person who needs to make a full and immediate apology.  

Collins says he doesn't do Facebook and other social media, and that may be best for him at the moment.  At least he won't see how many ex-fans of his are disgusted by him and have disowned him.    On the other side of the coin, his ignorance of current public feelings will probably mean he doesn't realise how much an apology is needed.  Perhaps his publicists will be able to advise him of how badly he has tarnished his reputation.

Finally a question for his publishers.   Is there a mechanism in place where people who have bought Collins' book can return it for a refund in view of the recent ugly events?  

 

 

[JC!]

I guess the only real surprise is that anyone is surprised that PC has a massive chip on his shoulder.

Very sad but no shock that he was so unkind to Steve Casey. As the old saying goes 'never meet your heroes' - I am sure he wouldn't remotely feel he has anything to apologise for.

[steve roberts]

All very sad that PC has undone his massive reputation and all that he achieved.

[bruno]

I imagine it was known Steve was ill at the book signing

[racers and royals]

15 hours ago, PotteringAround said:

NIce to see that Collins' publicists at Retro Speedway made this kind gesture to Mr Casey.   Obviously Retro Speedway were innocent victims in this shameful episode, and their gesture is to be commended.  No blame can be attached to them.   I'm sure they will have been mightily embarrassed by their client's actions, and as shocked by his callous act as the rest of the Speedway world is.

Having seen the photograph of the actual "message" which is currently doing the rounds all over Facebook, it seems even worse than described here.    There seems a real spiteful venom in his bitter, angrily scrawled diatribe.  

However it seems there still has been no apology to the Casey family from the one person who needs to make a full and immediate apology.  

Collins says he doesn't do Facebook and other social media, and that may be best for him at the moment.  At least he won't see how many ex-fans of his are disgusted by him and have disowned him.    On the other side of the coin, his ignorance of current public feelings will probably mean he doesn't realise how much an apology is needed.  Perhaps his publicists will be able to advise him of how badly he has tarnished his reputation.

Finally a question for his publishers.   Is there a mechanism in place where people who have bought Collins' book can return it for a refund in view of the recent ugly events?  

 

 

Will his appearance here be cancelled

Celebration of Speedway

Saturday 11th March 2023!

Join us at Paradise Wildlife Park – the home of the National Speedway Museum on Sunday 12th March 2023!

We will be celebrating the 95th Anniversary of Speedway in the UK.

The National Speedway Museum and the Speedway Memorial Garden will be open throughout the event.

Peter Collins will be signing his new autobiography 'Keeping it on the Tyres'.

[IainB]

Personally I don't think there's any reason for PC to be cancelled. He's obviously got beef with Belle Vue and the people involved with the club, it probably should have stayed private and especially his personal issues with a recently deceased member of the Belle Vue staff. However disgraceful those comments were it should have stayed between the 2 of the people involved. This dirty laundry shouldn't be washed in public. 

 

 

Edited January 30, 2023 by iainb

[fatface]

1 minute ago, iainb said:

 This dirty washing shouldn't be washed in public. 

That's true. But frankly the horse has long bolted and it was entirely avoidable with tact, sensitivity and a little foresight.

I have long made the case that this project should not have seen the light of day. I am very much on the periphery of the sport, but even I was aware of the open secret that since his brain haemorrhage PC is not the man he used to be. Tony and Retro Speedway, being way more connected with the sport for decades and the many surrounding individuals would have been much more aware of it than I. PC is still a name in the sport, so this always had the potential to be a money maker, but also morally questionable. The former has trumped the latter in this calculation. You can take the financial benefit or the moral highground, but in this case you can't have both.

You can't bemoan PC's unsavoury grievances being made public when you created the platform for them to become public.

I have been pretty heavily castigated in this thread for making these points and plenty have weighed in to support that. I hope some will reflect now on previous assertions and assumptions. All that said, nothing is ever black and white and no-one needs to grab their pitch forks quite yet.... 

To reiterate, Retro Speedway and Tony have made a really, really positive overall contribution to the sport. Their books are a welcome presence on my bookshelf. This one will not join them and is a project that was - I believe - a bit naughty.

I don't believe Peter Collins to be a bad guy. It is certainly never a reputation he had in the sport in his heyday and beyond - and as a young fan, he was always approachable and happy to sign a programme and interact with supporters. Some of his recent behaviour, I believe, is more medically related and - I hope - doesn't taint what should still be legendary status.

Steve Casey I had the fortune to meet on a few occasions. A really positive, easy to talk to, likeable and inoffessive fella. He lived and breathed the sport. He is a sad loss to all those who knew and loved him.

I wonder if a way to salvage some of this is a donation from the book's profits to a cancer charity?   

[steve roberts]

1 hour ago, falcace said:

That's true. But frankly the horse has long bolted and it was entirely avoidable with tact, sensitivity and a little foresight.

I have long made the case that this project should not have seen the light of day. I am very much on the periphery of the sport, but even I was aware of the open secret that since his brain haemorrhage PC is not the man he used to be. Tony and Retro Speedway, being way more connected with the sport for decades and the many surrounding individuals would have been much more aware of it than I. PC is still a name in the sport, so this always had the potential to be a money maker, but also morally questionable. The former has trumped the latter in this calculation. You can take the financial benefit or the moral highground, but in this case you can't have both.

You can't bemoan PC's unsavoury grievances being made public when you created the platform for them to become public.

I have been pretty heavily castigated in this thread for making these points and plenty have weighed in to support that. I hope some will reflect now on previous assertions and assumptions. All that said, nothing is ever black and white and no-one needs to grab their pitch forks quite yet.... 

To reiterate, Retro Speedway and Tony have made a really, really positive overall contribution to the sport. Their books are a welcome presence on my bookshelf. This one will not join them and is a project that was - I believe - a bit naughty.

I don't believe Peter Collins to be a bad guy. It is certainly never a reputation he had in the sport in his heyday and beyond - and as a young fan, he was always approachable and happy to sign a programme and interact with supporters. Some of his recent behaviour, I believe, is more medically related and - I hope - doesn't taint what should still be legendary status.

Steve Casey I had the fortune to meet on a few occasions. A really positive, easy to talk to, likeable and inoffessive fella. He lived and breathed the sport. He is a sad loss to all those who knew and loved him.

I wonder if a way to salvage some of this is a donation from the book's profits to a cancer charity?   

Although we have disagreed over some aspects commented upon in the book (and elsewhere) ie "free" admission to ex-riders I think that some observations in your above post are to be congratulated.

Edited January 29, 2023 by steve roberts

[IainB]

1 hour ago, falcace said:

That's true. But frankly the horse has long bolted and it was entirely avoidable with tact, sensitivity and a little foresight.

I have long made the case that this project should not have seen the light of day. I am very much on the periphery of the sport, but even I was aware of the open secret that since his brain haemorrhage PC is not the man he used to be. Tony and Retro Speedway, being way more connected with the sport for decades and the many surrounding individuals would have been much more aware of it than I. PC is still a name in the sport, so this always had the potential to be a money maker, but also morally questionable. The former has trumped the latter in this calculation. You can take the financial benefit or the moral highground, but in this case you can't have both.

You can't bemoan PC's unsavoury grievances being made public when you created the platform for them to become public.

I have been pretty heavily castigated in this thread for making these points and plenty have weighed in to support that. I hope some will reflect now on previous assertions and assumptions. All that said, nothing is ever black and white and no-one needs to grab their pitch forks quite yet.... 

To reiterate, Retro Speedway and Tony have made a really, really positive overall contribution to the sport. Their books are a welcome presence on my bookshelf. This one will not join them and is a project that was - I believe - a bit naughty.

I don't believe Peter Collins to be a bad guy. It is certainly never a reputation he had in the sport in his heyday and beyond - and as a young fan, he was always approachable and happy to sign a programme and interact with supporters. Some of his recent behaviour, I believe, is more medically related and - I hope - doesn't taint what should still be legendary status.

Steve Casey I had the fortune to meet on a few occasions. A really positive, easy to talk to, likeable and inoffessive fella. He lived and breathed the sport. He is a sad loss to all those who knew and loved him.

I wonder if a way to salvage some of this is a donation from the book's profits to a cancer charity?   

I agree with pretty much everything you say, especially PC's health problems. I haven't read the book and it'd be a pretty boring read I suspect if we didn't have his opinion on things, what I think has crossed the line is the sharing of a personal note written by PC. It has nothing to do with any of us really and shouldn't be used as a stick to beat him with by some.

[fatface]

2 hours ago, steve roberts said:

Although we have disagreed over some aspects commented upon in the book (and elsewhere) ie "free" admission to ex-riders I think that some observations in your above post are to be congratulated.

Thanks Steve. That's a kind and classy post to make 

[JC!]

4 hours ago, iainb said:

Personally I don't think there's any reason for PC to be cancelled. He's obviously got beef with Belle Vue and the people involved with the club, it probably should have stayed private and especially his personal issues with a recently deceased member of the Belle Vue staff. However unforgivable those comments were it should have stayed between the 2 of the people involved. This dirty laundry shouldn't be washed in public. 

 

 

The book signing was public, for marketing- there is no obligation for this to remain private, especially as the buyer paid £20 for the privilege of getting a signature on the night.

Outright vulgar behaviour to accept the cash then ruin the book, should have offered a refund and politely declined to sign.

Edited January 29, 2023 by JC!
Spelling

[PotteringAround]

I think the moral of the story is   "If you don't want the public to think of you as a dick who would viciously scrawl an obnoxious message on a book that a dying man had paid £20 for, then don't be a dick viciously scrawling an obnoxious message on a book that a dying man paid £20 for".

[IanCorcoran]

Steve Casey was a very close friend of mine for many years and the most genuine guy you could ever wish to meet. We spoke every single day and I know every step of what happened here. In addition, I was named in PC's book along with Steve as we both tried to work at a solution to get PC back to the NSS and spent hours trying to find a bridge but it was very apparent that the man was not interested in a solution, perhaps because he would no longer have a cause to keep him in the limelight. Which I think is what this is all about. 

I couldn't care less about the opinions of those who don't know the story or those that think this is dirty laundry or those that still think Peter Collins is 'Mr Nice Guy'. He certainly is not and I was a PC fan for many, many years. What he did to a dying man is unforgiveable and doubly so given that the self same person was the only person still batting for him and trying to work with two different promotions to get him to come to the NSS. Both promotions by the way offered multiple olive branches and letters asking him to go to the stadium for a coffee to find a way and a resolution. Such letters went unanswered and ignored. You need to ask yourself why that is.

The intransient and pig headed stance of the man was that he was insistent that EVERY rider who ever rode for Belle Vue should be allowed free admission along with a plus one. When I look up Belle Vue Club legends, I dont see riders with an average of 0.92 in there. But such a rider was indeed on the ''List''. In addition, there was a whole host of other unconnected people that were on ''the list''. Mainly Peter's friends. I know because I have that list and it adds up to hundreds. By this way, this wasn't an ''ask'' but a ''demand'' otherwise he was not going to appear at Belle Vue. Imagine owning a restaurant and being told by a long retired ex-waiter who should and should not be eating there for free?. Its preposterous.  

He was never ''banned'' or unwelcome as his propaganda would have you believe. Propaganda that is still being perpetuated by his circle of sycophants as he doesn't himself do social media. I know though that he is aware what is said as he is fed on a constant basis. 

I was disappointed to read Tony Mac's comments that appeared like the situation was resolved after communication with Steve. Not true. Retro Speedway apologised for the incident but they didn't need to as neither Susi nor Tony did anything wrong. The man who should be apologising so far has not. I would be shocked if he ever does. 

Steve's daughter told me that she had never seen her dad so upset and humiliated to the degree he was over this incident and as I say, to a man that was still batting for him when all others have given up. PC also has a daughter - I wonder how she would feel in the same circumstances?

Steve battled hard over the last two years and went through a lot - 3 rounds of chemo and whole bunch of other treatments. He was suffering and in pain but chose to battle on, paint a smile on and go on supporting his beloved Belle Vue Aces in every way possible. Unlike some ex-riders - Steve 'put in' and did not 'take out'. Many people were surprised to learn of his illness and they thought he looked so well. He hid it well and carried on until he couldn't do any more.

In my eyes, Peter Collins is an utter disgrace. Not just for the book signing incident but for other reasons which I am sure will come out in the fullness of time. Many people are already aware. Dont meet your heroes. 

As mentioned, for anyone who is going to pile in with the dirty laundry comments or two sides to the story or Steve wouldn't have wanted this please do yourself a favour. You have absolutely no idea. 

I am tired of hearing the BS and its about time people were put right and understand that things (and people) in Speedway are not what they appear to be. 

RIP Steve - you are 1000x the man. 

 

 

Edited January 29, 2023 by IanCorcoran
spelling

[Garry1603]

I loved PC as a rider and he was always approachable to young fans like me. I eagerly awaited his book and read it from cover to cover when it arrived. It was well worth the wait and gave an honest, entertaining review of his life and times. I especially liked the first third of the book when he talked about his childhood and his schoolboy friends.

However, I have to say that, following the disgraceful treatment of a true gentleman like Steve Casey has changed my opinion of him completely. He suffered a stroke several years ago and I am sure that he still has medical issues. The 'old' PC wouldn't have stooped as low as this, I'm sure.

So sad that he has ended up a bitter old man, his legacy is in tatters for me.

I was going to read his book again in a few months, now it will sit on my bookshelf forever.

Edited January 30, 2023 by Garry1603

[IainB]

31 minutes ago, Garry1603 said:

I loved PC as a rider and he was always approachable to young fans like me. I eagerly awaited his book and read it from cover to cover when it arrived. It was well worth the wait and gave an honest, entertaining review of his life and times. I especially liked the first third of the book when he talked about his childhood and his schoolboy friends.

However, I have to say that, following the disgraceful treatment of a true gentleman like Steve Casey has changed my opinion of him completely. He suffered a stroke several years ago and I am sure that he still has medical issues. The 'old' PC wouldn't have stooped as low as this, I'm sure.

So sad that he has ended up a bitter old man, his legacy is in tatters for me.

I was going to read his book again in a few months, now it will sit on my bookshelf forever.

I hope nobody in your family suffers a stroke and you just abandon them because they're not like they were before... that's quite sad

[racers and royals]

21 minutes ago, iainb said:

I hope nobody in your family suffers a stroke and you just abandon them because they're not like they were before... that's quite sad

That wasn’t the tone of his post- PC needs to restore his reputation quickly because quite frankly his actions have resulted in it being in tatters. I for one am pleased this came out and wasn’t  swept under the carpet.

[JC!]

35 minutes ago, iainb said:

I hope nobody in your family suffers a stroke and you just abandon them because they're not like they were before... that's quite sad

That's totally uncalled for, and you should apologise.

 

PC was well enough to write a book, and go out publicising it, so no excuse for this appalling behaviour. The tone of Garry's message was clear.

[IainB]

1 hour ago, racers and royals said:

That wasn’t the tone of his post- PC needs to restore his reputation quickly because quite frankly his actions have resulted in it being in tatters. I for one am pleased this came out and wasn’t  swept under the carpet.

 

1 hour ago, JC! said:

That's totally uncalled for, and you should apologise.

 

PC was well enough to write a book, and go out publicising it, so no excuse for this appalling behaviour. The tone of Garry's message was clear.

The tone of Garry's post read to me that PC had suffered a stroke and wasn't the 'old' PC. He then says the book will stay on his shelf unread again forever... R&R has questioned whether PC's personal appearance should be cancelled! If PC's actions have been exacerbated by a medical condition... where's the humanity and understanding, no he's a "bitter old man" and there's "no excuse for this appalling behaviour". Having watched a family member decline with a brain related illness they were not the person they used to be and instead of treating them how I always had done I had to adapt the way I interacted with them.

And again I say, a personal note has been brought into the public domain, which imo it shouldn't have been.

Edited January 30, 2023 by iainb

[Gordon Pairman]

21 minutes ago, iainb said:

 

The tone of Garry's email was that PC had suffered a stroke and wasn't the 'old' PC. He then says the book will stay on his shelf unread again forever... R&R has questioned whether PC's personal appearance should be cancelled! If PC's actions have been exacerbated by a medical condition... where's the humanity and understanding, no excuse? Having watched a family member decline with a brain related illness they were not the person they used to be and instead of treating them how I always had done I had to adapt the way I interacted with them.

And again I say, a personal note has been brought into the public domain, which imo it shouldn't have been.

Just for clarification, my intention was not to reduce sales of the book. One of the reasons for delaying commenting was to ensure that the period when the greatest number of sales took place would not be negatively impacted. 
Secondly, this was not a “personal note” that PC wrote. It was an inscription made on a book by the author directed at someone who had paid him £20. 
Also, someone asked whether Steve Casey’s cancer was well known - Steve neither hid it nor made a fuss over it so I’m not sure about “well known”.

And finally, there was a comment about a donation being made to a cancer charity. My view is that a financial penalty or penance is not sought or required. Steve’s cancer is not really relevant to the matter - in my view, it’s the shocking treatment of someone who had worked so hard to effect a reconciliation. Taking twenty quid off him was just the icing on a nasty tasting cake.