Peter Spencer CollinsMBE (born 24 March 1954)[1] is an English former speedway rider[2] who spent his whole career (1971–1986) with the Belle Vue Aces, the team he supported as a child.
During his career, Peter Collins won 10 World Championships in speedway competition (one Individual, four Pairs and five World Team Cups) making him the most successful British rider in history.[3] At retirement he had earned 118 international caps for the England national speedway team (a record) and 9 caps for Great Britain.[4]
Early life
Collins was born on 24 March 1954 at the Davyhulme Hospital in Urmston, Manchester.[5] He worked at a market garden while at school to save up for a bike, and spent two years as an apprentice fitter with Shell before leaving to concentrate on his speedway career.[5]
Career
Belle Vue Aces
In 1971, Collins rode for Belle Vue and the now defunct Rochdale Hornets on loan (Belle Vue's nursery team). Peter rode his first full season for the Aces in 1972 attaining an average of 8.44 in British League matches while still only eighteen years of age. In addition the Aces won the league and cup double that year. He won the British League Riders' Championship in 1974 and 1975.[6][7]
In 1973 he qualified for his first Speedway World Championship in Chorzów, Poland. Peter again qualified for the World Final in 1974 finishing in equal fourth place with a creditable nine points. He did however win the British League Riders Championship (BLRC) at Hyde Road. The 1975 World Final was held at Wembley but resulted in disappointment for Collins who again finished just off the podium. The 1976 final proved to be the highlight of his career however as he became World Champion with fourteen points in Katowice, Poland.[8] In 1977 however, he was injured whilst riding at his home track, badly breaking his leg. He attempted to defend his title, in extreme pain and unable to walk without crutches; he narrowly missed out, finishing second.
England's win in the 1983 World Pairs Final was considered lucky. Collins was lucky to be allowed to re-start Heat 10 against Denmark (Erik Gundersen and Hans Nielsen) after video replays suggested that he had simply mis-judged the slick Ullevi track going into the first turn after the start and had fallen causing the race to be stopped. With Collins luckily still in the race, the extra two points England gained as a result of their 5–0 win over the Danes (Nielsen had a tape exclusion on the re-run while Gundersen had an engine failure after comfortably leading for 2¾ laps) would prove crucial as England defeated Australian pairBilly Sanders and Gary Guglielmi by just one point to win the title. Ironically, later in the meeting Sanders (to that point undefeated on the day) had like Collins fallen on the slick track in turn 1 of their heat against the West Germans. Although he had let Collins re-start after falling, the FIM referee of the meeting, Australian Sam Bass, had no hesitation in excluding his fellow countryman from the re-run which was ultimately won by Guglielmi. With the West Germans out of form at Ullevi it was likely Australia would have scored a 5–1 result had Sanders not been excluded. Ultimately, both decisions by Bass helped England secure their record 6th World Pairs title.
On his retirement, he became part of the team responsible for saving the club following the sale of the Hyde Road stadium, and taking the team back to their then original home on Kirkmanshulme Lane. He also became a respected television commentator with Sky Sports.
In November 2001 he was awarded an MBE for services to motorcycle racing.[9]
Family
Peter has four brothers all of whom were speedway riders, Les (who finished second behind Bruce Penhall in the 1982 World Final in Los Angeles), Phil, Neil and Stephen. With his wife Angela he has a son and daughter.[5] His son Chris and nephew Aidan were also riders but have both retired from the sport.
