Belle Vue Legend Lands Book Deal

Glossop-based sports publisher Retro Speedway landed a major coup by agreeing a deal with Belle Vue and England speedway legend Peter Collins to publish his long-awaited autobiography.

‘Keeping it on the Tyres’ launched this week and among a string of November book signings planned will be one at The Star Inn, Howard Street, Glossop on Thursday, November 3, from 5.00-7.30pm.

That was the venue for the first-ever meeting of the Glossop & District Speedway Supporters’ Club in 1978, when Collins was among the first big-name guest speakers. The now disbanded G&DSSC also held regular fund-raisers at Hyde United FC and The Sportsman pub in Hyde.

Collins’ 506-page, full colour book, with more than 400 photos, covers his illustrious 17-year racing career that brought him every major honour in the shale sport’s history: one individual World Championship (1976), five World Team Cups and four World Pairs titles.

With 10 FIM gold medals, he remains the most decorated British rider. Honoured in 2001 with the MBE, the all-action racer known as ‘PC’ is also England’s most capped international with 154 appearances for his country.

After a debut season in grasstrack, Collins – the eldest of five racing brothers, speedway’s greatest dynasty – rode for Belle Vue from 1971 until the end of 1986. In the winter of 1987-88, he became a co-promoter of the famous Manchester club, leading the rescue mission that saved them from possible extinction.

“I’ve waited a long while to tell my story and, as none of us is getting any younger, now is the time is right,” says 68-year-old Collins, who lives with his wife Angela near Knutsford. “I’ve known Tony and Susie Mac, who run Retro Speedway in Glossop, for many years and they have done a great job, with no expense spared. Response has been terrific – we had more than 1,000 pre-orders.”

Collins became a speedway superstar during the sport’s last golden era of the 1970s, when the oval shale track sport regularly attracted five-figure crowds and he earned more per week than the top footballers at Manchester United, Man City and Liverpool. When Collins won his individual world crown in Poland in 1976, he was cheered to victory by a capacity 120,000 crowd.

“I was very lucky to be at my peak during a special time for speedway, when all the big meetings were shown by ITV, the national daily papers gave it massive coverage and we had international sponsors.

“There were 18 or 19 teams in the British League first division back then and Belle Vue were known throughout the speedway world, the most famous club of all. We had supporters’ groups in various parts of Manchester and surrounding areas, including Glossop. Now, sadly, there are only six teams left in the Premiership, although I was obviously very pleased to see the Aces back on top again after beating Sheffield in the recent Grand Final play-off.”

If you cannot make it to the signing at The Star Inn, copies of the book – priced £20 inc P&P (£5 off RRP) – personally signed by Collins are available from Retro Speedway at www.retro-speedway.com. Or phone 01708 734 502.