[Lee Complin]

1 minute ago, MB723 said:

20 month suspension it is then

Plus two grand fine and need to be retested before getting his licence back. Will he be back, I wonder? 

[SGP Sprint]

I thought for a first attempt it went reasonably well but it would probably be fairer if it was the four fastest times rather than the fastest from each group. 
Kubera was unfortunate with losing out when his group came out again for another minute but all credit to Lambert for taking advantage. 
The race was excellent to watch with Bewley sticking to the outside and Madsen on the white line. Having been beaten at the start, just, Dan built up speed to pass Leon only to be repassed. Dan then continued his high line and repassed Madsen who gave him the room. Just.

I had heard it was a closed event but there were plenty of people in the stadium. And even more in the pits. It was the busiest pits I’ve seen when an event was going on.

[Edinburgh Vs Poole KOC 2nd leg QF 3rd May]

On 5/4/2024 at 1:18 PM, Gazc said:

Would need to consult with Gordon Pairman to see if this could be a goer.

Oh dear! Talk about bringing up unhappy - and expensive - memories. I was in Poland for the World Cup last year and realised I’d spelt his name wrongly in the programme. I got the first name right but my pen starting spelling his surname Bast….. - so I finished as I’d started

[Peter Collins Book]

3 hours ago, moxey63 said:

Wasn't it PC's idea to invite prospective sponsors who possibly could have injected cash into the club? Surely allowing 100 or so individuals who would never have attended in the first place wouldn't have cost Belle Vue a dime... but could have helped swell the coffers. He wouldn't have brought 200 along every meeting, surely? Or is it 300 this week? 

PC had no involvement whatsoever with the development of promotion of the NSS. The 100+ names “demanded” were ex-riders, occasional sponsors (of him) and friends and acquaintances with no involvement with PC. There was never any suggestion of bringing along potential future sponsors.

It was pointed out to him that any former Belle Vue rider would be welcomed - all they had to do was call in advance.

As a former promoter, my stance would be the same. Any former rider of a team in which I was involved would welcome past riders wishing to attend. Sometimes, we’d ask that they agree to be interviewed or make themselves available to meet supporters. 
 

If any former rider wanted to attend every meeting, a financial arrangement would probably be reached, 

As a former promoter, I have had personal invitations to attend several tracks, (something I can rately take up) but I wouldn’t expect to attend free of charge every meeting at one track.

[Stuart Robson Farewell Meeting]

4 hours ago, bruno said:

Hi Gordon if it was clear to you the track was unfit for racing surely it was unfit for racing say 5 hours earlier so should have been called off earlier. Seems a bit strange but maybe the track staff thought it would dry out and be ok but seemed unlikely yesterday 

I think you need to read what Martin Coleman wrote on Facebook and watch Robbo’s interview. The decision to cancel the meeting was made around 1pm after the track staff had been working all morning. They thought it could be saved otherwise they wouldn’t have been working so hard.
Calling off a meeting is never easy. Calling one off when the sun is shining and there’s no threat of rain is ten times worse. 

[PCMT 20th march]

Just to reassure the doubters, the forecast rain did as expected and arrived between 4.30 and 5. The roads round the stadium are saturated and there’s no chance this could have gone ahead. I’m in the Diamond Lodge just along the road and so would have been the first to moan had there been a chance. But there wasn’t. And still isn’t. Two meetings, two call offs, two hotels plus hire car petrol and flights. Can’t be helped. It’s UK in speedway season!

[Stuart Robson Farewell Meeting]

The negativity on this - from those that weren’t there - is truly disappointing. I flew into Manchester yesterday morning, collected a hire car and drove to the track. Like many, I was pleased that the weather was set fair but, as Martin Coleman has said,  yesterday’s weather wasn’t the problem. 
As soon as I set foot on the track, and sank into it ankle deep, it was clear that, despite all the work done, it wasn’t fit for racing.

No one calls off a meeting without good reason and the decision made, difficult though it was, was the correct one. 
Here’s hoping that BSPL allow this to be run during the season, especially as there seem to be loads of gaps in the fixture list which would allow that. 

[Peter Collins Book]

30 minutes ago, Vic Meldrew said:

 

As I have pointed out previously there is no mention of Peter Craven in last year's programme (21 March 2022) apart from being listed as World Champion in 1955 and 1962 plus British Champion in 1962, 1963. No biographical information about Peter Craven whatsoever. A new spectator to the meeting would wonder who was this rider they were holding the memorial meeting for. Yes, there is a portrait photo of Peter on the front cover but that is it. A very poor effort.

If you were there, you will know there were plenty of mentions of Peter Craven on the night and acknowledgements of his achievements. Surely that’s more important than a write up in a programme that less than half those attending would see, some of who would be the “new supporters” you mention? Or they could Google him….

[Peter Collins Book]

On 2/17/2023 at 9:35 AM, Vic Meldrew said:

Perhaps I have missed something here - please remind me of Mark Lemon's achievements during his riding career.

Under his "watch" the abysmal Belle Vue programme for last year's Peter Craven Memorial Trophy did not make one mention of Peter or his achievements.

The Peter Craven Suite still has no pictures or mention of the late, great Peter Craven.

Just to correct the last paragraph - I was in the Peter Craven Suite last night for the amazing celebration of Steve Casey’s life so checked. At the top of the stairs, outside the suite, in gold letters, it says “Peter Craven Suite”. Below that, there is a photograph of the “Wizard of balance” himself. So yes there is a mention and yes there is a photo

[Peter Collins Book]

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. 

[Steve Casey RIP]

13 minutes ago, stevehone said:

 

Thanks Steve. Great photo of SKC and Jackie

[Steve Casey RIP]

33 minutes ago, crescent girl said:

First met Steve Casey at Uxbridge in 1971, when he was riding in the cycle-speedway finals (against, among others, later Glasgow promoter Neil Grant) and again regularly at Belle Vue in the mid-eighties.

Always cheerful, always looking forward to the next challenge.   Last time was at the rain-ruined British Final last season, and I was pleased and proud to have him as a friend.

RIP

It was largely through your contact information that Steve and I made all 4 tracks of the 2015 Aussie championships. We also managed to have lunch in Mildura with Jason Lyons - where Steve ate kangaroo before he’d seen one! - and then hit the pub at night with speedway royalty: the Lyons, obviously, the Holders, the Woodwards and the Adams to name but a few. I ended up with wet trousers that night but that’s a story for another day……

PS The only mistake I think he made was asking Dave Hoggart rather than you to do centre green for Belle Vue’s 80th meeting. Better a jock than an yorkie

[Peter Collins Book]

30 minutes ago, TonyMac said:

Firstly to say that we at Retro Speedway are naturally sincerely saddened by the news of Steve's death. In my experience he was a very amiable, decent bloke. He was clearly devoted to Belle Vue, had a keen sense of Aces' history, and was a natural enthusiast for speedway as a whole.

With respect, Gordon, and I fully appreciate you are feeling very sad and upset right now, the acknowledgement you hoped for WAS addressed by Retro Speedway - PRIVATELY - with Steve direct. An online forum is not the best way to handle such personal matters. I believe Steve thought so too.

Possibly unknown to you, 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.

As you rightly point out on the other thread, Steve did read the book and said he enjoyed it. In fact, on Nov 23 he sent me an unsolicited text saying: "Hiya Tony...just finished the PC book and really enjoyed it...was a great read with some fabulous memories and insights (accompanied by four 'thumbs up' emojis). I obviously thanked him for his kind comments.

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 Kane segment.

I hope this serves as the public 'acknowledgement' you expected and that those reading these posts gather a true picture of Retro Speedway's part.

RIP, Steve.

 

Thanks Tony. And I appreciated then and am happy now to acknowledge your gestures. You were, of course, as much an innocent party to what happened as was Steve but I did and do believe that what happened needed to be made public. The one man who should have apologised has remained silent.

As I have said elsewhere, PC’s behaviour was unforgivable and I am not alone being shocked and disgusted by it. I know he’s got a huge chip on his shoulder about the NSS, but you don’t take your bile out on one of the guys who has worked flat out to achieve a reconciliation. 

[Peter Collins Book]

On 11/5/2022 at 1:14 AM, Gordon Pairman said:

I’m sure you are aware of what happened at last night’s signing in Glossop and have taken steps to ensure that the affected supporter has been compensated

I have kept quiet on this for a very long time in the hope that there would at least be an acknowledgement of the wrong that occurred that night. 
For those that want more, please see my comments on the thread entitled Steve Casey RIP

[Steve Casey RIP]

I am truly devastated at the loss of Steve. He was my friend and travelling companion on several memorable domestic and overseas trips. He had no side to him but was a straightforward gentle gentleman. 

He worked tirelessly to get Peter Collins to come back to Belle Vue - and don’t believe PC’s propaganda, he was told he would always be welcomed at the NSS as would any ex-Belle Vue rider. What wasn’t on offer though was his demand, not request, that nearly 200 of his cronies, some who’d had no involvement with speedway let alone Belle Vue, also got in free. Steve tried many times to talk sense into PC, including going round to his house, but PC would not change his mind, possibly because he’d backed himself into a corner. 

Steve was never one for taking offence and went to the Glossop signing of PC’s book. Having paid his £20, PC scrawled in his copy “Steve, I will never forgive you for what you have done to me and my family. I will never go to BV if you are there.” Steve shared a photo of the inscription but then said to me that he’d enjoyed reading the book. That is the sort of man that Steve was and I hope that, although Steve will never be at BV again, neither will PC as he’ll be barred. I am not alone in knowing that I will never forgive PC for what he wrote.

Many men become world speedway champion, there’s one every year, but there will only ever be one Steve Casey.

I knew Steve’s cancer would take him sooner rather than later but am still stunned that we have lost him. The world is a much sadder place today.

[Peter Collins Book]

23 hours ago, TonyMac said:

Maybe a bit disingenuous of you there, Gordon, although it's good that you have acknowledged George Carswell's role and the price he and his family ultimately paid for helping to prop up BV at various stages.

When I wrote earlier in this thread that George was 'financial involved' in all regimes from Perrin onwards and therefore provided support and insights to PC's printed take on events, I didn't necessarily mean he had money invested as a listed co-promoter or director of BV.

To put the record straight, some of the insights and factual recollections provided by George to Peter and I during the course of putting the book together include matters pertaining to the Tony Mole-Ian Thomas era, too. Ian contacted George asking if he would be prepared to sponsor any riders (essentially to facilitate the cost of including them in the team) and he did so in the case of Simon Stead. He'd also agreed to back Rory Schlein but Thomas U-turned and Aces signed Andy Smith instead.

More importantly, as mentioned in PC's book, George also told Mole and Thomas that he would finance a deal to bring Tai Woffinden to Kirky Lane. George explained: "One other interesting situation arose during one of my visits to Belle Vue. Tai Woffinden was reportedly going to Wolverhampton for the reported sum of £10,000 plus extras.

"As Tai had cut his teeth with the Colts I told Tony and Ian that I would match or beat the offer for him to become a Belle Vue asset. To my surprise, they said they weren’t interested."

George's input was also sought by the BV promotion after Mole sold out to David Gordon and Chris Morton, presumably during some of the period of your involvement. GC writes: "As the (2007 takeover) deal had come so late into the off-season they had great difficulty in putting out a competitive team. Chris phoned me in Vancouver and asked whether I would still sponsor Simon Stead, which I agreed to do. Chris and I had known each other for a considerable amount of time - in fact for a short period I had worked with Chris and Steve Casey at Allied Dunbar. The team predictably finished bottom of the league in 2007.

"Chris and I talked regularly by phone and discussed the potential of several up and coming riders. Prior to the start of 2011 Chris phoned asking if there was a possibility of getting Rory Schlein to rejoin the club. I contacted Rory and offered to sponsor him, to which he agreed and he was able to come to terms with Chris and David. Rory had a banner year and I felt things were on the rise."

George has told us much more about what happened behind the scenes in the period leading up to the 2016 but it was not relevant to the book.

Dear me. Where to start? First of all, Tony Mole didn’t sell out to David Gordon and Chris Morton. David and Chris walked away from the deal on offer, the same as I had walked away some months earlier. I then made the approach to David and Chris about putting together a consortium. Similar but different. 
And on the financial involvement, I repeat that George had no financial involvement in the promotion. His individual sponsorship was hugely important, but went directly to riders. 
Last year, I financially supported various riders, events and organisations, including speedway promotions but would never claim I had a financial involvement with any of them. The differentiation is important as I never sought nor was asked for my input to the running of the businesses, and have little or no insight into their day to day operations.

[Peter Collins Book]

4 hours ago, Speedtiger said:

You both carnt be right then…or is it a case of recollections vary?

I don’t know about recollections. George was living and working in Canada during the period in question. Tony Mole ran all his speedway operations through one business of which he was the sole owner. In the short time I was involved - we set up the company in 2006 and I ceased to be a promoter after the end of the 2009 season - as I said, George had no financial involvement.

 

[Peter Collins Book]

On 12/27/2022 at 4:28 PM, TonyMac said:

But, as I mentioned previously, much of what PC has written about respective BV managements is supported in print by George Carswell, who was financially involved under all regimes from John Perrin to David Gordon/Chris Morton.

Just to set the record straight, and I have only good things to say about George Carswell, a man who was owed even more than I was when BV went bust in 2016, but he had no involvement in the Tony Mole years at Belle Vue nor the Pairman/Morton/Gordon ones, financial or otherwise.

[Glasgow 2023]

Can I put some perspective on this please? I have kept in touch with David and have heard his views first hand. I also have a business connection with the SGP series and so meet Phil Morris from time to time. He and I used to cut each other dead, I thought he did it to me because of comments I’d made in the Speedway Star after the incident, and I did it to him because of what happened. 
As my GP attendances became more frequent, I realised that Phil and I would end up in the same room together and would need to have a conversation. I messaged David along these lines and wouldn’t have spoken to Phil without his approval.
A few years ago, Phil and I were in the same airport lounge and we finally took the opportunity to clear the air. Before relating that conversation, I discovered that I was wrong about his reason for disliking me. He told me that, after the incident, when he was racing, his wife started getting anonymous phone calls threatening her and their children. It was a Scottish voice. He thought it was me. Regardless of what happened to David, that is a despicable thing to do and whoever was responsible should hang their head in shame. 
As far as the crash was concerned, Phil made a mistake. He thought he was clean passed David and went to the fence to stop him being repassed. David was still on the outside, far closer than Phil realised and Phil’s push bar hit David’s handlebars. Phil was never a tidy or a fast rider, but he would use what he had to bully his way past. That time he got it wrong.

Now, I’m not trying to be his apologist or anything like that but he is fully aware of his actions and acknowledges the impact they had. It was a racing incident and not one rider trying to injure let alone end the career of another. 
If anyone on here gets the chance, speak to David about it and you’ll get his perspective. He is an amazing guy and far more upbeat than certainly I would be under the circumstances.

Turning now to Phil’s work at the GPs, he works flat out during the meetings and commands the respect of riders, officials and track staff. Someone said he wasn’t as good as Ole Olsen and cited the track at Cardiff as an example. Which is ironic as it was Olsen that built that horrendous track. And that was probably the last one he’ll be asked to build. 

I have tried to make this an explanation rather than a defence. What happened cannot be reversed and I will always remember that day. And it was Phil’s fault. He’ll tell you that. But having spoken to the only two people directly involved, it is also my view he was clumsy, not dirty. 

[Glasgow 2023]

9 hours ago, cinderfella said:

Why O'Malley was even given 27 matches is beyond me.

My recollection is that there were two riders that caught Stewart Dickson’s attention at the same time, Jayden O’Malley and Mason Campton. Of the two, Jayden was performing better in Australia but Stewart needed someone to balance an O’Malley and who better than a Mason?  The out-turn is best forgotten!

[Glasgow 2023]

2 minutes ago, Racin Jason 72 said:

Tell us more !!

I think I wrote all that needed to be said in my programme notes for the last meeting of 2014. I don’t like being cheated but even more importantly, I don’t like fans being cheated. But we were both royally shafted by Herr Wolbert - me in the pocket, the fans with the lacklustre performance on the track. 

[Glasgow 2023]

1 hour ago, Jaizer said:

Not sure Gordon pairman sees it that way!!

Got it in one!!

[Peter Collins Book]

On 11/3/2022 at 11:03 AM, TonyMac said:

Thank you, hope you continue to enjoy it.

I’m sure you are aware of what happened at last night’s signing in Glossop and have taken steps to ensure that the affected supporter has been compensated

[Belle Vue v Ipswich Play off semi 2nd leg 3 Oct]

1 hour ago, GAH said:

Poole promoter would say that  other promoters didn't  agree did they especially the Birmingham promotion 

I have no idea who you are but I suggest you take care in accusing me of lying. No promotion objected to Poole’s legal redeclaration. Where is your evidence to the contrary?

[Belle Vue v Ipswich Play off semi 2nd leg 3 Oct]

1 hour ago, GAH said:

and you really believe that oh dear 

I do believe it - because I was co-promoter at the time. Greg was running out of meetings in Poland and Sweden but still had five or six GPs left so was happy to keep match fit. It wasn’t originally known if he’d stay for the play offs - it wasn’t guaranteed when he signed that Poole would even make the play offs - but he chose to stay till the end of the season. 
He worked hard for and with the team, and helped Poole to the title against a very dominant Birmingham.