Peter Collins

Peter Spencer Collins (born 24 March 1954) is an English former speedway rider who spent his whole career (1971–1986) with the Belle Vue Aces, the team he supported as a child.

During his career, Collins won ten World Championships in speedway competition (one Individual, four Pairs and five World Team Cups) making him the most successful British rider in history. At retirement, he had earned 118 international caps for the England national speedway team (a record) and nine caps for Great Britain.

Early life Collins was born on 24 March 1954 at the Davyhulme Hospital in Urmston, Manchester. 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.

Collins won the British Speedway Championship in 1979.

World Individual championships In 1973, Collins qualified for his first Speedway World Championship in Chorzów, Poland. He 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. 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.

World Pairs Championships Collins won four World Pairs Championship titles during his career, all with different partners, whilst riding for Great Britain or England. The 1977 title was won on his home Belle Vue (Manchester) track with Malcolm Simmons. In 1980, he partnered Dave Jessup to victory in Krško, Yugoslavia. Yorkshireman Kenny Carter was his partner in Gothenburg in 1983 whilst he was paired up with fellow Mancunian Belle Vue Ace Chris Morton for his final pairs title in 1984 at Lonigo in Italy.

Family Collins 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. 1985 Esbjerg - 3rd - 18pts 1986 Pfarrkirchen - 2nd - 18pts 1987 Semi-final

European Grasstrack Championship

Finals 1978 Hereford - 8th - 15pts