Peter Collins (speedway rider)
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|
| Born |
24 March 1954 Manchester, England |
|---|---|
| Nationality |
 England
|
| Current club information | |
| Career status | Retired |
| Career history | |
| 1971 | Rochdale Hornets |
| 1971–1986 | Belle Vue Aces |
| Individual honours | |
| 1976 | World Champion |
| 1979 | British Champion |
| 1974, 1975 | British League Riders' Champion |
| 1973 | British Under-21 Champion |
| 1974 | European Champion |
| 1974, 1975, 1977 | Northern Riders Champion |
| 1974, 1978 | Internationale |
| 1976 | Pride of the East |
| 1976 | Olympique |
| 1976 | Daily Mirror Grand Prix |
| 1976 | Scottish Open Champion |
| 1976, 1977 | Intercontinental Champion |
| 1974, 1977 | Golden Sovereign |
| 1976 | Manpower Trophy |
| 1976 | Golden Gauntlets |
| 1977 | Skol Masters |
| 1978 | Superama |
| Team honours | |
| 1971, 1972, 1982 | British League Champion |
| 1972, 1973, 1975 | British League KO Cup winner |
| 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1980 | World Team Cup Winner |
| 1977, 1980, 1983, 1984 | World Pairs Champion |
| 1984 | British League Pairs Champion |
| 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978 | Northern Trophy |
Peter Spencer Collins MBE (born 24 March 1954) is a former speedway rider who spent his whole career (1971–1986) with the Belle Vue Aces, the team he supported as a child. The only other club he rode for was the now defunct Rochdale Hornets (Belle Vue's nursery team), with whom he spent the first season of his career on loan.
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.
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.
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. Peter won the British Speedway Championship in 1979.
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. 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.
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