Les Collins
Encyclopedia
Leslie 'Les' Collins is a former Speedway
rider. He finished runner-up in the 1982 Speedway World Championship
as well as winning the Intercontinental Final in 1982, the British Under-21 Championship in 1977 and the British League Riders Championship
in 1980.
before moving Belle Vue Aces
. He was loaned to the Stoke Potters
in 1976 but in 1977 he made a place with the Aces his own, riding alongside brother Peter
and family friend Chris Morton
.
final, winning the Inter Continental title on the way. He finished runner-up that day, despite being the only rider to beat the eventual champion Bruce Penhall
. The final was held at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
.
Les is considered to be very unlucky not to have been crowned champion after an incident involving Penhall and the late Kenny Carter
saw Carter excluded. Both riders were being beaten by Peter Collins
at the point of the crash. If Penhall had been excluded (as many people feel he should have), then the title may have headed in Les' direction.
, still in the top flight British League. In 1986 he dropped down to the National League and signed for the Edinburgh Monarchs
, where he rode for ten seasons. In his first season with the Monarchs he became Pairs champion with Doug Wyer. The Monarchs won the National League Four Team Tournament in 1993 with Les in the team.
followed by a year in the Premier League
back with the Stoke Potters
. Les missed the whole of the 1998 season but in 1999 he returned to the sport with Edinburgh's rivals, the Glagsow Tigers
.
was also in the line-up with his son Scott.
Les had a spell in 2002 with the Workington Comets
but returned to Glasgow in 2003 where he was again ever present, as he was in 2000 and 2001.
, Phil
, Neil
and Stephen
. His son Aidan and nephew Chris were also riders but have both retired from the sport.
Motorcycle speedway
Motorcycle speedway, usually referred to as speedway, is a motorcycle sport involving four and sometimes up to six riders competing over four anti-clockwise laps of an oval circuit. Speedway motorcycles use only one gear and have no brakes and racing takes place on a flat oval track usually...
rider. He finished runner-up in the 1982 Speedway World Championship
1982 Individual Speedway World Championship
The 1982 Individual Speedway World Championship.1982 was the only time the Individual World Final was held outside of the United Kingdom or Europe before the advent of the Speedway Grand Prix series in 1995.-World final:...
as well as winning the Intercontinental Final in 1982, the British Under-21 Championship in 1977 and the British League Riders Championship
Speedway Elite League Riders Championship
The Elite League Riders Championship is a contest between the top riders with the highest average points total from each club competing in the Speedway Elite League in the UK. The championship was inaugurated in 1960 when it was known as the Provincial League Riders Championship...
in 1980.
Crewe, Stoke & Belle Vue
Les started his career with the Crewe KingsCrewe Kings
The Crewe Kings were a Speedway team which operated from 1969 until their closure in 1975.-Brief history:The team first competed in 1969 promoted by Maury Littlechild for Allied Presentations who also promoted the Rayleigh Rockets, the Sunderland Stars and the Reading Racers. Littlechild died on...
before moving Belle Vue Aces
Belle Vue Aces
The Belle Vue Aces are a British speedway team from Manchester in the north west of England.-Brief history:Racing first took place in 1928 at the Belle Vue greyhound stadium in Kirkmanshulme Lane before moving the following year to a specially built stadium nearby on Hyde Road. The club raced there...
. He was loaned to the Stoke Potters
Stoke Potters
The Stoke Potters are a British Speedway team currently competing in the National League. The team races at Loomer Road Stadium.In the late 1940s, early 1950s and the early 1960s, the club was based in Sun Street in Hanley, and were originally known as the Hanley Potters when crowds of over 12,000...
in 1976 but in 1977 he made a place with the Aces his own, riding alongside brother Peter
Peter Collins (speedway rider)
Peter Spencer Collins MBE is a former Speedway rider who spent his whole career with the Belle Vue Aces, the team he supported as a child...
and family friend Chris Morton
Chris Morton
Christopher John Morton MBE is a former motorcycle speedway rider. He rode bikes from a young age at the farm of Peter Collins' parents.-Brief career summary:...
.
Leicester Lions & 1982 World Individual Final
Les moved to the Leicester Lions in 1980 where he stayed until 1983. It was the 1982 season however that proved to be the high point of Les' career. He qualified for his first and only Speedway World ChampionshipSpeedway World Championship
The World Championship of Speedway is an international competition between the highest ranked motorcycle speedway riders of the world. Today, it is organised as a series of Speedway Grand Prix events, where points are awarded according to performance in the event and tallied up at the end of each...
final, winning the Inter Continental title on the way. He finished runner-up that day, despite being the only rider to beat the eventual champion Bruce Penhall
Bruce Penhall
Bruce Lee Penhall is a retired American motorcycle speedway racer who also starred in television and in film. He was the World Speedway Champion in 1981 and 1982 and rode for the successful Cradley Heath Heathens speedway team in the United Kingdom...
. The final was held at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is a large outdoor sports stadium in the University Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, at Exposition Park, that is home to the Pacific-12 Conference's University of Southern California Trojans football team...
.
Les is considered to be very unlucky not to have been crowned champion after an incident involving Penhall and the late Kenny Carter
Kenny Carter
Kenneth 'Kenny' Malcolm Carter , was a world class speedway rider. He rode for Newcastle Diamonds , Halifax Dukes and Bradford Dukes ....
saw Carter excluded. Both riders were being beaten by Peter Collins
Peter Collins (speedway rider)
Peter Spencer Collins MBE is a former Speedway rider who spent his whole career with the Belle Vue Aces, the team he supported as a child...
at the point of the crash. If Penhall had been excluded (as many people feel he should have), then the title may have headed in Les' direction.
Sheffield & Edinburgh
In 1984 Les moved to the Sheffield TigersSheffield Tigers
The Sheffield 'Window Centre' Tigers are a speedway team based in Sheffield, England. They currently race in the British Premier League and their home meetings take place at Owlerton Stadium which is the fastest track in British speedway...
, still in the top flight British League. In 1986 he dropped down to the National League and signed for the Edinburgh Monarchs
Edinburgh Monarchs
The Edinburgh Monarchs are a Scottish Speedway team, currently based in Armadale. They compete in the Speedway Premier League, racing on Friday nights during the Speedway season. The club is run by a Board of Directors, chaired by Alex Harkess. The team manager is Alan "Doc" Bridgett...
, where he rode for ten seasons. In his first season with the Monarchs he became Pairs champion with Doug Wyer. The Monarchs won the National League Four Team Tournament in 1993 with Les in the team.
Cradley Heath, Stoke
1996 saw Les riding in the top flight again, with the Cradley Heathens at StokeCradley Heath Heathens
Cradley Heath Heathens are a defunct motorcycle speedway team from Dudley, England.-History:Cradley Heath speedway team was formed in 1947 and first raced at Dudley Wood Stadium on 21 June 1947 after a number of away appearances prior to the opening of the newly built stadium...
followed by a year in the Premier League
Speedway Premier League
The Premier League is the second division of Speedway in the United Kingdom and goverened by the Speedway Control Board , in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association . The Premier League was founded in 1995 when it replaced the British League as the first division...
back with the Stoke Potters
Stoke Potters
The Stoke Potters are a British Speedway team currently competing in the National League. The team races at Loomer Road Stadium.In the late 1940s, early 1950s and the early 1960s, the club was based in Sun Street in Hanley, and were originally known as the Hanley Potters when crowds of over 12,000...
. Les missed the whole of the 1998 season but in 1999 he returned to the sport with Edinburgh's rivals, the Glagsow Tigers
Glasgow Tigers (speedway)
The Glasgow Tigers are a motorcycle speedway team from Glasgow, Scotland. Formed in 1928, the club adopted the Tigers nickname in 1946 and compete in the British Premier League...
.
Glasgow
It was at Glasgow in the 2001 and 2002 seasons he rode with his son Aidan. The 2002 team was unique as there was a second father and son connection. Former Leicester team-mate Mark CourtneyMark Courtney
Mark Vincent Courtney is an English former motorcycle speedway rider who rode in the British League for several teams between 1978 and his retirement in 1993...
was also in the line-up with his son Scott.
Les had a spell in 2002 with the Workington Comets
Workington Comets
Workington Comets is a speedway club based in Workington, Cumbria. Their track is at Derwent Park Stadium, which they share with Workington Town Rugby League Football Club.They compete in the Premier League...
but returned to Glasgow in 2003 where he was again ever present, as he was in 2000 and 2001.
World Final Appearances
- 19821982 Individual Speedway World ChampionshipThe 1982 Individual Speedway World Championship.1982 was the only time the Individual World Final was held outside of the United Kingdom or Europe before the advent of the Speedway Grand Prix series in 1995.-World final:...
-
Los AngelesLos ÁngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, Memorial ColiseumLos Angeles Memorial ColiseumThe Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is a large outdoor sports stadium in the University Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, at Exposition Park, that is home to the Pacific-12 Conference's University of Southern California Trojans football team...
- 2nd - 13pts
Family
Les has four brothers all of whom were speedway riders, PeterPeter Collins (speedway rider)
Peter Spencer Collins MBE is a former Speedway rider who spent his whole career with the Belle Vue Aces, the team he supported as a child...
, Phil
Phil Collins (speedway rider)
Philip David 'Phil' Collins is a former Speedway rider. He once finished runner-up with England in the World Team Cup final in 1984 and third in 1985. He was British Under-21 Champion in 1978...
, Neil
Neil Collins
For the Scottish footballer see Neill Collins.Neil Jeffrey Collins is a former Speedway rider...
and Stephen
Stephen Collins (speedway rider)
Stephen 'Steve' Collins is a former Speedway rider.-Family:Steve has four brothers all of whom were speedway riders, Peter, Les, Neil and Phil. His nephews Aidan and Chris were also riders but have both retired from the sport.- References :...
. His son Aidan and nephew Chris were also riders but have both retired from the sport.