Colin Pratt
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Colin Pratt (born 10 October 1938) in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire)[1] is a former motorcycle speedway rider and current promoter of the Coventry Bees who compete in the British Elite League.
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[edit] Early Career & Retirement
Colin rode for Southampton Saints, Stoke Potters and the Swindon Robins before joining the Hackney Hawks in 1964. He rode for the Hawks for six years until the 1970 season when he moved to the Cradley Heath Heathens. However, he was forced to retire after he was involved in a road crash near Lokeren in Belgium. Five riders and officials died.[2]
Colin was riding as a guest for the West Ham Hammers against a Danish select side in Holland (in which he gained a five ride maximum). He sustained three broken bones in his neck and was warned by doctors that he rode again and broke it he would be paralysed. After deciding the risk was too late he retired.
Colin was also a full England international and rode in two World Team Cup finals. Also qualified final of the Speedway World Championship in 1967.[3]It was as a Hackney rider he won the London Riders' Championship in 1967 and again in 1968.
[edit] Promoter & Team Manager
Colin became co-promoter at the Rye House Rockets with former boss Len Silver in 1979. In 1983 he spent a season as Team Manager at King's Lynn Stars before becoming promoter at Cradley Heath in 1984. He stayed at Cradley until 1996 where he became co-promoter of the ill-fated London Lions who were based at the same location that was previously used by the Hackney Hawks, the Hackney Wick Stadium. By now it had been redeveloped and had been renamed the London Stadium.
The promotion closed after one season so Colin moved to the Bradford Dukes as Team Manager. In 1998 the opportunity to join the Coventry Bees as promoter arose and Colin has been there ever since.
He also had an eight year spell as the Great Britain team manager (with Eric Boocock). He has won sixteen major trophies as a manager or promoter. Has served several terms on the British Speedway Promoters' Association management committee.
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ Oakes, P.(2006). Speedway Star Almanac. ISBN 0-9552376-1-0
- ^ Belton, Brian (2003). Hammerin' Round. ISBN 0-7524-2438-6
- ^ Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5
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