Speedway ace Peter Collins MBE will star at bike show

Collins will be guest of honour at the 26th Borders Classic Bike Show at Cleobury Mortimer – just a few miles down the road from the venue of the Bewdley Bonanza grasstrack meeting, of which he is a past winner.

Organiser David Spruce said that was the connection which persuaded the 58-year-old former world speedway champion to accept his invitation to Lacon Childe school on September 8 and 9.

"I know a friend of his," said Mr Spruce, who is organising his first Borders show following the retirement after 25 years of motorcycle journalist Jim Reynolds.

"I asked him to have a chat. The friend said that, as soon as he told him where it was, he said 'Crikey, that's close to the Bewdley Bonanza' and he would be more than happy to do it.

"We've had a number of guests who are road racers. But Peter Collins used to race all over the Midlands with speedway and locally with grasstrack. I thought it would be fitting to get someone who is so well-known in the area."

"We will have about 150 motorbikes on display, all pre-1980," added Mr Spruce.

"There will be grasstrack machines, speedway, road-racers, vintage and veteran.

"On Sunday we will have a Grand Prix-style paddock on the car park and all the racing bikes will be fired up."

All show proceeds go to local charities.

For further information call Spruce on 07986 170715 or visit www.hobsons-brewery.co.uk