Peter Kelly (speedway rider) explained

Peter Kelly
Nationality:British
Birth Place:Manchester England
Death Place:Christchurch, New Zealand
Years1:1960–1961
Career2:Belle Vue Aces
Years2:1961–1962
Career3:Bradford Panthers
Years3:1962
Years4:1963–1967, 1969–1970
Career4:Newcastle Diamonds
Years5:1969, 1970–1971
Career5:Berwick Bandits
Teamyear1:1964
Teamhonour1:league champion (tier 2)
Teamyear2:1960
Teamhonour2:Northern Cup
Teamyear3:1961
Teamhonour3:Northern League

Peter Frederick Kelly (7 May 1935 – 2 January 2023) was an international motorcycle speedway rider from England. He earned one international cap for the England national speedway team.[1]

Biography

Kelly, born in Manchester, first appeared in the British leagues in 1959, riding for Yarmouth Bloaters but only began to race regularly for the Stoke Potters during the 1960 Provincial Speedway League season.[2] The following season, he stayed with Stoke but also raced in the top league with Belle Vue Aces.[3]

Kelly raced with Belle Vue and Bradford Panthers in 1962[4] before sealing a move to Newcastle Diamonds in 1963. At Newcastle, he made significant progress in terms of form from 1963 to 1967 and twice averaged over eight.[5] He helped Newcastle win the 1964 Provincial Speedway League title.

At the beginning of the 1968 season, Kelly announced his retirement from speedway, largely due to a serious crash he was involved in at Hackney.[6]

He reversed his decision in 1969, returning to race for Berwick Bandits for three seasons from 1969 to 1971,[7] under the promotion of Liz and Ken Taylor.[8]

Kelly later emigrated to New Zealand, where he died in 2023.[8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022 . British Speedway . 20 December 2023.
  2. Web site: 1960 season . Speedway Researcher . 20 December 2023.
  3. Web site: Year by Year . Speedway Researcher . 20 December 2023.
  4. News: Southern Stars tackle Potters in Hanley . Staffordshire Sentinel . 16 August 1962 . 20 December 2023 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  5. Web site: Rider averages 1929 to 2009 . Speedway Researcher . 20 December 2023.
  6. News: Kelly to retire from Speedway . Newcastle Journal . 13 January 1968. 20 December 2023 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  7. Web site: Peter Kelly . WWOS backup . 20 December 2023.
  8. Web site: Peter Kelly obituary . Berwick Speedway . 20 December 2023.