"Thanks Tracy for an excellent tribute to one of my speedway heroes. I was fortunate enough to see gary ride for Bradford (all too briefly ) when Nelson Admirals switched to Odsal stadium. He made an instant impact on all the fans and quite a few riders as well - especially Maury Robinson and Mal McKay!. We were devastated when he retired, but I suppose we knew he would have to move up a league sooner or later.

I will never forget the nights at Odsal when Workington Comets came visiting. Their track was similar to ours and their team always seemed to have lots of Aussies who liked the bigger tracks, so the meetings were always fierce and competitive. Gary seemed to love the needle and highly charged atmosphere of these meetings. My fondest memory would have to be the night he took Maury Robinson from the back on the last bend with both wheels on the grass (allegedly). Maury insisted the referee came down to the track to see the tyre marks but ref was unmoved, much to Maury's annoyance. Happy days."

"Thanks for a very interesting and sad article. I remember the night...I was on my way to the pits, like the week before when I had spoken to Gary. I had got as far as the apex of the turn where he crashed. I remember the stripey top he had on over his leathers. I remember Ole Olsen walking out and back to the pits with his head bowed. It had a profound affect on me as a young lad but I still had to try my hand at speedway! My friend and I wagged school to go to Bushbury Crematorium!"

"I was unfortunate to be there at Gary's sad fatal accident, I was an Oxford supporter young and very excited at the prospect of our first trophy, I remember Gary from the first leg as in the parade he was lined up directly opposite me. Oxford won the trophy it was then announced that Gary was dead on arrival at the hospital, we all left the stadium in s ilence and very little, if anything said on the long drive home. A really sad day. "

"I too was at the tragic meeting as a ten year old and also re-call Gary's hooped top he wore, and him wearing leathers given to him by Ivan Mauger. I was an Oxford fan and will always remember those sad words when the stadium announcer told the fans the tragic news and to "leave the stadium quietly". Gary and all our other heroes of the shale will NEVER be forgotten."

"He was an amazing passionate rider who as a Wolves fan at the time and still am was glad to have been lucky to have seen him and sad to have lost him before his time."

"I remember Gary with great affection. Gary was my Hero and as a snotty nose kid at Nelson I used to watch him along with all the other riders but he was my Hero. I used to help him carry his gear to his car and go in the changing rooms and listen to all the stories (I was allowed because of my brother riding there). When they moved to Bradford I was so glad that my Hero was also going there as he was one of the best at this time. I got to know Gary better and better, helping him in the pits, carrying stuff down from the cars to the pits which were right in the bottom of the bowl.

It was a bit later when I decided I wanted to race speedway and I told Gary this I will never forget the words he said to me - "when you're old enough Mick, you come and see me I will make sure you have a bike to ride". I never did need to ask him as my mum and dad bought me one but them words will always be in my mind. I remember Gary being in hospital in Wolverhampton once and my mum and dad took me to see him (i was still a kid) his face was all cut his lip busted etc. I have never cried so much in my life and he beckoned me over and put his arm round me and my head on his chest.

If a man can love a man I did love Gary Peterson and the day that Gary died I think a part of me died as well. He never saw me ride Speedway in real life but I bet he was chuckling at some of my antics while up in heaven. I have no doubt that Gary would have been a world champion and speedway lost a true gentleman and friend that fateful day. RIP Gary, till I see you again !!"

"I saw Gary race many times at Western Springs. I PERSONALLY LOVED HIS STYLE. He had such a non plus attitude and I used to watch him and his girl in the pits getting ready to race. I saw him race against Pusey and I didnt know who to cheer for as the polka dot kid was my fav english rider."

"What a great article on Gary. While he was at Bradford I was working on the gate doing the tape magnets. To see him ride from inside the track was a great privilege and we were all always jostling to be the one to wheel Gary's bike out for the parade. When he came back from Wolves to ride in an invitation match he would always chat to us all, while doing the long walk from the clubhouse to the pits. A great bloke, a great rider. I was there working the night he did Maury Robinson over the grass.It was obvious to a blind man but it would have been a very brave ref indeed to go against Bradford's hero on his own stamping ground.He was a great loss.Interesting to read Mike Sheldrick's comments as his brother Sid was always great value at Bradford as well."

"I woke up this morning and Gary Peterson's name was in my head! I didn't know why, but I had to 'Google' him. It was really nice to read all about him, but I was shocked indeed to learn he died so young. I used to go to the Nelson stadium with my parents as a child. They were really keen, particularly my Mum, and they spoke to Gary on numerous occasions at the meetings. They introduced me to him when I was about 14 in1968 and he seemed a lovely bloke. It was good to read all the familiar names that Mum and Dad used to rave about. I didn't particularly share their enthusiasm but I appreciated it and listened with interest to their comments. Sadly they both died a number of years ago......I just wonder why Gary's name was so vivid in my memory as I awoke this morning?"

"First time I have visited this site, it has brought back some very fond memories. I used to help Paul O'Neill out in the pits and Gary Peterson used to tune my good friend John Mulligan's JAP for him. I shall certainly be looking in again."

"I can't believe it was so long ago that Gary died. I remember the shock at the news of his death. I felt great sadness at his passing. I did suggest to the current promoters at Wolverhampton some plaque in his memory should be made....but nothing came if it. A shame."

"Tracy, wonderful words. i began watching racing at Odsal in 1972 so Gary had already stepped up to Monmore Green. I never got the opportunity to see him race but many told me how good he was, and how very sad he lost his life to the sport... I organised an Exhibition last Autumn to celebrate the history of Bradford Speedway and Gary has a significant part in it though, due to his talent - his time at Bradford was so short. I have selected 3 riders to represent each era at Odsal...Arthur Forrest, Gary and finally, Simon Wigg. Thank you for your article in tribute to Gary which will help me no end in compiling my proposal to Persimmon Homes and the Councillors for the Odsal area once the Northern View housing development is passed. Will keep you informed."

"I grew up with Gary as a friend in Wrantage Street New Plymouth. I can remember Garry getting his first Motor Bike and riding it in the gully beside their house. One thing always comes to mind was him riding down one side of the gully and still with downward momentum jumping the drain at the bottom. He was always a guy who would go beyond the limit. I still think of him now and then. This is one of those moments and the reason for me looking up his name and finding your article."

"I remember the night that Gary passed away. it looked a silly simple accident, that turned out so tragic. He was a lovely, polite gentleman. He will always be a hero to me. I am now in my 60's but still remember every detail of Gary's death. My signed photograph of Gary is still in my collection, (in pride of place). R.I.P. Gary. You will be always remembered."

"Gary was my god father. I remember sitting in his shed on his bike in 72/73 as a kid. My dad and Gary practiced and raced in the early days."

"Gary Peterson a great guy who raced at quite a few grasstrack meetings during his brief career, a very polite and humble guy who enjoyed local meetings as much as big speedway races. Sorely missed."

"I remember Gary Peterson at Bradford in the early 1970's. There was one particular meeting, it must have been an individual trophy meeting, when he came up against Maury Robinson. Gary was on 12 points and Maury was on 11 points and it was their last race of five. Maury had to win to force a decider with Gary and he led the entire race until the last bend when Gary took him on the inside. I was on the terraces in between bend 3 and 4 and I can still see the tyre mark on the grass that Gary made, so determined was he to get the maximum 15 points. Maury Robinson was furious but the ref was having none of it. Interestingly enough, I do recall that on one occasion when Bradford needed a guest rider they turned to Maury Robinson!"

" Gary rode at Exeter on the Monday where I am sure he scored a 15 point maximum which I was there to see. He died tragically 4 days later after colliding with a lamp standard I understand at Wolverhampton. He had been brilliant that evening at Exeter. It was a terrible shock"

"It has been said that Gary's racing death was inevitable because he did not know when to settle for second place. Some of the best races I have seen in over 60 yesrs of watching speedway were between Gary and Malcolm Shakespeare at Long Eaton. Every racing death is tragic, but Gary's was, like Craven and Jansson's, somehow soul destroying, leaving the sport much poorer as a result."

"I was at the meeting as a 15 year old. For some time afterwards I wondered about whether I should watch the sport again. It's a long time ago but I do remember Gary's battling qualities."

"Thanks for this brilliant piece which answered many questions for me. I was a 15 yr old Wolves follower at the time and had been to my first meeting at Monmore a few weeks earlier but was not at the meeting where Gary died. I found out the following day seeing it in the Express & Star headline when shopping i n town next day. It was such a numbing shock I never read the account of the accident.

I became a regular from 1978 with some friends and in one meeting some time after this we were cheering Alan Grahame who was guesting for Wolves that night when one of the older fans stood behind us on the home straight chimed in: "What do you mean 'come on Alan!'? That man killed Gary Peterson!" A woman in their group was visibly distressed and they did not elaborate on how Alan was supposed to have done this. Seeing this piece and attached comments removes the asterisk from Alan Grahame's name for me. Maybe some fans were still traumatised and naturally blamed the survivor in order to cope.

Right up until Wolves were "relegated" to the National League we always seemed one rider short of having a competitive side. I often wondered especially if 1978 would've been quite as disastrous with Gary Peterson alongside Hans Nielsen, Dave Morton and Jimmy Mac and whether he could have emulated his friend Ole Olsen and become Wolves's second World Champion. Or would he have followed Ole to Coventry instead? Alas we shall never know."

"I was a first aider, first to get to Gary. He was certified dead on scene. I had to go look at photography images the next day, Saturday morning."

"What can I say....one of the best riders of my youth that will stick with me until the day I die. Gary Peterson was a fantastic rider and for me part of a great Bradford team. Gary gave thrills and excitement when ever he rode. You could say that Gary and the Bradford riders got me hooked on speedway, but there was only one Gary Peterson. Style and speed. he was just a brilliant rider who gave 110 percent in every race. Sadly missed. Never forgotten."

Comment on this Article | Contact Us | Go Back to Main Menu