40 years on - tragedy that shocked a sport

16 July 2010

The minibus in which Phil Bishop and four young riders died when it collided with a petrol tanker

SPEEDWAY fans will be remembering Havering racing legend Phil Bishop and four young riders who perished 40 years ago this week.

Dubbed the sport's equivalent of the 1958 Munich disaster that wiped out so many Manchester United stars, the Lokeren Tragedy of July 14 1970 stunned the speedway community.

But it wasn't on the track that the daredevils met their untimely deaths.

West Ham team manager Phil Bishop, 60, from Gidea Park, died alongside riders Martyn Piddock, 22, Peter Bradshaw, 23, and Malcolm Carmichael, 26, when their minibus collided with a 30-tonne lorry and a petrol tanker in Belgium.

Gary Everett, 29, who was riding as a guest for the team to gain more experience, died in hospital a few hours later.

Tragically, Phil - known as the Iron Man of Speedway having survived scores of pile-ups on the track - and his wife Winifred, 55, would have celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary on the day he died.

Riders Stan Stevens, 36, Colin Pratt, 31, and Garry Hay and mechanic Roy Sullivan were badly injured in the crash, in which the team bus was crushed.

The Dutch bus driver and two cyclists were also killed in the incident.

Mr Pratt - who never rode again after suffering a broken neck, fractured kneecap and had 56 stitches in his head - said he could not remember anything about the incident.

He told Classic Speedway magazine: "The last thing I remember is stopping at services near Antwerp.

"Some of the lads got out for a coffee and one or two changed seats, but I stayed in the van. If I'd swapped seats, my number would have been up.

"I woke in hospital semi-conscious three-and-a-half days later. Stan and Roy were in the same ward as me."

Stan Stevens, who became West Ham's last captain during the 1972 season after recovering from a broken leg and facial injuries, said the driver fell asleep at the wheel just before the crash.

He added: "The bodywork down the right side of the bus disintegrated and I just remember falling out and on to the cobblestone surface.

"I must have crawled about five or six yards to the side of the road and was lying face down among broken glass and bits of metal. I could see Colin and Garry lying in the road."

Dave Lanning, a former Recorder reporter who had once helped Phil Bishop run the West Ham team, poignantly described him as "a legend that will live as long as men ride motorcycles".

lPictures were supplied by Robert Rogers and Classic Speedway magazine. For details of how to subscribe, phone Retro Speedway on 01708 734 502 or go online at www.retro-speedway.com