LEGENDARY Coventry Bees rider Kelvin Tatum says his days at the Brandon Stadium were his best on the British Isles.
The 56-year-old – who retired in 2001 and enjoyed stints at eight British speedway teams, two Swedish sides and Polish outfit Sparta Wroclaw – has paid ode to his five years in the city of three spires and is the latest to join the campaign to bring the sport back to Coventry.
The future of the land that previously accommodated the Bees is still undecided, after fierce criticism followed the sale of the plot for a planned housing development.
Speaking ahead of the release of his autobiography ‘Tales from the Top Drawer’ on December 1, Tatum was complimentary of his former side.
“We won two league titles there and it was such a professional club,” he said.
“I also won two British titles there and they were great meetings. There were crowds which must have been over 10,000 on a baking hot Sunday afternoon, the battles I had with riders like Simon Wigg were remarkable.
“I made lifelong friends riding for Coventry and I really want to see the club return to action. Perhaps the developers underestimated the strength of feeling and the history of the great club.”
In his book, Tatum discusses a range of topics, from rivalries, his career, his son Oliver – who suffers from autism – being awarded an MBE and his years as a TV commentator.
“Hours and hours have been spent on it so far and my thanks to Speedway Star’s Richard Clark for proof-reading,” he added.
Copies can be ordered from www.curtis-sport.com, or by calling 01922 715083, with the first 500 orders receiving a signed version of the book.
