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Speedway king Kenny's rise and fall
SPORTING superstars from Calderdale have been thin on the ground over the last 30 years.
Rugby players Brian Moore, Charlie Hodgson and Stuart Fielden have made their marks at international level, along with former England cricketer Richard Blakey.
But speedway fans - and there are many who look back on Halifax Dukes' days at the Shay with tremendous affection - will argue that the most talked about of the lot was twice British champion Kenny Carter.
The England ace was the biggest box office attraction in his sport at a time when speedway was hugely popular - a fearless rider who continually defied serious injury in his quest to win the world title. His clashes with the American Bruce Penhall made everyone sit up and take notice.
The fans either loved him or hated him but there is no doubt that Carter, who fancied himself as a shrewd businessman off the track, was a flawed character.
Just how flawed became apparent on Wednesday, May 21, 1986 when Carter shot dead his wife Pam, and then killed himself, at their farmhouse on the hills above Bradshaw. His act orphaned their two young children.
Now, 21 years on, a new book - "Tragedy" (Retro Speedway, 15.99) - tells the Kenny Carter story in probably more depth than ever before. Tony McDonald charts the rider's turbulent life from a troubled childhood which included the death of his brother Malcolm and the suicide of his mother Christine to the sad events of Grey Horse Farm.
McDonald has left no stone unturned in his quest to discover the real Kenny Carter. He has talked to the people who knew him best plus some of speedway's greatest ever riders, including world champions Ivan Mauger, Penhall, Michael Lee and Hans Nielsen.
The result is a riveting read - so riveting that we plan to run extracts of the book over the next few days.
Part One: Was Carter damned from the start?
Part Two: Kenny's vow to his mum
Part Three: Champ defied the pain
Final part: Sad end to young lives
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Thursday 17 May 2012
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