Dave Morton: Tapes, Breaks & Heartaches

DAVE MORTON was a British speedway star of the 1970s who was living out his childhood dreams of becoming a track ace like the leather-clad heroes of his local Belle Vue Aces team.After proving himself on the grass-track circuits of Lancashire and Cheshire, he switched to shale and joined Crewe's speedway team, becoming a key member of their second division league and cup-winning team in his first full season.First division stardom soon beckoned with Hackney Hawks, where Dave showed great promise.

In fact, he was riding high at the top of the British League score charts for the East London club, had broken through in style on the international arena with England and was being tipped for even greater success in the seasons to follow.And then disaster struck.

Mancunian 'Mort' saw his career almost ended by a badly broken leg and, although he bravely fought back and enjoyed frequent glory nights with Wolverhampton, Sheffield, Ellesmere Port (where he won another league championship) and Newcastle, a succession of other injuries further hampered his progress and left him labelled an unfulfilled talent when he finally hung up his leathers at Long Eaton in 1988.But Tapes, Breaks and Heartaches is not just the turbulent story of how a former apprentice fitter at the Shell Chemicals factory became a speedway star. It also delves deep into Dave's personal traumas, as he reflects sadly and candidly on the tragic loss of his three-year-old son, which led to the break-up of his marriage.Foreword by Mort's school pal and the 1976 World Champion, Peter Collins MBE.