Wins first 250GP (French) aged 18.

I was at Snetterton when the news came through and can remember the buzz well....

Never heard of again (at least I never heard of him again)

Turns out his mum killed his younger brother in a car crash, was crippled herself and later killed herself from guilt.

And

His older brother (British speedway champion) murdered his wife with a shotgun before blowing his own head off

And

His father was a domineering controling wanker before trying to fook up Alans career out of spite when he wasn't getting the credit and then himself dying years later

And

His daughter died

He now does odd jobs and lives modestly up north.


Honestly I'm not sure I have ever come accross such a lot of extended family trauma. No wonder he didn't become world champion. How he survived that at all I have no idea.


His biography is just out, I'm planning to buy it just to send him a few quid.

Didn't knew this. Respect for him!
I tought I had a bad day sometimes...

I remember being disappointed at his failure to do more after his initial win - the bike mags had really hyped up his chances of becoming the new Sheene and all us schoolboys wanted a new hero to beat the Yank invasion. Never happened though! They were too good for us.

Didn't he crash out of the lead/contention at 2 consequtive Silverstone 250GPs and more famously trying to hit a marshall when he tried to re-mount?

Did know about his brother but not the rest.

Not to be mistaken for the GP commentator of the same name (but very different shape).

But his dad, Mal Carter was the bloke who started Ron Haslam on his racing career.
Remember watch Ron Haslam racing the Pharaoh racing TZ750 at Brands Hatch in 1975. He went onto great things as we know.