Here I am in Kidderminster in
Worcestershire by the grave of a very successful British racing driver. He was
still a young man when he was killed in the 1958 German Grand Prix a few weeks
after winning the RAC British Grand Prix. It was a small churchyard and the
headstone was easy to find as the colourful flowers by the headstone would beckon
over any nosy person.
He was born not far from this grave and as his
dad owned a garage he became interested in cars early on. He was thrown out of
school aged 16 after spending too much time at a local fairground than in the
classroom. He became an apprentice at his dad’s garage and began competing in
local car races. He started his career as a 17-year-old in 1949, impressing the
organisers of Formula 3 races.
He gained spectacular success in his short competing
years from 1952 to 1958, racing for the top teams: Aston Martin, Vanwall, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz
and Ferrari. He won Grand Prix races in Belgium, France and Naples. He admitted
he wasn't technical and left the car to the mechanics. He drove and was so
fiercely competitive he drove himself onto the wrong side of danger countless
times. He’s known for ones of the kindest gestures in sport: while competing in
the Italian Grand Prix he saw his team leader’s car had broken down. He pulled
into the pits and handed his car to his mate who went on to win his fourth
World Championship.
Aged 25 he moved to Monaco to continue his racing
career (also avoiding compulsory military service in the British Army.) Aged 26
he met 18-year-old American actress Louise King and after one week they got
married in Miami. They took up residence on a yacht in Monaco marina and
enjoyed a luxurious. Ferrari were not happy with Peter's whirlwind romance nor his
sun-kissed marina life (they heard life on the yacht was one continuous party.)
They believed Louise was a negative influence and the champagne lifestyle was
blunting Peter's competitive edge. To make a point they sacked their star after
he deliberately damaged the clutch in his car (later they took him back.)
Racing drivers know any race may be their last. Peter’s
life ended when he struck a tree and died of his injuries. Aged 26 he was
competing in the 1958 German Grand Prix at Bonn. On the tenth lap he went wide
on a right hand bend and the left wheels of his car hit a grass bank. The car flipped
up, somersaulted and Peter was thrown into a tree. He was able to talk when
help got to him but he deteriorated quickly in hospital and died that evening.
I soon found his headstone behind the church
although its words were almost illegible due to strong sunlight. The
inscription reads, “With a cheerful smile and wave of the hand he journeyed
into the unknown land.” The church was locked though there's a stained glass
window which reads: “In memory of Peter John Collins 1931-1958, God gave him
courage and a cheerful heart". He left a 26-year-old widow who's still
alive - did she leave the flowers? I waited for clouds to obscure the sky so
the photographs of the headstone may not be so bleached but after a while
patience expired. I did a salute and left.
I found him in strong sunshine round
the back of the church...
Peter's widow actress Louise...