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Hammers career : 1992-1993
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PETER RAVN first arrived on British shores in 1981 to ride for the Belle Vue Aces, joining the already large influx of talented young Danish talent heading for British shores.
Peter spent ten years with the Aces, celebrating a well-deserved testimonial in 1990 and riding alongside historic Aces notables like Peter Collins, Chris Morton and Joe Screen.
A move to the Coventry Bees in 1991 coincided with Peter's first ever appearance at Arena-Essex in a classic BSPA Cup match. The BSPA Cup was a knockout cup competition in which both second division and first division teams competed against each other.
After seeing off top flight Eastbourne in the previous round, the Hammers - at that point already crowned second division champions - attempted to defeat another top division side in the Bees.
The Hammers led from the outset and the first race set a cracking pace when Hammers Brian Karger and Troy Pratt came from behind to put the home side in front. The end result - a six point win for the Hammers - prompted Hammers team boss Peter Thorogood to say :"That was probably the best meeting we've ever had at Arena-Essex and fair play to them [Coventry]. They were full of praise for our set-up, even though they were defeated and that shows a lot of professionalism on their part."
Peter did enough in that meeting to prompt Terry Russell and Ivan Henry to sign him for the 1992 campaign following the Hammers' promotion to the top league - but it wasn't until Allan Johansen was released in the summer of that year that Peter made his Hammers debut, averaging a shade over seven points a match from twelve completed meetings.
Peter started the 1993 season in Hammers colours, holding down a heat leader spot and leading them to impressive away victories at Reading and Ipswich. Forming a strong top-end partnership with Leigh Adams, Peter utilised his fast gating skills to maximum effect on his home circuit and he was often called upon to take six rides, such was the nature of the strange eighteen heat format operated that season.
A crash in his native Denmark in July caused Peter to withdraw from the Hammers' next official home meeting - a classic local derby clash with fierce rivals Eastbourne - with delayed concussion and vertigo. Peter took to the sidelines and was replaced in an interim capacity by Bo Petersen when it became clear he was struggling to return to full fitness.
Sadly, Peter never rode again and he has since moved with his family to the sunnier climates of Australia
Year |
Matches |
Rides |
Points |
Bonus |
Total |
Average |
Full Max |
Paid Max |
1992 |
12 |
61 |
102 |
6 |
108 |
7.08197 |
0 |
0 |
1993 |
27 |
154 |
252 |
22 |
274 |
7.11688 |
0 |
0 |
TOTAL |
39 |
215 |
354 |
28 |
382 |
7.10698 |
0 |
0 |
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