PETE MUNDAY - POOLE PIRATE 1962-1965

Long time Poole fans will be saddened to learn of the passing of Pete Munday, who was a regular member of the Pirates sides from 1962 to the end of 1965. He was 79 years old.

Born in Totton, Southampton, Pete was a star performer on the Southern grass tracks before being given his first taste of the shale sport by the Knott family, who booked him for second half outings at Poole midway through the 1962 season.

His ‘harem scarem’ fence scraping escapades quickly made him a favourite with the fans and earned him the nickname of ‘Bronco’ which he lived up to throughout his career in the sport.  He made his first team debut in the home Provincial League match against Edinburgh, barely a month after taking his first ride at Wimborne Road and was paid for five points from his two reserve outings. Retained for the following year he became a regular member of the side forming a more than useful reserve pairing with fellow Poole junior, Pete Smith .

“ Bronco was a real team player “ said Smith “ He loved being involved with the club and the fans.  We started out against each other in the second halves at Poole and then made it into the team at about the same time.”

“  He could be a bit wild, but was a really good team rider and would let me slide around the inside while he buzzed around the fence.   On his day he could beat anyone and I remember winning a Best Pairs with him at Weymouth.”

“ We became very good friends away from the track, and he was my Best Man when I got married. Our families remained close after we finished racing and he was always good company. I shall miss him a great deal.”

Munday remained a Pirate until the end of the 1965 season when he was transferred to Swindon by the Rider Control Panel.   He was a member of the Swindon side that won the British League in 1967 and became the first reserve to score a four ride maximum in the British League, a feat he achieved at Swindon against Poole.

The Management and Riders of Poole Speedway extend their sincere condolences to his family at this sad time.

^{picture from the John Somerville Collection}