Sixties favourite Kev Torpie has died

NEWS Thursday 2nd October 2025, 3:39pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

All Monarchs supporters, especially those who watched the team in the Old Meadowbank days in the mid-sixties, will be sorry to hear that Australian Kevin Torpie has passed away at the age of 87. Kev was a Monarch between 1964 and 1966, having previously ridden for Middlesbrough.

He came from Brisbane, started Speedway there around 1958 and arrived in the UK at the same time (1962) as Dudley McKean who came straight to Monarchs as Torpie headed for Cleveland Park. Kevin actually won two heats on his first appearance in Edinburgh for the Bears and promoter Hoskins always fancied him in Edinburgh colours.

He was one of these riders who didn't achieve stardom but was very popular with the fans. He was a fast gater so often had the fans on the edge of their seat as he tried to hang on in front. Ian Hoskins chose his victory over Trevor Redmond in the 1964 Scottish Cup as his most memorable race. Kevin rated Edinburgh, Sheffield and Exeter as his favourite tracks – he liked the big ones.

In later life, based in Victoria, he was manager in a factory making oil drums. He married a girl from Middlesbrough just prior to the 1965 season and had a son. He maintained contact with other Aussie Speedway veterans.