Education
Tatum attended Brighton College from 1977 to 1980. He finished the season with an average of over six points per meeting.
Tatum attended Brighton College from 1977 to 1980. He finished the season with an average of over six points per meeting.
He started riding speedway bikes at Hackney"s training school at Hackney Wick Stadium in the winter of 1982-1983. In 1985 he signed for Coventry Bees, staying there for the next six seasons. Stints then followed at Berwick Bandits, Bradford Dukes, Arena Essex Hammers, Poole Pirates, Peterborough Panthers and the ill-fated London Lions, with brother Neville Tatum among his team-mates.
In 1990 Tatum was the highest placed British rider in the World Final at the Odsal Stadium in Bradford, finishing in 7th place with 9 points from his 5 rides.
Tatum would add a fourth Commonwealth crown to his trophy cabinet in 1992. Later in Tatum"s career, he turned his attention to grasstrack and long track to much success.
Kelvin is now a television presenter, appearing on Sky Sports speedway programmes as a presenter and commentator and is currently the lead expert commentator for Speedway and Speedway World Cup broadcasts. He began commentating when taking a break from the sport, but continued when he returned to ride for the Arena Essex Hammers in 2002.
He was awarded an Administration Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2003 New Year Honours list.
Individual World Championship 1985 - Bradford, Odsal Stadium - 8th - 8pts 1986 - Chorzów, Silesian Stadium - 3rd - 12pts 1988 - Vojens, Speedway Center - 8th - 8pts 1989 - Munich, Olympic Stadium - 5th - 10pts 1990 - Bradford, Odsal Stadium - 7th - 9pts 1991 - Göteborg, Ullevi - 8th - 8pts 1992 - Wrocław, Olympic Stadium - 10th - 6pts World Pairs Championship 1985 - Rybnik, Rybnik Municipal Stadium (with Kenny Carter) - 2nd - 27pts (13) 1987 - Pardubice, Svítkov Stadion (with Simon Wigg) - 2nd - 44pts (24) 1988 - Bradford, Odsal Stadium (with Simon Cross) - 2nd - 41pts (21) 1989 - Leszno, Alfred Smoczyk Stadium (with Paul Thorp) - 3rd - 37pts (21) 1990 - Landshut, Ellermühle Stadium (with Simon Cross) - 8th - 20pts (20) 1992 - Lonigo, Pista Speedway (with Gary Havelock / Martin Dugard) - 2nd - 23+2pts (8) World Team Cup 1985 - Long Beach, Veterans Memorial Stadium - 3rd - 13pts (3) 1986 - Göteborg, Ullevi, Vojens, Speedway Center and Bradford, Odsal Stadium - 3rd - 81pts (19) 1987 - Fredericia, Fredericia Speedway, Coventry, Brandon Stadium and Prague, Marketa Stadium - 2nd - 101pts (25) 1988 - Long Beach, Veterans Memorial Stadium - 4th - 22pts (7) 1990 - Pardubice, Svítkov Stadion - 2nd - 34pts (11) 1992 - Kumla, Kumla Speedway - 3rd - 31pts (3) 1993 - Coventry, Brandon Stadium - 4th - 14pts (2).
Tatum became British Champion twice. In 1987 and 1990. In the 1990 World Final qualifying rounds, Tatum had won the Commonwealth Final at the Belle Vue Stadium in Manchester. lieutenant was his third Commonwealth Final win after having done so in 1987 and 1988. He won the World Long Track Championship three times, in 1995, 1998 and 2000, and missed out on a fourth title in 2004 when his bike broke down whilst leading the final. Tatum was also the European Grasstrack Champion in 1995 and British Grasstrack Champion four times: in 1996, 1999, 2000 and jointly in 2001, and was almost unbeatable in domestic grasstrack events in the latter stage of his career, winning 4 British Masters Championships. Fittingly, Tatum won his last ever grasstrack event, the Bonfire Burnup in 2006 at Collier Street in Kent. Kelvin Tatum also won the Australian Long track Grand Prix in 1991 at the 800 metres (870 yards) Bathurst Showground, and again in 1999 at the Tamworth Showground. 1989 - Bradford, Odsal Stadium - Winner - 48pts (12).
