RobMcCaffery

Some of the comments show that while news (or gossip) is plentiful online, it takes the Star to give accuracy and perspective. The features in this week's issue are excellent. It shows the strength of the magazine how faced with an appalling situation it can rise to the challenge. The rider analysis of tracks is a superb example of what the Star excels at. I just hope that these efforts are backed-up by the supporters. There's many times I've needed the Star. Now it's time to repay.

I'd better add that I am most definitely NOT looking for work. I hung up my mic 15 years ago and am happy now just to watch, and hopefully pass on a little knowledge. I still want to help the sport but the days of being able to are largely gone, on health grounds at the very least...

I'm sorry but much video output is not suitable for TV transmission by major TV stations. It might work on local TV where standards are lower. What looks okay to the non-professional would cause kittens to professionals if transmitted. It might be okay for a short clip but the following problems which do not occur in ALL production companies' work need to be cleared up before any serious TV station will consider for anything less than a short play: One camera operation Multi-camera operation where the cameras are not technically synchronised, causing a major change in picture quality when switching between cameras Poor camerawork, fast panning, camera searching for the subject Poor commentary Not taking the job seriously - just 'a bit of fun' . During the past few weeks, careful, searching of speedway meetings on You Tube plus the rewind project currently running and my own collection of videos has allowed me watch well over thirty meetings in the past month, with about sixty to go. Some production companies avoid the above points. Many are using decent graphics and multi-camera operations with good commentaries. Several are not. It's okay selling that work to fans for a few pounds but not to a wider TV market. The needs of existing fans and the wider market often differ very strongly, as with outside professionals being very keen on Pearson and Tatum's work while many in speedway take a different view. Now before someone sways these are the words of a bitter ex-commentator I know the work of mine I've seen so far in 1982/3 for KM Video was way below broadcast standard, as were the technical standards and graphics, but that was at the dawn of video coverage. I'm not satisfied with my later work for Screen Sport but the station and production team were happy. Unfortunately I didn't get the chance to develop more than five years into my commentary career. I do wonder where I could have taken it but that's by the by. What I DID pick up on were the standards required by TV. No doubt many of the current firms will say that they do supply short clips to TV. Poor standards are okay for ... short clips. Standards with some providers need to rise substantially before their work is suitable for network TV. As a tailpiece, I saw one fiasco where the cameraman decided during the female presenters into by panning down her body to focus on her legs, then show the presenter and meeting staff having a laugh during the interval over who got cakes! You might think that's a 'good laugh'. Anyone programming a TV station wouldn't see the joke.... Speedway's been video recorded for forty years now. It grieves me to see, or more often hear what is put on the market after all this time. There is some superb work out there, but not enough.

You could always wait until travel restrictions are lifted and go to Nigeria to collect in person

I prefer to wait and see - it tends to work....

The 1918 pandemic killed 100 million people worldwide which was an appalling total, but 95% of people escaped it. Any deaths are bad enough but it's important to keep a sense of proportion before people get terrified of ever touching a person or leaving home again. I've seen people going way over the top here and justifying it as being "realistic". The reality is that so far we've sadly lost 10,000 people. This means 99.985% of the British population have survived so far. Stay safe - stay sane.

The need to reuse very expensive video masters had eased by the 1970s so there's more chance of material surviving. Fortunately, although it doesn't show on-air, London Weekend TV still exists (probably renamed by now) so the World of Sport archive should be safe. The problems a ever are rights and persuading modern schedulers that vintage speedway is attractive programming, even in these straitened times. Just had a thought, it was Tony Jackson of Workington Speedway who got the rights to distribute the 1973 World Team Cup Final from Wembley. He might have some insight into the rights.

I watched them both the same night. Got to say how impressed I've been by the racing in several; old Bandits matches I've found on You Tube. There's quite a lot on there, mainly from the Bob Tasker days. I can now see why Michal Makovsky was such a hero up there.

You can watch either of them afterwards so no need to choose.

A true great. R.I.P. Eric Linden Danny Carter, Rick Eldon Angus Kix. (There must have been more) Not only a huge figure in speedway journalism but a stalwart of the TV Times' features division. His name was most publicised as editor of the magazine's crossword. Never got to meet him. Wish I had.

Yes, Mike Hunter and I go back a very long way. It's always been a very professional set-up. I always enjoyed my visits to Powderhall and Armadale.

Mike's commentary on the Monarchs' narrow escape against Berwick was painfully direct and honest. It's remarkable how Monarchs video have been able to keep developing and put the efforts of certain southern-based services to shame. (Okay, Mike was a colleague on KM Video but that has no influence on the judgement, honest!).

https://www.facebook.com/edinburghmonarchs/ If watching after the transmission there should be a posting with link on the page or look in the videos section.

Panthers fans might enjoy this memory of 40 (!) yeears ago!

One problem is that the YouTube clips from Speedway Portal are largely behind the scenes coverage rather than mracing, except for their coverage of the Isle of Wight. They are putting a lot of effort but rights can be such an obstacle. A regular supply of past racing from the Oaktree Arena would give quite a 'lift' in these troubled times.

I thought I'd better add that if you do go ahead with live pay per view once the season gets underway I hope to be a regular viewer if funds permit.

I'm really enjoying these videos and it is great to see what an excellent job is being achieved by EMTV. Mike's commentaries are always a superb 'listen'. You're doing a great job and it's a great comfort to know I can see a couple of excellent second tier meetings a week during this horrible situation. Thank you, Monarchs. (that's me banned from Ashfield......)

Simply stating MY opinion. I'm allowed one as well. It was the way you phrased it that made it sound like you were trying to sound superior. "Staring at a pc screen". I don't stare. I read....

I sit on the sofa reading it on a tablet, or on the phone when I used to be allowed out of the house, or on the pc if I'm in my office. Each to their own. No one way is superior, just whatever suits the person and the moment.

It is far too early to judge, far, far too early.

The usual argument of the depressive. Why make things worse than they are? Realism for you might be agonising for others desperate for a return to normality. Why make it worse?

One kiosk for the ref, one for his guide dog.

Quite right.

I see people are abusing the current situation to promote their own private agendas. The sarcasm from one does suggest desperation. You are free to advance individual racing instead of teams or putting together composite meetings, despite there being clear evidence that apart from SGPs individual racing is box-office poison and that mixed meetings please none and annoy all. The situation is serious but making the sport profoundly worse would be suicidal. I shall leave you both to it. Even in self-isolation there simply isn't enough time. These ideas have been tried - and failed and no amount of sarcasm will change that.

Yes, really. They can have this conversation while enjoying their overpriced pints "I pay £17 to get in here and half the night's racing I wouldn't watch for free. How long before the next speedway? Oh, time to go home I think". It's rather like interrupting a football match to play rugby.