
RobMcCaffery
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Everything posted by RobMcCaffery
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Tai Woffinden book at £8.99
RobMcCaffery replied to Steve Shovlar's topic in Speedway News and Discussions
Medication IS available -
MSDL Destroyed by BSPA?
RobMcCaffery replied to Sings4Speedway's topic in Speedway News and Discussions
Inter Milan & AC Milan? I respect your involvement in and opinions of our sport but would suggest that this matter should e taken on a team by team basis rather than a blanket ban. At Rye House in 1999 we had to overcome a great deal of official hostility but it worked. Both Weymouth and a certain Mr.Godfrey's Scunthorpe both ran as nomadic teams. I know, I presented a meeting featuring both one at Iwade ;-) With some it works, with some it doesn't. In any case these junior league matches are only a step up from after-meeting practice. If a track like Swindon is happy to allow Reading to play a very minor [part in their meetings then why not? A little colour has been lost and some competitive second half action along with it. -
MSDL Destroyed by BSPA?
RobMcCaffery replied to Sings4Speedway's topic in Speedway News and Discussions
I can understand the need to ensure that these events are organised and run properly but the key point is that it is volunteer organised and there are limitations, as at higher levels of speedway, how much you can control and restrict volunteers. The point being missed is that these people are running the nomad teams out of love for their lost tracks. As a by-product they give opportunities for riders, and a bit of extra entertainment for the track's customers. Expecting them to instead run a junior team on behalf of, and in the name of the staging track needs a different motive. I know what it's like to lose my track, in my case 47 years ago so I know where these guys are coming from. Speedway has a dreadful record in quashing the enthusiasm of volunteers. Too often the attitude is "You did that? Well you can do much more - get on with it". It surely is possible for the sport to find room for this enthusiasm without applying the big stick? -
If he mentions speedway in his public appearances then I can't see a problem. Out of interest, how influential is Schroeck's father over there?
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Greg Hancock - happy retirement
RobMcCaffery replied to screm's topic in Speedway Grand Prix and Speedway World Cup
His longevity was remarkable, and a tribute to his fitness. His winning of four World Titles has to earn respect but he lost a great deal of respect from me when he kept failing to ride in major events in Britain, coming up with the excuse of "Giving kids a chance". I suspect the real reason was a good deal less positive. To me he snubbed his British fans on more than one occasion, but then when did the fans count? His antics at Melbourne didn't impress either. It rather echoed the appalling mistake made by Bruce Penhall at White City. It's sad that there is no American representation in the SGP for the first time. A great flow of talent has come to an end....for now. I do hope that Nicol or Becker can meet the challenge to replace him in due time. Over the years the Americans have given us a lot of fun, even if some of it was rather worrying ;-) Not in Greg's case. I did work with a few and those smiles weren't all that real in several cases in the 80s. I never got to know Greg so can't comment on him. The illness to his wife will have changed all priorities. I wish him a good retirement with the woman he loves at his side. Speedway is important but not THAT important. -
I'll concede that one to you but while he could have been competitive if he'd focussed he took advantage of a situation where it was laid on a plate for him to win. He still needed the skill to complete the deal. I know Egon has a high profile in Germany through his singing and drag work but did he ever use his title win to boost German speedway? Regarding Norden, the fundamemtal point is that there was no hurry to stage another final there.If people enjoyed it then fine. Enjoyment's a good thing. I just remember the relief the following year to see a truly great speedway rider (and person), Erik Gundersen, win at the Ullevi Stadium. That felt 'real'.
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Tai Woffinden book at £8.99
RobMcCaffery replied to Steve Shovlar's topic in Speedway News and Discussions
The marketing is impressive. I disagree with you that he is both British and Australian in his mind. It's pretty clear in the book that Australia is number 1 to him and there is no number 2. Riding for GB is just a business deal like riding for Sparta Wroclaw. I would have liked to hear more of his speedway past but he really only seemed to want to justify himself and his actions. -
Speedway On Tv And The Internet In 2025
RobMcCaffery replied to racers and royals's topic in Speedway News and Discussions
I don't understand. I record BT and Eurosport on a Virgin Media Tivo box and it will all be with Eurosport in the long term. We don't all open our financial veins to Sky you know ;-) -
Ben, it's already in the public domain that this season was being strongly considered. In fact, had things gone better last year we would have been running by the end of that season. You only have to look at Dave Longman's photos on Farcebook to see that a very major reconstruction of the stadium is underway. As for available promoters, well three attempts have been made so far in the form of the Dugard, Mead and Jolly attempts, so there's plenty of interest and I'm sure that there's plenty of others. It's also been put in the public domain that Rye House Group (a.k.a. The Dog People) are very keen on having speedway back and you don't need to have specialist knowledge to know that the Rockets will be returning eventually. The information is out there, providing it is accurate. What was not helping the situation are doom-mongers predicting the end of speedway, that the stadium will go and that the BSPA are putting up huge financial entry barriers. I responded to the OP to reassure them. What an awful thing to do and thoroughly deserving of pitstop84's abuse. What an idea, wanting to help people!!!! The Mead project wouldf have seen me returning to a very hands on role at Rye House, including presentation. I get enthusiastic, start working on ideas then I run up against the likes of pitstop84 and think "Why bother, let others take the rubbish". (edited ;-) )
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Did I call you a keyboard warrior? If so I apologise. It should have read offensive poster trying to cause trouble. I don't know all, but there is plenty I DO know. If you want to play the childish numbers game, I'm in my 50th season. And my dad's bigger than yours. Now any of the grown-ups want to talk about speedway or do we sink to this individual's petty level??
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Nothing yet. It's going to take time, if nothing else to get the stadium ready. I'd say it's just a matter of time. There's been a great deal going on.
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It was different if you were there. Norden is (or was) a remarkable situation. A half-decent, large if open stadium but stuck in a field (complete with cow pats) in a remote part of a remote town in the far north west of Germany. As others have said, most supporters had to stay miles away in a different country. As I got out of the car on arriving, just avoiding a fresh 'wilkommen in Deutschland" gift from an incontinent cow I could only think. "Two years ago we were at Wembley, Now this. How low can the sport be dragged?" By later German standards this was sadly a high point for them, bar Munich. As for the meeting it was clear that the whole thing had been set up for a Muller victory. The track was perfect for him and suddenly a man who had done little to enhance his speedway, as opposed to long track reputation outside his own country was cruising to victory. It felt false and an insult to the World Championship. I felt cheated. Wembley, Malmo, Gothenburg, Katowice, The LA Coliseum and this - let down totally by the Germans who got what they wanted - a world final of their own, fitting their own Sunday afternoon amateur sport standards and featuring their own winner.. Yes Egon was a superstar at long track, but at speedway his reputation internationally was lower than poor old Szczakiel, the man found guilty of being the 'wrong' world champion.... (This by the way from someone who enjoys his journeys to Germany - just not for speedway...)
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Tai Woffinden book at £8.99
RobMcCaffery replied to Steve Shovlar's topic in Speedway News and Discussions
I agree entirely. He clearly states that he considers himself an Aussie and that he only rode for GB to satisfy a generous sponsor. I had hoped for insight into matters that Tai had been involved with. All I got was to see the spark of ruthlessness that makes many champions. I prefer the ones that aren't quite so cynical and ruthless. There were some who were a joy to know. I have long defended Tai as British. Scunthorpe is definitely British and his father Rob most definitely was. I'd hoped to finish the book on Tai's side. Sadly my reaction is the opposite. He is a modern man. I prefer the past..... On a production note, it was pretty clear which bits were inserted by Peter Oakes wholesale - the historical back-up to a point being made, for example. It was an interesting read but left me greatly saddened. It'll be hard to support the guy in the SGP, knowing his only interest in racing for GB is professional. He's not one of us. I wish he was. I'd rather have a determined, sincere British failure than an Aussie success pretending to be a Brit. Before reading this book there is no way I would have said that, so it was a worthwhile, if misguided read. With someone as authoritative as Peter Oakes behind the project it's pretty clear that Tai got his way. I bought my copy on Kindle for £5.03. It was just about value for money, mainly as an exercise in Peter Oakes' knowledge and superb writing ability on our sport. -
MSDL Destroyed by BSPA?
RobMcCaffery replied to Sings4Speedway's topic in Speedway News and Discussions
What does it matter what a team in second half junior racing is called as long as the riders get their opportunities? Also, giving old fans a chance to see a team in their name and in their colours race at such a low level cannot be harmful to the sport. But then, that would please customers........ -
Speedway On Tv And The Internet In 2025
RobMcCaffery replied to racers and royals's topic in Speedway News and Discussions
I meant as it was when BT were covering the Premiership. I didn't see why Eurosport would publish them any earlier now.. Obviously we know the SGP and SoN dates. -
Polish and other Speedway videos 2025
RobMcCaffery replied to racers and royals's topic in International World of Speedway
Looking at that freeze frame he's lost a lot of weight ..... and height. :-D -
Birmingham Brummies 2020
RobMcCaffery replied to ProudtobeaBrummie's topic in SGB Championship League Speedway
Best not to ask about wise men and virgins....... -
Yes, can't see the Championship putting up with them for long.
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You get nothing if you don't try. If the BSPA weren't happy all they had to do was say no. I doubt whether Ron would have gone legal.
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I did say that about Jens, Grachan. He most certainly had a British wife and was permanently domiciled in Britain. They were regulars at all social events, especially afterf the meetings. No question of dashing off for more important bookings.
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Many thanks for the guidance HA. You bring out some very valid points. If it was so bad to hire Schroeck why was nobody complaining? Despite the views held by some supporters not all in speedway officialdom are fools. Regarding Commonwealth v EEC riders I'd suggest that the perception was still that the Auissies and Kiwis were 'us' while the Europeans were 'foreigners'. As you say, those with direct British links had patriality, the remainder without rights. I'd say the language and cultural links with the Aussies and Kiwis helped strengthen that view, despite the law. The observation of the slump in BL numbers in the mid-80s is very valid with lot of mediocre Europeans suddenly finding places at a premium. At this point I have a confession to make. I might be to blame, not my erstwhile boss, Ron. I suppose I do have to take some of the blame. When Screen Sport approached KM Video to cover speedway on their new service in 1984 we naturally went for British League racing. However the BSPA believed that doing a deal with us for league racing would conflict with their deal with ITV for World of Sport. Faced with a golden opportunity to put league racing on TV for the first time I argued for coverage of the National League instead. My determined lobbying for my beloved NL won the argument. The NL was semi-detached from the BSPA then and they grabbed at the chance arguing that cable and satellite TV was narrowcasting rather than broadcasting! Suddenly I was in the position to put my decade and a half experience as a fan of an NL team to good use! After the first year of coverage in 1984 several BL tracks started looking at an NL, with a TV contract, that might be a better offer than the BL and we had the first mass switch. I remember Wimbledon manager Cyril Maidment telling me in an interview "We are moving ACROSS, not down". After 1985 the NL was a completely different 'beast' and now a long way from its training origins. It was only later with Rasmussen and Schroeck's signings that the gates opened but by then the places once available for up and coming EEC riders in BL tracks were much reduced and with a pool of talent looking for places the NL was under incredible pressure and temptation to hire them. The NL was changed by the influx of tracks like Wimbledon and Hackneyand the return of Eastbourne and Exeter Okay IT WAS MY FAULT I won't come quietly......
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Who is financing speedway in Poland ?
RobMcCaffery replied to PolskiZuzel's topic in International World of Speedway
Yes it gets boring when people won't conveniently give up and look the other way. Regarding the attendance figures that you kindly published they are very revealing. Yes of course Torun's gates have declined. However they are still the envy of any track outside Poland In Britain, and I suspect Sweden the figures would be in collapse, not decline. It does not destroy my argument that attendances are a significant influence on commercial success. If not, why not just let the public in for free? Of course not, despite the TV deals, sponsorship and public subsidy you still need admission income. Mind you I did help run a speedway team a couple of decades agothat only had gate receipts for a couple of meeting all year. The rest of the Rye House revenue in 1999 was entirely through club memberships, sponsorship and programme sales for the matches held as second halves of double-headers at Mildenhall, which were the majority of fixtures. -
Regarding the wider issue of possible conflict between EEC employment law and speedway regulations in the late 80s I suspect this is a case for Humphrey Appleby,
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I don't think people realise how much of a divide formed between the BL and NL, although 1975/6 was early. By the mid 80s the NL had its own offices and administration and I believe the split could have gone much further. Having that application in rejected in 1975/6 may have sown the seed.
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I'd forgotten. You prompted me to look it up. About the only significant speedway nations that were in the EEC when we joined was Germany. Denmark and Poland came much later.