RobMcCaffery

So ironic that all of the other matches are close. That's the way it goes.....

GOT IT! http://www.stream2watch.co/live-now/live-tv/se/c-more-sport-live-stream What he said The vip box link that Brandonbee mentioned is also working so a useful backup.

I've tried everywhere I know to find a working link but without success. The link mentioned by Brandonbee isn't working and almost all sites I'm familiar with just link to that same feed. Perhaps it may change once the coverage actually starts. It looks like we're at the mercy of Eurosport 7.30 am and 1 pm tomorrow. That's your lot - no prime time scheduling

It used to be a feature of the final meetings of the year at a few British tracks to have a 'wrong way round' race to round the season off with a bit of fun. Then it was banned, presumably by the SCB on safety/insurance grounds.

I suspect it's a case of not being happy with last season (too many rain-offs and delays) and just 'seeing out the contract', rather like when Channel 4 buried the last GP highlights shows in the middle of the night. Take the 1 p.m. slot. They're showing one hour from Sweden followed by an hour of the first 'Best Pairs' event from Poland from weeks back rather than use the two hours for 'as live' coverage of the Swedish match. Now Eurosport could surprise us by including all fifteen heats but on past history I think we'd be very lucky. It's such a shame because I really enjoy the Elitserien and Tuesday nights quickly became a highlight, especially with David Rowe's expert commentary.

I think it's a legacy of years of Tony Millard mispronouncing it.

The hazard with tours of course that a bad performance the night before might adversely affect the attendance at the next track on the tour and by the end you could be getting low on all kinds of resources, human and mechanical. The 1980 Rye House northern tour to Middlesbrough and Glasgow will of course always be a fond memory for many - 40-38 on Teesside to win the title.......then a 57-21 defeat at Blantyre. I think there might have been a good reason........

Many years ago a rather awful daytime TV show was hosted by Robert Kilroy-Silk called "Share or Shaft". Clips often emerge in TV satire shows. Why is it that everytime I think of that programme I think of a BSPA meeting? One prominent announcer used to refer to his promoter as 'Sideways Sid' not because he'd been a broadsider but he never looked you in the eye and could not be straight. Eventually when you twist and twist the rules you get a fiasco like this. Sadly it was always coming and I think we know it's going to be a heat-leader replacing Ellis, not an FTR don't we? "All in the best interests of (my) speedway". (EDIT - It was called 'Shafted' and ran for 4 episodes. Wikipedia has the story. Any resemblance to any sporting bodies is coincidental. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shafted )

I'm not belittling the reunion. Surely someone of your extreme gravitas and background should see that. John's postings have become highly unwelcome. I have always given him 'space' in view of his age and past achievements but there is a limit. The constant attempts to deride today's version of the sport and to make reference to how wonderful things were at New Cross in the 1940s were touching for a while but become irritating with excessive repetition. He has consistently spoiled discussions here with, for example the farcical conversations on accessibility to speedway by bus, hence the attempt at satire here. Clearly it was over your head. I should have made it more obvious. The constant references to stock car racing in a speedway forum are also extremely inappropriate. So get off that high horse and stop choosing to see what you want to see. I was taking the mickey out of what has become a rather tedious problem. Of course I am not in any way attempting to diminish the reunion which I am sure will do fine without this forum. I am simply voicing a concern that John's behaviour on this forum is becoming damaging to his own reputation. Perhaps you only read the parts of the forum involving Wimbledon and don't see this? Getting involved with Wimbledon was my biggest error in all my time in the sport and having to deal with the incompetent PR was a significant factor so I am hardly likely to be that concerned by your ill-thought out comments here. My target was the poster, not the event. Surely someone of your erudition could see that?

Right now they're showing Motocross from Kent. I don't think that's live either

There's a difference between giving riders a fair chance to progress and the situation that we have now.

And a very happy one for some odd reason.....

Ellesmere Port actually ;-) 12 to Aldwych, 11 to Victoria, National Express 505 to Chester, F1 to Ellesmere Port. The buses were better in 1948 though. Ellesmere Port actually ;-) 12 to Aldwych, 11 to Victoria, National Express 505 to Chester, F1 to Ellesmere Port. The buses were better in 1948 though. Ellesmere Port actually ;-) 12 to Aldwych, 11 to Victoria, National Express 505 to Chester, F1 to Ellesmere Port. The buses were better in 1948 though. Ellesmere Port actually ;-) 12 to Aldwych, 11 to Victoria, National Express 505 to Chester, F1 to Ellesmere Port. The buses were better in 1948 though.

If you have problems seeing the bigger picture then you tend to resent those that do. The mantra at the BSPA has always been "If you haven't got money to throw away, shut up."

You know, reunions were so much better in the 1940s, especially those at New Cross................

Yes, pit interviewer for the stock cars, but more recently interviewer/presenter on BT Sport's football coverage of the National League. She has extensive experience of both speedway and stock cars at Belle Vue and also reported for the BBC radio station in Manchester so she's no novice.

Tours have long been a part of the second tier of racing, going back to the days of British League Division 2. At Rye House in the 70s-90s the northern tours were highlights of the season, say Middlesbrough, Edinburgh or Glasgow, then Berwick, or shorter tours like Workington and Stoke. In turn many teams would visit Rye House having been at Canterbury the previous night. Other tour pairings were Exeter and Weymouth/Poole. It's certainly not a new idea - just that the tours aren't quite as central to the league schedule as they once were. I seem to remember the likes of Canterbury doing four matches in a row in the north and Scotland. For the fans it was a great time to have fun together (what goes on tour stays on tour) and a chance to get to meet the riders if they were in the same hotel. I'm sure supporters of a certain age at Hoddesdon will smile warmly at mentions of the Bystock Hotel in Exeter or the Golden Circle in Bathgate (what goes....etc. etc. ) By the time the Rockets used to get to Berwick it was a case of a day in the car park trying to clean and generally sort out bikes. One year a rounders match broke out involving the supporters and a couple of youngsters called Bob Garrad and Ashley Pullen. I can still remember the latter shouting at me (for good reason) "faster, faster!" Precious memories of very good times.

I do wonder if it's only supporters, the referee and the odd team manager who actually take a proper overview of matches and how the formats work. After all, the promoter's taking care of the business on the day/night, sorting the cash out, topping it up if necessary, the riders are far too involved in their racing, and the team manager's tactical requirements amount to one tactical ride and when to use a reserve so he's more likely to be dealing with the riders. He'll be keeping an eye on the score but he can't necessarily take in the full nuances. So it's left to those who have the time to follow the meeting properly - the spectators to see how formats actually play out. The referees will as well but obviously they're not going to speak out publicly. I'm obviously not saying that overall the fan knows best - there are many key aspects of meetings that we're not privy to, but there are some aspects where we are the only ones who aren't too busy to actually see the results of these rush decisions or are defending them afterwards to cover our backsides. Someone said they couldn't understand the fuss over reserves moving up - the reserves he knew weren't bothered. I wonder how they feel after a few meetings of facing up to three heat-leaders a race rather than fellow FTRs and the odd second string? It's fascinating to hear the promotion of reserves was a last-minute suggestion. I wonder who made the suggestion and was the timing quite deliberate?

You must live in an area full of very well-off pensioners. There is a wider world out there than the few people you know.

I thought I was badly off back in the 70s driving from Berwick to Rye House at the end of a tour for a rain-off then heading straight back to the West Midlands. At least I didn't have to sleep in the Rye House car park on that trip.

It may be the version that was broadcast on the official SGP You Tube channel to 'selected countries', but it's not being carried on that channel but as an illicit posting, just as with the Polish matches that appear on You Tube, and last year's GPs that were put on You Tube by Speedway Ukraine. The official SGP channel is still geo-blocked in the UK. I find that to be par for the course at BT Sport which is why I was so pleased that they had the rights. They tend to feature BBC-style informed conversation with people who know what they're talking about rather than Sky's gimmick-laden, rather stilted Aussie/American confrontational and direct to camera style. We had years of the Sky and Eurosport presenters feigning either knowledge of or genuine interest in the sport and failing to realise that it's not the same as other bike sports. At last we have someone well-qualified in the sport and on TV to handle the job. I know many are used to Sky's style and perhaps find a more substantial, detailed discussion 'dull' but BT have their own, distinct approach which won't appeal to all, as with football. I'm fortunate that I prefer the BT approach but I can understand others not following it all. Someone suggested that a third person in the studio would add to it and I agree, especially given the lengthy discussion time allowed after the racing. It would give Scott more time to consider his contributions which were nevertheless top notch. He seemed to thrive on being asked a higher standard of question. The BSI World Feed camerawork did seem slightly under-par with races for minor points often being missed though. As I know from personal experience it can be hard to convince cameramen that the race isn't just about the leader. We seemed to be seeing more of the World Feed 'extras', especially the post-race riders' press conference which was welcome. It was notable to hear Nigel Pearson commenting on the possibility of there being new viewers in Britain but making sure he didn't mention BT. I do look forward to seeing how they handle the World Cup and Cardiff. That was such a good start. It was also rather good to see speedway return to Waterden Road - well, in some form (For those not in the know the site of Hackney Speedway is mainly taken up by the buildings where the BT studios are based).

No I'm the real Rob McCaffery who was on Screen Sport then announced at Rye House and a few other tracks. He came on the scene just as I left it. I must check his c.v. sometime. By the way, my comment about the Plymouth fans' letter to Scunny summing up the PL was intended as praise for the league and for Scunthorpe. I've seen a few meetings at the EWR now and wish it was my local track - a great place to watch speedway. As I've explained elsewhere it can't be easy promoting sport in a town that's been collectively holdings its breath in fear of mass unemployment. I do hope that job security returns and people can feel able to start spending money on nights out at a great speedway that thoroughly deserves to succeed.

Well, that wouldn't have benefitted a certain team so was definitely a non-starter.

And of course Club Cradley gave birth to a regular place for the Heathens at Monmore Wood.

Especially when they don't want to be