Post by admin on Aug 30, 2008 20:01:33 GMT 1
He may be about to be voted Scotland's No 1 sports fan for 2008 (he's already been declared winner of the "Over 16 Male" category), but he's better known to most as the long-time editor of Edinburgh's programme and the club's PR guru. He is, of course, Mike Hunter and he graciously agreed to give us a short interview. And here it is:
1..Okay, let's start with the basics; when did you first watch speedway, do you have any memories of your first meeting and what is it about the sport that keeps you coming back for more?
I had been encouraged for a year by a school friend to try speedway, and I was starting to read about it in the press. I first went on 10th June 1961 to a match between Monarchs and Rayleigh Rockets which was a last heat decider, a 40-38 win for Monarchs. I was hooked right away and I can remember quite a bit about that meeting. It actually featured in a recent book about Speedway classics and it was a good way to start following speedway. I went to school on the Monday and told everyone I had found something better than football.
2..As a long-term follower of the Monarchs, who would be your favourite riders over the years and which one would top the pile (I'd have to say as a neutral, Les Collins, with an honourable mention for Mark Fiora)?
I always say I can’t choose between Les Collins, Kenny McKinna, Peter Carr and Frede Schott, because they are all perfect.
3..As a follow on, who've been your favourite visitors to the various Edinburgh tracks over the years?
Many riders – I’ve been going a long time remember! From the sixties, Reg Reeves who was in that first meeting I saw, Trevor Redmond, Eric Boothroyd, Jack Kitchen, Ivan Mauger, Eric and Nigel Boocock.
From Powderhall ones that come to mind are Steve Lawson, Mike Ferreira, Gordon Kennett, Ben Howe, Sam Ermolenko, Mark Loram. At Armadale there have been Carl Stonehewer, Martin Dixon, James Grieves, David Howe, Shane Parker – all these involved in great racing
But really there are dozens more.
4..Let's go back to the mid-1980s when the rivalry between Edinburgh and Berwick was, or seemed to be, rather intense, with various spats; happy days?
Rivalry was intense certainly, because Berwick were very good in those days and I thought one or two of them sometimes went a bit over the top. I got on very well with Ian Graham who did so much for the Bandits but we certainly had our disagreements!
‘Spats’ as you call them aren’t always enjoyable at the time but in speedway you can usually have a discussion or argument and still stay friends.
Happy days, certainly. Rivalry is good. The only things I don’t like about speedway are injuries and financial problems, both far too prevelant.
5..In those days, of course, Edinburgh - as befitted a side nicknamed the Monarchs - were domiciled in the palatial Powderhall, while the Bandits were in the middle of a field, but what a remarkable project Berrington Lough was, wasn't it?
It was a superb achievement and showed how dedicated the Bandits’ fans who were involved were. I would have liked the track to be a little wider but it was a neat, compact venue. It may well be that Edinburgh will need to come up with something similar some time soon and I hope we can do as well.
6..As a follow on, I consider that few sides mirrored their promoter's character in quite the way Berwick sides of the mid-1980s reflected the character of Davie Fairbairn - he was rough and ready, so were his teams and the Monarchs could rarely cope; why not?
There is absolutely no doubt that Davie was a great motivator. He paid his riders well I believe but let them know in no uncertain terms what he expected of them. Edinburgh had no-one on the management side who could motivate as well, and it wasn’t until we brought Les Collins and Doug Wyer to Powderhall that our riders started to cope with the Bandits.
7..Again on the same subject, Rob Grant (Snr) was famously described in an Edinburgh programme as "continuing to ride like an out of control Centurian tank"; did you coin that phrase, or was it another contributor?
I imagine that was me. To be honest I wasn’t keen on Grantie’s style. But Dave Trownson once asked me not to say anything bad about him in the programme because it just got him mad, and then he took it out on our riders!
8..Which brings us neatly to what you're probably best known for: the Edinburgh programme. For more years than most of us care to remember you've been producing first class programmes for the Monarchs; how much time and effort goes into producing a programme and are you ever satisfied with the final product?
It does take a lot of time. I don’t really count but it can be many hours per week. In the last few years I have probably cut back on things that take the most time, and also found other contributors to kindly assist. I think I should do more interviews with home and visiting riders, but when I did those (although the riders were very helpful) it could be hard to get hold of them at times.
If I didn’t also do the videos, website, press releases, hospitality organisation etc., I would probably add more interviews to the programme, but it is very time consuming.
As for being satisfied – not often, really. I thought the 1995 programme was about the best we’ve done. This year’s one I think is better than for a year or two.
I don’t like the Speedway Star’s method of rating programmes by the way! I think it is desperately poor.
9..As a follow on, where do you get your "concept" for the next year's programme from and ideas for content? I remember Berwick claiming that the "We Hear" section you utilised in the mid-1980s was originally used in their programmes in the 1970s and I suppose re-cycling ideas has a role?
Most of the time I just think about what I would like to see in it myself. I think if you have a good informative programme it helps to keep fans keen and helps them to feel part of things.
I liked doing “We Hear” but the promotion were nervous of what I might say! I wasn’t conscious of pinching it from Berwick. I think I have developed over the years a better sense of what you can get away with, and how you can get your point across without landing the club in trouble, because to do that is not acceptable – it is after all the club’s official programme.
10..On a related subject, sort of, what effect do you think the "internet revolution" has had on speedway and do you think the sport has capitalised on what the internet has to offer?
It has changed the way news becomes available – everything is a lot faster, though we always have to remember that not everyone gets their news via computers.
But I certainly think that promoters have to try to use the internet and not set themselves against it – that is very short-sighted.
I think Speedway has done quite well on the internet. The Live Updates site is excellent, Speedway Plus is a masterpiece, and there are some good club sites.
When I look at football sites I find them cluttered and overly commercial and I think Speedway compares quite well.
I’m not a great fan of the BSF because of the number of petty arguments and insults you get on it, but at least it provides a platform and if the standard is often low, that is the fault of speedway fans themselves.
At the risk of sounding patronising I like your Weird World and it’s a pity you don’t have the Wierdity to talk about this season!
11..Turning our attention to the present, Edinburgh just missed out on signing Magnus Zetterstrom, but it's looking like that could be a blessing in disguise, as the Monarchs seem to have a well balanced and effective team; what are your thoughts on Edinburgh's 2008 side and how well do you think they'll do?
I’m pretty happy with it and Ryan Fisher is already looking like a great signing. He’s a class rider and a nice bloke. Thomas H Jonasson will do well as long as he realises it will take a few weeks to master the different tracks over here, and our middle order of Lawson, Wethers, Sneddon, Tully have all developed very well.
Having said that we might still struggle on the usual problem tracks like King’s Lynn, Sheffield, Rye House. But who won’t? All I really ask for is a good standard of entertainment. I’d be surprised if we won the league.
12..Do you keep an eye on happenings elsewhere in the speedway world, such as Sweden and Poland, or do you just concentrate on domestic affairs?
I am interested in all speedway. I would love to visit a lot more tracks abroad but it is hard to find time.
13..And as a follow on, do you follow the Grands Prix and, if you do, who is your tip to be world champion this season?
Very much so, they are great. It’s hard to see anyone beating Nicki Pedersen but I hope there are a few up there contesting the lead.
14..On to more difficult terrain, there's no doubt that the sport in this country is facing a difficult time, what reasons would you give for this and how would you like to see them addressed?
When you think how far speedway has fallen from the boom years of the forties, the sixties, seventies and early eighties, it is quite frightening really. How much lower can we go before the sport can’t be sustained?
The reasons, well here are some –
Poor venues at a time when the bigger sports are improving their stadiums. Failure to invest during the good times.
Possibly slicker tracks and faster bikes leading to more processional racing – though I think this is sometimes over-stated..
Smaller crowds mean poorer atmosphere – it’s a downward spiral.
The general ‘celebrity culture’ of the UK which has the media ramming all sorts of rubbish down our throats – leaving little room for speedway.
If I’m honest, depressingly enough I doubt there is a real answer to the decline. But I would like to see control of speedway in the UK taken away from the promoters. They mean well but are embarrassingly bad at running things. I would prefer a small ‘Control Board’ with some representation by the promoters but one knowledgeable and powerful supremo – whoever that might be.
I think one of the biggest failures of UK Speedway is providing nothing for youngsters from 5 to 14. In Australia and Scandinavia this is the foundation of their success.
And although it seems daft I’d like to see Speedway in the Olympics, simply because Olympic sports get so much support from the authorities.
15..On a related subject, I know that the statistical side of the sport appeals to you, but do you think that in Britain the sport is too beholden to the tyranny of averages, since as far as I can tell, various points limits have never brought the "parity" that was intended?
No, I think by and large points limits have been a good thing. I think teams would have been a lot more uneven without them.
But I don’t like the annual mayhem whereby everyone has to completely rebuild at the start of each season. It has made club loyalty very hard to maintain. I would like to come up with a better method which would allow teams to keep the basis of their side together and encourage the weaker ones to strengthen up rather than destroy the stronger ones.
16..Okay, we'll end with a tricky one; Dick Barrie - annoying imbecile or intelligent commentator on the sport?
You did allow me the chance to duck out of this one but that would not be right!
I think Dick Barrie is extremely knowledgeable about the sport, and if you ever have a personal conversation with him about speedway, I think anyone would find that. He has seen so much over the years of all aspects of speedway.
He has certainly given me plenty of advice over the years, most of it pretty good.
At his best he is an excellent presenter. He has done his best work at some of the big meetings, eg the 1985 World Final.
I must say though that sometimes his style grates on me, when he is winding up some set of fans or rabbitting on interminably. I think he is sometimes pursuing his own agenda.
Dick thinks I am far too straight laced and serious about speedway but that is how I prefer it.
But if it is a choice between annoying imbecile or intelligent commentator on the sport then I would have to say the latter. But not necessarily on a Saturday night!
As ever, our thanks to Mike Hunter for taking the time and trouble to answer our questions and to Midnight_Lady for helping to arrange the interview. I hope everyone enjoys it.
1..Okay, let's start with the basics; when did you first watch speedway, do you have any memories of your first meeting and what is it about the sport that keeps you coming back for more?
I had been encouraged for a year by a school friend to try speedway, and I was starting to read about it in the press. I first went on 10th June 1961 to a match between Monarchs and Rayleigh Rockets which was a last heat decider, a 40-38 win for Monarchs. I was hooked right away and I can remember quite a bit about that meeting. It actually featured in a recent book about Speedway classics and it was a good way to start following speedway. I went to school on the Monday and told everyone I had found something better than football.
2..As a long-term follower of the Monarchs, who would be your favourite riders over the years and which one would top the pile (I'd have to say as a neutral, Les Collins, with an honourable mention for Mark Fiora)?
I always say I can’t choose between Les Collins, Kenny McKinna, Peter Carr and Frede Schott, because they are all perfect.
3..As a follow on, who've been your favourite visitors to the various Edinburgh tracks over the years?
Many riders – I’ve been going a long time remember! From the sixties, Reg Reeves who was in that first meeting I saw, Trevor Redmond, Eric Boothroyd, Jack Kitchen, Ivan Mauger, Eric and Nigel Boocock.
From Powderhall ones that come to mind are Steve Lawson, Mike Ferreira, Gordon Kennett, Ben Howe, Sam Ermolenko, Mark Loram. At Armadale there have been Carl Stonehewer, Martin Dixon, James Grieves, David Howe, Shane Parker – all these involved in great racing
But really there are dozens more.
4..Let's go back to the mid-1980s when the rivalry between Edinburgh and Berwick was, or seemed to be, rather intense, with various spats; happy days?
Rivalry was intense certainly, because Berwick were very good in those days and I thought one or two of them sometimes went a bit over the top. I got on very well with Ian Graham who did so much for the Bandits but we certainly had our disagreements!
‘Spats’ as you call them aren’t always enjoyable at the time but in speedway you can usually have a discussion or argument and still stay friends.
Happy days, certainly. Rivalry is good. The only things I don’t like about speedway are injuries and financial problems, both far too prevelant.
5..In those days, of course, Edinburgh - as befitted a side nicknamed the Monarchs - were domiciled in the palatial Powderhall, while the Bandits were in the middle of a field, but what a remarkable project Berrington Lough was, wasn't it?
It was a superb achievement and showed how dedicated the Bandits’ fans who were involved were. I would have liked the track to be a little wider but it was a neat, compact venue. It may well be that Edinburgh will need to come up with something similar some time soon and I hope we can do as well.
6..As a follow on, I consider that few sides mirrored their promoter's character in quite the way Berwick sides of the mid-1980s reflected the character of Davie Fairbairn - he was rough and ready, so were his teams and the Monarchs could rarely cope; why not?
There is absolutely no doubt that Davie was a great motivator. He paid his riders well I believe but let them know in no uncertain terms what he expected of them. Edinburgh had no-one on the management side who could motivate as well, and it wasn’t until we brought Les Collins and Doug Wyer to Powderhall that our riders started to cope with the Bandits.
7..Again on the same subject, Rob Grant (Snr) was famously described in an Edinburgh programme as "continuing to ride like an out of control Centurian tank"; did you coin that phrase, or was it another contributor?
I imagine that was me. To be honest I wasn’t keen on Grantie’s style. But Dave Trownson once asked me not to say anything bad about him in the programme because it just got him mad, and then he took it out on our riders!
8..Which brings us neatly to what you're probably best known for: the Edinburgh programme. For more years than most of us care to remember you've been producing first class programmes for the Monarchs; how much time and effort goes into producing a programme and are you ever satisfied with the final product?
It does take a lot of time. I don’t really count but it can be many hours per week. In the last few years I have probably cut back on things that take the most time, and also found other contributors to kindly assist. I think I should do more interviews with home and visiting riders, but when I did those (although the riders were very helpful) it could be hard to get hold of them at times.
If I didn’t also do the videos, website, press releases, hospitality organisation etc., I would probably add more interviews to the programme, but it is very time consuming.
As for being satisfied – not often, really. I thought the 1995 programme was about the best we’ve done. This year’s one I think is better than for a year or two.
I don’t like the Speedway Star’s method of rating programmes by the way! I think it is desperately poor.
9..As a follow on, where do you get your "concept" for the next year's programme from and ideas for content? I remember Berwick claiming that the "We Hear" section you utilised in the mid-1980s was originally used in their programmes in the 1970s and I suppose re-cycling ideas has a role?
Most of the time I just think about what I would like to see in it myself. I think if you have a good informative programme it helps to keep fans keen and helps them to feel part of things.
I liked doing “We Hear” but the promotion were nervous of what I might say! I wasn’t conscious of pinching it from Berwick. I think I have developed over the years a better sense of what you can get away with, and how you can get your point across without landing the club in trouble, because to do that is not acceptable – it is after all the club’s official programme.
10..On a related subject, sort of, what effect do you think the "internet revolution" has had on speedway and do you think the sport has capitalised on what the internet has to offer?
It has changed the way news becomes available – everything is a lot faster, though we always have to remember that not everyone gets their news via computers.
But I certainly think that promoters have to try to use the internet and not set themselves against it – that is very short-sighted.
I think Speedway has done quite well on the internet. The Live Updates site is excellent, Speedway Plus is a masterpiece, and there are some good club sites.
When I look at football sites I find them cluttered and overly commercial and I think Speedway compares quite well.
I’m not a great fan of the BSF because of the number of petty arguments and insults you get on it, but at least it provides a platform and if the standard is often low, that is the fault of speedway fans themselves.
At the risk of sounding patronising I like your Weird World and it’s a pity you don’t have the Wierdity to talk about this season!
11..Turning our attention to the present, Edinburgh just missed out on signing Magnus Zetterstrom, but it's looking like that could be a blessing in disguise, as the Monarchs seem to have a well balanced and effective team; what are your thoughts on Edinburgh's 2008 side and how well do you think they'll do?
I’m pretty happy with it and Ryan Fisher is already looking like a great signing. He’s a class rider and a nice bloke. Thomas H Jonasson will do well as long as he realises it will take a few weeks to master the different tracks over here, and our middle order of Lawson, Wethers, Sneddon, Tully have all developed very well.
Having said that we might still struggle on the usual problem tracks like King’s Lynn, Sheffield, Rye House. But who won’t? All I really ask for is a good standard of entertainment. I’d be surprised if we won the league.
12..Do you keep an eye on happenings elsewhere in the speedway world, such as Sweden and Poland, or do you just concentrate on domestic affairs?
I am interested in all speedway. I would love to visit a lot more tracks abroad but it is hard to find time.
13..And as a follow on, do you follow the Grands Prix and, if you do, who is your tip to be world champion this season?
Very much so, they are great. It’s hard to see anyone beating Nicki Pedersen but I hope there are a few up there contesting the lead.
14..On to more difficult terrain, there's no doubt that the sport in this country is facing a difficult time, what reasons would you give for this and how would you like to see them addressed?
When you think how far speedway has fallen from the boom years of the forties, the sixties, seventies and early eighties, it is quite frightening really. How much lower can we go before the sport can’t be sustained?
The reasons, well here are some –
Poor venues at a time when the bigger sports are improving their stadiums. Failure to invest during the good times.
Possibly slicker tracks and faster bikes leading to more processional racing – though I think this is sometimes over-stated..
Smaller crowds mean poorer atmosphere – it’s a downward spiral.
The general ‘celebrity culture’ of the UK which has the media ramming all sorts of rubbish down our throats – leaving little room for speedway.
If I’m honest, depressingly enough I doubt there is a real answer to the decline. But I would like to see control of speedway in the UK taken away from the promoters. They mean well but are embarrassingly bad at running things. I would prefer a small ‘Control Board’ with some representation by the promoters but one knowledgeable and powerful supremo – whoever that might be.
I think one of the biggest failures of UK Speedway is providing nothing for youngsters from 5 to 14. In Australia and Scandinavia this is the foundation of their success.
And although it seems daft I’d like to see Speedway in the Olympics, simply because Olympic sports get so much support from the authorities.
15..On a related subject, I know that the statistical side of the sport appeals to you, but do you think that in Britain the sport is too beholden to the tyranny of averages, since as far as I can tell, various points limits have never brought the "parity" that was intended?
No, I think by and large points limits have been a good thing. I think teams would have been a lot more uneven without them.
But I don’t like the annual mayhem whereby everyone has to completely rebuild at the start of each season. It has made club loyalty very hard to maintain. I would like to come up with a better method which would allow teams to keep the basis of their side together and encourage the weaker ones to strengthen up rather than destroy the stronger ones.
16..Okay, we'll end with a tricky one; Dick Barrie - annoying imbecile or intelligent commentator on the sport?
You did allow me the chance to duck out of this one but that would not be right!
I think Dick Barrie is extremely knowledgeable about the sport, and if you ever have a personal conversation with him about speedway, I think anyone would find that. He has seen so much over the years of all aspects of speedway.
He has certainly given me plenty of advice over the years, most of it pretty good.
At his best he is an excellent presenter. He has done his best work at some of the big meetings, eg the 1985 World Final.
I must say though that sometimes his style grates on me, when he is winding up some set of fans or rabbitting on interminably. I think he is sometimes pursuing his own agenda.
Dick thinks I am far too straight laced and serious about speedway but that is how I prefer it.
But if it is a choice between annoying imbecile or intelligent commentator on the sport then I would have to say the latter. But not necessarily on a Saturday night!
As ever, our thanks to Mike Hunter for taking the time and trouble to answer our questions and to Midnight_Lady for helping to arrange the interview. I hope everyone enjoys it.