I have been photographing "off road motorcycle" sport for over thirty years mainly following the Enduro events prior to that I started my interest in two wheeler sport by photographing Scooter Racing in the seventies.

UPDATE

I suppose I had better put up an explanation for the removal of all the recent photographs of this years and last years events .Before anyone says it is a case of "sour grapes" about comments made in the "forum" about me, forget it I have been called worse, and it has not bothered me,being called an "idiot" and "muppett", to a thread I started, this is not so, however it does have something to do with one persons remarks, I am not bothered what people have to say about me on that forum I have broad shoulders and I come from Liverpool were we are used to it, I have always had a habit of saying it as it is,as we do in Liverpool ,and if it annoys people then tough luck,what I say know will probably infuriate them ,but again it is how I see it.I removed the photographs in question and left the old ones on ( for now anyway) because I think that these are the real "racers" and they epitimise the sport of "scooter racing" in the early seventies, eighties when it "WAS" scooter racing. Todays events are like an add on to other events,or by invitation, to add to the motorcycle programme not like it used to be like ........"Scooters Racing" nothing else.

I went back to taking photographs of the sport and initially I was a bit bored with having to stand round, or sit in my car for ages waiting for the scooters to race, don't get me wrong I am a motorcyclist as well, but in this case I went to see scooters and photograph them, there are motorcycle events in abundance that I could have gone to, if I wanted to take photographs of them, it is not just me, I bet there are plenty of scooterists, that pay to see them racing and are a bit peeved off, to find they have to spend nearly all the day watching something that they are not interested in. I had hoped that getting involved I could maybe generate some form of move to getting the old times back, sad to say I realise that this will never happen and I have lost all interest in doing so, and as I usually do I walk away,I don't usually respond to name calling as I regard it as the lowest form of wit, but it seems it is the norm on that forum, before I contacted Paul Green to cancel my registration and remove the thread, I could have responded in a likewise manner to the "muppett" remarks and spell out a few home truths, instead I just cancelled everything, and removed all the up to date events from my "blog" .I would finally like to point out, that I will be very surprised if the sport improves, as it is all down to a chosen few accepted they volunteer for the job, but when someone makes a statement, "I am a sports photographer and did not want to pick up a camera at that event but helps out when he can",he then adds that I was taking the p*** out of one of the riders as he was trying to sort out a problem for him,sorry but I was not taking the p*** out of anyone ,if you had been there earlier on you would have heard him taking the P*** out of me in other words it was just banter between the two of us, the same at other events and if he said it was as you say P*** taking well this just proves to me how right I am in my opinion of the sport in its present format,as with all the smart comments there has not been one to correct this from that particular rider which I am not surprised as I would not expect anyone on that forum to correct anything that has been said that is incorrect, also I did not realise who it was, but now you have pointed out, it was you working on his Vespa, and at that time you mentioned to someone else at that time, that you had rang the magazine in question, to tell them you were available, as you would not be riding, then on the forum make the statement you say I miss- interpreted, no wonder, it gets confusing by the minute available but ???????, Anyway the proof of what I said was correct ,it was a golden opportunity missed to showcase the sport,and as it was pointed out in the Forum "it would be in the following months edition", I must have got a different copy as the report of the event, well if you blinked you would miss it, (I obviously blinked), then has the cheek to ask why don't I write reports on the events, fat chance of that happening,I did have plenty of suggestions for the sport, in fact it was myself who "paged avatone", suggesting he did a dvd of Donington, I even offered the use of my photographs from the 70's to Paul Green for use to help the sport,bet he has not mentioned that to anyone,( they were rubbish anyway) so much so that someone has stole one of my images and uploaded it on another site,(more about that later), there was also my offer of assistance when Mr Green requested it ,this got no reply, again bet he has not mentioned that either,only interested in other forms of remarks,I could have offered more but totally lost all form of interest in the sport as it is now,

This is the one of main reasons for me adding all this to my blog.The remark about not wanting to get his cameras out really annoyed me more than the name calling which I just ignored but could in no way ignore a so-called Sports Photographer (his words not mine) making a statement like that, if that is the type of photgrapher you have handling the sport god help you, unless his attitude changes. Any form of photography I have and will in future undertake, is done with full commitement to what ever the subject matter is, no matter what problems I have to incure,taking through chicken wire or from stands ,I work round it, and accept it as part of the job,and not moan about it, because that is the reason I am there for in the first place, my advice is, if you cannot accept this then try something else, don't just say you "did not want to pick up a camera." If that is what you think of your chosen sport or any sport you should not be there in the first place. This is the first time I have heard a photographer come out with this, and in the same breath stating he is a sports photographer( your words not mine).I wonder were we would be if all photographers had this attitude. So now you know one of the reasons for not having anything to do with the sport, I started my photography ( Sports Photography) with Scooter Racing and progressed on to other two wheeled sport, and I can not see present scooter racing progressing, if this sort of attitude prevails in the sport by people who supposedly are selling the sport to joe public. If this upsets anyone I apologise, but it is how I see it,I repeat "HOW I SEE IT",and obviously as I am biased for having witnessed the old time racing of scooters,and the people in the sport and the present day, and comparing the two, I know which I would prefer,which in "my opinion" is not as good, for numerous reasons,which I won't disclose. for obvious reasons. I am thinking of starting another "blog" comparing the two forms of scooter racing I have been involved with i.e. past and present but think it may be a bit too contraversial.Packing in photographing scooter racing is not my loss, but the sports.and my reputation is in no way damaged, only by those in the forum, and the sport which I have lost all interest in anyway, and have no intention of attending anymore events .As I have been BANNED PERMANANTLY from the forum ( I am so upset over that I must say ) this does not mean I don't know what is being said, as it is being monitored for me and I get feedback about the remarks, and as I have no means of putting any reply up, (some could be considered obscenities) that are being made about me and the name calling (come on children) get over it. Some of the remarks are so contradictory that it shows the lack of intelligence,an example of that is, refering to some of the remarks made about my photographs,one minute when you are nice to some one they are "great", next when you remark on something that annoys someone they are rubbish,etc I could go on.But one thing is for certain NOBODY has any of those photographs from the 70's but me.........and the thief who uploaded one of mine on another site, The Next Blog......... comparison of the both sports past and present. Again using my right to free speech in a democratic society to air MY OPINION.

Finally : PLEASE NOTE IT WAS I THAT REQUESTED MY REGISTRATION TO THE FORUM TO BE CANCELLED AND THE THREAD REMOVED not kicked out .....and as soon as the adverse comments come in they will be denied and everything relating to scooters removed.

Footnote

Regarding the comments "slagging off", this is not slagging off, it is my "opinion",if anyone considers it slagging off, then they are mistaken, it is only as I personally have seen it, and surely in todays world, I am entitled to my opinion, and if any of it has hit a nerve then I already included an apology,I am at a loss to understand what all the fuss is about of me putting a detailed explanation about why the photo's I had on this blog were removed, as I think I would be entitled to doing so, as it is stated they were enjoyed by .....well who ever. I repeat what I stated "If this upsets anyone I apologise but it is how I see it," cannot be anymore explicite than that.I don't see why I should be pressurised into removing what I have said, unless it is proved that I have "slagged" anything off, by having an opinion.

Finally I need to correct one of the comments made,I did not request that the thread be removed from the forum because I did not like the remarks made about ME, I requested that it be removed because it had gone stupid,and off the subject in question, and I was not willing to be drawn into a slanging match, as it had turned into, if you read the blog I made it clear that the comments made, did not bother me it was just I could not be bothered continueing the discussion as no matter what I said it would have not made any difference. Apart from one person who agreed with me.

Watch this space!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!The Comparison of Past and Present Scooter Racing........

I have had a message via e-mail to activate my membership to the forum...........Well thanks, but no thanks,when I say I am finished with Scooter Racing I meant what I said I have no interest in the sport I have moved on and got over it,as I said before it is the sports loss not mine.

A Few Home truths and corrections to comments on the Forum by certain people one in particular.

The truth and facts.

To start with I have to go back to 2008 when I thought it would be a good idea to go to 3 Sisters Wigan(big mistake) it was there whilst in the restaurant I ended up in conversation with a person from the forum (I won't be naming names as it will become obvious later on whom I am refering to) during this conversation it was mentioned about my past history in Scooter Sport, and also that I had in fact a 1969 Italian GP200 that had lay in the shed for years,the result of this ended up with me deciding to restore the scooter,I must point out that at this period this person was never in anyway "angry" at me,in fact he was exactly the opposite and even accepted FREE photographs and copies of 1970's programmes off me, that pleased him no end "at the time," I must also point out that no money was requested by me, or received for the said items( so laying to a close the myth about me wanting to sell photo's to BSSO members).I have to move on a year to 2009 and my "hidden agenda" (his words not mine),whilst restoring my scooter I had a bit of a mishap,and thought it would be a good idea to again visit 3 Sisters to see if I could get some advice from someone there (how wrong could I be). I had damaged my Italian Disc Front Hub, I was told by this person that it should be able to be repaired and if so, he knew a person that could repair it, he went on to tell me to bring it to him, which I did,now we come to what could be described as his "hidden agenda "or "alteria motives", to date all that I have had is the word of this person, that it is not repairable, so I then e-mailed him on "27/8/2009" asking for the return of my Hub by post and to let me know the costs involved, in order that I could get a second opinion from someone closer to me, I also asked for the return of the disc of photographs that he requested via e-mail "I need a photographer to take some photo's for a website I am constructing", me being the "nutter" he has called me, l did so by going to Mallory Park, although I must point out he did provide me with a pass to get in suppose you could call that a fee, He offered to pay but I had no intention of asking for payment, and to date 27/10/2009, I have not had any form of reply from him apart from the derogatory comments, he has chosen to make ("I am angry"), his words on that forum,if he is angry what does he think it makes me. Also the friends that are monitoring that forum for me who are aware of all the facts, are not too pleased with him, or the rest of the members (lies), and personal ridicule with obscene language, I say to them ignore it,as I do it is just a showing of a lack of vocabulary or understanding of the English language, if they have to use those form of words.that is untilI I get told about the LIES that are being said in particular by this person who I have e-mailed again ,( you must by now know who I am on about,) again explaining, my anger at his comments and would like him to explain his "hidden Agenda".( NOT HAD ANY REPLY YET ),But be careful what you say as I have all of your e-mails sent to me, saved and printed off for future reference,If he is honest he has nothing to worry about,but could anyone blame me for not trusting a person like this who takes all for free then ridicules me just to be one of the boys.

I am now moving on to another persons comments that refers to not being able to comment on my pictures because they have all been deleted, and that I thought nobody would (brought), (correction, his word not mine.) have bought any, my reply to this is contact your mate who had them for nothing, and to tell me who was ever offered any of my photographs for sale by me, and if I find out somebody is doing so, there will be SERIOUS repercussions,the same as when I find out who is responsible for the uploading of one of my photographs (without MY permission) of Chas de Lacy at Fulbeck onto another site,if this is the same person I think it is then I think you have a nerve criticising any of my photo's, and can expect me to take action over it, as I have all the proof I require, part of which is displayed on Dave Tooleys website of the same photo.with "MY NAME" credited with taking the photograph, not the person who uploaded it, plus the negative.of the said photo.This is a blatant breach of copyright by both parties,the person who uploaded it and the site for allowing it to uploaded.As there is no mention on the site that the person who uploads any material MUST be the OWNER of the material involved this alone is a breach of Internet Law

If any of this has offended anyone then again sorry for imparting the "TRUTH",The people on the forum who continue to put up false information means I will only add more replies on here to correct anymore misleading comments,or show up people who are members of that forum, for what they are, all of this is fact ,with no obscene explicits to punctuate the truth. In responce to the continued, misleading information being put up on that forum,and you think I would want anything to do with the sport, or the forum ,I don't think so.There will be more to come.

There are a lot more truths to come out, but I am taking a rest from it all at the moment as I have other things to do,but will be back.