Commentary & Broadcasting

What started out as a bet over a drink one night has turned into a career!

At a dim and distant Auto 66 Club meeting the night before a race back in 1986, the riders were told that the resident commentator Tony Coupland was unable to attend the following day’s racing and, goaded by his fellow competitors, Carter was told that he’d have to do it!

Never one to shirk a challenge, Larry gamely took to the mic between his races and did a reasonable job to the point that the organisers invited him back later in the season on a number of occasions!

Chat shows, compering and MC duties were next up before being enlisted by Rob McElnea and Paul Major of FORRM to conduct the BSB Press Conferences in 1998 which involved interviewing the winners after each race for the benefit of the media.

Commentating legend Fred Clarke spotted Carter’s prowess and ‘head hunted’ him to work alongside him on the circuit commentary front during 2000 and other than a year when working for BBC TV, Carter – or ‘Scoop’ as Clarke affectionately dubbed him – has been installed as the voice of pit lane in British Superbikes ever since.

Now his role is part of the popular BSB Radio Team of Duncan Vincent, Alan Hyde and Diana Binks who not only broadcast to trackside fans at every round of the BSB series, but also online via the championship and TSL Timing websites.

Over the years, Larry has interviewed hundreds of MotoGP and World Superbike stars, and just about everyone who has raced in BSB, as well as speaking with celebrity guests at the various meetings including Royalty!

Whether it’s awards ceremonies, championship presentations, stage interviews, chat shows or even charity auctions, if it involves a microphone ‘Scoop’ is usually up for it. As well as the UK rounds of MotoGP and World Superbikes in the past, the BBC has employed him for over 20 years to cover the North West 200 and, previously, the Ulster Grand Prix as part of their broadcasting team. He was part of the official commentary team at the British round of the FIA World Rally Championship with 2010 Wales Rally GB which included the Cardiff and Sweet Lamb stages as well as hosting the ceremonial start and podium presentation. For many years, ANCRO hired him to conduct their annual rally awards, and he has hosted the BSB awards in the past and is always in demand to do various club awards and presentation evenings every year.

Carter, who was a founder member of the North Yorkshire Road Racing Supporters Club in 1985, regularly attends social evenings and hosts chat shows where one particular forte is his prowess in raising huge sums for lots in charity auctions!

Television work has come under Carter’s auspices too in the past, with him having hosted post-race interviews for various broadcasters including Sky Sports, Eurosport, Greenlight TV, Macau Grand Prix, and various production companies, including live for Silverstone TV.

Larry is also an accomplished commentator in his own right on both two wheels and four. His knowledgeable and enthusiastic tones can be heard at various meetings up and down the country, including events such as the British Rallycross Grand Prix and British Rally Championship, as well as the occasional stage rally, and he is a regular guest on motorsport radio shows and podcasts.

Broadcasting Roll of Honour

 

• BSB Radio British Superbike Championship circuit pit lane reporter/podium presenter since 2000
• Circuit commentator including doing the British Rallycross GP/Superprix at Croft as well as rallycross meetings at Blyton and Lydden Hill
• Wales Rally FM Reporter/Commentator on Rally GB 2010 & 2011
• Special Stage Rally Commentator, Legend Fires North West Stages 2022
• British Rally Championship commentator/presenter Pirelli National Rally/Manx Rally
• Broadcaster for BBCTV and BBC Radio Ulster at North West 200 from 2004 to present
• Commentator for BBCTV and BBC Radio Ulster at Ulster Grand Prix from 2006 to 2019
• Previous Support Race Commentator at British Superbikes for British Eurosport