It is with great reluctance that the Management of the Vintage Motor Cycle Club Limited announce that the Festival of 1000 Bikes™ will not be taking place in 2014.

Motorsport fans will be aware of the uncertainty that surrounded the future of Mallory Park in the latter parts of 2013, which placed the circuit operators (Mallory Park Motorsport Ltd) into administration in the autumn. The new operators, Real Motor Sport Ltd, were recently announced and we have full confidence in them, indeed our racing arm (BHR) already have a date in their calendar at Mallory Park this year. However because crucial months of planning and preparation have been lost we are not equally confident of delivering this prestigious event with the amount of time remaining.

We sincerely apologise to all those members of the Club and to the many other enthusiasts who look forward every year to this event. The Festival of 1000 Bikes, being widely acknowledged as one of the premier events in the motorcycling calendar, we did not feel we could proceed without full confidence of being able to offer an event of the high quality which is now expected from this wonderful weekend.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors including Michelin, Footman James, Mortons Media, Bonhams and Eriks for all their support in the past. Also to all the VMCC members and enthusiasts who have embraced the Festival and made it the unique event it has become. We hope to see many of you at our other events and shows throughout the year and look forward to making an early announcement regarding the Festival for 2015.

The annual Prescott Bike Festival will be taking place on Sunday 6th April 2014 and promises to be an action-packed day for all the family in support of the Nationwide Association of Bloodbikes charity.

The fourth annual event will be larger than ever before, with even more bike manufacturers and clubs confirmed, plus a large display of historic, modern and race bikes on display in the paddock, demo areas, passenger rides, stunt show, trade stalls, live music, good food and a host of entertainment both on and off the track to keep the whole family amused. Special guest appearances include: former three times British Superbike Champion and Bloodbike ambassador John Reynolds, MotoGP commentator Steve Parrish, motorcycle adventurer Nick Sanders and making his debut appearance – Michael Rutter.

Some of the many hundreds of historic, classic and race bikes at Prescott Bike Festival 2014:

* Carlos Checa’s MotoGP Ducati Desmosedici GP5 and Checa’s 2011 WSB winning Ducati 1198 F1 (courtesy of Dawn Treader Performance)
* David Jeffries' GSX-R1000 TT bike and James Toseland's first WSS machine
* The 1930 Rudge Ulster belonging to David Osborne
* Chris Sawyer's 1928 Cotton Blackburne
* A rare Sachs R800 Roadster from 2002 owned by Barry Fahey
* The 1959 Norton Dominator of Ian Cordes
* Rare Excelsior Manxmans from Dave Lee and Adrian Sellars

New features at Prescott Bike Festival 2014:

* The Angelic Bulldog 400mph streamliner land speed motorbike project
* Saturday night party and camping for Advance Ticket Holders only
* Bigger and better Happy Hour of activity by rare race machinery and factory bikes on the hill
* The first 100 Run the Hill bookings receive a free festival T-shirt
* Kuberg electric motorbikes – have a go!
* UK Garrison Star Wars costuming club
* Early Bird breakfasts from 8.00am to 9.30am at special low prices

Lots of live entertainment at Prescott Bike Festival 2014:

* The Dave Coates Stunt Show as featured on TV and at many major motor sports events
* George Formby Tribute
* 1950s inspired rockabilly, rock & roll and R&B band, Josie and the Outlaw.

Motorcycle and racing clubs already confirmed as attending:

* Honda OC
* Norton OC
* XJR OC
* Rolling Hills (Harley OC)
* Classic 50cc Racing Club

Festival organiser, Gordon Downie, says, “The annual Prescott Bike Festival continues to go from strength to strength. For 2014 we'll have more of everything alongside the usual attractions of the unique opportunity to ride the hill. As usual, all major motorcycle manufacturers will be in attendance so fans will get the chance to see all the major models up close and personal. There will be a host of trade stands as well as famous racers and great entertainment too. The Prescott Bike Festival 2014 really does offer something for everyone.”

Venue:

Prescott Hill Climb, Gotherington, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL52 9RD,
Easily accessible from junction 9 of the M5 and from London via the A40 to Cheltenham.

Tickets:

Advance tickets are £12; under 16s (with a paying adult) get in free.
On-the-day tickets are £15; under 16s (with a paying adult) get in free.
Run the Hill tickets are £35 and must be purchased in advance.
There is no charge for bike parking (free side stand puck provided and free helmet park)
Gates open at 08:30 and track action begins at 10:00. The festival closes at 17:00.
All Advance Ticket holders (including Run the Hill) are invited to a pre-event party on the Saturday evening in the Clubhouse. Camping available to advance ticket holders only (limited availability)

To purchase tickets in advance visit: www.prescottbikefestival.co.uk

Exhibitor space is much sought after and limited to those who will add real value via their higher end product offer. The organisers welcome all enquiries; anyone interested in taking space should, in the first instance make their enquiry via the New Exhibitors section via the Exhibitors page on the website or email them directly at [email protected] for further information.

There are now more than seven million drivers over the age of 65 on the UK’s roads, according to road safety charity, the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM).

The number of drivers over 65 reached 7,191,192 in November 2013. This makes up for 19 per cent of all drivers with full driving licences. The figures come from driving licence data published by the DVLA in December 2013.1 They also show that:

· There are 4,068,498 drivers over the age of 70.

· There are 1,101,779 drivers over the age of 80.

· 195 drivers are over 100 years old

Of the drivers over 65, 367,711 or five per cent have points on their licence.

For drivers over seventy the figure is 195, 773 or five per cent with points.

35,498, three per cent of drivers over 80 have points.

This compares favourably with middle-aged drivers. The age group most likely to have points on their licence is 42 year-olds. Of the 816,915 licence holders in that group, 82,929 or 10 per cent have points.

For younger drivers the figures are 3, 339, 826 licence holders, 270,817 with points, or 8 per cent.

This supports research by the IAM that shows that older drivers are in fact safer than many other drivers. Where older drivers have slower reaction times, they use their experience on the road to compensate by driving at slower speeds on all occasions and allowing more space between them and other road users.2

IAM chief executive Simon Best said: “In twenty years time, one in ten people will be over 80 years old. Responding to an older population is a significant policy issue for government, health and transport agencies – a greater number of people will require help with their mobility and acting now can ensure the right support networks are in place numbers increase. Easy access to driving assessments, better advice from the medical profession and car and road designs that mitigate the effects of ageing should all be top in 2014. The overarching policy aim should be to keep people independent and driving safer for as long as possible.”

It is with great pleasure that we invite you to join us for the presentation of the 2014 Pata Honda team at Motor Bike Expo to be held at the Verona Fiere in Italy on Saturday 25 January.

Contesting the 2014 World Superbike and World Supersport championships, the Pata Honda team will compete with the same rider line-up as in 2013 with the clear aim of securing race victories in order to battle once more for two championship titles.

Following a difficult 2013 season, in which they both sustained serious injuries, British riders Jonathan Rea and Leon Haslam will climb aboard the new Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP that was launched in Milan last September.

Meanwhile, Dutch flyer Michael van der Mark will once again team up with Italian ace Lorenzo Zanetti on Honda’s CBR600RR machine to build on the experience and podiums gained in their World Supersport rookie seasons in 2013 when they finished in fourth and fifth places respectively.

The 2014 Pata Honda team will be presented at 15.00 hrs on Saturday 25 January and the presentation will be followed by opportunities to interview the riders, team management and Honda personnel.

Please let us know if you can join us by replying to [email protected], and we look forward to welcoming you to the Verona Motorbike Expo and a new championship season with Pata Honda.

With best wishes

The Pata Honda Team

THE BIKER GUIDE have been contacted as they are looking for vibrant and interesting characters to enter the house and think that Bikers may fit the bill!

They will also be around Edinburgh and Glasgow on 24th and 25th January and would love to visit any Motorbike rallies or groups that may be interested.

If you would like more information, please email them @ [email protected]