On 30th June 1937, Wal Handley lapped the famous Brooklands Outer Circuit at 107.57mph on a 500cc BSA Empire Star. For that lap, he was awarded a Brooklands Gold Star, the tiny enamel badge that signified so much.
  
That achievement led the BSA Company to name their top sporting 500 "The Gold Star", which became perhaps the best-known name of any British motorcycle.
 
On 30th June 2012, 75 years to the day, the Gold Star Owners Club plans a commemorative celebration at Brooklands, the world's first purpose circuit for motorsports.
 
The aim is to get more Gold Stars and Rocket Gold Stars in one place at one time than has ever happened before. Owners and riders of other BSA models are also very welcome. There will be an opportunity for Gold Star and RGS owners to ride up the Test Hill and on the Members’ Banking. It is hoped there will also be static photo opportunities for the "Goldies" and RGS in front of Concorde "Delta Golf" and on the famous Brooklands Banking
 
Among the machines attending are two replicas of Handley's 1937 winning bike, to include that built by George Wander which recently won the Ace Cafe London award at the Southern Classic Bike Show, Kempton Park. In addition George will be bringing along his 1937 Gold Star with the production number of 102, the oldest "Goldie" in existence.
 
Some of the Brooklands Museum racing machines will be run as well.
 
The event will take place from 10am on Saturday 30th June at Brooklands Museum near Weybridge in Surrey.
 
All owners of "Gold Stars" and RGS are urged to attend and help ensure a record turnout to mark this unique and historic occasion.

Entry will be the normal Museum ticket cost of £10 (£9 for Seniors). There will be a special price of £15 for riders with a pillion passenger.
 
Bikes can be ridden in or brought by van or trailer. There is no limit to the number of eligible bikes. Non-BSA owners are encouraged to make the event a destination for a ride out. 
 
www.brooklandsmuseum.com
www.bsagoldstarownersclub.com

Cassington Bike Night is Back!

Ace Ride-Out to Cassington
 
Date: Monday 25th June
Depart Cafe: 6pm
Route: A406 West to A40 West to Cassington
 
Cassington Bike Night returns with a ride-out from the cafe departing at 6pm on Monday 25th June to the West Oxfordshire village where thousands of motorcycle riding enthusiasts are expected.
 
This annual event includes showcasing of different models and classics spanning a century and has been a fixture for the village of Cassington and members of the British Motorcycle Riders Club (Oxford) for more than 25 years. 
 
Following the disappointment of cancellation last year, the Parents and Teachers Association of St Peter's School set the wheels in motion and have got Cassington Bike Night back, and record numbers are expected!
 
Ace Cafe London will have a stand/display as well as a "Rockers Restaurant" facility offering refreshments and a BBQ, with Ace prizes, awards and goodies for best bikes and raffle.

www.cassingtonbikenight.org

After a week of cold and wet weather, the 2012 North West 200 races took place in bright and sunny conditions today as Honda TT Legends’ John McGuinness claimed two podium finishes in the Superbike class and took his tally of wins to six. Team-mate and NW200 newcomer Simon Andrews impressed with a confident debut on the 8.9 mile Triangle circuit to secure two top ten places. 
 
The first Superbike race of the day saw McGuinness get off to a great start ahead of pole sitter Alastair Seeley. By the end of lap one Seeley had regained a slight advantage, but under increased pressure from a determined McGuinness, he made a mistake that cost him several places. With a clear road ahead and a comfortable lead, McGuinness put in a flawless performance to hold the top spot for the remainder of the six-lap race claiming his sixth North West 200 win. 
 
Team-mate Simon Andrews started his first ever NW200 race from 19th on the grid, placing him on the front row of the second wave of riders. A confident performance saw him finish ninth and as the highest-placed newcomer in the race. 

The second Superbike battle was the sixth and final race of the day for John McGuinness, who also took part in the Supersport and Superstock classes with Padgetts Honda. He had another strong start and held on to second place until lap four when he was overtaken by Michael Rutter. McGuinness eventually crossed the line in third to secure his second Superbike podium. 
 
Meanwhile, Andrews put up an incredible fight from the second wave of riders to finish just one place behind his team-mate on the timesheet in a well-deserved fourth position – an impressive end to his debut at the North West 200. The next stop for the Honda TT Legends team will be its namesake event – the Isle of Man TT – which kicks off in just eight days time. 
 
John McGuinness - I was fairly confident we could go well in the races today after qualifying on the front row. I went in with a good attitude, just wanting to get stuck in and go as hard as I could to keep Alastair under pressure. In race one that happened and he made a mistake and in race two I was with him all the time but I couldn’t quite get there. Rutter got passed me too, but to be honest you’ve got two guys there doing BSB week in, week out so I’m happy to be on the podium. A win and a third is great for the team. We’re here in the iconic Honda colours and the bike has not let us down so I’m well happy with that.
 
Simon Andrews - I’m really happy after that. The team have done a top job with the bike set-up and it was just a dream to ride from the word go. I felt comfortable, it was easy to ride, I could push for the whole race – it was just a pleasure. I’m just really pleased that we have achieved so much and this is exactly where we wanted to be after the North West going in to the TT.

Firstly, we've arranged for a Big Screen to be at the Show. This means footy fans can watch Chelsea’s game live on Saturday evening AND it will show the Moto GP practice sessions and the race live on Sunday. Remember, to have access to the evening entertainment or the sports screening you will need a Weekend ticket.

Secondly, the BMF have offered a further incentive to BMF Members - you will now be given a £2 discount off the ‘On Gate’ ticket prices – this will include camping and day tickets. You MUST produce your membership card to get the discount - so pop it in your wallet now! Affiliated club members also entitled to this discount (with membership card).

Rain, rain, go away...!

We are keeping a watch on the weather and forecasts indicate that there will be an improvement and even the chance of sunshine again – so the show most definitely will be ON!

We have put a number of measures in place to dry the ground as much as possible and minimise the disruption should the heavens open (this is the UK summer after all!) and there are a lot of people working in the background to ensure everyone has a great time. In addition, campers who decide the weather isn’t up to a weekend in a tent will be able to buy a camper van ticket on the gate on arrival, so you can leave that decision until the last minute and check how the sky looks on the day…

And finally...

You can meet one of the BSB riders from Team Savage Squirrel we have visiting the the show, together with a few other biking characters such as globe-trotting round the world record breaker Nick Saunders.

Tell us what you think of the show! – In the FREE show programme you’ll find a short questionnaire, simply fill it in, hand it in and you could win £75 voucher to spend at Mick Byrne.

Show us what you think of the show! – Upload your video to You Tube  and you could win the use of Ducati Monster 1100 for a weekend. Thanks to the lovely people at Sycamore Ducati for putting up this prize. Terms & conditions apply.

Remember, if you want to take a bike out on a demo ride you will need both parts of your licence, so put the paper part in your packing pile now (good bit of illiteration there me thinks!).

You’re out for a ride on the bike on country roads and your worst nightmare as you round a bend, muck is spread across the road.   Surviving the lack of grip, handle bars going from lock to lock, sideways and thisways, backend stepping out in an all mighty slide, hopefully you ride on and you report the muck on the road.   However was anything ever done about it, was the muck cleaned up, were those responsible ever face anything for trailing muck all over the road?  

Well the BBC in Northern Ireland are reporting that a farmer has been fined for allowing muck from his fields to be dragged onto roads in the Portrush area.  

The BBC report says that this is one of the first cases of its kind to come before the courts.   Fining the farmer £500, District Judge Richard Wilson said the roads were in a dangerous position and had been left like that for some time while the defendant was reluctant to do anything about it.  

Although the farmers lawyer said the defendant had tried to clean up the road using a slurry tanker filled with water but this attempt was unsuccessful.

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