• Automotive community gathers for first major industry celebration since the pandemic.
• Over £96,000 donated to Ben to provide life-changing support to those in need.
• Industry leaders attending Ben Ball join forces to pledge support for Ben’s work in the community.
• Pledges on the night set to take Christmas Appeal fundraising past £500,000 target.

Ben Ball made a welcome return to London’s iconic Roundhouse for a spectacular comeback celebration on 8th December – bringing 600 automotive industry people together for the first time since the pandemic began and raising £96,500 in the process.

The Roundhouse was transformed into a spectacular winter ballroom for the evening, and guests were treated to stunning live entertainment from LED drum crew, Spark! and a thrilling performance from the aerial acrobatic circus troupe, Arctic Cirque.

There were many opportunities for guests to donate funds to Ben during the evening, including an exciting live auction hosted by TV auctioneer and presenter, Jamie Breese.

Ben also shared updates with guests on the charity’s forthcoming Industry Leader Challenge - which in 2022 will be an epic Kilimanjaro climb – and gave an insight into the vast increase in demand that Ben is experiencing, as more people than ever before are reaching out for help with their mental health and wellbeing.

As the evening’s fundraising efforts were totalled, the final figure has been confirmed as £96,500 - one of the highest donation totals ever at a Ben Ball and exceeding previous years’ results. The generosity of the industry during these high-pressure, post-pandemic times will allow Ben to reach more of those who need help and to better support members of the automotive community and their loved ones who are in crisis or struggling. Furthermore, pledges made from automotive industry guests at the event are expected to take the figure raised for Ben’s urgent Christmas Appeal past its £500,000 target.

Matt Wigginton, Director of Partnerships, Engagement & Income at Ben, said: “When I was told of the final total raised to help our friends and colleagues in need, I was so moved. During the pandemic, the number of people who have been reaching out to us for help has sky-rocketed and we need to be able to provide support right away – vital support that really does save lives. We rely on donations to be able to give this support and we knew that the 2021 Ben Ball would be more crucial this year than ever before.

“The industry responded more generously than we could ever have hoped. 600 friends and colleagues gathered in the Roundhouse, not just to celebrate the opportunity to be together again, but to stand with us, shoulder to shoulder, and show the automotive community that we care. That together we are committed to helping people to get through their darkest days. That no-one in our automotive family is alone.

“We want to thank all those who joined us for the Ben Ball. It was a fabulous night and we hope you enjoyed the chance to dance and celebrate this wonderful community we are a part of. The generosity shown on the night – not only to raise nearly £100,000 but also the further pledges in support of our recent rallying cry – was incredible. We promise to make it count.”

Ben Ball will return in 2022 – in the meantime to pledge your support to Ben, email [email protected] or to discuss further ways of supporting Ben, call Matt Wigginton, Director of Partnerships, Engagement & Income, on 07880 813051.

Motorcycle Live, in association with Bikesure Insurance has closed its doors for another year, and what a pleasure it was to welcome back visitors, riders, celebrities, manufacturers and retailers to The NEC.  

With over 66,000 visitors making their way through the doors, in the midst of a global pandemic, it underlines the dedication of our audience, the pull of our exhibitors and the desire to be immersed in their passion - motorcycling. 

Lisa Jones (Marketing Manager, Triumph UK) commented "Motorcycle Live is a key event in the motorcycling calendar, and it was fantastic to welcome back fans of Triumph to some familiarity and entertainment at the NEC. When we planned to reveal our iconic Triumph Tiger 1200 to our UK customers, Motorcycle Live was the perfect event to do so. With an abundance of key media, influencers and customers, it was a privilege to showcase the industry leading technology and all round ability of the Triumph Tiger 1200 range."

Motorcycle Live delivered an exciting, new, interactive electric feature which showcased the progressive and innovative manufacturers and products available for riders wanting to embrace electric technology.  

One of the trailblazers in this segment is Stirling Eco, who through world-class innovation combine artistic flair alongside leading technologies to create innovative, functional and environmentally friendly motorcycles.

Motorcycle Live, in association with Bikesure Insurance has closed its doors for another year, and what a pleasure it was to welcome back visitors, riders, celebrities, manufacturers and retailers to The NEC.  

With over 66,000 visitors making their way through the doors, in the midst of a global pandemic, it underlines the dedication of our audience, the pull of our exhibitors and the desire to be immersed in their passion - motorcycling. 

Lisa Jones (Marketing Manager, Triumph UK) commented "Motorcycle Live is a key event in the motorcycling calendar, and it was fantastic to welcome back fans of Triumph to some familiarity and entertainment at the NEC. When we planned to reveal our iconic Triumph Tiger 1200 to our UK customers, Motorcycle Live was the perfect event to do so. With an abundance of key media, influencers and customers, it was a privilege to showcase the industry leading technology and all round ability of the Triumph Tiger 1200 range."

Motorcycle Live delivered an exciting, new, interactive electric feature which showcased the progressive and innovative manufacturers and products available for riders wanting to embrace electric technology.  

One of the trailblazers in this segment is Stirling Eco, who through world-class innovation combine artistic flair alongside leading technologies to create innovative, functional and environmentally friendly motorcycles.

A completely new motorcycle show called Mancunia Motorcycle Festival is now confirmed for March 2022.

The Mancunia Motorcycle Festival is an all-new show that will combine the best of custom motorcycles, food, drink, and entertainment and will be based in the heart of Manchester.

The show has confirmed dates from March 25 to 27 next year and will be held at the amazing DEPOT MAYFIELD venue right next to Piccadilly Station in central Manchester.

The show will see new motorcycles being shown alongside custom bikes, parts, accessories, custom builders, brewers, and many other stands to bring an exciting new motorcycle show to the north of England.

Alongside the custom and new engine bikes on show, there will be a chance to check out the latest electric scooters, motorcycles and e-mobility products on the market with a dedicated area and test ride space.

Show co-promotor Will Evans, who owns Manchester’s Union Brewery, said: “This is an event I have wanted to create for some years now. The north of England isn’t well-served when it comes to motorcycle shows of any kind and we really want to bring something fresh and new to Manchester.

“DEPOT MAYFIELD is an amazing venue, and we have a huge amount of space to be able to put on something truly special bike wise, add in some amazing entertainment alongside some amazing food & drink offering from our partners at ‘Escape to Freight Island’.”

More details will be revealed shortly with an early bird discount ticket offer, for those in the know follow us @Mancuniamotorcycle 

Mancunia Motorcycle | Facebook

Sunday 19th December - Depart: 10.30am

The cafe's annual Christmas Toy Run will be leaving at 10.30am on Sunday 19th December to visit and drop off presents for vulnerable children and those supported by the charities:

Sufra – London NW10 0PW

The Toy Project – London N19 5QU

Brent Civic Centre – Wembley HA9 0FJ

As a response to COVID-19, and aware that many families with children need help today, the cafes annual Christmas Toy Run is leaving the Ace at 10.30am on Sunday 19th December, to deliver toys to charities helping children and families most in need.  These charities have delivered toys to families living in hostels during lockdown, children with blood disorders shielding at home and to hospitals for presents for the children of all NHS workers,

Ace Cafe  patrons have always shown huge generosity over the years in respect of donating toys for children in hospital over the Christmas period, and we are sure this will  continue to be the case in 2021.

As well as being grateful for anything that you’d like to donate for ages 3- 11, the toys always asked for are:

LEGO sets
Arts and crafts sets
Barbies
Spider-Man toys
Cars and planes
Please bring gifts unwrapped

Because of allergies advice is against stuffed toys and sweets - the charity volunteer staff however may appreciate some sweet treats!

On returning to the cafe, there will be prizes for the "Best Dressed Bike" and the "Best Dressed Rider" - and a hot cuppa

NB: On the morning of the run, all elves, reindeer, Santa’s, snowmen and pixies etc. are asked to please check in at the cafe with “Toy Run Ron”, who once again is kindly looking after the logistics involved with this special occasion.

Later the same day, Sunday 19th December at 7pm, why not join us for the cafe's annual candlelit Christmas Carol Service!

Suzuki has added a white version of the new Hayabusa to its range for 2022, which joins the existing black and orange and matt silver and red versions launched this year. 

With an RRP of £16,499, the third generation of the legendary hyperbike gets Suzuki’s most advanced suite of electronics ever, with 10 lean angle-sensitive traction control modes, lean angle-sensitive ABS, three power modes, a bi-directional quickshifter, cruise control and a speed limiter, and three stages of launch control, all controlled via easy-to-use switchgear and managed through a neat colour TFT display, nestled between two analogue dials reminiscent of the original Hayabusa’s clocks. 

A heavily redesigned engine – including new pistons, conrods, crankshaft, and camshaft – specifically aimed at producing enhanced performance in the lower to mid rev ranges making it the fastest-launching Hayabusa yet with more cumulative torque than its predecessor. All this is wrapped in sharper, more angular bodywork that nonetheless is immediately recognisable as Hayabusa, taking heavy design cues from the original.

The new pearl brilliant white Hayabusa, with its chrome trim and subtle metallic matt stellar blue accents, is available in dealerships now.