Eight Unsigned Acts Battle It Out For One Massive Prize

You've seen programmes like the X Factor and Pop Idol on TV, well this competition is nothing like them... Our competitors have real talent and on Saturday 18th July they'll battle against each other to win every unsigned acts dream.

A full promotional package including a professionally recorded demo, a video production to match as well as a professional photograph portfolio to help them on their way to stardom.

Application Form

Please include a CD containing two tracks that you wish to play on the night.

Applications must be received by 30th June 2009

To find out about the charitable work of the Royal British Legion please visit www.britishlegion.org.uk

Venue: Oldbury Royal British Legion, Windsor Road, Oldbury, West Midlands

Admission: £5.00

Doors Open at 7.30pm

Hollywood has always looked to two wheels to bring a little sexy glamour to a movie – think Lucy Liu and Pierce Brosnan handcuffed to a BMW R 1200C, Charlie’s Angels riding motocross, or Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft raiding tombs on a 664 CCM. But Britain’s romantic bikers would rather ride with their other half than movie megastars like Kate Winslet, Helen Mirren, Sean Bean or Antonio Banderas.

Asked to name who they would most like to take a fantasy ride with, twice as many bikers nominated their partners than Kylie, Star Wars’ Ewan McGregor, Valkyrie’s Tom Cruise or Bond’s Pierce Brosnan. One particularly lovelorn soul taking the Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCI) survey* nominated “Rachel from the office next door.”

On Valentine’s Day, the MCI recommends following in these bikers’ wheeltracks by bringing fun, freedom and excitement into your love life. Spurn those old romantic clichés - a candlelit dinner for two; flowers, champagne, chocolates, or lingerie – in favour of a gift which is guaranteed to get your other half home faster: a day’s motorcycling – complete with a compulsory basic training (CBT) certificate at the end of it. And if neither of you have ever tried motorcycling, why not do it together?

Doesn’t sound very sexy? A CBT course is huge fun, memorable, and gives a real sense of achievement. An intensive day with a qualified instructor takes novice riders through all the skills needed to control a small-engined motorcycle with skill, confidence and most importantly, safety. Divided into five sections, the CBT starts off-road and well away from traffic, building up to two hours of practical riding on the road, closely supervised by the instructor.

MCI’s Sheila Rainger said: “Chocolates make you fat and flowers give you hay fever, but a CBT certificate sets you free. Passing the CBT immediately entitles you to ride a small-engined motorcycle, scooter or moped, and opens the door to more advanced training, bigger machines, unrivalled independence and fun.

“It’s the first step to joining in with increasing numbers of people of both sexes and all ages who are cutting journey times, avoiding the expense and hassles of public transport and parking, reducing travel costs and commuting to work with a smile on their faces.”

Ends

Commuter motorcycling accounts for two-thirds of powered two-wheeler journeys and represents one of the cleanest forms of motorised transport for trips where walking, cycling and public transport are not viable. Motorcycles spend less time in traffic jams, whereas cars spend time with engines idling and air-conditioning running.

Powered two-wheelers move freely through traffic jams and as a result leave a smaller carbon footprint over a shorter period of time on any given urban journey.

In addition to the environmental benefits derived from avoiding traffic jams, the government has now confirmed that motorcycles and scooters are more eco friendly in terms of emissions than the average car.

The cost of a CBT course is around £100 and you can find your nearest trainer by going to the Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCI) web site at www.mcia.co.uk.

The MCIA is the UK trade association representing manufacturers and importers of mopeds, motorcycles and scooters, and the suppliers of associated goods and services. It has approximately 150 members representing about 90 per cent of the UK industry.

The motorcycle industry in the UK employs more than 15,000 people and turns over in excess of £3 billion a year.

There are over 1.26 million motorcycles in use in Britain traveling around 5.6 billion vehicle kilometers (DfT 2006).

For more information please contact Simon Small at the MCI Press Office on tel: 01622 812961 (S-Presso Ltd)

Spitfire fans will have the chance to see this magnificent aircraft display in a unique setting right on the edge of Northwich, Cheshire, on Sunday May 10.

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfire will perform at Thundersprint 2009 - an incredible mix of classic motorcycle racing, street entertainment and fine food which takes over this pretty market town during the second weekend in May.

The Thundersprint festival has completely free admission, and free parking, and provides a packed day’s entertainment for the whole family. Turn one corner and there’s a 1960s Grand Prix star munching on a home made wild boar pie - walk around the next and find thoroughbred classic race bikes mingling with Morris Dancers and Jazz bands: there’s nowhere like the Thundersprint!

Star attractions on two-wheels this year are double World Champion and MotoGP star James Toseland and six times World Champion Jim Redman.

As the tension builds for the start of four hours of non-stop racing, the BBMF Spitfire roars across the sky in salute and the thunder of the mighty Merlin engine echoes from Marks and Spencer’s store wall! Truly, an unmissable experience for any fan of classic aircraft - and one which is absolutely unique to the Thundersprint.

For more information visit www.thundersprint.com or phone 01928 740 498.

After fifteen years of campaigning for national bus lane use, the BMF is urging motorcyclists to speak up and be counted in support of the hard-fought right to use bus lanes in London. 

While motorcyclists have quickly taken up bus lane use in London, compared to the actions of London cyclist campaign groups opposed to sharing bus lanes, not enough riders are responding to the Transport for London on-line survey and saying how safe and convenient bus lane use is.

The BMF is now urging all motorcycle users to add their comments to the TfL survey

This is important because Transport for London’s bus lane use is undergoing an 18 month trial and they have apparently already received large numbers of submissions from cyclists opposed to motorcyclists using bus lanes. User’s views and their numbers will count so motorcyclists need to get involved say the BMF.

With a strong cyclists’ lobby orchestrating a campaign against such use, motorcyclists could lose the scheme at the end of the 18 month period unless the motorcycle world demonstrates widespread support for the measure - particularly those motorcyclists from London and the South East.

To those outside London, the BMF say that the TfL scheme is being keenly watched by other towns and cities and failure of the scheme in London will dash hopes of gaining motorcycle use of bus lanes elsewhere.

Visit the TfL 'user views' website and complete the response form now

Note: Bristol has operated a permanent bus lane access since 1996 and Reading since 1999. Other sites are in: Northern Ireland, Birmingham, Colchester, Derby, Bath, Hull, Plymouth, Swindon, Sheffield, Richmond on Thames, Newcastle on Tyne, Sunderland and the M4 bus lane. Still being trialled in London are the Finchley Road (A41) at St John's Wood to Hampstead, the A23 to the South and A13 to the East.