Category: Organisations

1. A free event - Sam Childers, The Real Machine Gun Preacher is coming back to Hayling Island 16th March 2018...

   Posted on 9:00am Thursday 23rd Nov 2017

   To date, Sam has rescued over 1,500 children from the hands of evil warlords who make sons kill their parents and who take small female children away and exploit them in the sex and slave trade and he currently feeds over 12,000 children, widows and orphans a day.

    "I will guarantee that you will never meet a preacher like Sam again.... He is unique - a one-off."

   In his former life, he dealt drugs and was an enforcer (a hired gun) for one of America’s most notorious motorcycle gangs, before his conversion to Christianity and him finding his mission - to save children in war-torn East Africa.

   In 2013 Sam received the Mother Teresa Award for International Social Justice (the largest award of its type in the world for International Social Justice) and he is the only American ever to be bestowed with that honour (the Dalai Lama and UK House of Lords rep, Baroness Caroline Cox were also bestowed with this award in previous years). 

   Bikers are very welcome to this event, especially as Sam is a biker. Go along and listen to this great inspiring man speak and bring as many fellow bikers with you as you wish to. Just pre-book to secure your space.

   The organisers have even arranged to have MGP (Machine Gun Preacher) and AOEAUK (Angels of East Africa UK) biker patches available on the day. Sam Childers - Angels of East Africa UK - The Real Machine Gun Preacher

   There will also be books, dvd’s and t-shirts available for those who wish to purchase them and Sam will gladly sign them for you.

   venue: Hayling Island Community Centre, Station Road, Hayling Island, Hampshire, PO11 0HB

   The event is free and if you would like to attend, then just contact Mark or Deborah Dawes on 02392 460815 or by email at [email protected] to secure your space.

   A free event - Sam Childers, The Real Machine Gun Preacher (not the Hollywood Gerard Butler), is coming back to Hayling Island 16th March 2018...

   www.facebook.com/events/2081971628697347/

   See more information here 
   

   

2. Museum Legends - On-line Shop updated for Christmas

   Posted on 12:00pm Sunday 19th Nov 2017

   The National Motorcycle Museum is delighted to announce that our “Museum Legends” on-line retail shop has now been updated in time for Christmas. 
    
   Our on-line shop boasts lots of classic motorcycling related items as well as our own museum branded clothing.
   
   Full of Christmas gift ideas for the classic two wheel enthusiast, “Museum Legends” will solve all those gift problems in one go!  
   
   Museum Director James Hewing commented: “We are all really excited about the range of new products that we are now stocking in our shop. The museum probably has the best motorcycling bookshop in the world and it’s a great to be able to offer the complete range of books plus all our unique motorcycling gifts to purchase on-line”.    
    

   The National Motorcycle Museum web site & Museum Legends on-line shop www.thenmm.co.uk  lists hundreds more products than it would be possible to showcase in a traditional print version of a mail order catalogue. This is especially true of the over 4500 photocopy sets of technical publications from our Bruce Main-Smith archive, all of which can be viewed and purchased on-line.
    
   Also featured is our famous “Friends of The National Motorcycle Museum” membership scheme which gives many unique opportunities that cannot be found anywhere else. 
   A “Friends” membership makes the perfect Christmas gift! 
   
   www.thenmm.co.uk brings our “Museum Legends” retail offering into your living room as a secure & user friendly on-line shopping experience. 

3. VMCC 1000 Bike Festival Returns in 2018

   Posted on 12:00pm Tuesday 7th Nov 2017

   THE 2018 VMCC FESTIVAL OF 1000 BIKES, THE TOP UK TRACK WEEKEND!

   Following repeated requests from members and the motorcycling fraternity the VMCC are pleased to announce the return of one of the best motorcycling events in Europe. Discussions with our colleagues at Real Motorsport will see the VMCC festival of 1000 Bikes combined with the Mallory Bonanza returning to Mallory Park on the weekend of 6th/7th/8th July 2018.
    
   The event is returning with exactly the same format as before giving enthusiasts the opportunity to ride their own machines in multiple track sessions over the weekend. Catering for all classes of machines from the earliest Veterans through to the machines of the super bike era this is a truly inclusive event which reflects the wide range of interests within the VMCC. With lesser noise restrictions on Sunday the Festival will again allow for riders to display their racing machinery in special track sessions running throughout the day.
    
   Still the same great Festival covering all aspects of Classic Motorcycling the event will again feature-
   Public Road Track Sessions (Saturday)
   Race Bike Track Sessions (Sunday)
   Pre 65 Trials
   Historic Grass Track
   Ave of Clubs (50 Clubs in attendance in 2008)
   Trade Stands/Auto jumble
   Bar Marquee open all day with panoramic view of Stebbe straight
   Live bands on stage starting Fri 10th July.
    
   More details will be released over the coming weeks. However as the Track sessions for both road and race machines sold out in all the previous years the Club will have entry forms available to be downloaded from the web site in December or contact VMCC HQ direct or via the event dedicated website at www.vmcc.net

   
    

4. Barry Sheene enters the 2017 Motor Sport Hall of Fame

   Posted on 12:00pm Friday 9th Jun 2017

   Two-time world champion Barry Sheene was inducted into the Motor Sport Hall of Fame during a star-studded awards ceremony at the Royal Automobile Club’s Woodcote Park Clubhouse on 7 June. Sheene topped a 12-strong shortlist following a public vote, beating such names as Joey Dunlop, Mike Hailwood, Soichiro Honda, Wayne Rainey and Geoff Duke. 
   
   The legendary Englishman joins fellow inductees Giacomo Agostini, John McGuinness, Valentino Rossi and the late, great John Surtees. ‘Fast Freddie’ Spencer demonstrated Sheene’s 1976 500cc title-winning Suzuki on the Captain’s Drive, and later presented the award to Sheene’s sister Margaret Smart and his former engineer Martyn Ogborne.
   
   “It’s amazing to be awarded this,” said Smart. “I’m thrilled to bits.”
   
   “World champions are different from normal people,” added Ogborne. “They will pull off the move that makes you think, ‘Ooh’ – because there is no second place in a champion’s mind.”
   
   Spencer raced against Sheene in the early 1980s and added his own memories: “In 1980, I was 18 and had never raced outside the US. I came over for a match race and won, beating Barry – but he was the first person to come up afterwards and say, ‘Good job’. Then, in 1982, I was signing autographs with him and we’d been there about an hour. I began to stir and he said, ‘Where are you going? We stay here until the last person has their signature’. That was the Barry I knew.”
   
   Stuart Graham and Charley Boorman were among the famous names present to see the incomparable Murray Walker – whose father Graham raced Norton, Rudge and Sunbeam motorcycles through the 1920 and 30s – be presented with the Inspiration Award by 1992 Formula 1 world champion Nigel Mansell. Walker remembered that his first visit to the Isle of Man TT was in 1925, and credited his father with providing his own inspiration and enthusiasm.
   
   The Henry Surtees Foundation was the event’s official charity partner, with baker-turned-racer Paul Hollywood enjoying an emotional outing on an ex-John Surtees 1960 MV Agusta. “John was so excited when I started racing, and became a mentor for me after I did the Racing Legends TV show with him. When I tested the ‘bike at Brands Hatch, my natural reaction was to pick up the phone and talk it through with him – and then it hit me again that I couldn’t.
   
   “The gears are on the right-hand side, which is opposite to all the other ‘bikes I’ve ridden, but it handles beautifully and sounds amazing. At Brands, I just didn’t want to come in. John basically redesigned it from the ground up to make it more balanced – he knew it inside-out, and was a proper mechanic. I can remember him warming it up with one hand on the throttle and the other on the engine, feeling when it got to the right temperature. What a man.”
   
   “Our top three of Dunlop, Hailwood and Sheene was very strong,” said Mat Oxley of Motor Sport magazine, “and each was hugely popular in their own way. Sheene was very brave and very hard-working, got the right people around him, and had the ability to make things happen. He was also one of those people who lit up a room – he was a performer.”

5. Bikers Are Revved Up And Raring To Go!

   Posted on 9:00am Tuesday 16th May 2017

   

   It’s not long now before a bevy of bikers descend on the Erskine Estate in Bishopton for the annual Erskine Motorbike Meet.

   Last year’s event was the biggest Motorbike Meet yet, with nearly 800 bikers taking part in the parade and over £12,500 being raised for the veterans of Erskine. This year’s event takes place on Sunday 28th May.

   Recently a number of bikers, cadets, military personnel, officers from Scottish Police, representatives of Paisley 2021 and Milly the biking dog, visited the Erskine Estate in preparation for the big day.

   Erskine supporter Heather Clissett, who organises the event, got the group together to promote this year’s event. She said: “The Erskine Motorbike Meet has grown larger than we could ever have hoped, in its 11 years.”

   “We hope all who visit the bike meet, know how much their loyalty to, and respect for, Erskine's veterans means. We are so grateful and appreciative to them for never failing to turn out and we hope they realise how much it means to all at Erskine and the respect we have for all our two and three wheeled visitors."

   Anyone who has attended the popular event will know the parade of bikes and trikes, which begins at Park Mains High School in Erskine at 12.40pm, is quite a spectacle. The bikers take around 20 minutes to make their way along the seven mile route to The Erskine Home where there are lots of attractions on offer for an entertaining afternoon for bikers and visitors.

   This year’s entertainment includes fairground rides, Port Town Rockers, Kennedy Cupcakes, UK Garrison, Irvine Marine Cadets & Sea Cadets display, Glasgow Science Centre buskers, Pin Ups Vintage, Paisley 2021, a photo booth and lots of street food. There is also military support on the day including 7 Scots who will have a deactivated weapons display, the Royal Artillery with their light gun display and 225 Medical Regiment with their ambulance.

   There are a number of first’s this year at Erskine Motorbike Meet including a Boccia Bowls match with Bikers v Veterans. Playing a game against our veterans is Rigbys Guardians MCC Scotland – who promote and preserve the memory of murdered Fusilier Lee Rigby. The group also raise money for veterans’ charities including The Lee Rigby Foundation that was set up in Lee’s memory.

   There will be music from Balaklava Pipes and Drums and The Band of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders Regimental Association. There will also be two luxury cars – provided by Met Wedding Cars – so this year Erskine veterans will be able to take part in the bike parade in the comfort of a luxurious wedding car!

   The Erskine Motorbike Meet takes place on the Erskine estate from 1-5pm. Entry is £5 per bike and £2 per adult (free for children) with parking available at HP, Bishopton, PA7 5PP which is a short walk from The Erskine Home or you can hop on the shuttle bus kindly provided by McGills.
   
   

   28th May 2017
   Erskine Motorbike Meet
   
   Annual event to support the veterans cared for by Erskine with 100's of bikes taking part. Starting with a parade from Park Mains High School to Erskine's grounds for 1pm official opening. Live music, food, demonstrations, stalls and much more. All welcome.

    

   venue: Starting with a parade from Park Mains High School, PA8 6EY at 1240 to Erskine (Hospital) Bishopton, Renfrewshire, PA7 5PU 
   price: £5 per bike donation to Erskine on the day. £2 per adult (free for children) with parking available at HP
   tel: 07814 984082 
   website: www.erskinemotorbikemeet.co.uk 
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   e-mail: [email protected]

    

   Erskine is a family. Our strength lies in the very special blend of dedicated care, compassion and understanding we offer to our residents and their families. When Erskine was founded in 1916, our aim was to care for Service men and women who had been injured in active service. Today, care remains the cornerstone of our philosophy. We not only care for our veterans – we care about them.

   As Scotland’s foremost provider of care for veterans and their spouses, we provide unrivalled nursing, residential, respite and dementia care within our four homes across Scotland. Our person-centred care is tailored to the needs of each individual veteran.
   Erskine's proud history also extends beyond its provision of medical and nursing care by employing and promoting all employment opportunities for veterans and offering housing to veterans and their families in 44 cottages within Erskine estate.
   
   As a charity, we rely on the generosity of our supporters to maintain our commitment to care for Scotland’s veterans – without donations we simply cannot continue this work.