Category: Events and Shows

1. British Motor Museum to play host to a live musical theatre performance!

   Posted on 12:00pm Tuesday 4th Aug 2020

   The British Motor Museum will play host to a new innovative production ‘Voices of the West End’ which will be performed live in the safe and beautiful grounds of the Museum on 25, 26 & 27 September. The outdoor production, which is a collaboration between Ginger Boy Productions and Birmingham Hippodrome, will showcase music from the West End’s greatest musicals.

   Some of the theatre world’s most illustrious singers will perform award-winning hits including Earl Carpenter who played Javert and John Owen-Jones, who played Jan Valjean in Cameron Mackintosh’s 25th Anniversary Tour of Les Misérables. They will be joined by two of the best female Voices of the West End: Kerry Ellis and Katie Hall. Kerry Ellis is one of the top leading ladies of Broadway and West End musicals. She originated the role of Meat, in Queen’s We Will Rock You and was the first British Elphaba in the West End smash, Wicked. Katie Hall recently starred as Fantine in Cameron Mackintosh’s international tour of Les Misérables and has played Christine Daaé in The Phantom of the Opera's UK tour and London's West End. She also played the role of Cosette in Les Miserables' 25th Anniversary Concert at London’s O2 Arena.

   The performances are 90 minutes long with no interval and will take place on Friday 25 September at 7pm, Saturday 26 September, when there are two performances at 2pm and 7pm and on Sunday 27 September at 6pm. Gates open 2 hours beforehand.

   The box office for the concert is managed by Birmingham Hippodrome and tickets can only be booked via their website at www.birminghamhippodrome.com. Roped pitches are £114 - £169 for a 3 square metre pitch that can accommodate 4 people from no more than two households or support bubbles.  Car spaces are £189 where performances can be watched from inside the car or set up next to it. There is a maximum of 4 PEOPLE ONLY exclusively from two households or support bubbles per pitch.

   The chefs at the British Motor Museum are making picnics and luxury hampers which can be pre-ordered along with a selection of wines to enjoy in style. These must be pre-ordered via the Museums website and orders close on 16 August. On the event day there will also be a small food and drink area serving gourmet burgers with vegetarian/vegan options, coffee/teas, ice creams etc and a bar selling alcoholic and soft drinks along with a Pinnock’s Artisan Gin Bar.

   Jeff Coope, Managing Director at the British Motor Museum said “We are delighted to host Voices of the West End in a safe and socially distanced environment. We are always keen to support the arts especially in light of COVID-19 and we hope to attract an audience that might not have visited the Museum before to enjoy some superb musical theatre”.

   For more information about the event please visit 

   www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/whats-on/voices-of-the-west-end

   The Museum and event organisers will continue to monitor the Government advice and keep visitors informed of any changes.

2. BEN LAUNCHES EXCITING NEW VIRTUAL CHALLENGES INSPIRED BY FORMULA 1

   Posted on 12:00pm Thursday 23rd Jul 2020

   • Automotive charity asks the industry to get behind new virtual challenges - Formula Ben
   • The first virtual challenge, Formula Ben Silverstone VGP, will raise vital funds for the charity
   • Ben needs the industry’s support to help automotive people get back on track

   Automotive industry charity, Ben, is launching its first ever series of virtual challenges, as part of Bring It On 4 Ben. The first of the charity’s virtual challenges to run this year, Formula Ben Silverstone VGP, starts on 2nd August and is inspired by the Formula 1 British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

   After the last few months of uncertainty, the Formula Ben Silverstone VGP will help automotive people get back on track, funding vital support which is needed now more than ever.

   To take part, each participant needs to complete the length of the Grand Prix, a total of 190 miles, by exercising in their own way to raise vital funds for Ben. Participants choose how they complete the challenge, for example, by walking, cycling, running, swimming, or even by playing basketball, wrestling, trampolining – or a mixture of whatever they like! There is a whole list of activities to choose from so click here to find out more.

   Participants have 8 weeks to complete the challenge which ends on 30th September. Those taking part will also be able to see their location on the Silverstone circuit and track their progress as they complete the 52 laps of the British Grand Prix.

   Sign up for Formula Ben Silverstone VGP
   To find out more and sign up, click here

   Registration costs £15 per person and each participant will receive a Ben T-shirt. On registration, participants can download an app, link to their fitness tracking device and join the leaderboard for some healthy competition!

   As well as raising vital funds to support automotive people, the Formula Ben Silverstone VGP also aims to help people improve their physical and mental health & wellbeing during this challenging time. In addition, taking part in the challenge offers people the opportunity to connect with others and be involved in something fun, while supporting Ben to help automotive people get back on track for good.

   As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of Ben’s fundraising initiatives have been cancelled, including Ben Ball, leaving the charity with an anticipated £1m income shortfall this year. Therefore, this new approach to fundraising is Ben’s way of adapting to the situation, with more virtual fundraising events set to take place throughout 2020.

   Matt Wigginton, Fundraising Director at Ben, said: “The whole team at Ben are incredibly excited to announce our new series of virtual fundraising events! In the current landscape, we had to adapt quickly and come up with new ways of fundraising because mass participation events can’t physically take place right now.

   “So, Formula Ben Silverstone VGP is a fantastic way to have fun and raise money so we can continue providing life-changing support for automotive people - which is needed now more than ever! We’re supporting more and more people with their health and wellbeing during this challenging time, so we need to make sure we can help them get back on track, which we can only do by continuing to fundraise. 

   “We hope you’ll be part of something amazing and Bring It On 4 Ben by getting involved! Thank you for your support and I can’t wait to see how you choose to complete Formula Ben Silverstone VGP.”

3. Eisenberg swaps Pendine for PIZZA!

   Posted on 12:00pm Monday 13th Jul 2020

   MADMAX Pizza official launch: Tuesday 21 July 2020, for prosecco and pizza at 12 noon
   Mayor of Richmond Cllr Geoff Acton to officially open at 12.30pm
   New adventure for record-breaking motorcyclist Zef Eisenberg
   MADMAX record-breaking jet turbine motorbike will be on display

   
   Zef Eisenberg has never been one to back down from a challenge. The founder of the MADMAX Race Team currently holds more than 50 British, World, ACU, FIM and Guinness speed records, and is the only person to break the 200mph barrier on sand with both a motorcycle and a car.
   
   With lockdown having curtailed nearly all forms of racing and testing, he has diverted his energy to his next greatest passion food and in this case PIZZA, but no ordinary pizza, this will be MADMAX Pizza!
   
   The first MADMAX Pizza restaurant will be hosting a launch event on Tuesday 21 July in Eisenberg’s hometown of Richmond in south-west London. The all-Italian team is supported by local celebrity Italian Chef Stefano Bergamin, creator of BACCO and head pizza chef Valentino (sorry not the Valentino Rossi) –who is a master of the Neapolitan thin-crust style, and who is passionate about delivering the best authentic Italian pizzas, using a traditional family recipe and fresh, home made dough and tomato sauces, made on the premises with the freshest ingredients.
   
   As you’d expect from the man behind ‘Eisenberg Racing’ – a specialised engineering team that works with the best to develop some of the world’s most extreme and powerful motorbikes and cars – no stone is being left unturned in his quest for the perfect pizza. That ethos covers everything from super, fresh toppings, as well as the creation of an incredible gluten-free pizza base, a feat rarely achieved.
   
   “We’ve proud of our experienced Italian pizza chef,” said Eisenberg, “and the same passion, quality and excellence will go into our food as goes into our racing and record-breaking. We’re using a real stone and real fire pizza oven, with a goal to make, ‘the best pizzas you’ve ever tasted, and once the model is perfected, we will look to roll out more stores”.

   www.madmaxpizza.co.uk

   
   OFFICIAL OPENING:

   Tuesday 21 July 2020, 12 noon
   Walk out of Richmond Station, turn right, 50 metres down is;
   MADMAX Pizza - 7 Kew Rd, Richmond TW9 2ND

4. bike1066 events POSTPONED - Long Live the Mayday Run

   Posted on 12:00pm Monday 29th Jun 2020

   LONG LIVE THE Mayday Run  - we will be back May 3^rd 2021!

   It is with great regret that despite announcement of the easing of lockdown on July 4^th large gatherings of people will still not be allowed and we have therefore taken the decision in consultation with all our stakeholders – Councils, police, NHS et al to POSTPONE all bike1066 events – Bexhill MotoFest July 26^th (which we had already merged with August 15^th), VJ Day Run August 15^th (deferred from May Day / VE Day 2020) and Eastbourne BikeNites. We are restructuring for a return as the Mayday Run on May 3^rd 2021 (subject to approval).

   www.bike1066.com

5. Motorcycle Live in association with Bikesure Insurance postponed until 2021

   Posted on 12:00pm Tuesday 9th Jun 2020

   Show organisers for Motorcycle Live regretfully announced today that following an extensive and detailed consultation period, it has been agreed to postpone this year’s show until 2021 with concern for public safety and the wellbeing of industry colleagues being central to the decision. 

   The following open letter has been issued from Managing Director of Motorcycle Live, Finlay McAllan:

   “Motorcycle Live is all about audience interaction, meeting with friends, climbing onto all the latest machines and trying on the all latest gear. Many of us use it as an annual pilgrimage to meet with friends and family and enjoy a great day out together. And it’s not just the public who join us each day – we, alongside our industry colleagues - look forward to the event every year too. Therefore, as you can imagine, the decision to postpone this year’s show has not been taken lightly. Our concern for the safety of our visitors, exhibitors and industry colleagues is at the heart of this decision.

   "As with any hard decision, we looked at it with a number of different perspectives and factored in various scenarios and restrictions that could be imposed. Running an event like Motorcycle Live under the COVID-19 related restrictions – such as adhering to social distancing requirements, restricting attendance numbers and dictating the direction of people around the hall – all ultimately would have impacted negatively on the experience of those attending and therefore the very essence of the show.

   "The whole of the Motorcycle Live team is extremely disappointed – as we’re sure that you are too – but rest assured we will continue working behind the scenes to deliver you a fantastic show in 2021. In the meantime, stay safe and look after each other.”  

   MCIA looks forward to welcoming exhibitors and visitors to Motorcycle Live 2021 between 20th – 28th November.
   
   www.motorcyclelive.co.uk