Category: Events and Shows

1. WIN tickets for Stormin' the Castle 2017!

   Posted on 12:00pm Wednesday 26th Jul 2017

   Go here for details

   www.thebikerguide.co.uk/competitionsfomotorbikeevents.html

   

2. 230 classic motorbikes confirmed to take part in the South West’s largest Festival of vintage transport

   Posted on 12:00pm Friday 21st Jul 2017

   4^th, 5^th and 6^th August 2017 will see the Stroud Vintage Transport & Engine Club (SVTEC) stage their Annual Show at South Cerney Airfield in Cirencester, Gloucestershire. The show is widely regarded as one of the biggest and best Steam, Vintage and Countryside events in the UK and attracts thousands of exhibitors and visitors from across the county actively raising thousands of pounds for both national and regional charities each year.

   One of the largest displays is the Motorcycle section featuring 230 registered entries representing manufacturers from across the globe. Among the marques on display are Honda, Yamaha, Harley Davidson, Moto Guzzi, HRD, AGS, James, Triumph, Royal Enfield, Rudge, Baker, BMW, Norton, Velocette, BSA, Panther, Francis Barnett, Matchless and Greeves. There will also be an abundance of Lambretta’s to celebrate the mods and rockers era and the show will host the Cotton Motorcycle Club national meeting. Section leader John Grange said ‘we always try to bring something of interest to all ages and interests, from Veteran to Vintage and Classic. From the smallest Brockhouse Corgi ‘Para’ bike to the HRD Vincent Meteor series B, from the Yamaha FS1E (my first bike!) to the Suzuki GT750, there will be something to suit everyone’s motorcycling interests. The section celebrates 100 years of motorcycles’.

   Other Show Highlights Include:

   • Vintage displays of nearly 700 classic cars from pre and post war, including over 70 Classic American, plus 230 Motorbikes, scooters, 70 bicycles from 1903 - 1980, 30 miniature steam engines, 90 stationary engines, 70 full size steam engines, model engineering, 200 Tractors, over 80 Buses and Coaches, 120 Military Vehicles, 240 Emergency and Commercial Vehicles, 60 Industrial Trucks, 30 vintage Caravans, 20 Emergency vehicles and a large model Aircraft flying display.
   • Live Arena with non-stop demonstrations from steam to dancing tractors and much much more. Plus the opportunity to drive a steam engine and see the spectacular Showman’s Engines.
   • Vintage Fun fair with the popular Fairground Organs, 'electric yachts', waltzers, big wheel, Punch and Judy Shows, steam-driven 'gallopers' and traditional penny arcade games, plus a ride on a model stream train, or ‘Chuffy the train’, and traditional games.
   • Countryside Arena featuring a dog show (yes please come and enter your fury four-legged friend!), ferret racing, rare breeds, animal conservation, alpaca’s, shire horses, horse logging, sheep shearing, falconry displays  to sheep dancing and reptiles!
   • Massive Trade stand area with over 100 trade stalls, models tents, craft marques and specialist displays of memorabilia from a bygone era.
   • The showground site is sprawling, with plenty of food and drink ‘pit stops’, a firm favourite is the vintage tea room with regular music and 1940s inspired Lindy Hop dancing (both days).  2017 will see the first visit of the songstress Betsy Harmony, performing a delightful selection of 1940s songs from Andrew Sisters to Vera Lynn, to a right old ‘knees up’ singalong.
   • The showground site is sprawling, with plenty of food and drink ‘pit stops’, a firm favourite is the vintage tea room with regular music, entertainment and 1940s inspired Lindy Hop dancing and the ‘Steamed Up Brass Band’ or bring a picnic.
   • Battle of Britain memorial Dakota fly-past on Saturday and Sunday (weather dependent). Plus Jump4Heroes parachute display team will descend into the arena on all three days of the event. Jump4Heroes is The Royal British Legion Extreme Human Flight Team, made up of serving and former members of the Army, to support and raise awareness of the Armed Forces charities.
   • FREE vintage bus rides around the showground on all three days

   Chairman of the Stroud Vintage Transport and Engine Club (S.V.T.E.C) Martyn Slater, said: ‘Our goal has always been to give the best value for money family day out in Gloucestershire, with something for all of the family to enjoy. The show has evolved allot over the past 40 years, but the mission remains the same - to inform, educate, entertain and celebrate our unique transport history and the preservation of historical vehicles. We actively encourage interaction between exhibitors and visitors, and have a nifty on-site Wi-Fi to enable visitors to find out more history and information about specific vehicles displayed. The dedicated Wi-Fi code can be obtained from the show program, and available for use on phones, tablets and laptops’.

   The Extravaganza is organised by the Stroud Vintage Transport and Engine Club. This non-profit making organisation raises money for national and local charities and up to 30 will be represented on site raising money and awareness of their respective causes. The rally is one of the largest events of its kind run entirely by volunteers. All section leaders strive to bring something different to this year’s event. With so much to see and do, one day just isn’t long enough.

   www.glosvintageextravaganza.co.uk

3. World Champions Wayne Gardner and Freddie Spencer to Race at Silverstone Classic

   Posted on 12:00pm Wednesday 19th Jul 2017

   • ‘Bike Legends’ team to contest special Celebrity Race
   • 500cc World Champions joined by Parrish and Costello       
   • World GP Bike Legends return for dramatic on track demo  
   • All tickets for the Classic must be purchased in advance

   A quartet of two-wheel heroes will represent a Bike Legends team contesting the star-studded Celebrity Challenge Trophy showdown at this summer’s Silverstone Classic (28-30 July).
    
   The impressive Bike Legends squad features two 500cc World Champions – Freddie Spencer and Wayne Gardner – as well as multiple British champion Steve Parrish and renowned TT racer Maria Costello MBE.
    
   Spencer – aka ‘Fast Freddie’ – is one of bike racing’s true legends. The American was 500cc World Champion in both 1983 and 1985, notching up 27 GP wins from just 72 starts.
    
   Gardner’s success came later in the same decade; the Aussie ace capturing the coveted 500cc title in 1987 to become the first racer from Down Under to lift motorcycling’s premier class crown.
    
   Ten years earlier, Parrish finished fifth in the same 500cc World Championship when racing as team-mate to the great Barry Sheene. Since then, the Englishman has notched up multiple truck racing titles and become a familiar voice to television audiences around the globe.
    
   Costello also has a strong presence in the media but most of her awe-inspiring heroics have come on the Isle of Man. She was the first female solo rider to stand on podium in a race around the TT course and between 2004 and 2009 held the record as the fastest woman to lap the fearsome TT circuit. More recently, she stood on the Classic TT podium last year and is currently competing in sidecars at British Superbike level.
    
   Far from hanging up their helmets, all four have recently passed their ARDS test to secure a competition licence to race on four wheels and are now looking forward to their next motorsport adventure: racing in a pack of competition-prepared Austin A30 and A35 saloons at the Silverstone Classic. Harking back to the late fifties, these nostalgic cars are well-known in classic racing circles and were introduced a few years ago by the Historic Racing Drivers Club (HRDC) as a cost-effective route into historic racing.
    
   “It will be great fun as I could be finally racing a car that's older than me,” joked the notoriously gregarious Parrish.
    
   Having recently tested an A35, Costello grinned: “I’ve raced on both two and three wheels but I never imagined being on four wheels on track could put such a big smile on my face.”
    
   Both Spencer and Gardner have considerable car racing experience, notably Gardner who contested touring car championships in both his native Australia and Japan after retiring from bikes.
    
   “I’ve got ten years of car racing up my sleeve, so hopefully that will help,” said Gardner. “I went to last year’s Classic and was blown away by the number of people and all the incredible cars. Now it’s going to be very special to be part of the circuit racing show next month.”    
    
   “Whether I’m riding or driving in anything I always enjoy it – this is going to be a lot of fun,” added Spencer. “I can’t wait to get out there!”
    
   Boasting such an experienced line-up, the Bike Legends team must start the Celebrity Challenge Trophy race as one of the favourites to contest the title but, although the majority of their famous rivals are racing rookies, their fiercely competitive nature is likely to prove a force to be reckoned with.
    
   While out to enjoy themselves, they will be out to win, too. Besides, there is prize money at stake! The victorious team will raise £10,000 for Prostate Cancer UK, the event’s official charity partner.
    
   As well as gunning for glory among the jostling A35s, all four bike stars will also be performing on two wheels as part of Saturday’s dramatic World GP Bike Legends demonstration display. They will be back aboard some classic machines from motorbike racing’s golden two-stroke era as well as an exciting new generation of sports bikes supplied by Yamaha.   
    
   “The addition of bike legends was a big hit at the Silverstone Classic last year and we’ll be back with an even bigger and better show in July,” vowed an excited Gardner.
    
   Appropriately, the dedicated World GP Bike Legends showcase will be based adjacent to the Ace Café in the National Paddock.  
    
   Fans wishing to see all these heroes in track action, whether it be on two or four wheels, must purchase tickets in advance. Adult admission starts at £43 and weekend camping and hospitality upgrades are available.
    
   All tickets provide access to racing paddocks, trackside grandstand seating, live music concerts on both Friday and Saturday evenings featuring the Bootleg Beatles and Tony Hadley formerly of Spandau Ballet, vintage funfair rides, air shows and car club displays as well as a host of other family-friendly demonstrations, activities and entertainment.
    
   www.worldgpbikelegends.com 

    

   

4. WHAT'S ON this week...

   Posted on 10:00am Monday 17th Jul 2017

   Skegness Charity Bike Night
   Mablethorpe Bike Night 2017
   Brigits Mantle @ The Buck Inn
   Running on MT - The Infl8table One
   Not Forgotten Rally - Dieppe Raid 1942
   Barry Sheene Road Race Festival Powered by Suzuki
   Faro 2017 - International Motorcycle Meeting
   The Purple Rose Coastal Bike Ride
   Cheshire Classic Car and Motorcycle Show
   Sutton on Sea Bike Night The Warm up!
   Kempton Park Motorcycle Jumble
   Flat Track, Off-Road, MX, Supermoto, Scamblers @ Ace Cafe

   See more details (and more events) on the main WHAT'S ON section for July

5. Barry Sheene’s restored XR14 to be ridden by son Freddie at Oliver’s Mount

   Posted on 12:00pm Friday 14th Jul 2017

   

   Barry Sheene’s 1976 world championship-winning XR14 – which has been restored with the help of Suzuki’s Vintage Parts Programme – will be ridden by his son Freddie at this year’s Sheene Festival at Oliver’s Mount on 22-23 July.

   The bike, which carried Barry Sheene to victory in four Grands Prix in 1976, was recently restored by former Team Suzuki mechanics Martyn Orgborne and Nigel Everett. Freddie will ride the iconic machine in a special parade session during the weekend, while Steve Parrish will ride the 1977 XR14 that Barry also rode to world championship glory. There will also be a display of other bikes raced by Barry Sheene, and a collection of his leathers.

   Suzuki, sponsoring the event for a third consecutive year, will be bringing a fleet of display bikes, including the Team Classic Suzuki Katana and a number of race bikes from the firm’s decorated history. The original GSX-R750F that was restored as part of the 30th anniversary celebrations will also feature, as will the GSX-R1100 restored by Suzuki’s apprenticeship programme and the TL1000S built from new parts.

   The event, held at the only true road-race circuit in England, will also feature a full programme of 21 races, a trade village, and live band on the Saturday night.

   Freddie Sheene said, “I’m really looking forward to the Oliver’s Mount event, not only for the usual atmosphere but for the fact that the public will be able to see the ‘76 and ‘77 world championship-winning bikes back where they belong. Those bikes laid dormant for the past 40 years and it’s a special moment for everyone to be a part of. The whole process of bringing the bikes back to life wouldn’t have been possible without the help from Suzuki GB and most importantly Martyn Ogborne and Nigel Everett; they have put over 600 hours between them to make this happen. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone over the weekend; let’s just hope the weather stays in check.”

   Scott Beaumont from Oliver’s Mount, commented, “To say we are excited about seeing Barry Sheene’s world championship-winning bike riding around Oliver’s Mount again is an understatement. Then the fact that his son Freddie will be riding it simply gives us goosebumps. This is an incredible opportunity to see this bike ridden in the UK for probably the final time. We simply cannot wait for the festival to get underway, and we hope to see all fans of Sheene, Suzuki, Classic Bikes and riding legends attending. See you all trackside for what is likely to be a once in a lifetime event.”

   Suzuki GB aftersales marketing coordiantor, Tim Davies, added, “We’re delighted to be backing the Sheene Festival again this year, and we’re really looking forward to watching Freddie ride Barry’s championship-winning machine RG500. It’s been really special to be involved in the restoration of such an iconic machine, with the help of the Sheene family. It was great to watch it come together, and it’ll be even more special to see Freddie ride it at a circuit that Barry loved and enjoyed much success at.”

   The 2017 Barry Sheene Festival will take place at Oliver’s Mount on 22-23 July. For tickets and event information, visit www.oliversmountracing.com