Category: Events and Shows

1. Bike4Life Festival line up announced

   Posted on 8:21am Saturday 4th Apr 2015

   Bike4Life organisers have announced an exciting line-up for this year’s Festival taking place on Sunday 26 April.  The much-loved event held at RAF Museum Cosford returns for its 5th year at the end of this month, raising money for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity (MAAC).

   More than 8,000 people attended the event last year, making it one of the biggest and best biker events in the region. This year’s Festival promises to be even bigger with a great number of attractions on offer on the day.

   Bike4Life Fest 2015 promises to be a great day out for bikers and families alike with more than 40 exhibitors signed up to showcase some of the latest motorbikes, including luxury motorbike retailer, Stratstone. Bikers on the lookout for accessories and clothing for the new biking season are sure to find what they are looking for at the Festival with all the latest brands on offer.  Also on board are Halesowen-based company Revs Suspension, so whether you’re revamping an old bike or giving your current bike a bit of TLC, the team will be on hand to offer you advice. 

   Families looking for an entertaining day out are guaranteed to enjoy the family fun lined up. Visitors can take tours of two of the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s EC135 air ambulance helicopters and watch energetic performances from extreme mountain biker and British Trials Champion Danny Butler and daring displays from stunt bikers Inch Perfect and Moto Gymkhana. In addition to all of this, youngsters can have a go on the climbing wall, ride on the kiddie quad bikes and have their faces painted. 

   Planet Rock 105.2FM will be showcasing the best in the Midlands’ music talent with Cairo Son, Fireroad, Good Companies, Redline and Skam lined up to rock the Festival. Keeping festival goers fuelled for the day, there will also be a fantastic range of food and drink on offer. 

   Current King of the Jungle and seven times World Superbike champion Carl Fogarty will be taking part in a live Q&A on stage at the event, where visitors will also have the chance to meet and greet the racing champ. Carl will also be leading the much-anticipated 23-mile Ride Out from Meole Brace, Shrewsbury to the event’s home in Cosford.

   Jason Levy, fundraising and marketing director for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, said “It’s the final countdown to this year’s event and registrations have already gone through the roof. Over 3,000 bikers will ride out with Carl and thousands more are expected to come along to RAF Museum Cosford to see all that Bike4Life Fest has to offer.” 

   Abi Betteridge, public events manager at RAF Museum Cosford, said “You don’t have to be a biker to enjoy Bike4Life 2015, there’s plenty to see and do for festival goers of all ages. In addition to the Spitfire flypast, live music, arena displays and family entertainment, visitors will also have access to the RAF Museum Cosford, with over 70 historic aircraft on display. We look forward to welcoming new and familiar faces to the museum on 26th April.”

   The event, which is partnered with RAF Museum Cosford and the Safer Roads Partnership, aims to raise awareness of biker safety.

   Any bikers wishing to take part in the Bike4Life Ride Out must register in advance through the Bike4Life website www.bike4lifefest.com as spaces are limited (£5 per bike). Any biking enthusiasts, fans of Carl Fogarty and live music lovers are welcome to head straight to the Festival at RAF Museum Cosford.  Entry to the Festival is free of charge with all donations on the day going towards the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity.

2. Some of our competition winners @ the Manchester Bike Show 2015

   Posted on 10:00am Tuesday 31st Mar 2015

   

   Our vip'er @ the Manchester Bike Show 2015, Mikey Gregg (far right) and friends

     

   Competition winner, Alex Lally and Daughter Tilly 

    

   

   Competition winner, Mark Davies

3. Dewsbury Rock at the Manchester Bike Show, 2015

   Posted on 9:30am Monday 30th Mar 2015

   

4. Bike4Life Organisers Highlight the Importance of Road Safety

   Posted on 4:04pm Friday 27th Mar 2015

   Bikers from Shropshire and the wider Midlands area are invited to start the season off in style on Sunday 26th April 2015 at the Bike4Life Ride Out and Festival.

   Bike4Life Festival is being held at the RAF Museum Cosford in support of the Midlands Air Ambulance charity. The event is being run in collaboration with the Safer Roads Partnership and West Mercia Police and this year is being supported by radio station Planet Rock and is set to be the biggest organised biker gathering in the Midlands this year.

   Biker Safety is one of the main focuses of the day and there will be the opportunity to speak to The Institute of Advanced Motorcyclists (IAM), Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and other trainers to find out more about further training and additional courses that are out there to brush up on your biking skills. There is also the opportunity to sign up on the day for a special offer of a Take Control training course – book with a mate and get the course for half price.

   The importance of biker safety is paramount for all partners involved with Bike4Life and the Air Ambulance in particular are fully aware of the role they play in assisting bikers at the most crucial of times.

   Mum of three Charlotte Lloyd suffered serious injuries in a road traffic collision while on a motorbike just under a year ago and, as she continues her recovery, she’s praised the “vital” contribution Midlands Air Ambulance made to ensuring she received urgent medical attention.

   39-year-old Charlotte suffered a broken leg and elbow when she, as a pillion, and her partner, Marc, were involved in the accident in the Midlands in June 2014. She had been preparing to start a new job the following day when the pair set out on their motorbike on a sunny afternoon and travelled down the Pennine Way, B5080 in Tamworth to meet her younger brother. Suddenly, after missing its turning the car travelling in front performed an emergency stop. As the road surface was very badly broken, the wheels of the bike weren’t able to grip. As the bike started to snake badly, Charlotte was thrown into the air before landing in the road.

   The Midlands Air Ambulance helicopter from Tatenhill was dispatched to the scene, with paramedic, Ian Walley, among the aircrew.

   Charlotte recalled, “There was a lot going on at the scene and as well as being in a lot of pain I felt very sick. I remember Ian introducing himself to me. He and the rest of the aircrew played a vital part on the day as they got me to hospital so quickly. They worked really well with the land ambulance and explained everything to me and were really comforting and patient, and warned me it might be a little noisy. I was in so much pain and, up to that point; I wasn’t responding to anything I’d been given to try and make that better.”

   As Charlotte was experiencing such extreme pain, the aircrew were able to administer advance relief at the roadside before she stabilised and airlifted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. Now back home, she is slowly recovering from her injuries but admits the incident had a massive impact on her life. She added, “I had never been to hospital before and had to stay for a week, undergoing scans and a session in theatre. I’m still attending physiotherapy appointments there and am awaiting a date for more surgery. Even now I still cannot walk properly or do certain things, and I do find it quite frustrating sometimes.”

   However, she was still determined to meet the aircrew who helped her when she needed it most to offer her appreciation and, after travelling to Tatenhill and spending time with the team.

   Charlotte continued, "I met up with Ian just because I wanted to thank him and what he did and all of the emergency services did for me that day. I had already known that a lot of bikers are airlifted by Midlands Air Ambulance but I can now truly say that they do fantastic work and help save a lot of lives.”

   With hundreds of bikers already signed up, organisers are expecting thousands will show their support on the day and join in the fun, so, if you’re a biker and you’re not already registered for the Ride Out or just want to find out more visit www.bike4lifefest.com or call the Bike4Life Festival team on 01902 376 252. Find us on Facebook by searching for Bike4Life Fest and follow us on Twitter @Bike4LifeFest.

   The festival will run from 10:00am to 4:00pm and visitors of all ages, not just bikers are encouraged to come along. Bikers wishing to participate in the ride out MUST have a full licence as the route to the Museum will travel along the M54 motorway.

   Bikers can find out more information on the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity by visiting www.midlandsairambulance.com or for more information on the RAF Museum Cosford visit www.rafmuseum.org. Further details about the Safer Roads Partnership can be found at www.srpwestmercia.org.uk

5. The Manchester Bike Show - 28th & 29th March 2015

   Posted on 9:00am Friday 13th Mar 2015

   The biggest indoor bike display in the UK, with over 1,000 motorcycles set to gather at EventCity, Manchester!

   
   Since its inception in 2012 the Manchester Bike Show has grown exponentially in size and popularity. As a result, when the Manchester Bike Show, sponsored by Accident Advice Solicitors, returns to EventCity this month on March 28th and 29th, it will host the largest indoor bike display currently on offer at any modern motorcycle show in the UK.

   EventCity is a popular venue is situated just minutes from the M60 motorway and is next to the intu Trafford Centre. The show will take over Halls 3 & 4, covering a total of 22,000 sq m of floor space, this is sufficient to house 650 motorcycles privately entered, and club stands ranging from the earliest cycle motors through the British classics of the 1950s and 1960s; the Japanese classics of the 1970s and 1980s; the modern classics of the 1990s, not to mention cruisers, custom bikes, street fighters, racing and off-road bikes and much, much more. In addition, the Auto Cycle Union have organised for race trucks from a variety of WSB and BSB teams to be in attendance along with grass roots racing and off-road teams all of whom will be bringing star riders to meet the crowds. All this is in addition to the brand new 2015 models from Triumph, Ducati, Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Suzuki, Victory and Indian, plus many more that you would expect to see at a modern motorcycle show.
   
   As well as the 1,000 plus display motorcycles, the show also features an extensive retail village where you can buy everything needed to keep your bike where it should be... on the road. With stunt shows by Stunt Monkey, Try our Sport by Bumpy Ltd, live music and DJs, the Manchester Bike Show is an excellent day out for all the family.
   
   A full list of exhibitors in now available on the dedicated show website www.manchesterbikeshow.com

   Advanced ticket sales are currently 240% up on the same time last year so we are expecting a bumper crowd over the weekend. Advanced tickets at reduced prices can be purchased from the show website today.

    

   The Manchester Bike Show, sponsored by Accident Advice Solicitors

   28th & 29th March 2015 
   EventCity, Manchester, M41 7TB