Category: Events and Shows

1. SEE all the new bikes at the Motorcycle Live‏

   Posted on 8:28am Thursday 21st Aug 2014

   SEE... bikes, bikes, bikes!

   Motorcycle Live is the UK’s largest bike show and first and foremost, that’s what visitors get to see. Every November, thousands of two-wheel fans and their families and friends make the winter-season pilgrimage to Motorcycle Live to see the next year’s new models in the UK for the first time.

   This year will be no different, with more of the world’s leading motorcycle manufacturers signed up than ever before, each one showcasing the very latest machinery – from sports bikes and scooters to adventure models and off-roaders. For a full list of manufacturers exhibiting at the show click here.      

    

   In addition to the new bikes, visitors can also enjoy the more historical side of motorcycling with a visit to the Classic/Retro feature supported by the Coventry Transport Museum. The Classic section will be include a special display in honour of the World War I Centenary, featuring unique, mint-condition machines from the era. The Retro collection meanwhile will focus on old favourites and rare gems from the 1980s.                

   Shiny machinery doesn’t get more eye-catching than the weird and wonderful bikes on display at Custom Xtreme supported by Back Street Heroes. This high-profile showcase is dedicated to the work of the UK’s most highly-talented and ingenious builders – professional and amateur alike – all of whom remain consistently passionate about fusing exquisite engineering and absolute art into a single motorcycle.         

   Motorcycle Live takes place at The NEC, Birmingham from 22-30 November 2014. Advance tickets are just £17 per adult, £11 for Seniors and £7 for children aged 11-16* (kids ten and under accompanied by a paying adult go free). There is also a £20 advance ticket, which includes entry to the show and a three-pack of Oxford Comfy neck warmers worth £15.

   To book, call 0844 581 2345 or visit www.motorcyclelive.co.uk

   *Advance ticket price, closing date for advanced tickets 5.00pm on 21 November 2014.  

2. Wright move as classic dirt bike show joins Mortons’ stable!

   Posted on 12:50pm Tuesday 19th Aug 2014

   After over a decade of success, Britain’s leading classic dirt bike show is set to step up a gear as part of the Mortons stable of motorcycle events and magazines.

   The Putoline Telford Twin Shock Classic & Road Racing Show – known to many of the thousands who attend each year as ‘Wrighty’s Show’ – is joining forces with other great Mortons events such as the market-leading International Dirt Bike Show and the two huge events at Stafford, the Carole Nash Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show and the Carole Nash International Classic MotorCycle Show.

   And as part of the deal, founder Alan Wright, already a regular columnist in Mortons’ Classic Dirt Bike magazine, will be staying on in order to make sure the 2015 event over the weekend of February 21/22 is bigger and better than ever.

   “It’s a perfect fit as far as I’m concerned,” said Alan. “I know the team at Mortons’ Classic Bike Shows will look after what has been a labour of love for me for many years now, but also a lot of very hard work. In fact in the best sense of the phrase when it comes to dirt bikes, I’ll finally be able to get my feet up, as the show will be in safe hands!”

   The event at the International Centre in Telford has traditionally attracted a host of big names and great machinery, with stars such as Heikki Mikkola, Johnny Giles and Brad Lackey among some of the more recent names to come along. Regular showgoers know they get to rub shoulders with their heroes, and often get the chance to attend exclusive dinners and hear tales of classic battles on two wheels… and all that, plus much more, will be on the cards as the Classic Bike Shows team picks up the baton.

   “Alan has done a fantastic job with the event over a number of years,” said Mortons exhibitions manager Nick Mowbray. “The pressure is on for our team to make something so good even better… but we will be giving it every effort. The event fits brilliantly with our other events and gives us the ideal all-round package for anyone with an interest in two wheels, wherever they are in the UK.”

3. STEVE PARRISH M.A.D TOUR DATE ANNOUNCED

   Posted on 8:51am Friday 15th Aug 2014

   @ THE NATIONAL MOTORCYCLE MUSEUM-FRIDAY 31st October

   World champion, BBC TV presenter, practical joker & prankster Steve Parrish will be appearing live on stage at the National Motorcycle Museum on the evening of Friday 31/10/14.

   Kicking off the National Motorcycle Museum’s 30th anniversary weekend fans will be able to learn about the life and times of Steve Parrish (Stavros) who will provide a colorful, humorous and at times daring portrayal of his career. As an added bonus everyone booking a ticket will receive free entry to the National Motorcycle Museum collection on the day of the show!

   Steve Parrish raced at the highest level of motorcycle sport, with his best finish coming in the 1977 500cc Grand Prix season, as team mate to that year’s champion Barry Sheene. Barry, who met Steve in 1975 is quoted as saying “if he was to set up his bike as well as his victims and had put as much effort into the bike as he did the intricate pranks he pulled on people he would certainly of been a world champion.”
   
   Steve then dabbled with sports car racing before moving to truck racing “because it was less painful than riding bikes” where he won 5 European truck racing titles. Steve was the BBC commentator for Moto GP and is now a pundit for BTs coverage of the sport. He has been commentating since 1988, but he is equally famous in the world of motorsport for his pranks which is the real reason for this show.
   
   With a life full of scrapes, near misses and funnies, including riding Barry Sheen’s bike to qualifying for the world champion, filling rooms of sports personalities with live frogs, and jumping hire cars from second floor car parks in Daytona onto the beach! The list is endless and all will be revealed in a non-stop show, bringing smiles to the audience’s faces. Steve flies his own 4 seat aircraft, plays golf badly, shoots clays, hosts track days and even has an entry in the Guinness Book of Records.
   
   Joining Steve on stage and leading the proceedings will be Steve’s daughter Frankie, who has lived with her father’s antics and the embarrassment’s that it brings.

   Make a weekend of it!
   
   In addition to free Museum entry those joining Steve for this fantastically funny evening will also have the opportunity to enjoy all the attractions that the Museum’s 30th Anniversary day on Saturday 01/11/14 has to offer-look out for more details very soon.

   FURTHER DETAILS
   
   M.A.D Tour NMM Show Date-Friday 31/10/14
   M.A.D Tour NMM Show Time- 19.30 (Museum open from 08.30)
   Catering & Bar-Hot meals/snacks & full bar facilities will be available.

   HOW TO BOOK-
   Tickets £20
   By Phone: Call the National Motorcycle on (0121) 7042784
   Online: Book on-line www.thenmmshop.co.uk

4. August Classic Shows Newsletter

   Posted on 11:10am Thursday 14th Aug 2014

   We hope you are having a good summer so far, we were in Dublin last weekend and missed the worst of the weather, thank goodness we didn’t have an event.

   We were last out on two successive weekends at the end of July, firstly on Sunday 20th July at Bodelwyddan Castle in North Wales and the following weekend at Capesthorne Hall near Macclesfield. We had the usual excellent turn out of cars and bikes at Bodelwyddan with Steve Elnor being awarded car of the show for his superb Jaguar XK140, Malcolm Halliwell bike of the show for his Laverda Jota and The Cavalier and Chevette club being awarded best club stand for an excellent display appropriately enough on Vauxhall/Opel day. The following weekend we were at Capesthorne Hall near Macclesfield with Richard Perry being awarded bike of the show for his 1939 Vincent, car of the show was Tony Darkes with his VW type 1 van. A big thanks to Nigel Hughes who coordinated a superb display from the association of Singer Car Clubs who took pride of place in front of the house with participants coming from all over the UK and even as far afield as the Netherlands. There are some photos of some of this outstanding display can be found on the strip to your right.
   
   Moving towards the end of August we have three events over the bank holiday weekend, Capesthorne Hall on 24th August followed by Thoresby Park on Monday 25th. If you are unlucky you will see me going at great speed between the two venues on Sunday night followed by a long line of rusty old transit vans filled with autojumblers doing both events. The event at Thoresby was simply outstanding in May with a fantastic turn out of trade, vehicles and public so we are hoping for decent weather and a similar turn out. If you haven’t visited this event you are missing a treat and one well worth travelling some distance to attend. Capesthorne should be good too with the Mercedes Benz club taking pride of place in front of the house. Autojumble stalls are free at Capesthorne on the Sunday so why not take the chance to clear your garage but don’t forget there is no Saturday set up?
   
   We will be at Blenheim Palace on both days over the weekend with classic car day on Sunday and a more general Festival of Transport on Monday with classic cars, bikes, Mini’s, VW’s, customs, Americans etc. Autojumblers can trade at Blenheim Palace on both days but just pay for one day with set up from 2pm on Saturday.
   
   More news about our last two all out door shows of the year at Cholmondeley and Hoghton Tower to follow but for now we look forward to seeing you over the bank holiday weekend.
   
   Andrew Greenwood

   www.classicshows.org

   

5. NEW BIKE SHOW A ROARING SUCCESS IN EDINBURGH

   Posted on 11:02am Tuesday 12th Aug 2014

   RACING royalty and top entertainment made the Royal Highland Centre’s new summer motorcycle show a weekend to remember.

   Thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts poured through the Ingliston venue’s gates on August 9th and again on August 10th for the Carole Nash Great Scottish Bike Show – the event that is set to become a summer staple in the classic bike shows calendar.

   Show manager Nick Mowbray said: “Our aim was to put on a comprehensive show in Scotland that celebrated all that’s best about biking… and we’ve done exactly that. The Royal Highland Centre is the perfect location and we couldn’t be happier with the way everything has gone.”

   The event featured a host of big motorcycling names, including legendary racer Giacomo Agostini, and Scotland’s own three times TT winner Alex George who proved a popular figure among his native crowd. Ago, the 15 times world champion and GP race wins record holder, spoke on stage several times throughout the weekend, telling tales of an incredible career that remains unrivalled in terms of its success.

   The Italian motorcycling legend took centre stage on Sunday afternoon when he joined the Purple Helmets Stunt display team for their signature stunt – the pyramid. It was another show stopping performance for the 15 times world champion which left the crowds wanting more.

   Yamaha, with its Dark Side MT Tour, set up camp for the two days of the event giving unique opportunities for all-comers to test the MT range, try the MT-09 Extreme Wheelie Machine and witness the incredible antics of the Dave Coates Stunt Show.

   It was a memorable weekend too for David Stewart, who picked up the inaugural Robbie Allan Memorial Trophy after his 1914 Victoria was named Best in Show. Along with the impressive variety of bikes on display, the inside halls were packed with traders and dealers offering all manner of deals and bargains on the latest motorcycle gear.

   Nick said: “I must mention and thank the many businesses who’ve supported us here at the event by coming along to showcase their wares. It’s been fantastic to see so many people heading home with bags full of biking bits.”

   Outside facilities proved popular too, with a range of live action events including the madcap Purple Helmets stunt display, Moped Mayhem racing, Scottish Supermoto demos and even a live indie rock band that added a real buzz to proceedings.

   Nick added: “There’s been a great blend of long-term bikers, beginners and families who’ve joined us for the weekend and it’s so brilliant to see motorcycling alive and well in this way. I truly hope everyone who attended had a top, top weekend.”