Category: Events and Shows

1. RECORD VISITOR NUMBERS FOLLOWING LAUNCH OF NEW HAYNES INTERNATIONAL MOTOR MUSEUM

   Posted on 11:39am Wednesday 28th May 2014

   · Museum sees a 246% increase in visitors following re-launch last month

   · Educational visits up 77%

   · Increase heralded as an “encouraging result” for the West Country economy

   Haynes International Motor Museum has announced an impressive 246% increase in its visitor numbers since its re-launch last month (period 16 April-21 May 2014) – a record in its history. It has also reported a 77% year on year increase in the number of educational visits.

   The Museum, which has a collection of over 400 of some of the greatest cars and motorcycles from around the world, last month saw over 500 guests come to see Culture Minister Ed Vaizey MP open the brand new facility and praise it for the prominent role it plays in the Somerset and West Country economy.

   The £5 million project included the creation of three new exhibitions halls, modernisation of three other halls, creation of Haynes Motorland for children, the development of new function room facilities, new shop, café and entrance foyer and also included the introduction of new interactive exhibits.

   Marc Haynes, Managing Director of Haynes International Motor Museum, said: “We are delighted to have welcomed such an increase in visitors over the last month since our re-opening. This is fantastic news for us and importantly also for the local economy, particularly after a difficult winter when the region was devastated by flooding. All our facilities are fully operational and we look forward to further establishing ourselves as a gateway destination for tourism in the region.

   We are also pleased to see the uplift in visitors for educational reasons. As an educational charitable trust, we have always prided ourselves on providing a fun experience, yet one where visitors can discover the evolution of the car and engineering through the generations, encouraging the young to take an interest in our heritage in an authentic interactive way. Our family friendly exhibits and the new ‘paint a car’ are proving to be particularly popular with our younger – and some of our older! – guests.”

2. Sunshine and big crowds make BMF Show great success

   Posted on 9:00am Thursday 22nd May 2014

   For the first time in 5 years the weather was kind to the BMF Show and as a result thousands flocked to enjoy the weekend.

   From early Friday afternoon campers arrived to enjoy the weather and evening entertainment and they weren’t disappointed with many claiming that it was the best Friday night for years!

   Show organisers The Mulberry Group received very positive feed-back from exhibitors including KTM who were exhibiting for the first time and running demo rides along with Kawasaki, Honda and Suzuki. Harley Davidson, Victory & Indian, WK Bikes and Boom Trikes all reported good interest.

   Visitors arrived early on Saturday morning with the bike park almost full by early afternoon.

   There was a great ‘party’ atmosphere throughout the weekend and appearances by Carl Fogarty, Henry Cole and Don Powell (founder member of 70’s super group SLADE) added to it.

   The Adventure & Overland area was crowded throughout the weekend with people listening to presentations from Sam Manicom, Graham Hoskins, Nick Plum (Touratech), Alex Jackson (Kaapstad), Jacqui Furneaux, Dom Giles, Ed March and Graham Field who was launching his new book Ureka.

   The Best in Show competition received the most number of entries for the past 9 years and the Cavalcade of clubs attracted over 135 bikes of all shapes and sizes!

   Mulberry’s MD Martin Chick said “The weather coupled with manufacturers and the new show areas have clearly boosted attendance which was up by just over 3% giving us 40,889 on site over the weekend” “The show was a great success and gives us a platform to keep building from, increase the numbers further and to get more manufacturers to come back to the show”

   For more information about any of the BMF shows visit www.thebmfshow.co.uk. Or talk to the show organisers, The Mulberry Group, on 01869 277077.

3. Rattlesden Five Bells Bike Show

   Posted on 8:01am Thursday 22nd May 2014

   The show was held on the one acre meadow behind the Five Bells pub was a great success with a fantastic turn out of over 400 bikes of all types.

   The weather was wonderful and everybody had a great time, supported and assisted by local community organizations. There was a small service by local rector Tiffer Robinson, together with the CMA, who blessed the bikes and remembered those no longer with us. Music was provided by Long Days a 3 piece blues/rock outfit from Ipswich. The meadow at the rear of the pub had to be closed at one point due to the high numbers of attendees and local residents allowed parking in their gardens.

   The primary aim was to raise funds for the BBRF (British Biker Relief Foundation, registered as a small charity) and so they managed to raise £2000 for the charity to assist in their work.

   Best in show was won by Clive Ransom, aka Hip from Solo Choppers on a 1976 Harley Shovelhead with paint by Hillary of Hurricane Airbrush Art. The landladies choice was Richard Battley aka Chum on a Harley Softail Breakout. 
   

4. Thefts from tents at Biker events

   Posted on 12:06pm Tuesday 20th May 2014

   In the past few weeks there has been a few reported thefts from tents on the Biker circuit.

   It appears that the perpetrators follow drunk people back to their tents, wait until they fall asleep, pretend to have an argument outside the victims tent, then one enters the tent and routes around to find cameras and wallets, while the other keeps watch. These unscrupulous thieves are mainly looking for top of the range phones and money, as others have found wallets the following day on the field with cards still inside.

   It seems they are watching people as they takes photos at the event with a 'fancy phone camera' and then target these people when they head off to their tents, await for them to 'pass out' intoxicated and then whilst they are in a deep sleep, enter their tents to steal their mobiles and wallets. Another 'technique' is to shake a tent and call out something like 'Mark are you in there?'

   Pete Walker, organiser of The Farmyard Party said "The best and safe way to store your phone a purse/wallet is at the bottom of your sleeping bag, simply throw them down to the end of the bag and the thief wont risk putting him/her down there to get at your stuff. Never leave wallets, purses, phones or money in your tent whilst you’re away from it. If you can, meet your camping neighbours and watch out for each other."

   There will be lockers for hire at this years Farmyard @ a £5, which will easily take six peoples mobiles and wallets.

   We urge people to be more vigilant until these pesky thieves stop targeting Motorcycle events!

5. GOLDEN DAYS AT STAFFORD

   Posted on 4:38pm Friday 16th May 2014

   A GOLDEN era of motorsport, and a fantastic weekend of motorcycling – that’s what visitors to one of the year’s best shows are set to enjoy later this month.

   The 34th Carole Nash Classic MotorCycle Show takes place on the weekend of April 26-27 at Staffordshire County Showground, and racing legend John Surtees will be there as guest of honour five decades after becoming the first man to win world championships on two and four wheels following his fantastic tussle with Graham Hill for the 1964 F1 title.

   Surtees will take along his Ferrari 158 car, plus his championship winning MV Agusta and Norton F Model, while there will be more fantastic machinery to see, including a Moto Major – an Italian made motorcycle never before seen in the UK.

   The Bonhams auction is always a highlight of ‘Spring Stafford’ and this time includes a 1939 Brough Superior SS100 motorcycle once owned by the designer himself. First registered on May 24, 1939 by George Brough, the SS100 was put through its paces taking part in the London to Edinburgh endurance run two days later.

   The current owner’s father has stored the motorcycle since 1967, using it sporadically since then, and it has been maintained to a high standard. The Brough Superior has an estimated sale value of £140,000-180,000.

   Among the other treasures up for auction over the weekend are a 1975 Bimota 970cc HB1 and a 1929 Scott 596cc racing motorcycle.

   The two day event will have something for everyone with an interest in motorcycles, including some superb private entry and classic club bikes, along with hundreds of trade stands, an extensive autojumble, The National Motorcycle Museum plus live entertainment in the form of the Wall of Death, Classic Racer Grand Prix Paddock and Classic Dirt Bike Experience.

   But for many, it’s the appearance of Surtees which takes it into the premier league of events, especially as he celebrates two landmarks this year – the golden anniversary of his F1 title, and his own 80th birthday.

   He’ll be sharing stories from his fantastic career on and off the track, and also promoting a new photographic memoir which will be launched in June – the proceeds of which will go to the Henry Surtees Foundation.

   Show organiser Nick Mowbray said: “John Surtees is a hero of so many classic and modern motorcycle enthusiasts; what he achieved is truly remarkable. He is a star name… and not just in motorsport.

   “No other man will ever repeat what he has, and this will be a fantastic chance to come and see John in the flesh.”

   Advance tickets for the 34th Carole Nash International Classic MotorCycle Show can still be bought from www.classicbikeshows.com or over the phone by calling 01507 529529 – with an advance one day adult ticket costing £10, a £3 saving on the gate price.

   The show is open from 9am – 6pm on Saturday and 9am – 5pm on Sunday. Parking is free.