Category: Events and Shows

1. CELEBRATION OF CLASSIC MACHINES AT BRISTOL SHOW

   Posted on 10:00am Tuesday 11th Feb 2014

   ENTHUSIASTS came out in droves to the Bath and West Showground over the weekend to enjoy a superb celebration of motorcycling, and it was the regional clubs that really shone in Somerset.

   Some fantastic displays and exhibitions marked the 34th Carole Nash Bristol Classic MotorCycle Show, and none were more impressive than the winner of the Best Club Stand prize – the Bristol section of the Norton Owners Club.

   Inspired by their own first ever meeting back in 1963, club members built a 60s style shop window that showcased their stunning selection of machines in all their glory. 
   
   Event manager Nick Mowbray said: “Despite some horrendous conditions in the southwest of England, the crowds arrived in their thousands for the show and it was truly fantastic to see. They were certainly treated to an excellent two days, with everyone commenting on how much of an effort clubs, traders and individuals had gone to in order to make this a show to remember. The Norton Owners Club members certainly earned their award for a particularly creative effort, but all of those who had displays deserve credit and we can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with next year.”

   Another inventive exhibition included a stand laid out like a stables, with motorcycles taking the place of horses in stalls. Bob Presley, designer of the winning stand, was rightly proud of his club’s hard work and was also quick to praise the competition: “We’re incredibly excited to have picked up the trophy for Best Club Stand, and it was certainly worth all of the hard work. Looking around the show it’s clear that the standard is as high as ever, and we will have to get our thinking caps on to come up with something even better next year.”

   Elsewhere, it was a successful weekend for Gaby Hunt, who won the Best In Show prize for his 1929 Sans Soupape Emmags 50. The rare machine was built in Paris, has a Swiss-built MAG engine and has a frame of unusual pressed-steel construction. 
   
   James Robinson, editor of The Classic MotorCycle magazine, talked about the winner and praised the high standard of display machines at the event: “There are some lovely machines, many of which are freshly restored. The Best In Show winner truly is a showstopper which, unbelievably, Gaby only finished on the Friday before the event.”

   Some of the other notable award winners were a 1928 AJS K8 (Best Vintage), a 1953 Ariel KHA (Best Post-War), a 1958 Ducati 175 Sport (Best Continental) and a 1936 Calthorpe Ivory Major (Best Private Entry).

   With two successful classic events already run, the Classic Bike Shows 2014 season is well and truly under way, and attention next turns to The 34th Carole Nash International Classic MotorCycle Show at Staffordshire County Showground in April.

2. LINCOLNSHIRE SHOW – CLASSIC MOTORCYCLES WANTED FOR DISPLAY

   Posted on 9:59am Tuesday 4th Feb 2014

   The Lincolnshire Show takes place on Wednesday & Thursday June 18th & 19th 2014

   Classic Motorcycles are welcomed for display in the classic vehicle section which is located near the main entrance. Bikes must be rideable, roadworthy, taxed, insured, mot’d. Bikes have to be on site by 8am latest & no exit till 6pm. Each Exhibitor gets 2 free entrance tickets per day - These are worth £22 per person.

   I shall be erecting a 20ft x 10ft marquee on site for display, seating, rest area and a covered trailer will be adjacent for helmets/kit etc

   A potted history of your machine will be required for the Show Brochure. Please contact me by 25th February 2014 to enter your bike for the show.

   THIS IS OPEN TO ANY CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE OWNER please feel free to share

   Alan Caine [email protected]  - 01472 851674

3. Sign up to the big biker event of the year

   Posted on 2:04pm Monday 3rd Feb 2014

   Bikers from Shropshire and the wider Midlands area are invited to start the season off in style on Sunday 27th April 2014.

   Bike4Life Fest is being held at RAF Museum Cosford in support for two local charities - the Midlands Air Ambulance and Royal Air Force Museum. 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.

   The event will feature various trade stands, bike dealers, arena displays, live music at the Planet Rock stage and refreshments with plenty to entertain the non bikers of the family! The popular Bike4Life Ride Out will also be taking place on the same day, and is expected to attract over 2,000 bikers. Leaving from Meole Brace, Shrewsbury, the 23 mile Ride Out will finish at the event at RAF Museum Cosford where all the bikers can enjoy the entertainment on offer at the Bike4Life Festival.

   There will be the opportunity to speak to various local clubs and dealers, watch the activities on display in the arena and enjoy live music and food with fellow bikers. One of the main focuses of the event 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.

   Vicki Bristow from the Safer Roads Partnership says: “It promises to be a great day out for riders. It doesn’t matter if you’re thinking about buying a bike, just getting started, or have been riding for years and are an experienced biker there will be something there for everyone. Put the 27th April in your diary now so you don’t miss the event!”

   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

4. CLUBS, TRADERS AND ENTHUSIASTS SET FOR BRISTOL CLASSIC SHOW

   Posted on 8:43am Thursday 23rd Jan 2014

   THE doors will soon be open for the 34th Carole Nash Bristol Classic MotorCycle Show and this year’s event is set to be a real spectacle.

   With 18,000 visitors expected, 60 clubs putting on displays and 600 classic motorcycles restored to pristine condition, the show, taking place on the weekend of February 8-9, is set to be bigger and better than ever before. As is now tradition, many of the UK’s top clubs will be flocking to the Bath and West Showground, Shepton Mallet, to showcase the best that the classic world has to offer.

   The London Douglas Club has promised a wide ranging display and, in Cotton’s centennial year, the Cotton Owners and Enthusiasts Club will be making a special effort with 16 bikes earmarked for display; the earliest being a 1926 Blackburne. Although the show is predominately about motorcycles, 2014’s offering will also have a good helping of scooters on display including the Soul City Scooter Club and the Bristol Lambretta Club. And the Stonehenge Section VMCC will have their usual collection of immaculate machinery, including Jim Devereux’s 1931 Ariel SG which was featured in the February 2014 issue of The Classic MotorCycle. The prize money up for grabs this year ranges from £100 for individuals to £250-£750 for clubs so, with John Phizacklea bringing along a 1947 EMC Mk.1 that is sure to be up to his prize winning standards, there will definitely be an atmosphere of friendly competition. As far as trade stands go, there will be a wide variety of sellers offering everything you need to get your bike prepped and ready for the summer.

   In attendance will be City of Leather, known for visiting India to track down specially made pieces of clothing, Davida Helmets offering retro headgear and Metalman – offering you the opportunity to go DIY and make your own metal parts. West Midlands Motorcycle will also be there selling top quality clearance items and Motorcycle Lifts will make working on your bike that little bit easier with the bike benches it supplies.

   “Bristol is the traditional season opener and is looked forward to by many involved in the classic movement,” said James Robinson, editor of The Classic MotorCycle. “There are always a few surprises with some top quality restorations making their debut, the atmosphere is always friendly and it’s a pleasure to attend.”

   Gates are open from 10am until 5pm on both days. Tickets are £10 when purchased in advance and £12 on the day.

5. FESTIVAL OF 1000 BIKES - Cancelled

   Posted on 9:10am Friday 17th Jan 2014

   It is with great reluctance that the Management of the Vintage Motor Cycle Club Limited announce that the Festival of 1000 Bikes™ will not be taking place in 2014.

   Motorsport fans will be aware of the uncertainty that surrounded the future of Mallory Park in the latter parts of 2013, which placed the circuit operators (Mallory Park Motorsport Ltd) into administration in the autumn. The new operators, Real Motor Sport Ltd, were recently announced and we have full confidence in them, indeed our racing arm (BHR) already have a date in their calendar at Mallory Park this year. However because crucial months of planning and preparation have been lost we are not equally confident of delivering this prestigious event with the amount of time remaining.

   We sincerely apologise to all those members of the Club and to the many other enthusiasts who look forward every year to this event. The Festival of 1000 Bikes, being widely acknowledged as one of the premier events in the motorcycling calendar, we did not feel we could proceed without full confidence of being able to offer an event of the high quality which is now expected from this wonderful weekend.

   We would like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors including Michelin, Footman James, Mortons Media, Bonhams and Eriks for all their support in the past. Also to all the VMCC members and enthusiasts who have embraced the Festival and made it the unique event it has become. We hope to see many of you at our other events and shows throughout the year and look forward to making an early announcement regarding the Festival for 2015.