Category: Events and Shows

1. Thunder Rally 2 - June 17th-19th

   Posted on 12:00am Tuesday 5th Apr 2011

   Following the first successful Thunder Rally the time is upon us again for Thunder Rally 2011.

   The first event was planned as a thank you to everyone who supports us throughout the year, to say a huge thank you to the biking community who raised so much money for the charity last year at the Mothers Day Ride, also to say a huge thank you to the people of Wotton Bassett, who regardless of the weather, time of day or year stand out on the streets of that beautiful town and pay their respects to the fallen. Those of you who attended last year will recall the speech made by the Deputy Mayor of Wotton Bassett, in which he thanked all of you for your support of their town. It is also about showing the troops and their families that we haven't forgotten them, and no matter how far away they are from us we still think about them constantly, and wait for the day when they are home safe again.

   Well we are at it again, we have taken your comments on board and this years event is planned to be better in lots of ways, including more shows in the main arena, more attractions for you, bigger shopping village, better ticket pricing with cheaper early bird tickets, a full line up of music for all three days Friday, Saturday and Sunday as well! The camp site is level and is equipped with showers! We will have pre recorded messages from the guys in Afghanistan, as they receive their "comfort boxes" sent by the Charity and funded by your donations.

   So why not come along and spend the weekend with us or even a day you can meet the Charity founders, buy Afghan Heroes merchandise, and have some fun while the kids watch the Equestrian stunt display or the Wall of Death show. Perhaps you want to get your trusty steed on our Dyno machine? Or perhaps buy some new leathers, then stay and listen to the music in the evening. Make a day or weekend of it there is plenty of room with easy parking, and lots of space for camping.

   The rest of the team look forward to seeing you June 17th-19th at Wincanton Race Course, Somerset.

   www.thunderrally.co.uk

   www.afghanheroes.org.uk

2. National Road Rally 2011 Gains Six Appeal

   Posted on 12:00am Tuesday 8th Mar 2011

   Saturday 25^th  – Sunday 26^th June

   To allow more flexibility and widen the appeal of the National Road Rally, the UK’s premier road riding event, there will now be a choice of six ‘Final Controls’ to allow entrants to complete the Rally at a location closer to home.

   The National Road Rally, run by the ACU in association with the BMF and the learning difficulty charity Mencap, is to be held this year over the weekend of 25/26 June, but in a break with tradition, the single Final Control format has been changed.

   Know as a scatter rally, in recent years the National Road Rally Final Control has been at places such as The National Motorcycle Museum, Bletchley Park museum and last year at the MIRA HQ in Hinckley, however, feedback from participants showed that with a single finish control, some riders, even after completing the 540 miles maximum allowed on the rally itself, could still face a considerable journey home. This, together with the distance to their chosen start control could mean that entrants may be riding over a thousand miles during the weekend.

   With the cost of fuel escalating, as well as the safety issues involved in travelling such distances in a restricted time, the National Road Rally Committee decided on a broader spread of six controls.

   Three Final Controls have already been confirmed and they are at Lymm Services, Warrington; The Raven Café, Whitchurch and Donington Services, Kegworth. The three further Final Controls covering the North, South and the London area will be confirmed shortly. These controls will operate as normal controls during the rally but between 7.30am – 10.00am on the Sunday, they will act as Final Controls.

   To allow riders to start closer to home, there will also be a number of controls only open for starting the rally and/or connecting with the main matrix of the Rally. The location of these restricted opening controls will be released with the participants’ final instructions. Riders may still start at any control on the rally matrix.
   
   New for 2011, Rally entrants are also eligible for a number of special offers:

   1. Any rider who raises over £500 for Mencap will receive free entry to the 2012 National Road Rally.
   2. Get a friend to enter the Rally (who did not enter last year) and receive a £5 refund for each friend (up to 4 friends!)
   3. Entrants will also receive a £5 discount if they are a member of the BMF (not available in conjunction with any other BMF offer or promotion)

   For full details, entry forms, prices and Mencap fund raising packs, see the National Road Rally website: www.nationalroadrally.co.uk
   

3. Afghan Heroes Wootton Bassett 2011 Registrations Open!

   Posted on 12:00am Wednesday 1st Dec 2010

   Well it's finally time, the mother day ride renamed the "Ride of Respect" has opened registration for 2011.
   
   The event has been capped to 10,000 bikes and registration opened yesterday 24th November.
   
   Registration will be on a first come first served basis and we are pleased to say that bookings have been massive during the first sixteen hours of opening.
   
   All registrations are taken through the Afghan Heroes website and that the price is £10 per person. To avoid disappointment register fast, let the Thunder Roll again...

4. OFF-ROAD STARS FLY TO CAROLE NASH MOTORCYCLE L

   Posted on 8:28am Monday 22nd Nov 2010

   Fans of off-road bikes and sport will be flocking to Birmingham on 4th December for Dirt Day at Carole Nash Motorcycle Live with the news that more of the world’s top off-road racers will be appearing.
   
   The Event has already announced the attendance of MX GP aces Sébastien Pourcel and Gautier Paulin and this has been bolstered by the news that Honda’s British MX1 champion Evgeny Bobryshev will also be at Carole Nash Motorcycle Live on 4 December.
   
   The popular Russian will join other top level off-road racers heading for Birmingham, including Shaun Simpson, Zach Osborne, Martin Barr, Jake Nicholls, Nathan Parker and Paul Malin. But fans can do so much more than just look at new bikes and world-class riders.
   
   Visitors from the age of five can have a go themselves on a variety of off-road riding activities, including Suzuki’s Off-road Experience which features a series of berms and straights with expert adv ice from qualified motocross experts.
   
   Yamaha comes to Carole Nash Motorcycle Live with an indoor motocross school and an outdoor enduro experience and there’s even an opportunity for visitors to test their skill and balance in a free trials lesson in the ACU Trials Zone.
   
   With more new off-road models on display under one roof than anywhere else in the UK, Carole Nash Motorcycle Live will also offer fans the opportunity to see the latest products up-close and personal from 27 November to 5 December, but with special attention paid to Dirt Day, when stars from the world of dirt drop in to meet fans and chat on the Black Horse stage in the Arai Entertainment Zone.
   
   Finlay McAllan, Managing Director of Event organisers, MCI Exhibitions, said: “Naturally we're thrilled that all these top riders have chosen our Event to interact with their fans. We’re also delighted to have more new off-road product than at any other UK event. Off- road sport is incredibly important to the future of motorcycling, allowing kids to get onto two wheels at a very early stage.”
   
   He added: “While it's fantastic to have all these great riders appearing and major manufacturers exhibiting their latest models, we're especially pleased to be able to offer the opportunity to get on and ride at the NEC, too. With several off-road experience features, you really can try motocross, trials and enduro all in one-day while taking in a freestyle MX show and getting the kids onto two-wheels for the first time.”
   
   Carole Nash Motorcycle Live runs from 27 November – 5 December 2010. Tickets are £15 in advance for adults, £10 for Seniors, £5 for children aged 11-16 and kids under 10 go free. All riding experiences are free. The Ramp’d Up display is £5 per adult and £2.50 for children 5 - 16.
   
   For Yamaha Off-Road and Enduro Experiences, participants must have s ome experience of having ridden a clutch-operated motorbike. For the ACU trials lessons, riders must have a valid DVLA motorcycle licence or current CBT certificate. Participation is subject to availability and can only be booked at the event. Age and height restrictions apply.
   
   www.motorcyclelive.co.uk

5. LET THE THUNDER ROLL !! Wotton Bassett - Mothers Day Ride (The ride of Respect) 2011

   Posted on 12:00am Wednesday 13th Oct 2010

   Message from the organisers:

    

   We have been inundated with emails and calls, asking when registration will open, hopefully this will clarify, albeit an exact date is still unknown. Here we go again its edging nearer to registration for the Mothers Day Ride, which will be re-branded the "Ride of Respect".

    

   Registration as we have said will open this month, probably towards the end, however we can now confirm that the donation price will be £10 per bike, to include where appropriate a pillion passenger. We know that the police will try and call registration, so keep an eye on our site from Monday 25th October onwards, let's make it as big as we possibly can.

    

   www.afghanheroes.org.uk