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Category: Events and Shows

  1. 230 classic motorbikes confirmed to take part in the South West’s largest Festival of vintage transport

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    The 44th Annual Gloucestershire Vintage & Country Extravaganza

    South Cerney Airfield, Cirencester 3-5 August 2018

    3-5 August 2018 will see the Stroud Vintage Transport & Engine Club (SVTEC) stage their Annual Show at South Cerney Airfield in Cirencester, Gloucestershire. The show now in its 44th year is widely regarded as one of the biggest and best Steam, Vintage and Countryside events in the UK and attracts thousands of exhibitors and visitors from across the country whilst actively raising thousands of pounds for both national and regional charities. Over £180, 000 has been donated in recent years. Whilst the show has evolved a lot, the mission remains the same - to inform, educate, celebrate and preserve our unique transport heritage.

    One of the largest displays is the Motorcycle section featuring 230 registered entries representing manufacturers from across the globe. Among the marques on display are Honda, Yamaha, Harley Davidson, Moto Guzzi, HRD, AGS, James, Triumph, Royal Enfield, Rudge, Baker, BMW, Norton, Velocette, Panther, Francis Barnett, Matchless and Greeves. There will also be an abundance of Lambretta’s to celebrate the mods and rockers era plus the show will play host to the 7th BSA Bantam Club National Rally.

    Section leader John Grange said ‘we always try to bring something of interest to all ages and interests, from Veteran to Vintage and Classic. From the smallest Brockhouse Corgi ‘Para’ bike to the HRD Vincent Meteor Series B, from the Yamaha FS1E (my first bike!) to the Suzuki GT750, there will be something to suit everyone’s motorcycling interests. The section celebrates 100 years of motorcycles’.

    Show Highlights include

    Vintage displays of nearly 700 classic cars from pre and post war, including over 70 Classic American, 30 visiting car clubs plus 300 Motorbikes, scooters, 70 bicycles from 1903 - 1980, 30 miniature steam engines, 90 stationary engines, 70 full size steam engines, model engineering, 200 Tractors, over 80 Buses and Coaches, 120 Military Vehicles, 300 Emergency and Commercial Vehicles, 60 Industrial Trucks, 50 vintage Caravans, and over 50 model Aircraft taking to the sky above.

    Live Arena with non-stop demonstrations from spectacular Showman’s Engines to dancing tractors plus the opportunity to drive a steam engine and NEW – a motorcycle display team show

    Vintage Fun fair with fairground organs, 'electric yachts', waltzers, big wheel, steam-driven 'gallopers' and traditional penny arcade games, plus ‘Chuffy the train’ passenger rides

    The Dog Show runs over the weekend and is organised by Cotswold Dog and Cat Home. Categories include: Scruffiest Mutt, Prettiest Bitch, Handsomest Dog Quickest Sit, Best Child Handler, Best Rescue to Waggiest Tail. Come and enter your four-legged fury friend on the day for just £2 per entry per class (in addition to show event entry fee) all money goes to help the marvellous local animal shelter.

    The Countryside Arena actively promotes animal conservation and features both fun and education displays from ferret racing, rare breeds, alpaca’s, shire horses, horse logging, reptiles to bee hive making. NEW for 2018 – vulture flying display. Back by popular demand is the hilarious ‘Sheep Show’ - an entertaining demonstration of shearing and sheep dancing - get into the groove with the Sheep Show Shuffle!  Plus, the children’s area has traditional vintage funfair games, face painting and Professor Colliwobble with his free regular Punch and Judy Shows.

    Massive Trade stand village featuring over 100 trade stalls, models tents, 2 large craft marques, specialist displays of memorabilia from bygone days.

    The showground site is sprawling, but there’s plenty of food and drink ‘pit stops’, a firm favourite is the vintage tea room with regular music and Lindy Hop dancing performances (both days). Live music with vintage songstress Betsy Harmony, performing a delightful selection of 1940s songs plus regular sets by the ‘Steamed Up Brass’.

    Jump4Heroes parachute display team will descend into the arena on all three days of the event. Jump4Heroes is The Royal British Legion Extreme Human Flight Team, made up of serving and former members of the Army, to support and raise awareness of the Armed Forces charities.

    FREE vintage bus rides around the showground on all three days. What more the Bedford OB hope to set a world record for the biggest gathering of vintage buses on site.

    Each day at 10am the steam section will sound their bells in memory of the late arena commentator Alec Tanner. The main area will officially be named as the ‘Alec Tanner’ arena.

    Chairman of the Stroud Vintage Transport and Engine Club (S.V.T.E.C) Martyn Slater, said: ‘Our goal is to give the best value for money family day out in Gloucestershire’.

    The Extravaganza is organised by the Stroud Vintage Transport and Engine Club. This non-profit making organisation raises money for national and local charities and up to 30 will be represented on site raising money and awareness of their respective causes. The rally is one of the largest events of its kind run entirely by volunteers from all the corners of Gloucestershire.

    www.glosvintageextravaganza.co.uk

  2. The 2018 Cheltenham Festival of Bikes - As seen on TV!

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    Maybe you have been creating something special in your shed or have a rare race bike or cafe racer in your garage. If you've built a beautiful chopper or bobber or modernised a classic, let us know, send us pics - and your bike could be proudly on show inside the Cheltenham Town Hall this September.

    Oily Rag Co is headline sponsor for the exhibition and showcase which takes place in the Town Hall and around the Imperial Gardens from 8-9th September.

    The motorcycle showcase will feature rare specials, award-winning customs, modified classics, stunning cafe racers, old school choppers and customised scooters...

    Visitors will also be able to enjoy mooching around the trade stalls and grab lunch, coffee and hang out with friends and family in the licensed bar.

    The Oily Rag Co Festival of Bikes takes place 8-9th September 2018 inside and around the Cheltenham Town Hall and you can get 20% off tickets when you buy online at TheCustomShow.com

    Visit The Festival on either or both days - all tickets are valid for the Saturday and Sunday. 

    If you would like to display your motorcycle masterpiece at this year's Festival of Bikes please email good photos for consideration to [email protected]

  3. THE VMCC FESTIVAL OF 1000 BIKES, AVENUE OF CLUBS 2018

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    This year sees the long-awaited re-launch of the VMCCs Festival of 1000 Bikes at Mallory Park on the 7th/8th July this Year, and with over 75% of available entries already sold there is still time to be part of the action during this fabulous weekend event.

    With the support of Footman James Insurance Brokers, Bonhams Auctioneers, Mortons Motorcycle Media, Ricoh, the National Motorcycle Museum it promises to be a weekend to remember.

    As in past festival years the event gives enthusiasts the opportunity to ride their own machines in multiple track sessions over the weekend. Catering for all classes of machines from the earliest Veterans through to the machines of the super bike era this is a truly inclusive event which reflects the wide range of interests within the VMCC. With lesser noise restrictions on Sunday the Festival will again allow for riders to display their racing machinery in special track sessions running throughout the day.

    It was generally recognised that the VMCC Festival event had the best line up of “Past Masters” and famous machines assembled in the UK for many Years. With the assistance from Stuart Hicken of Mallory Park, The Sammy Miller Museum and the National Motorcycle Museum there will be some great riders and machines to mingle with throughout the weekend.

    From the Sammy Miller Museum there will be the 498cc 8-cylinder Moto Guzzi V8 GP racer. It may not have won a race but it remains one of the technological wonders of 1950s Grand Prix racing. Sammy also brings to the festival the multi winning World Championship Gilera 500cc with its 4 cylinder, double overhead cam engine and 4 speed gearbox as raced by the stars of yesteryear such as Geoff Duke and Bob McIntyre who was the first to achieve the 100mph lap of the IOM over 8 laps on a machine such as this one.

    With Stuart Hicken’s knowledge and expertise of the motor racing sport and riders, the VMCC list of Stars attending the festival already include John McGuinness, Ian Hutchinson, Trever Nation, John “Moon-eyes” Cooper, Paul Smart, Rex Butcher, Ron Chandler, Tommy Robb, Chris Vincent, Ivan Rhodes and Colin Seeley.

  4. WORLD FIRST FOR CAGIVA RACING: SHOWCASED AT STAFFORD!

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    FOR the first time in the 40 year history of Cagiva, a stunning display of eleven of the fire engine red racers will be displayed in one place, at the Carole Nash Classic Mechanics Show, held in Stafford on October 13-14.

    The machines, part of the collection owned by Dean Simpkins and his father Martyn, are all genuine factory racers, ridden by some of Grand Prix racings greatest riders, including the Eddie Lawson and John Kocinski 500cc race winning bikes.

    After agreeing the deal with Dean Simpkins at Donington Park, the show organiser’s Associate Director Malc Wheeler said “This is something very different, and special for the show. I am genuinely excited about this display and can’t thank Dean and Martyn enough for making it possible for people to enjoy this incredible collection.”

    In addition to the machines on display, there will also be two former factory riders, Jon Ekerold and Pier Paolo Bianchi at the show. South African Ekerold won the 1980 350cc World Championship, on a privateer Bimota Yamaha, against the might of the Kawasaki factory team and their ace rider Anton Mang. An old skool all-rounder Jon also won the Ulster Grand Prix and finished runner up in the Isle of Man TT twice.

    Jon Ekerold was a factory Cagiva rider in 1982 and the machine he rode forms part of the display.

    Pier Paolo Bianchi is a three-time World Champion winning the FIM World title in the 125cc class in 1976 and 77, and for the third time in 1980. He was a factory rider for Cagiva in 1988 and the machine he raced is part of the display.

    Bianchi and Ekerold will be interviewed on stage throughout the weekend by compere Steve Plater, alongside the show’s third Guest of Honour, racing legend Terry Rymer.

    The Carole Nash Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show at Stafford isthe biggest classic bike show in the world of its kind. It’s packed with thousands of classic machines and is the natural home for bike clubs to meet and show off their motorcycles.

    Discounted advance tickets for the show are now on sale, with a one-day adult pass costing just £12. Tickets will also be available on the gate, priced at £14 each. Under 12s tickets are £3 in advance or £4 on the day and parking is free.

    www.classicbikeshows.com