Category: Events and Shows

1. The UK’s leading Adventure Travel Show celebrates its 20th year!

   Posted on 8:00am Wednesday 4th Nov 2015

   Don’t miss out on the only event dedicated to off the beaten track travel experiences and discover your journey of a lifetime

   The Adventure Travel Show, now in its 20th year, will take place at London’s Olympia on 23- 24 January 2016. This is your chance to immerse yourself in a weekend of Adventure travel inspiration and discover off the beaten track travel experiences with the biggest collection of specialist travel operators under one roof. Plus, you can listen to over 100 free talks in 4 theatres from explorers, industry experts, guide book writers and expedition leaders who will help you uncover your perfect adventure. The show is famed for its incredible talk line-ups, and 2016’s will be the biggest and best yet.

   Meet the biggest collection of specialist travel operators

   Get face-to-face with the biggest collection of specialist adventure travel companies in the business all under one roof. They will be on hand to offer advice on everything from walking and trekking, epic journeys, exploratory travels and exclusive expeditions to safaris, overland trips, life-changing volunteering projects and much more. You will even find providers not available on the high-street so get ready to be spoilt for choice!

   Specialist Seminars

   Visitors can hone their skills and get a chance to sit down with the top experts face-to-face in a multitude of specialist seminars. From travel writing and travel photography, to expedition planning, overlanding guidance and motorcycle – these specialist seminars* are packed with vital information and are not to be missed.

   An Evening with: The Adventure Travel Film Festival

   Visitors can join us for the evening on Saturday 23rd January 2016 and enjoy a selection of excellent adventure travel films – brought to you by Austin Vince and the Adventure Travel Film Festival. The evening will showcase the very best independent travel films, guarantee a platform for future adventure film-makers and bring together the adventure travel community. So if you’re an adventure travel enthusiast or a budding adventure travel film maker – make sure you don’t miss this exciting evening!

   Discover Africa

   Visitors can also explore the ever-popular ‘Discover Africa’ feature – dedicated to one of the world most beguiling continents, this feature is designed to provide you with the information you need to plan the African adventure of a lifetime.

   As the UK’s foremost travel event for people who like something a little different from their trips, The Adventure Travel Show is an essential date in every traveller’s diary – it’s where your adventure begins…
   
   www.adventureshow.com
   

2. World and British champions headline host of racers at Motorcycle Live‏

   Posted on 9:00am Sunday 25th Oct 2015

   Motorcycle Live is arguably the best place in the UK to meet some of the country’s – and in fact the world’s – leading racers away from the pressures of the paddock, all under one roof, and this year’s show will not disappoint. There will be a daily procession of stars from World and British Superbikes, MotoGP, TT and Speedway taking part in on-stage Q&As, photo opportunities and rider signings.

   The show will fire up on Saturday 28 November with a star-studded list of racers headed up by 2015 World Superbike Champion Jonathan Rea and including 2015 British Superbike Champion Josh Brookes, 2015 World Speedway Champion Tai Woffinden, four-time British Superbike Champion Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne, MotoGP riders Scott Redding and Maverick Vinales and World Superbike ace Leon Haslam.

   From then on, the racing stars just keep on coming with appearances throughout the week from the likes of MotoGP rider Bradley Smith, 2015 Moto2 World Champion Johann Zarco, Moto2 star Sam Lowes, 2015 BSB Showdown contenders Dan Linfoot and James Ellison, SBK’s Sylvain Guintoli and Alex Lowes and former racer Troy Corser.

   The Isle of Man TT riders will also be out in force on both Classic TT Day (Sunday 29 November) and TT Day (Sunday 6 December), as well as every day of the week, with 23-time TT winner John McGuinness and 11-time TT winner Michael Dunlop being joined by Michael Rutter, Conor Cummins, Dean Harrison, Bruce Anstey, Ryan Farquhar, William Dunlop, Gary Johnson, Ian Hutchinson and many more.

   For a full list of riders, updated as and when more are confirmed, visit www.motorcyclelive.co.uk/racers

   Motorcycle Live takes place at The NEC, Birmingham from 28 November to 6 December 2015. Advance tickets are on sale now, at just £17.50 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 £20.50 advance ticket, which includes entry to the show and a choice of Oxford neck wear 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 27 November 2015

   All information correct at time of release and subject to change.

3. CLASSIC MOTORBIKE SHOW WELCOMES COMET CLASSICS AS PRIDE OF OWNERSHIP SPONSOR

   Posted on 9:00am Wednesday 21st Oct 2015

   The Classic Motorbike Show, held at Birmingham’s NEC from 13-15 November, has welcomed Comet Classics as sponsor of its popular Pride of Ownership competition. Around 25-30 motorbikes and scooters will line up in the hope of being awarded ‘best in show’.

   Comet Classics, making its NEC debut, will also be bringing a selection of classic and vintage motorcycles from its Hampshire showroom and global distribution centre along with three American trucks including the 1951 Ford F1 pick-up from the latest series of Wheeler Dealers.

   Owned by Martin Webb and Ray Waller, Comet Classics started as a private collection is now a three-year-old business with over 100 classics motorcycles and petrol pumps in stock. Between them, Martin and Ray have over 80 years of automotive and motorcycle experience. Martin said: “We’re delighted to sponsor the Pride of Ownership competition and can’t wait to see the bikes at the NEC. There’s already a diverse line-up of entries submitted so the final display should be very exciting indeed.”

   As well as the Pride of Ownership, around 30 clubs will be fantastic displays of motorbikes plus the National Motorcycle Museum returns with its ‘Where Are They Now’ feature including special guests. There will also be a BikeJumble, the Ace Café and the ever popular vintage Wall of Death.

   Event Director Dan Nwaokolo added: “We’re thrilled to have Comet Classics on board. Martin and Ray’s passion for motorcycles is clear just by looking at the standard of their amazing showroom. I’m sure this year’s Pride of Ownership display will equally reflect the passion for classic motorbikes.”

   The 2015 Classic Motorbike Show will be held from 13th to 15th November at Birmingham’s NEC with tickets also offering admittance into the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show.
   
   www.classicmotorbikeshow.com

4. Steve Parrish comes alive with Motorcycle Live

   Posted on 12:01pm Tuesday 20th Oct 2015

   On 28 November, former racer, current MotoGP commentator and Motorcycle Live’s resident stage host Steve Parrish has described the moment he first came alive on a motorcycle.

   Parrish reveals that he “borrowed” his brother’s 250cc Ariel Arrow and took it for a spin when he was just 11 years old. Despite running out of petrol and having to push the bike back home, he was hooked, and by age 22 had turned professional, winning the 1976 ACU Solo title in the British Motor Cycle Championship. He went on to win the Shell 500 title in both 1979 and 1980, and a Superbike title in 1981. To view the video click here.

   Parrish hosts the Black Horse Stage in the British Eurosport Entertainment Zone at Motorcycle Live, which will once again occupy the heart of show. Alongside James Whitham, he will keep the crowd entertained with interviews and chat shows, along with a variety of interactive games and quizzes such as the ever-popular ‘A Question Of Bikes’.

   Motorcycle Live 2015 will run from 28 November to 6 December. Advance tickets are on sale now, at just £17.50 per adult, £11 for Seniors and £7 for children aged 11-16* (kids aged 10 and under accompanied by a paying adult go free). There is also a £20.50 advance ticket, which includes entry to the show and a choice of Oxford neck wear worth £15. To book, call 0844 581 2345 or visit www.motorcyclelive.co.uk

5. VMCC Inaugural Scottish Veteran Run

   Posted on 12:00pm Saturday 10th Oct 2015

   The VMCC held its inaugural run in Scotland for veteran motorcycles ( manufactured prior to 1915) on Sunday 3 October starting at the Lion and Unicorn Inn at Thornhill near Doune, Stirlingshire. The  run attracted an entry of twenty three machines and followed a sixty eight mile route taking in Lochs Katrine and Ard. The earliest machine entered was the VMCC’s 1903 Dreadnought which was gifted to the Club by Harold Karslake affectionately known as “Oily”. He wanted the machine to be used and not languish in a museum and it regularly takes part in runs around the country. It was loaned by the Club to Dr. Alastair Alexander, their Area Representative for Scotland, for the inaugural Scottish run.

   John Macmillan of Lanark was the run organiser and said, “There seemed to be a demand for a veteran run and we were hoping for perhaps single figure entries but the response far exceeded our expectations. The riders came from all over Scotland and a number from England and Northern Ireland. A great variety of early marques such as BSA, Triumph, Scott, Douglas, James, Norton, Humber and Sunbeam were ridden on the day providing a memorable display of the once mighty British Motorcycle Industry in the early part of the twentieth century. The smallest machine entered was a 1914 175cc Calthorpe owned by David Clark of Forres.”
   Alastair Alexander said, “The Run was part of the VMCC’s strategy in Scotland to encourage the older machines to get back into regular use on runs and rallies. British veteran motorcycles were high technology in the early 1900s but today it takes a skilled rider to manage a machine with perhaps a single gear, a belt drive transmission, no clutch and primitive brakes. The Scottish veteran run demonstrated that a carefully chosen route tailored to machines of a similar performance appealed to VMCC members knowing that they could ride in safety and with confidence.”
   
   
   

   
   
   A 1905 Peugeot 500cc V-Twin