Category: Events and Shows

1. Ducati star at MCN London Motorcycle Show

   Posted on 10:38am Monday 17th Feb 2014

   This year’s MCN London Motorcycle Show certainly had a Ducati theme with three former Ducati World Superbike Champions, four World Championship winning Ducati’s and one current Moto GP Factory rider attending.

   Four times World Superbike Champion Carl Fogarty kicked off proceedings on Friday morning with ‘Foggy Friday’ a tribute to the most successful World Superbike rider in history. An emotional Fogarty was reunited with his quartet of title winning Ducati’s in front of a packed audience. The Four Championship winning bikes from '94', '95', '98 'and '99' had been shipped over from the Ducati museum in Bologna for this historic reunion with ‘King’ Carl.

   Another historic bike that had made its way from the Ducati Museum was Mike Hailwood’s 1978 TT winning bike that was part of a display of Hailwood memorabilia.

   BT Sport used the London Motorcycle show to publicly announce their commentary line-up for the 2014 Moto GP season which included former Ducati Word Superbike Champions Neil Hodgson and James Toseland as well as former Olympic Athlete and Ducati rider Iwan Thomas. They were joined by the new Ducati factory rider and MotoGP ambassador Cal Crutchlow who took time to visit the Ducati UK stand, sign autographs and chat with fans.

   One of many Ducati fans to visit the stand was the acclaimed celebrity baker, Paul Hollywood. Paul who owns an 1199 Panigale tried a number of bikes for size including the Streetfighter 848 and the 1199 R Panigale. Paul also took time to see the Ducati display of World Superbike Championship winning bikes.

   The Ducati UK stand would not have been complete without some race bikes on display. The centre piece of the stand included a race prepared 899 Panigale which will compete in the Ducati TriOptions Cup and an 1199 Panigale which is the Ducati Coventry entry into the British Superbike Championship.

   Although racing is the lifeblood of Ducati, it was the company’s stunning range of bikes that the visitors came to see. The highlights of the 2014 range are without doubt the 899 Panigale which has received rave reviews since its launch towards the end of 2013 and the Monster 1200 which has yet to hit the market place. The Monster 1200 had been tested by the international press the previous weekend to the show and is also receiving extremely favourable reviews.

   Elsewhere at the show, the California Superbike School displayed for the first time with Ducati as a partner. The highly regarded cornering school has entered into a new agreement with the brand and will be using a selection of 899 Panigale, 1199 Panigale and Monster 1200’s. For further information on the school and the upcoming dates visit www.superbikeschool.co.uk

2. GREAT SCOTTISH BIKE SHOW MOVING TO EDINBURGH

   Posted on 8:03am Monday 17th Feb 2014

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   HE Classic Bike Shows team is returning to Scotland once again in 2014, and is delighted to announce that the Carole Nash Great Scottish Bike Show is expanding and making a move to the Royal Highland Centre near Edinburgh.

   Taking place on the weekend of August 9-10, two spectacular days of action will see visitors treated to row-upon-row of display bikes from clubs and private entries, manufacturers, trade stands, autojumbles and star guests covering both modern and classic machines and eras.

   Exhibition manager Nick Mowbray said: “To see our portfolio of events expanding is something the whole team is proud of and we can’t wait to hold the Carole Nash Great Scottish Bike Show at Scotland’s premier events venue.

   “The Royal Highland Centre is a superb facility and the move there, combined with an aim to bring together all that is best in both modern and classic motorcycling, will see the Carole Nash Great Scottish Bike Show become the most complete bike weekend in Scotland.

   “The diversity on offer at the Royal Highland Centre means that we can have halls jam-packed with manufacturers, trade stands and autojumbles, as well as areas where we can have heart-stopping, adrenaline-pumping live action.

   “And what’s more, with both modern and classic motorcycling being celebrated, both modern and classic clubs will come together in one superb weekend – it’s one of the few shows where you will see this happen.”

   Advance ticket prices for the event have been announced, with a one day adult ticket costing a bargain £6 – a 25% saving on the gate price.

   Further show information – including show news and opening times – can be found on the brand new Classic Bike Shows website, www.classicbikeshows.com, or give the team a call on 01507 529430.

3. MORE MOTORSPORT RARITIES, LIVE ACTION AND LEGENDARY NAMES ADDED TO LINE-UP FOR RACE RETRO 2014

   Posted on 9:02am Thursday 13th Feb 2014

   More motorsport rarities from the world of racing and rallying along with a list of legendary names have been to the line-up for this year’s Race Retro, at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, from 21-23 February.

   As part of the show’s tribute to McLaren, three cars from the RofGo Collection will join the M23 already on display; the 1996 McLaren F1 GTR ‘Short Tail’ chassis no. 15R, which was built for GTC Motorsport to contest the 1996 BPR Global GT Series and the Le Mans 24 Hour race, the 1972 M16B-2 Can-Am, one of the all time great Indy cars, and the 1970 M8D chassis no. M8D/4, understood to be an M8E prototype rebuilt to M8D specifications and raced to victory by series winner Denny Hulme.

   Group B and C rally cars including Rauno Aaltonen’s Mini Cooper, the Rothmans Audi Quattro, the Brookes Sapphire and ex-Auriol Ford Sierra Cosworths, the ex-McRae Lotus Cortina and the ex-Alister McRae Hyundai F2 Coupe will roar into action on the purpose built Live Rally Stage on Saturday and Sunday.

   Also expect to see a raft of Metro 6R4s as part of the 30th anniversary celebrations as well as famous faces at the wheel including long time Race Retro supporter Russell Brookes, in the Sunbeam Talbot and Opel Manta, and John Price in the Renault 5 Maxi Turbo. The cars will be in the Parc Ferme area in Hall 4 before heading to the rally apron and onto the start line.

   This will also be the starting point for two live events - The Retro Challenge that will head from the exhibition to Southampton and the Winter Challenge with around 20 drivers heading off on a five-day rally to Monte Carlo. Scrutineering for both events will take place in the Parc Ferme area and as soon as the flag is waved, both events head into the first tests, which will take place on the Live Rally Stage for Race Retro visitors to enjoy.

   Meanwhile back in the halls on the live Interview Stage, hosted by motorsport presenter Gemma Scott, there is a line-up of racing and rally legends throughout the three days. Saturday sees the appearance of racing icon Sir Stirling Moss who will not only be answering Gemma’s questions but also visitor questions in an open mic session.

    

   Sir Stirling will be joined by motoring TV presenter and campaigner Quentin Willson, who will be talking about the revival of Lister Cars as well as his own classic collection, and triple British Rally Champion and Hollywood stunt driver Mark Higgins.

   There will also be plenty of Race Retro favourites including ex-Top Gear presenters Tony Mason and Steve Berry, multi-championship winner Barry Lee, Touring Car’s Win Percy, Jaguar test driver Norman Dewis, and infamous racing legend Barrie ‘Whizzo’ Williams.

   Rally driver Peter Clarke and co-driver Phil Boland will make their Race Retro debuts. Peter won 1978 British Group 1 rally championship in a RS2000 that will be on display at the show as well as driving the Escort Mk1 with Tony Mason that crashed out of the 1971 RAC Rally resulting in Mason sitting on the roof of the Escort in the lake.

   As well as co-driving with Peter, Phil Boland was also the co driver for the late Henri Toivonen in 1979 when Henri drove for the PCA/Total Oil motorsport Team.

   Driver Terry Hunter, one of the original drivers of Triumph Spitfire ADU7B in the 1960s will also appear alongside Tony Southgate, a famous British engineer, race car designer, and President of the International Guild of Specialist Engineers.

   With hundreds of traders offering everything you need for the coming season – be it driver or armchair enthusiast – from racing suits to motorsport memorabilia, Race Retro is the perfect start to the motorsport season.

   Adult tickets for Race Retro, sponsored by Peter James Insurance and Stewart Miller Insurance, start at £20 in advance with children’s tickets at £5 for Friday and Saturday and free on Sunday. Car parking is free. The show is open from 9.30am each day and closes at 5.30pm on Friday and Saturday and 4.30pm on Sunday.
   To book tickets and for the latest updates, visit www.raceretro.com

4. What a difference a year makes at Malvern and Donington

   Posted on 10:45am Wednesday 12th Feb 2014

   We have just returned from the Malvern Autojumble, our first event of 2015, where we had all inside 75 stalls full plus a dozen outside and an excellent crowd on a beautiful winter day.

   What a difference a year makes as last year this event was hit badly by the snow, lets hope that this is a sign of a good summer to come.

   The next event on the Malvern calendar is for classic cars and Minis on Sunday 13th April where we will have the Avon and Wye Halls full of clubs, private entries and traders. We have space in the Wye Halls and under the large marquee between the halls for about 150 pre booked classic cars, with clubs limited to a display of 6 cars per club. We will have commentary from Les Clayton plus concours judging from our resident concours expert Brian Braid.

   In December 2012 at Donington the weather was against us but last month between Christmas and New Year we had a glorious day when both the public and trade and exhibitors turned out in decent numbers. We will be returning to this popular East Midlands venue on Sunday 9th March when we are welcoming bookings from club stands and private individuals both inside the halls and outside on hardstanding. We have space for just six classic car clubs each able to display 6 cars inside the halls and space for a further 100 individual and club entries outside on the hardstanding.

   Our summer season starts in earnest on early May Bank holiday at Arley Hall and Thoresby Park and we look forward to seeing you at some point during the summer.

   www.classicshows.org

5. DIVERSE RIDES COME UNDER THE HAMMER AT ANGLIA CAR AUCTIONS’ INAUGURAL MOTORCYCLE SALE

   Posted on 10:41am Wednesday 12th Feb 2014

   From road bikes to scramblers and scooters, Anglia Car Auctions’ first Classic Motorbike sale, held on Saturday 1st March, has already attracted a diverse range of entries and is looking to mirror the success of its classic car auctions at its Kings Lynn base.

   A 1968 Greeves Wessex 250 scrambler project (estimate: £1200-£1500) is ideal for getting off road and enjoying classic trials. Needing some work to make it competitive once again it offers a great way into classic motorcycle sport.

   Also offering old-school British oomph is a barn-find 1957 BSA Golden Flash (offered with no reserve). Complete and needing re-commissioning rather than restoring it needs little to be back on the road and beating a path to the Ace or Jack’s Hill Café.

   Also ripe for re-commissioning is a Velocette LE. Mainly complete and solid, this rare find should make a rewarding project and is a bargain with an estimate of £300-400.

   Slowing things down and needing re-commissioning is a 1955 Douglas Vespa (offered without reserve), which is in reasonable condition but needs refreshing to relive its glory days, while in good order is a 1975 Ducati Regolarita (estimate: £1800-2200).

   And for anyone wanting to live out their ‘70s learner enduro fantasies, a Honda XL125 S in good original condition is a tempter. It’s estimated at £700 - 900. Needing more work but with much of the hard graft already done, there’s a 1980 Honda 250 café racer project (estimated: £300 - 400).

   Overseeing the motorbikes on offer is auction house manager Guy Snelling, a keen enthusiast with an eclectic collection currently in his garage. Despite owning predominantly British bikes, Guy is hoping to get a diverse range of two-wheeled classics in all states of repair.

   Guy said: “Anglia Car Auctions has a great reputation for having a diverse range of marques on offer in its car sale, securing fantastic prices on some rare and unusual project cars. This is exactly what we hope to emulate with the classic bike sale – so we are looking for project bikes in need of restoration, starter classics, concours, etc. All makes, models and conditions will be considered.”

   To enter a motorcycle into the classic sale, please call 01553 771881 or email at [email protected]. For more information on Anglia Car Auctions and a full list of lots in the inaugural Classic Motorbike Sale as well as advice on buying or selling, visit www.angliacarauctions.co.uk