Category: British Motor Museum

1. HMC welcomes the world's largest gathering of BMWs!

   Posted on 10:41am Sunday 12th Aug 2012

   Up to 3,000 BMWs are set to descend on the Heritage Motor Centre on Sunday 19th August when it hosts the annual National BMW Festival.

   This year marks the 60th anniversary of the BMW Car Club and the Festival is expected to be even bigger than ever before. As well as celebrating this special milestone, the Club will also be celebrating 40 years of BMW Motorsport with a huge display of M Power vehicles representing all four decades. BMW UK will also be in attendance with a display of new and classic vehicles from BMW Classic.

   In addition there will be numerous trade stands. The Club stand will feature the ‘Club Shop’, along with a huge BMW Tombola with a prize for everyone, all donated by BMW UK. Other exciting elements of the Festival include the National Concours final, a ‘Show & Shine’ competition, a ‘Cars for Sale’ section and large displays from the Club’s M Power, Zed, Alpina and MINI Registers.

   Steve Miller, General Manager, BMW Car Club, commented “The BMW Festival is a must for any BMW enthusiast; with BMW displays stretching as far as the eye can see and new and old BMWs from BMW UK and Independent Specialists. Visitors can also enjoy free access to the Heritage Museum and with pre-booking and a small fee, take a turn on the test track. This is THE BMW event to attend this summer”!

   Event prices apply. Discounted tickets are available in advance from the BMW Car Club Office on 01225 709009 or www.bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

   See www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk website for more event details and links.

2. Over 600 vintage bikes gather for nostalgic Banbury Run!

   Posted on 12:01am Monday 21st May 2012

   Over 600 Veteran and Vintage motorcycles will descend on the Heritage Motor Centre for the 64th nostalgic Vintage Motor Cycle Club Banbury Run ™ on Sunday 17th June. 

   The event, which is the largest gathering of pre-1931 Motorcycles & 3 Wheelers in the World, will also feature Club and Trade Stands, over 100 Autojumble pitches and special interest displays.

   The Banbury Run ™ is aimed at those who enjoy the thrill of riding with other Vintage, Veteran & Pioneer bikes. Visitors can see the bikes in all their glory as they set off for their annual Run around the countryside which is an amazing spectacle to watch.

   Visitors can also buy some of the best vintage fashions, accessories, curios and handmade crafts on the first floor of the Heritage Centre. There are free activities for children, including the chance to win a Giant Retro Space Hopper in the Space Hopper Hunt!

   Emma Rawlinson, Event Executive for the Heritage Motor Centre stated “The Banbury Run is a fantastic event and we’re delighted to be hosting it for the fifth year with the Vintage Motor Cycle Club. Watching hundreds of vintage motorcycles cruise the roads is a wonderful sight to see!”

   The Museum will be open from 9am – 5pm on Sunday 17 June with the Banbury Run ™ beginning at 10am.  Advance tickets costs £5 or £7 on the day. FREE museum entry is offered to entrants and spectators. Camping is available from Friday 15 June through to Monday 18 June. Advance tickets or camping can be purchased by phoning the ticket hotline on 01926 645029 Monday – Friday from 9am – 5pm. 

   www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk

3. Step back into 'Downton Abbey' with a unique tour

   Posted on 12:01am Tuesday 1st May 2012

   The Heritage Motor Centre (HMC) has teamed up with ‘Parrys International Tours’ to offer visitors a unique ‘Downton Abbey’ tour.

   The highly acclaimed period drama may have ended on TV but visitors can still see some of its locations including Highclere Castle plus the chance to view some of the superb motor vehicles dating back to the Downton period of 1912 - 1922 at the HMC.

   The special three day/two night tour includes a tour of the Cotswolds on day one with stops at Cirencester and Marlborough. Day two includes a tour of Highclere Castle where visitors can view the interiors used in the filming of the scenes and the extensive Gardens along with a visit to Winchester. Day three includes a visit to the village of 'Downton' where the outdoor views of the Church and Hospital were recorded followed by a stop in Oxford before continuing to the HMC at Gaydon in Warwickshire.  Once at the HMC visitors can view a collection of vehicles from this period including a 1912 & 1922 Rover, a 1913 & 1921 Morris, a 1913 Standard, a 1911 & 1915 Rover Imperial Motorcycle, a 1919 Wolesley, a 1922 Austin Twenty and a 1922 Ford Model T.

   These unique tours will take place on the 16 & 23 July and 19 August. Ticket prices cost £199.50 and include coach travel, two nights at the Hilton in Newbury, dinner on both evenings, English breakfasts, visits as on the itinerary, entry to Highclere Castle and the Heritage Motor Centre.

   For more information on the vehicles of this period please visit www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk or call 01926 641188.

   To book a tour please call Parrys International on 01922 414576 or visit the website at www.parrys-international.co.uk

   
    

4. HMC hosts FREE National Bike Safe Show!

   Posted on 12:01am Monday 19th Mar 2012

   The Heritage Motor Centre is delighted to host the National Bike Safe Show, a two day FREE family event dedicated to motorbike safety on Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th April from 10am – 4pm.  

   The aim of the event is for riders to take part in interactive classes or go on assessed ride-outs with Police motorcyclists to improve rider safety and awareness on the road. Riders can try some of the latest motorcycles from a host of Manufacturers and Dealers who will be present at the show.

   Other exciting highlights include stunt rider Mattie Griffin performing some exhilarating motorcycle stunts plus displays of bikes, motorcycle clothing & accessories, motorcycle clubs, a ‘Try before you buy’ scooter arena and refreshments.  On Saturday visitors can see Nick Saunders, one of the most experienced solo motorcycle adventurers in the world plus Susanne Dando, the former British Olympic gymnast will be commentating. 

   Emma Rawlinson, Event Executive for the Heritage Motor Centre stated “We’re delighted to be hosting the National Bike Safe Show which should be a fantastic family day out. If you ride a motorbike or scooter then this is the ideal show for you but even if you don't there is plenty for everyone to enjoy and it’s free to enter!”

   ‘BikeSafe’ is a nationwide police-led motorcyclist casualty reduction initiative that is run by the majority of forces throughout the UK.

   Entry to the Show is free. Entry to the Museum is charged separately at a discounted rate of £8 per person. National Bike Safe is just one of many exciting and unique motoring events held at the Heritage Motor Centre in 2012.

   To find out more information please visit the website at www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk

5. World's Fastest Diesel vehicle joins Motoring Record Breakers exhibition!

   Posted on 12:01am Monday 5th Mar 2012

   The fastest Diesel vehicle in the world, JCB Diesel Max, can now be seen as part of the “Motoring Record Breakers” exhibition at the Heritage Motor Centre.

   The exciting new exhibition, which runs until the 2 September, presents the best of motoring record breakers including some of the fastest British cars, together with more wacky record breakers such as the cheapest and the smallest.

   JCB Diesel Max is a 'streamliner' car designed for the purpose of breaking the land speed record for a diesel-engined vehicle.  It holds the world record, having been driven to over 350 miles per hour (560 km/h) by Wing Commander Andy Green in 2006.

   Other exciting cars on display include the Sunbeam 1000hp (the first car ever to set a land speed record of over 200mph), the steam car 'Inspiration' (which holds the land speed record for a steam car), the 2009 Jaguar XF-R Bonneville (the fastest Jaguar at 225mph), a 1964 Peel P50 (the world’s smallest production car), a 2011 Tata Nano (the world’s cheapest car), a 1922 Ford Model T (for many years the world’s best-selling car) and MG record cars EX135, EX179 and EX181 (EX181 is the fastest MG ever).

   Tim Bryan, Head of Collections at the Heritage Motor Centre stated “We’re delighted that the JCB Diesel Max has joined our exciting collection of amazing vehicles which we are thrilled to be exhibiting. This exhibition really is a must for everyone and not just car fans!”

   The HMC is continuing with its record breaking theme at Easter from 31 March – 15 April, with a family quiz and some record breaking egg-citing fun activities. There are special Craft days on Thursday 5 & 12 April where children can make and race their own egg car. Normal museum admission prices apply and children can take home what they make.

   There is no extra charge to see the Motoring Record Breakers Exhibition as it is included in the standard Museum entry fees. Museum prices are: Adults £11, Child £8 (5-16 years) under 5 free, Concessions £9 & Family £34 (2 adults & up to 3 children).  Motoring Record Breakers is just one of many exciting and unique events to take place at the Heritage Motor Centre in 2012.

   www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk