Category: British Motor Museum

1. 2023 dates announced for FREE ‘Gaydon Gatherings’!

   Posted on 12:00pm Tuesday 21st Mar 2023

   The British Motor Museum’s 'Gaydon Gathering' events return on Tuesday 11 April 2023 from 5pm – 8:30pm. Informal, fun evenings aimed at motoring enthusiasts, these events are free to attend, taking place outside on the Museum's arenas on the second Tuesday of each month. Up to 500 vehicles attended last year’s events with a truly eclectic mix of vehicle types, makes and models. 

   Whilst free to attend, pre-booking is essential and tickets will be released online a few weeks before each event and will be announced on social media. Tickets for the April event are now available. The dates for the rest of the Gatherings are; 9 May, 13 June, 11 July, 8 August, 12 September, and 10 October.

   In addition to providing an opportunity for likeminded motoring enthusiasts to display their vehicles, each Gathering will feature the 'Gaydon Garage' at 6:30pm when the workshop doors open to reveal one of the many fantastic vehicles from the Museum’s collection before it’s driven around the site. Hints as to which car will emerge from the garage will be posted on the Museum’s social media channels in the run up to the events.

   Tom Caren, Show Manager at the British Motor Museum stated “Last year’s ‘Gaydon Gatherings’ proved immensely popular and we are looking forward to hosting them this year. All vehicles are welcome, no matter how many wheels they have or where and when they were made! It’s an opportunity for petrol heads to indulge their passion with a burger and drink, hopefully in the spring sunshine!”

   Display vehicles will be parked in front of the Museum whilst there will be separate free parking for those visitors who aren’t displaying. Visitors can enjoy refreshments including burgers as well as hot and soft drinks. Wriggly Monkey Brewing from Bicester will also be on-site selling their range of lagers and ales.

   Dogs are welcome on leads. Please note that the Museum itself will not be open for the evening gatherings. For more information and to book your FREE tickets for April’s Gaydon Gathering visit https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/whats-on/gaydon-gathering-april

2. British Motor Museum opens a second exciting motorcycle exhibition with Triumph ‘History in the Making’

   Posted on 12:00pm Saturday 25th Feb 2023

   The British Motor Museum has expanded its visitor appeal and opened another exciting motorcycle exhibition in a new collaboration with Triumph Motorcycles. The first exhibition opened last July to celebrate one of its most iconic road and race bike names – the Daytona. The second, entitled ‘History in the Making’ will run until the end of April 2023. Visitors can celebrate over 120 years of Triumph motorcycles, both on the road and on the track. Since 1902, Triumph has been a homegrown favourite of bikers all over the world. From Number One, Triumph’s first motorcycle, to the Speed Triples of today, the company’s back catalogue demonstrates many remarkable contributions to the history of British motorcycling.

   The History in the Making exhibition celebrates this heritage by showcasing some of the company’s most iconic motorcycles through the lens of its four core values: Passion, Performance, Innovation and Excellence.  Impressive bikes like the Rocket 3 221 Edition are on display, named after its world-leading 221 Nm of peak torque, and renowned for being the largest production motorcycle engine on the planet.

   The exhibition allows visitors to get up close to all of the bikes on display, including those that have featured in movies and TV, such as the Scrambler 900 that David Beckham famously rode through the Amazon, and the Bonneville T120 TT ridden by Jason Statham in Mechanic: Resurrection.

   The Scrambler 1200 XE is also on display, custom-built in collaboration with Guy Martin for an attempt to recreate the famous original jump from the 1963 film The Great Escape, starring Hollywood actor, Steve McQueen.

   Additionally, the Speed Triple 1200 RR Bond Edition is also featured, celebrating 60 years of Bond^TM, individually numbered and beautifully handcrafted, as well as classic favourites like the Bonneville T120 1958 plus a selection of the finest examples of Triumph custom builds from Down & Out Motorcycles.

   Triumph’s innovation is also showcased with the TE-1 on display, a stunning final prototype electric motorcycle that demonstrates class-leading USPs and hints of the exciting future for Triumph fans across the world.

   Jeff Coope, Managing Director at the British Motor Museum said, “This exhibition features a fantastic exhibit of stunning motorcycles for visitors to see and enjoy, made possible thanks to the Dick Shepherd Collection. Triumph is an iconic British brand, and this is a great opportunity to share the story of Triumph’s continued evolution and the important role that British motor manufacturing still plays today.”

   Simon Thrussell, Head of Customer Experience for Triumph Motorcycles commented: “We are delighted to extend our collaboration with the British Motor Museum for a second exhibition which gives us a great opportunity not only to extend our 120-year celebrations but provide the museum with a fantastic display of motorcycles that really are History in the Making. I would also like to express my thanks to the Dick Shepherd Collection.”

   An ”Evening With” event to compliment the exhibit, featuring guest speakers from Triumph Motorcycles will be taking place on 29 April, further details will be published shortly.

   The History in the Making exhibition is showcased in the Rotunda Gallery. Access to the exhibition is included within normal Museum admission tickets. The Museum has frozen its 2022 visitor prices for 2023. Museum entry is just £40 for a family in advance or £44 on the day, £14.50 for adults in advance or £16 on the day, £12.50 for concessions in advance or £14 on the day, £9 for children (5-16 years) in advance or £10 on the day and under 5s are FREE. There is also the option to Gift Aid or donate your entry fee at the time of booking and benefit from an upgrade to an Annual Pass in return, at no extra cost.

   To find out more information about the exhibition please visit the website at www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/explore/triumph-history-in-the-making

3. British Motor Museum secures significant funding from Arts Council England

   Posted on 12:00pm Thursday 10th Nov 2022

   The British Motor Museum is delighted to announce that it has secured a further £225,000 per annum from the Arts Council for the period 2023-2026 as a National Portfolio Organisation (NPO). Arts Council England are boosting spending in arts, museums and libraries in villages, towns and cities where investment is currently low. The Museum is one of 990 National Portfolio and Investment Principles Support Organisations who will share the £446m a year investment.

   The funding will support activities and development work at the Museum through its exhibitions and programmes. The themes the Museum will be exploring will include the development of alternative solutions for the car and mobility, the process of design and the personal responses it evokes, and the relationship between cars and music - both of which are deeply rooted in popular culture.  Running through all these themes is the Museum’s commitment to diversify its audiences, its workforce and its governance.   As part of its commitment to young people, the Museum will continue to provide activities for children who have limited access to cultural experiences. It will also maintain the Travel Support Scheme for schools and community groups, to subsidise the otherwise prohibitive transport cost of getting to the Museum.

   Jeff Coope, Managing Director at the British Motor Museum said, “We are delighted to receive this investment from Arts Council England which will help to ensure the resilience of the Museum in the future and also cement our reputation as one of the outstanding Museums in the region. Our programmes are strongly grounded in working with a wide variety of communities and giving as many people as possible the opportunity to engage with the Museum's amazing collections and culture”.

   Arts Council England Chief Executive, Darren Henley, said: “Together, each of the 990 organisations that have been offered funding will contribute to a portfolio that is rich, varied and truly national. This is our widest ever spread of investment across the country, ensuring that many more people will have access to a wider choice of exceptional art, culture and creative opportunities on their doorsteps. We are in tough times but we must remember creativity brings with it extraordinary dividends, boosting our country’s economic growth, creating jobs, bringing communities closer together, and making us happier as individuals. Everyone deserves to enjoy the benefits it brings, and with this investment, we believe we’ve taken a decisive step towards making that vision a reality.”

    

   To find out more about the British Motor Museum please visit the website at www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk  or call 01926 895300. For more information on the Arts Council England’s 2023-26 Investment Programme visit www.artscouncil.org.uk/investment23

4. British Motor Museum wins VisitEngland's ‘Best Told Story’ Award!

   Posted on 12:00pm Friday 4th Nov 2022

   The British Motor Museum is celebrating after being awarded a coveted ‘Best Told Story’ Award from VisitEngland. The Museum is one of 97 attractions awarded accolades for the outstanding experiences they provide to visitors across categories including Welcome, Best Told Story, Quality Food & Drink, Hidden Gem, and Gold for overall winners. The Best Told Story award is presented when the judges feel “visitors have left the venue having thoroughly enjoyed an entertaining and interesting visit”.

   Jeff Coope, Managing Director at the British Motor Museum said, “We are absolutely delighted and proud to have won this prestigious Award. The team work hard to ensure every single visitor to the Museum has a wonderful and memorable time – so this is testimony to their dedication and passion.  This year alone we have added two new exhibitions – ‘Small Car. Big History - celebrating 100 years of the Austin Seven’, and ‘The Legendary Daytona Motorcycle’ and it is an honour to be acknowledged for sharing the story of Britain’s incredible motoring heritage with our visitors”.

   VisitEngland Director Andrew Stokes said: “It’s so exciting to see our brilliant attractions providing outstanding experiences for visitors and to recognise and showcase the variety and quality across the country. England has unmissable visitor attractions and experiences that deliver world-class customer service. They also provide the warmest of welcomes and unforgettable storytelling that connects the whole experience, including retail and food and drink offers that exceed expectations.”

   Introduced in 2014, the accolades are available to VisitEngland’s Visitor Attraction Quality Scheme participants across a wide range of tourism experiences in England from museums and galleries, farm attractions, historic houses and gardens to churches, cathedrals, and country parks.  Participating attractions are supported by a network of highly trained and experienced assessors who advise them on improving and promoting the quality, accessibility, and sustainability of their offer.

   For more information on the Awards please visit https://www.visitbritain.org. For more information about the Museum please call 01926 895300 or visit the website at https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/

5. Exciting winter events at the British Motor Museum!

   Posted on 12:00pm Thursday 20th Oct 2022

   The British Motor Museum is to host a number of events this winter including an interactive evening discussing the exciting Morgan Super 3 – the Designer’s Perspective, a book signing event featuring Michael Barton’s book “Fast Lady – The Extraordinary Adventures of Miss Dorothy Levitt” and the return of the popular evening Quiz Night!

   The first event will take place on Monday 7 November from 6pm-10pm when visitors can join Jonathan Wells - Morgan Motor Company's Head of Design, for an interactive evening discussing the Morgan Super 3. The evening will include a walk around the car and a behind-the-scenes insight into some of the stories and thoughts which drove the development of this exciting design.

   The evening will be hosted by Steve Cropley - Editor in Chief, Autocar and Trustee of the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust, who will be in conversation with the automotive designer in a relaxed environment, with audience participation and questions being encouraged. The evening includes a buffet-style supper and welcome drinks on the Gallery where a selection of Morgan cars will be on display.

   Catherine Boxall, Curator at the British Motor Museum said, “Whether you are a fan of the Morgan brand's 110+ years of heritage or whether you would like to discover more about their future plans and innovative automotive designs, this is an opportunity not to be missed!”

   On Saturday 26 November the Museum will host a talk and book signing event featuring Michael Barton’s new book entitled “Fast Lady – The Extraordinary Adventures of Miss Dorothy Levitt”. The book, which coincides with the centenary of her death, charts the life and times of Dorothy through the glittering years between 1903-1910 that saw her feted for her ground-breaking motoring triumphs and feisty personality, to her untimely demise at just 40 years old in 1922. Michael will be talking about the book and answering questions posed by the Museum’s Head of Collections, Stephen Laing. Michael will also be taking questions from the audience, before a book signing with the chance for visitors to purchase a signed copy.

   The British Motor Museum Quiz Night is back by popular demand on Tuesday 29 November. The fun and entertaining evening will again be led by special guest Danny Hopkins, Editor of Practical Classics Magazine. Teams of up to 6 can enjoy a fun night out at the Museum. The subject rounds will include general knowledge, music and movies as well as more general motoring knowledge questions. The evening includes time to look around the Museum from 5.30pm with the bar opening at 6:30pm. Round one is a trail around the car collection, with teams needing to find the answers by 7pm when a two-course supper, including vegan & vegetarian options will be served. The remaining rounds will take place in the Museum’s stunning rooftop Sky Suite, with the evening ending around 9pm and a cash prize for the winning team.

   Tickets for Morgan Super 3 – the Designer’s Perspective cost £25 per person including supper, with a discounted price of £20 available to Premium Members. The Fast Lady book signing is open to Museum visitors so all that is needed is a ticket to the Museum for the day. Quiz Night tickets cost £16 each, £11 for Members and just £5 for Premium Members including supper. Proceeds from these events support the work of the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust.

    

   For more information about the Museum please call 01926 895300 or visit the website at www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk