This year's was the biggest and best ever… fact! Here are some top line facts and figures.

Early calculations show the 2012 number of visitors to be 58,000. This is a conservative figure and could be closer to 60,000 when the final count is confirmed. (2011 figure was 50,000). This is the highest figure ever. Show also had best opening day ever.

Quote from Andy Rouse, Show Manager: “We are totally blown away by the number of visitors for this year. It’s exceeded all our expectations and reflects the growth and strength of the classic motoring movement. Feedback from the clubs, traders and visitors has been fantastic. The new layout worked well and we’ll use any feedback to develop the show for 2013. With a show of this scale and with the number of visitors attending, its always our priority to improve the way visitors can move around the show to enjoy all the exhibits.”

The inaugural Silverstone Auction total sale value: £1.1m with over 60% converted to new owners. Post auction deals are still under discussion. The Fiat 500’s, both guided below £8,000 each made over £15,000. The Aston Martin DB4 reached £224,000. A fantastic price, albeit a beautiful car.

Number of Dream Rides given during the show: gave approx 1,000 rides and raised £30,000 plus gift aid which should give a minimum final total of £35,000. The Bears reached the million pound target after a £20 donation for a ride in a Bristol from dream ride regular Colin Padley from Dagenham. From small donations over the years Colin has donated £1,000 so fitting he won a ride around Silverstone in a Ferrari racing car.

Winner of Meguiar's Club Showcase final: 1972 Volkswagon Beetle 1200 Deluxe owned by Wayne McCarthy from Ireland. Only five points separated the top four.

Wheeler Dealer Live Stage with Mike Brewer and Edd China – restored a 1960 Morris Minor Pick Up. Special guests: Sir Stirling Moss, TT Riders Guy Martin and Mick Grant, Red Dwarf star Chris Barrie, comedian Steve Coogan, actress Natalie J Robb, Dragon’s Den star Theo Paphitis and Motoring Journalists/presenters Quentin Wilson and Tiff Needell.

2013 dates – 15-17 November 2013.

Amount of floor space – 82,000 square metres (last year 70,000) Halls: 11 (Halls 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, and 20) Number of clubs: 250 Number of cars:  approx. 1,500 Number of bikes: approx. 300 Number of Exhibitors: over 520. Number of Car Dealers:  approx 43

Thank you for a great day at the Classic Bike show

Amanda & Dave Beeson

As motorcyclists we all know the amount of fundraising events for good causes and charities that goes on each year that are organised and run by motorcyclists, clubs and motorcycle organisations. 

In Northern Ireland riders raise thousands of pounds each year for these various causes from Children’s Wards, Christmas Appeals, MRI Scanner Appeals, Dog Homes, Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and the NABD (National Association of Bikers with a Disability) and many more.      

These events are replicated across the UK, but this time, funding raising with a difference has reach our inbox from the Boundary 500 Motorcycle group based in England.      

The group has received the blessing of pre-eminent folk duo The Proclaimers and now look set to launch one of the year’s most unlikely attempts at making the pop charts.      

The Boundary 500 Motorcycle group has enlisted the help of North-East band The Happy Cats, fronted by ex-Lindisfarne vocalist Marty Craggs, in re-recording I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) – The Proclaimers’ signature song.  Sales of the song will raise money for two of the region’s best-loved charities, the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) and Zoë’s Place Baby Hospice.

The lyrics of the song have been changed to reflect the bikers’ dedication to the two causes, and the song itself has been given the new title I’m Gonna Ride 500 Miles.   Brian Laverick, leader of the Boundary 500 group, said: “It’s been a lot of hard work putting this together, but the end product is something I think we can be really proud of. We even got the thumbs up from The Proclaimers themselves. Song sales of about 3,000 in the week should see us enter the top 40 which would be a phenomenal achievement in itself, but would also raise lots of money for these two great charities.”  

Mark Guidery, chief executive at Zoë’s Place, said: “Brian and his group continue to amaze us with their fundraising efforts. We hope residents of the region get behind the group’s latest efforts and provide a real boost to our fundraising in the run up to Christmas.”  

Grahame Pickering, chief executive of GNAAS, said: “The charities get a donation for every single sold, so we are hoping all our supporters get behind this fantastic fundraiser.”   The Boundary 500 Motorcycle Group was formed in June 2006 and was established primarily to support GNAAS and later added to its nominated charities Zoë's Baby Hospice.  

The Group takes its name from the approximate distance around the boundary area of the air ambulance charity. Every year, bikers from the group ride the 500 mile journey to boost fundraising. It has raised more than £310,000 for GNAAS and £106,000 for Zoë’s Place since it began.  

In a statement, Charlie and Craig Reid, of the Proclaimers, said: “Our very best wishes to the Happy Cats’ and everyone in the Boundary 500”  

 The song is available for 79p via iTunes and in CD and DVD format for £3 at www.greatnorthairambulance.co.uk/shop

At Right To Ride we think that the Boundary 500 may be on to a hit with the recording of the Proclaimers 500 miles/bikes.

The Boundary 500 say, “Please help us make this a Christmas number 1.”   Information   The Groups next major event is on Saturday 8th December 2012 when they hold their annual 22 miles Motorcycle Santa Ride for Zoë's Baby Hospice.

Further details are on the Groups web site.   www.boundary500.co.uk

THE BIKER GUIDE® is pleased to announce as of the 16th November, 2012 the name and brand has been trademarked.

To secure THE BIKER GUIDE® name, brand and ethos we registered with the Trade Marks Registry on 15th June, 2012 and after a 3 month wait are delighted to announce that we can now officially use the ® sign and also avoid others from using our good name.

What is a brand?

A brand is a 'promise of an experience' and conveys to consumers a certain assurance as to the nature of the product or service they will receive. Intellectual property rights provide legal protection for some of the most important aspects of a brand.

Registered under Class 35:

Advertising; business management; business administration; advertising services provided via the Internet and printed publications; production of television and radio advertisements; trade fairs; opinion polling; data processing; provision of business information; compilation of directories for publishing on global computer networks or the internet.

Former works Yamaha mechanic Ferry Brouwer has confirmed his support for the inaugural Classic TT Races due to be held in August 2013 by entering his world renowned Yamaha Classic Racing Team.

The YCRT will contest the 250cc, Formula 1 and Formula 2 Classic classes. Classic racing veteran, Manxman Allan Brew will lead the team, contesting the 250cc and the Formula 2 Classic TT Races. Allan, one of the most respected riders on the Classic racing scene in the UK and Ireland, has already stood on the podium at the Manx Grand Prix, taking third place in the 2008 Senior Classic MGP Race.

Three modern day TT competitors join Allan in the YCRT line up, all contesting the new Formula 1 Classic TT Race. Steve Mercer, winner of the 2009 TT Newcomers award, will ride a YEC spec 750cc OW01 machine, whilst fastest ever American to lap the TT Course, Mark Miller, will ride a replica of fellow Californian Eddie Lawson’s 1986 Daytona 200 winning 0U45 works machine. Former British 125cc Champion and up and coming TT star Daniel Cooper completes the line up and will delight fans when he rides the superb 0W45 (TZ500) Yamaha two stroke machine.

The Yamaha Classic Racing Team is a permanent fixture on the international classic motorcycle scene, regularly taking part in prestigious parade events with Dutchman Brouwer’s unique collection of exotic Yamaha machinery. Regular riders on the YCRT bikes include World Champions such as Phil Read, Giacomo Agostini, Steve Baker, Dieter Braun, Kel Carruthers, and Carlos Lavado as well as GP racers Svend Andersson and Jos Schurgers. However the inaugural Classic TT in 2013 will be the team's first competitive racing outing.

As well as their racing efforts, the YCRT also plan on running a full line up of parade machines and riders at the Classic TT, details of which will be announced at the upcoming Motorcycle Live event at the Birmingham NEC.

Speaking about his teams racing debut, YCRT owner Ferry Brouwer said:

“It has been my dream for many years to see my bikes being raced and there is nowhere other than the Classic TT Races and the TT Mountain Course that I would do this. We believe the plans that are being developed for this event will capture the hearts and minds of classic racing fans all around the world, and become the world’s biggest event for classic racing motorcycles. We are therefore proud to be part of these exciting plans and can’t wait to get to the Island next August.”

“I am delighted with the line up of riders we have been able to secure and I am sure Allan, Steve, Mark and Dan will do an excellent job in representing our team in our competitive racing debut. 8 times World Champion Phil Read will be joining us as an advisor to the team and I am sure his unrivalled experience will be invaluable to all of our riders.”

Trevor Hussey, Head of Motorsport, Isle of Man Government, commented:

"It is a real coup for the Classic TT races to have the commitment from this world renown team. Their participation gives the event real credibility in its first year and promises to be a great experience for classic racing fans."