The BMF is sorry to learn that its contractor used for organising the three BMF Shows, Mulberry Events Limited, has announced that it is now entering into voluntary liquidation. As a result it will not be able to run the BMF Tailend Show this year and will not be able to carry out any further business for the BMF.

The Directors of Mulberry Events Limited have issued a statement thanking the BMF, Exhibitors, Clubs and other support services for their help, support and contributions over the past five years of working with the BMF.
As a result of this announcement, a decision has been made by the BMF to cancel the Tail End Show at Peterborough, planned to have been held on 13/14 September 2014.

The BMF will work with the Liquidators of Mulberry Events Limited in an effort to recover from them monies paid by members and exhibitors in relation to the now cancelled Tailend Show 2014. A further press release on this will be issued in due course.

There will be a lot of hard work and planning from this point so the BMF can reorganise arrangements to carry on with its events, in whatever form, for 2015 and onwards. A further press release on this will be issued in due course.

The BMF events have been an integral part of the organisation's activities from the time of its formation in the 1960's. Events have had an important role in generating funds to support the BMF's activities in protecting riders interests, but also to create interaction with the membership and raise public awareness of motorcycling. However the BMF is now no longer reliant on show income to fund lobbying activity.

Despite the news of the Liquidation of Mulberry, the BMF is keen to state that it is in good financial health and will continue to represent the interests of motorcyclists throughout the UK.

Roger Ellis
BMF Chairman

A stunning collection of Joey Dunlop race machines will be exhibited in the race paddock at the 2014 Isle of Man Classic TT Races presented by Bennetts.

The exhibition is part of the Isle of Man Classic TTs Joey Dunlop Road Racing Legend tribute theme, which also includes a parade lap featuring his greatest rivals and an '80s themed fancy dress paddock carnival and party.

The free pop up exhibition, which runs from Friday 22nd to Monday 25th August, will feature 25 authentic machines raced by Joey Dunlop in his 24 year career, including a number of his Isle of Man TT winning machines. Collectors, friends and members of Joey's own family have loaned the machines to the Classic TT Race organisers.

As you would expect Honda, the marque synonymous with Joey Dunlop, dominate the exhibition including iconic RC45s, RC30s, RS250s, RS125s, CBR 600's and his 1986 Senior TT winning RS500. However, the exhibition, will also feature other machines from earlier in his career including Yamaha's and Suzuki's along with the 350cc Aermacchi he rode in the Classic MGP Races.

David Cretney, the Isle of Man Government's Minister for Fun, who will open the exhibition ahead of Thursday's qualifying session, commented:

"We wanted to pay an appropriate tribute to one of road racing's greatest names and what better way than to assemble the finest collection of his race bikes for the first time."

He continued:

"We have had a brilliant response from the bike owners in loaning their machines and are very grateful for their generosity. From a personal point of view, as someone who was involved in the TT races during Joey's career, it will bring back many great memories and I hope that as many fans as possible visit the exhibition."

Tickets are now on sale and selling fast for the 2014 Classic TT Races presented by Bennetts. VIP experiences, Grandstand tickets, Classic TT Heroes Dinner and Classic TT Party tickets can be purchased from www.iomtt.com or by phoning 00 44 (0)1624 640000.

Travel and accommodation packages to suit all budgets and requirements are available from Official Classic TT Travel Agency Regency Travel on +44 (0)1624 694456 or [email protected].

Ace Cafe London's special guest on Sunday 20th July (70's Bike Day!) is Eric Patterson, showcasing and firing up his unique and very special, modified 1000cc V-twin, Vincent powered motorcycle, prior to departing for the USA and the 2014 Bonneville Speed Trials!

Eric, organiser of the popular and ever so useful bike jumbles held regularly throughout the year at Kempton Park, is the holder of a number of Bonneville Speed Trial records, with machines to include his own JAP V-twin powered Norton "featherbed" framed special and Brough Superior's, this year Eric is going for the following four 1000cc classes with his Viscount.

Modified Pushrod "Fuel" - record at 140.76mph
Modified Vintage - Partial Streamlined, gasoline - record at 123.25mph
Modified Pre 1979 "Fuel" Class
Modified Pre 1979 Partial Streamlined Class

The "Salt" going "Viscount" motorcycle, originally built by Peter Darvill, is number one of only ten ever made, and consists of a 1951 V-twin Vincent engine in a Norton "Manx" rolling chassis, with magnesium "Manx" wheels - its provenance includes racing at the Isle of Man TT in 1956!

Special modifications and preparations to the bike, for racing at Bonneville, range from work on the engine, with pistons going up from 9.1 to 12.1 compression, camshafts and a BTH four plug system to fire it up. Special exhausts, clutch, belt drive and re-worked manifolds to take a pair of "Gardiner" carburettors, with Hagon supplying the suspension and the specially built alloy rims, all topped off with fuel and oil tanks in aluminium and clip-on bars!

See it, hear it and taste the salt!

www.egp-enterprises.co.uk
www.bonnevillespeedtrials.com

www.ace-cafe-london.com

Following a meeting of the Motorcycle Crime Reduction Group, which met this week, figures have been released which show a marked reduction in the theft of motorcycles which have been ‘tagged’ under the UK’s first national and official motorcycle anti-theft scheme.

52,687 new motorcycles and scooters have been protected and registered with the MASTER Security Scheme since January 2013, of which only 403 have been stolen.

This represents a theft rate of 0.76%, compared to an historic rate of 2.6% and means MASTER scheme tagged motorcycles are nearly 4 times less likely to be stolen.

Typically around 26,000 motorcycles or scooters were stolen every year, 50% of which are taken within Greater London. Using the current rates of theft, if all bikes were MASTER tagged this would mean c18,000 less motorcycles would be stolen each year.*

Of the 403 bikes which have been stolen, the current recovery rate (at the time of this week’s meeting) stands at 37%. In addition, the police are aware of the locations of a number of the remainder of the unrecovered bikes, which will be the subject of police action in the coming weeks.

Steve Kenward, CEO of the MCI said “11 major manufactures have been marking their bikes for over 12 months now, so we are in a position to begin evaluating the effectiveness of the MASTER Security Scheme. It will take another two years to see the full effects, as motorcycle theft is currently mostly centred on bikes of three years or less, but we are highly encouraged by the results we have seen so far.”

*Figure is the difference between 0.76% and 2.6% of the active parc, i.e. the theft rate of MASTER tagged bikes and the historic rate of theft.)

For more information – see the full story here

Two time TT Race winner Cameron Donald will make his return to the Mountain Course in August for the Isle of Man Classic TT Races presented by Bennetts with the Australian ace contesting both the Bennetts 500cc Classic TT and Okells 350cc Classic TT Races for Ripley Land Racing. Donald will line up on the team's 500cc Seeley G50 and 350cc 7R AJS as he did in 2013

36-year old Donald, who rode the factory Norton at this year's TT, enjoyed a strong Classic TT meeting twelve months ago, with the highlight his second place overall in the 350cc Classic TT Race. The Melbourne rider was the winner of the 350cc GP1 class last year and became the first rider to break the 100mph barrier on a standard frame AJS 7R.

He was also the fastest 500cc two valve single through the speed trap and was lying in fourth place in the race after an opening lap of 106.861mph before being forced to retire a lap later.

Ripley Land Racing have been stalwarts of the classic scene for numerous years and Chris Palmer gave them the overall victory in last year's overall 350cc Classic TT Race, giving them a superb 1-2, and he also took the corresponding race at the Manx Grand Prix in 2012. The team, owned by Ian Garbutt, still hopes to secure the services of a leading TT rider to ride the same 350cc Honda ridden by Palmer.

Speaking about his Classic TT return, Cameron Donald commented:

"I loved every minute of last year's Classic TT and I am delighted that I have the chance to go back and get involved in some more racing around the TT Course. The atmosphere was fantastic last year and I love the whole classic racing scene. It is an honour to ride motorcycles as well prepared as the ones Ripley Land Racing provide me with and hopefully we can break a few more records and get ourselves back onto the podium."

Tickets are now on sale and selling fast for the 2014 Classic TT Races presented by Bennetts. VIP experiences, Grandstand tickets, Classic TT Heroes Dinner and Classic TT Party tickets can be purchased from www.iomtt.com or by phoning 00 44 (0)1624 640000.

Travel and accommodation packages to suit all budgets and requirements are available from Official Classic TT Travel Agency Regency Travel on +44 (0)1624 694456 or [email protected]