30TH YEAR WITH A RECORD BREAKING CROWD

Another year older and another record broken! The Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show celebrated its 30th birthday in style as 65,000 motoring enthusiasts gathered at Birmingham’s NEC over the three-day classic event.

From its humble beginnings of two halls (17,000 sqm) and around 70 clubs in 1984, the 2013 Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show offered 11 halls (82,000 sqm) with 269 motoring clubs creating amazing displays of rare and stunning marques. With 1,500 cars and 300 motorcycles on display and over 600 trade stands, every motoring taste was catered for.

Daniel Nwaokolo, Show Director, said: “The feedback on our 30th show has been quite overwhelming and is a true reflection of the classic car movement’s continued passion for the show. I¹d like to thank everyone - all the clubs, exhibitors, visitors, special guests and sponsors for making it an incredible event and look forward to seeing you all again in 2014."

Highlights included the culmination of Meguiar’s Club Showcase where 16 of the ‘best of the best’ from the year’s club concours events gathered to find out who would take the title. It was William Baldwin’s 1960 Jaguar XK150 S Roadster that was announced as the winner by Meguiar’s managing director David Evans.

Silverstone Auctions’ two-day sale resulted in an all-time record as over 85 cars being sold for a massive £2.85 million inclusive of premium. The star of the sale was a 1965 Aston Martin DB5 saloon, which sold at £362,250 with premium, over £80,000 its estimated price. The ex-Fangio owned 1970 IKA Tornio380S, offered without a reserve, sold at £28,175 with premium.

Sporting Bears, the charity fundraising motoring club, raised around £41,000 over the three-days from offering 10-mile dream rides to visitors in cars ranging from an Austin Seven to the latest Lamborghini Aventador Roadster.

Crowds surrounded the Wheeler Dealer Live Stage, hosted by Mike Brewer and Edd China, as special guests Sir Stirling Moss, David Soul and Quentin Willson were interviewed on their careers and latest projects along with other well known faces and enthusiasts from the classic scene.

Other celebrities found roaming the halls included BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show DJ Chris Evans, Dragon’s Den star Theo Paphitis, and soap stars such as Coronation Street’s Craig Charles and Emmerdale’s Kelvin Fletcher.

Aside from the celebrity guests, Mike and Edd, along with the team from Practical Classics magazine restored a 1976 MGB Roadster over the three days that was then given with a year’s free insurance from Lancaster Insurance to lucky winner Andrew Crowe from Leeds. The car had been restored with the support of MGOC Spares, who had supplied new parts and fittings including a chrome bumper conversion kit.

New headline sponsor Lancaster Insurance pulled out all the stops with three amazingly themed stands including one featuring the Starsky & Hutch Gran Torino and an appearance from David Soul. Mike Edgley, Managing Director, said: “As headline sponsors in our first year, I am absolutely delighted at the success of the Show. With record numbers for the 30th anniversary, it is very clear that this industry has vitality and vigour. What really struck me again was the passion and enthusiasm that the classic car owners have for their vehicles, but also their friendliness and willingness to share their stories. There were so many wonderful stories at the Show too; cars reunited with their owners after many years, long, painstaking restorations, as well as True Brit adventures.

“I am also really proud of our own stands at the Show, be it the four decade “Blast from the Past”, or our Gran Torino stand with the legendary David Soul showing his star quality is undimmed.”

The 2014 Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show will be held from 14th to 16th November. For more information on the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show or Classic Motorbike Show, visit www.necclassicmotorshow.com

former MP Lembit Öpik has become the organisation’s new Director of Communications and Public Affairs.

MAG UK has also announced that Lembit won’t be tackling the communications and public affairs challenge alone. He will be working with biking campaigns guru, Dr Leon Mannings.

Lembit’s knowledge and contacts in the world of politics can only benefit MAG UK and bring new life and maybe even a bit of fun back into biking.

At the very worst, MAG UK will get loads of publicity and if that means people sitting up and looking – surely that can only be a good thing.

The World's greatest road racers will again go head to head for honours at the 2014 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy and the Isle of Man Government Department of Economic Development has confirmed an unchanged race schedule following the record breaking 2013 meeting.

The 2013 meeting saw all of the solo lap and race records broken, except the Senior TT lap record from 2009, including a new outright lap record of 131.671mph by John McGuinness while Michael Dunlop claimed four stunning race wins at record pace as well as two new lap records.

A number of other race winners are confirmed for 2014 including the returning Ian Hutchinson, Bruce Anstey, James Hillier, Gary Johnson and Michael Rutter while Conor Cummins, Guy Martin, William Dunlop and Dean Harrison will be looking to claim their maiden race wins. Josh Brookes, the event's fastest ever newcomer last year, also returns in 2014.

In the Sure Sidecar Races, six former winners are expected to line up in 2013 including defending champions Tim Reeves and Daniel Sayle and the Birchall Brothers, Ben and Tom. 2012 Race winners John Holden and Andy Winkle will be looking to get back on the top step in 2014 while sixteen-time champion Dave Molyneux and his passenger Patrick Farrance will be looking to improve on their two podium finishes in 2013. The returning Ian Bell and his son Carl add further intrigue. Ian last competed in the TT in 2004 and was a race winner in 2003.

The race schedule kicks off with the now traditional curtain raiser the Dainese Superbike Race and the first Sure Sidecar Race on Saturday 31st May and is followed by Monday's Monster Energy Supersport Race 1 and the RL360 Superstock Race. Wednesday's packed programme gets underway with the SES TT Zero, followed by the Monster Energy Supersport Race 2 and the Sure Sidecar Race 2.

Friday - the climax of the meeting - opens with the Bikesocial.co.uk Lightweight Race and culminates with the PokerStars Senior TT Race - a race with guaranteed drama and thrills if previous years are anything to go by.

Grandstand seating is available in four spectacular locations around the world-famous TT Mountain Course, each offering unrivalled views, dedicated parking, public conveniences, WiFi and live commentary. The TT Grandstand and Nobles Park Grandstand at the heart of the race paddock offer the unrivalled sight of the start/finish line and pit lane action while the course grandstands at Ballacrye and Creg Ny Baa have been chosen for their spectacular views. With food and drink also available to purchase, the Official TT Grandstands are the top vantage spots for 2014.

Fans can get to the heart of the TT Races race with the exclusive TT VIP Club, which offers complimentary bar, plus breakfast and a gourmet buffet lunch. The package also offers reserved grandstand seating; easy access to the TT paddock, plus exclusive appearances by leading riders and special guests. The ultimate experience is also available with the Platinum VIP Package which offers full hospitality hosted by a TT Legend, plus access to the start line, winner’s enclosure and post race press conferences as well as a much coveted closed road lap of the course in the official course car.

This year the TT VIP Club will feature the 'TT Preview Night' on Friday 30 May. Hosted by World Superbike legend Neil Hodgson, the ticket entitles you to a night of VIP Hospitality and a behind-the-scenes preview of the week’s racing. Tickets are priced at £60 and include a seat for that evening’s final qualifying session in the TT Grandstand, plus special access to the post-qualifying press conference as well as a buffet and autograph session.

Neil Hodgson will also be hosting the 'Moto GP Mad Sunday Lunch' on 1 June with some very special guests for the day’s coverage of the Italian MotoGP. Tickets are priced at just £60 and include Sunday lunch, pre-race chat and a post race Q&A session.

To book tickets visit shop.iomtt.com from 10am on Saturday 23rd.

The races form part of the Isle of Man Festival of Motorcycling, which also includes the Classic TT, the Classic and Two Day Trials and the VMCC's Festival of Jurby.

The 2014 Manx Grand Prix starts with a week of qualifying from Saturday 16th August. The race schedule kicks off with the MGP Newcomers races on Monday 25th August followed by the Junior MGP and SuperTwin/Lightweight MGP races on Wednesday 27th August and culminates with the Senior MGP race on Friday 29th August.

2013 saw some thrilling racing culminating in Michael Sweeney's thrilling last lap Junior MGP Race win when James Cowton retired with less than a mile to go from the chequered flag. There were also race wins for Michael Russell (SuperTwins) and Alistair Howarth (Lightweight) while Chris Dixon, Callum Collister and Ben Rea took the honours in the Newcomers A, B and C races respectively.

Commenting on the change to the 2013 schedule Harvey Garton, Chairman, Manx Motor Cycle Club said: "It makes sense to switch the Newcomers Race to Monday which gives newcomers the opportunity to compete in Wednesday's Junior Race. It will also take some pressure out of a crowded race schedule."

He continued: "We were very unfortunate with the weather for this year's meeting which resulted in us cancelling the Senior MGP and I'm keen that we remind everyone that we have the option to race on Saturday if racing is unable to take place on Friday. Hopefully competitors, fans and marshals will bear this in mind when making their travel arrangements as the Club is determined to do everything we can to run our blue riband race next year including taking up the option of racing on Saturday if we have to."

Tickets for all race days are available via Duke Marketing from 10am on Saturday 23rd. Call 01624 640000 or on-line at www.shop.iomtt.com

It has been over 30 years since Hesketh Motorcycles produced their last new model back in the early eighties. However, it is in 2013 that the re-launch of this famous brand will reach fruition as Hesketh owner Paul Sleeman, will unveil details of the first all new Hesketh model before the end of the year. Known as ‘The Hesketh 24’ (the number of the Hesketh Racing F1 Grand Prix winning car of James Hunt) the new model will bring the great British brand into the 21st Century with high quality engineering and a uniquely British design.

Hesketh has also undergone a careful rebranding since Sleeman took over, celebrating the British roots and high quality of these gentleman’s motorcycles, the marque now has a new logo and new modern website at www.heskethmotorcycles.co.uk

New Hesketh Luxury Clothing Collection The first official Hesketh Motorcycles merchandise in more than thirty years is also now available to buy directly on the website. Featuring the new vintage Union Jack design on t-shirts and 100% soft lambswool embroidered jumpers, these items are made to reflect the quality of this high class brand. Prices start at just £6.95 for a genuine leather embossed Hesketh keyring, while the red, white and blue embroidered cap, celebrating the team colours of the famous Hesketh Racing F1 team and the success enjoyed by the notorious James Hunt in his F1 car, comes in at £14.95.

The black, round neck t-shirt with vintage union jack and Hesketh logo design is available in sizes small to XXL and retails at £31.95. While the lambswool jumpers in black with embroidered Hesketh logo detail on the breast, also small to XXL are available now for £59.95.

The pièce de résistance of the new collection is undoubtedly the luxuriously soft Hesketh leather jacket. Handmade, from the finest leather, this casual jacket again continues the Hesketh red, white and blue theme with the different coloured leathers bordering the collar and central zip. Fully lined and with the Hesketh logo applique on the arm, chest and back, this is truly a unique jacket of quintessentially British design. Each jacket is hand sewn from the butter soft leather and will remain one of only a small number to be made; this coupled with the timeless design, means this jacket remains a piece to be enjoyed for life. The classic Hesketh leather jacket will be available in the Hesketh online shop from mid-December at £595.

For more information about Hesketh Motorcycles or to purchase any items from the new collection visit www.heskethmotorcycles.co.uk