Conditions were cloudy and overcast for Wednesday evening’s third qualifying session at the 2014 Isle of Man TT Races, fuelled by Monster Energy, and it proved to be a short session as just one lap was completed due to a combination of the weather closing in and an incident at the top of Barregarrow.

With a few spots of rain in the air around the 6pm, the session got underway at 6.25pm with some riders opting for their 1000cc bikes and others playing it safe on their Supersport machines.

Michael Dunlop and Ian Hutchinson were first away, followed by Guy Martin and James Hillier, with all four on their Superbikes. William Dunlop, Gary Johnson and Michael Rutter also chose their Superbikes but Conor Cummins opted for his Superstock Honda and Bruce Anstey, Keith Amor and Dan Kneen all took out their 600cc machines.

Conditions on the opening lap proved to be fairly good with Michael Dunlop first back past the Grandstand at 128.690mph, just shy of his best lap set yesterday, while Guy Martin was also over 128mph. William Dunlop was next up at 127.911mph with Dean Harrison posting his personal best lap of the week so far at 126.521mph. Michael Rutter, Ian Hutchinson and Dan Stewart were the only other three riders to break the 125mph mark whilst Johnson was out of luck retiring at Douglas Road Corner.

The newcomers again posted good laps with six of them over the 110mph barrier – Peter Hickman (117.895), Martin Jessopp (115.607), Vick de Cooremeter (114.410), Phil Crowe (113.910), Alan Bonner (112.447) and Danny Webb (112.203), with Crowe and Webb both posting personal bests.

Cummins was the quickest Superstock machine at 126.268mph with Anstey posting a speed of 123.127mph to top the Supersport time sheets but with rain falling, particularly from Ramsey onwards, John McGuinness completed a lap at 122.387mph and James Hillier at 121.527mph on their Superbikes, comfortably down on their speeds earlier in the week.

Most riders opted to continue for a second lap but no sooner had they had done than the red flag was shown as a result of an incident that involved newcomer Laurent Hoffmann at the top of Barregarrow. Hoffman was airlifted to Nobles hospital where he was reported to have leg injuries and was undergoing further assessment.

As the incident was being cleared, the rain began to get heavier in the north of the island and the evening’s action was called off just after 7.30pm.

- Holden/Winkle fastest in sidecar session as Molyneux stops at Molyneux's

Conditions and visibility were again excellent for the second qualifying evening of at the 2014 Isle of Man TT Races, fuelled by Monster Energy, and Bruce Anstey again set the pace. The Kiwi lapped at an impressive 130.860mph on the Valvoline Racing/Padgetts Honda.

He spent much of the second lap circulating with John McGuinness, who was second fastest on the night at 129.395mph while BMW Motorrad rider Michael Dunlop looked like he’d break the 130mph barrier until coasting to a halt at Governor’s Bridge.

The session got underway at 18.23 and, as with Monday night, the majority of riders opted for their Superbike machines, leaving the line in numerical order. McGuinness and James Hillier were first away followed by Ian Hutchinson and Guy Martin then Anstey and Dunlop, Gary Johnson and William Dunlop with Michael Rutter and Conor Cummins completing the top ten. Hillier was aboard his Superstock Kawasaki as were Lee Johnston and Daniel Kneen.

McGuinness was first to complete a lap at 127.578, followed by Anstey (128.630) and Dunlop (129.032) with Cummins and Rutter also over the 128mph mark. Martin and Johnson lapped at over 127mph while Hillier’s lap of 126.243mph was the evening's fastest Superstock time.

The pace really quickened second time around though with Anstey, Dunlop and McGuinness in close formation and while most eyes were on the Northern Irishman, Anstey went to the top of the leaderboard with his near 131mph lap. Dunlop was delayed through the Grandstand and it shortly emerged that he had stopped at Governors Dip.

Martin went third quickest behind Anstey and McGuinness with a lap of 129.164mph with the top six completed by Dunlop (129.032), Rutter (128.728) and Cummins (128.719). William Dunlop and Johnson were the only other two riders to break the 127mph mark with Kneen and Hutchinson in the 125mph bracket.

Further back, impressive speeds came from James Cowton (122.246) and newcomer Peter Hickman who only just missed out on his first 120mph lap with a speed of 119.684mph whilst the American Buell lapped at an encouraging 118.794mph in the hands of Mark Miller. Meanwhile, Martin Jessopp (117.385), Alan Bonner (115.303) and Belgian Vick de Cooremeter (114.226), all newcomers this year, again proved they were getting to grips with the Mountain Course.

Hillier’s opening lap kept him at the top of the Superstock leaderboard for the entire night and he was followed by Michael Dunlop (125.840), Rutter (125.325), Anstey (125.086), McGuinness (124.529) and Kneen (124.111). Notable laps came from Russ Mountford (123.090) who ended up in tenth and Michael Sweeney who chalked up his first 120mph lap at 120.203mph. Austrian Horst Saiger came off at Governors during the session but was OK after been seen by a travelling medic.

The second part of the session was split between the Supersport and Lightweight machines, the latter getting their first action of the 2014 festival, and a late lap from Lee Johnston of 123.803mph saw him top the 600cc class. Johnson and Rutter improved their speeds of the previous night on the Triumphs to place second and third, with William Dunlop the fourth rider to lap in excess of 123mph. Harrison, Martin, Brookes and Michael Dunlop completed the top eight.

In the Lightweight division Ivan Lintin occupied the top spot, the McKinstry Racing rider’s lap of 117.297mph almost twelve seconds quicker than Keith Amor’s speed of 115.595mph. Cowton was the only other rider above 115mph with Olie Linsdell impressing on the Paton in fourth. Previous Lightweight race winners Hillier and Ryan Farquhar completed the top six.

In the Formula Two sidecar class, which saw just one lap completed before the session was red flagged due to an incident at Kerrowmoar, John Holden/Andy Winkle showed there’ll be contenders come race day once more with a lap of 112.877mph, just under ten seconds quicker than Ben and Tom Birchall. Conrad Harrison/Mike Aylott placed third ahead of Gary Bryan/Jamie Winn, Frank Lelias/Paul Knapton and Carl Fenwick/Phil Knapton but Dave Molyneux/Patrick Farrance stopped on the opening lap, the duo pulling up to a halt at Moly’s own corner at the end of the Cronk y Voddy.

It was later reported that sidecar crew Nev Jones and Milan Vorel were the team involved in the accident at Kerrowmoar. Jones was reported to be OK but Vorel was taken by airmed to Nobles where he was assessed for possible leg fractures.

A motorist in on the M25 at Swanley holds the record for the highest speed clocked by a speed camera in England and Wales between April 2013 and May 2014. The 149 mph figure was revealed following freedom of information requests to 39 police authorities by the IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists). Eighty-five per cent of police authorities responded.

Other findings include:
•The highest speed recorded on 30mph road was 96mph on the B1288, on Leam Lane, Gateshead
•The highest speed recorded on a 50mph road was on the A414 Stanstead Abbotts, Hertfordshire where a motorist clocked 119 mph
•The highest speed recorded on a 60mph road was 127mph on the A413 Wendover By-Pass, Wendover

The guidelines to magistrates on sentencing for speeding include:
•70 mph road: For driving between 101 and 110 mph. Fine plus 6 points or disqualified for 7-56 days.
•50 mph road: For driving between 76 and 85 mph. Fine plus 6 points or disqualified for 7-56 days.
•30 mph road: For driving between 51 and 60mph. Fine plus 6 points or disqualified for 7-56 days.1

IAM chief executive Simon best said: “149 miles per hour equates to nearly two and a half miles in a minute. If anything goes wrong at that speed, you’re unlikely to walk away and you are a grave danger to the innocent road users around you.”

“Speed limits are a limit. They are not a target to beat. Unfortunately this message has not got through to many motorists and it’s clear that efforts to make speeding as socially unacceptable as drink driving continue to fail. That’s why we need sustained campaigning by the government, motor industry and charities to keep ramming home the message that excessive speed kills. Catching speeders at two or even three times the limit also shows the importance of keeping speed cameras at well-known black spots.”

“The current guidelines on sentencing for excessive speeding offences are out of sync with modern roads, modern vehicles and society’s view of the value of lives lost in crashes. We all share the roads with these speeding drivers and the government must crack down on them with more consistent penalties and tougher measures to break their addiction for speed.”

Edenbridge, Kent, came to a standstill on Monday 26 May 2014. Undeterred by the weather, thousands of spectators lined the streets to watch motor sport legend, John Surtees OBE, ex Formula Renault and British Formula Ford Champion Scott Malvern and ex Formula 3 British Champion and A1 Grand Prix racer Robbie Kerr, roar through the streets of the town in Team Surtees race vehicles.. The special event in John’s home town helped commemorate the 50th anniversary of his Formula 1 World Championship title, as well as his 80th birthday.

The parade of John’s rarely seen F1 race cars and bikes ran twice through Edenbridge High Street, before returning to the site that was the Surtees team factory and business base for the past 56 years. John Surtees led the parade in the Ferrari 158 which he won the 1964 Formula One Driver's World Championship driving kindly loaned by George Barber of Birmingham, Alabama, USA and was followed by a Team Surtees Formula One cars for the Seventies, and a procession of over 200 classic bikes and cars all drawn to Edenbridge by the town’s festivities.

‘Papa Smurf’ even made a debut appearance to Edenbridge, straight from the Monaco F1 Grand Prix. Papa Smurf is rapidly becoming a social media phenomenon, as his F1 adventures this year pays tribute to the late John Button, aka ‘Papa Smurf’ and, at the request of the Button family, is raising funds for the Henry Surtees Foundation.

The event was organized by the Eden Valley Chamber of Commerce, as part of Edenbridge Fun Day and featured non-stop entertainment throughout the day including live bands, pram races, dog show, trade stalls, and a classic car and motorcycle display. The event also raised awareness and funds for the Kent Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance and The Henry Surtees Foundation, a foundation established by John Surtees following the tragic death of his son Henry while competing in Formula 2 race in 2009 aged just 18.

Speaking at the parade John Surtees said: “it’s fantastic to have the High Street closed on a busy Bank Holiday weekend so that we could give all the visitors the sight and sound of Formula One and times gone by. It’s not often that people get to hear and watch Formula 1 cars up close, and judging by the response of the crowds who cheered us through, they must’ve enjoyed it as much as I did.”

Racing driver Scott Malvern said “it was an absolute honour to drive the TS7, the first Formula 1 car built by Team Surtees here in Edenbridge. I can’t thank John Surtees enough for such an amazing opportunity; truly a day to remember”.

Peter Kingham, Chairman of The Eden Valley Chamber of Commerce said: “it has always been our intention to make this an annual event centering on the town's racing construction heritage and to help put Edenbridge on the map. The rain certainly did not dampen the spirits of the event; the streets were packed with visitors, many of which had made a long journey specifically to watch the Team Surtees parade. Personally, I would like to thank John Surtees for all the help and effort he, his staff and friends put into making it such a great day and to the Ferrari Owners Club for their support.”

The Team Surtees and John Surtees related vehicles that took part in the parade were displayed throughout the day outside the Bradford shop, Station Road, where they were built and designed by predominantly local residents, the display included:

· Ferrari 158 - The actual car that John Surtees won his 1964 Formula One Driver's World Championship racing title driving

· The TS7 - The first Formula 1 car built by Team Surtees at its Edenbridge base, which John Surtees raced at the British Grand Prix in Brands Hatch in 1970. The vehicle was driven in the parade by Formula Renault Champion, and British Formula Ford & Eurocup Champion Scott Malvern

· The TS14 Formula 1 car - The first car to be introduced to the new safety regulations in 1972 and was driven by Mike Hailwood and Carlos Pace setting lap records in the German and Austrian Grand Prix. The vehicle was driven in the parade by past Formula 3 British Champion and A1 Grand Prix runner-up Robbie Kerr.

· The TS15 2-litre Formula 2 car built in 1973 which finished 2nd in that Championship, this car is the prototype that won the prestigious Interlagos race in Brazil driven by Carlos Pace

· A 1960 MV Agusta four-cylinder GP motorcycle – John Surtees won seven motorcycle championships riding for MV Agusta and 6 Isle of Man TT’s

· 1957 BMW 507 this is possibly BMW’s most prestigious car and was produced in limited numbers. John Surtees acquired this part as a prize on winning his first motorcycle World Championship with MV Agusta.

· 500cc 1949 Vincent Grey Flash motorcycle built by John in 1979 using a large number of parts from the original machine that he built in 1950 whilst working as an apprentice at the Vincent Company. John won his first ever race on a Grey Flash at Aberdare Park in Wales that he had built whilst working as an apprentice at the Vincent Company. It was the first of many wins before he transferred to a Norton to compete in International events.

· 350cc Works Norton this is one of the last works machines built by the original Norton company in the early Sixties and featured an ultra-short-stroke engine of 86mm x 60mm and outside flywheel

To celebrate its 30th anniversary, the National Motorcycle Museum is holding a series of celebrations including a photography competition, from 1 August 2014 until the anniversary year culminates with the “free” open day, on Saturday 1st November 2014.

The winning images will be those which most inspire admiration for the British Motorcycle & the British Motorcycle industry. At the free open day, Museum Director James Hewing plus a leading “classic” magazine editor and one of the star guests from the world of motorcycle racing will judge the photos and announce the winners. Shortlisted entries will be displayed at the Museum prior to final judging.

First prize will be a weekend break at a UK Best Western hotel. Runners-up will receive a free visit to the Museum for up to five people, including a personal VIP guided tour and lunch at the Museum Restaurant.

Each image must specify the make and model of British machine featured as well as the photographers name and location where the image was taken. Both professional and budding photographers are invited to contribute with copyright of all material submitted being granted to the National Motorcycle Museum.

Contributions are invited by e-mail to [email protected] or by post from the following age groups & in the following categories-
Age Groups- Under 12 Year’s. 12-18 Years. Over 18 Years.
Categories- Best or Most Unusual Location. Best or Most Unusual Subject Matter. Humorous.

Pop Up Gallery

The National Motorcycle Museum is also running a pop-up art gallery; ‘A Celebration of the Motorcycle’ which opens on 1st July 2014. The gallery will feature a variety of works from different specialisms, including sculptures, paintings, photographs and alternative media art. The gallery will be held in the foyer at the museum, for visitors to view at no extra cost, until the 30th anniversary free open day on Saturday 1st November 2014.

The National Motorcycle Museum

Conveniently located in the heart of the Midlands Transport Network, with Birmingham International railway station just a five-minute taxi ride away. At over 1000 machines the National Motorcycle Museum is not only the largest collection of British Motorcycles in the World but also an award-winning venue with conferencing and events facilities. 

www.nationalmotorcyclemuseum.co.uk