Ride in custom and classic bike show, auto jumble, trade stands, tattooist, bands, hog roast, camping, bar & food stands.

venue: Upper lodge farm, Ringmer, East Sussex, BN8 5AP
price: £15 weekend tickets or £10 for day ticket.
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SHOWGOERS were abuzz with news of a record breaking sale in the Bonhams auction as another bumper crowd went home happy following the now traditional spring motorcycle event at Staffordshire County Showground this past weekend.

The 34th Carole Nash International Classic MotorCycle Show hosted the annual Bonhams sale of vintage and collectors’ motorcycles in which a Brough Superior SS100 – once owned by George Brough himself – sold for a staggering £253,500.

Nick Mowbray, exhibition manager for the event, said: “We were delighted to see many above-estimate sales in the auction to round off a fantastic weekend of classic motorcycling. The sale of the star lot was supported by many other notable results and combined with the enthusiastic crowd that came through our gates, we are encouraged that the classic motorcycle market is alive and well.”

Along with the strong showing in the auction, one of the world’s largest gatherings of classic display machines didn’t disappoint with a stunning 1969 Indian Velocette claiming the much-coveted Best in Show award ahead of whole host of top-quality contenders.

James Robinson, editor of The Classic MotorCycle magazine, said: “The standards are always high at Stafford, but there were several entries that ensured 2014 lived up to expectations. Neil Radley’s Best in Show winner was a worthy one, and there were many other expert restorations and unusual finds that meant picking award winners was an unenviable task. There were many bikes that didn’t get recognition when they easily could have, and it speaks volumes for the current strength of the classic scene.”

One of the unusual machines referred to was a 1949 Moto Major, an Italian-made motorcycle entered by Alessandro Altinier, which is the only one of its kind and has never before been seen in the UK.

On a weekend which celebrated numerous ‘golden’ anniversaries, guest of honour John Surtees proved popular five decades on from his F1 world title win, with the thousands in attendance filling every available vantage point around the main stage to listen to his fascinating interviews with TT winner and TV commentator Steve Plater.

Surtees, now aged 80 and still the only man to have captured both motorcycle world championships and the F1 world crown, spoke about his fascinating career working for some of the most iconic names in motorsport history, as well as the work currently being undertaken by his charity, the Henry Surtees Foundation. His appearance at Stafford kick-starts a year of events aimed at raising funds for the foundation, with the man himself explaining how the Carole Nash International Classic MotorCycle Show was a fitting place to start: “Seeing so many familiar faces here at Stafford and catching up with old friends, it feels like a homecoming of sorts. Surtees’ relationship with event organiser Classic Bike Shows is a well-established one, having now been guest of honour at Stafford three times – another record he holds – as well as opening the company’s media centre in Lincolnshire just over a decade ago.

Across the showground, the newly-sponsored Putoline Classic Dirt Bike Experience was once again a hub of action, with off-road demos taking place regularly throughout the two days.

Classic Dirt Bike magazine editor, Tim Britton, said: “Our thanks to Putoline for sponsoring the Owd Codgers trails demos this year; they were as entertaining as ever. We had plenty of shiny exhibits inside the hall too, with a focus on the fact it’s now 50 years since Sammy Miller signed for Bultaco in a move that changed off-road sport for ever.”

Alongside the Bultaco celebrations, 2014 also sees the 50th anniversary of Jeff Smith’s first world championship win and several events throughout the year will mark the occasion, including the massive International Dirt Bike Show at Stoneleigh Park in October.

Traders and vendors enjoyed a successful weekend at Stafford too, as visitors came from far and wide to find the perfect part, piece or tool for their restoration or maintenance project.

“The international tagline in our show’s name is certainly warranted,” added exhibition manager Nick Mowbray. “We welcome classic motorcycle enthusiasts, not just from all four corners of the UK, but also from Ireland, across mainland Europe and even further afield.”

Attention now turns to the remainder of the classic calendar, with Classic Bike Shows’ next stop at the Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh for the Carole Nash Great Scottish Bike Show in August, followed by events in Netley Marsh in September and Stafford again in October.

For all the up-to-date news, visit www.classicbikeshows.com

Road safety charity the IAM is calling for protective motorcycle clothing to have clear labelling for the amount of protection it gives.  The call comes after research shows that motorcyclists find it difficult and time-consuming to find the right clothing at the right price.1

Eighty-five per cent of motorcyclists consider protection the most important factor when purchasing motorcycle clothing.  This was closely followed by sixty-seven per cent of respondents who saw comfort and fit as an important factor.

Nearly every motorcyclist who took part in the research had spent time researching protective clothing but 43 per cent of respondents felt the right information was only available if you look hard enough.

Motorcyclists are willing to pay for top quality gear as only 30 per cent of respondents consider price a priority.

Other research results included:

•71 per cent of respondents believed the brand partly contributes to the effectiveness of protective clothing.
•60 per cent said the torso was considered the most important part of the body requiring protection.  46 per cent said hands and legs.
•90 cent of motorcyclists stated that they always wear motorcycle protective clothing when riding.
•48 per cent of respondents believe that protective clothing (other than the use of a helmet) should be compulsory.

IAM chief executive Simon Best said: “The industry must introduce a safety labelling for clothing like the SHARP rating for helmets.  Not only will it provide better guidance on the best way to stay safe on the roads, it will give motorcyclists clear and unbiased information and advice that they need.  The current situation is confusing and relies too much on promotional information to be of any real use in making a judgement.”

iam.org.uk

Ace Cafe London returns to the world famous and iconic Wembley Stadium Complex for the 5th annual Stunt Festival & Streetfighter Show featuring the premiere of the all new Stunt Bike Open Freestyle Championship Finals, to be held throughout the day from 10am Sunday 27th July.

In addition to trade and industry stands and displays, this increasingly popular annual event combines the cafe's legendary Streetfighter Sunday, as well as showcasing the dramatic live action finals of the stunt competition, with stunt riders from across Europe and beyond taking part and competing in the "Metzeler Arena" for the coveted awards, Metzeler tyres, and cash prize fund totalling £5K.

Individual Free Style:

1st - £2K
2nd - 1K
3rd - £750

Longest Stoppie - £750

Sickest Trick - £500

Highlights of this prestigious event also includes "Best Streetfighter" static display and competition, this being run on a Show Up n' Shine basis, with awards and prizes.

Other features include tyre-frying burnouts and the "Extreme Wheelie" machine for those who want to experience "Up in the air thrills.

Live entertainment on the Ace stage, mixing music, the roar of engines and tyre-shredding drifters, along with the spectacular motorcycling entertainment of aerobatics and hot tricks will ensure that adrenaline will be pumping.

The London Rockin Rollers, who have been rolling with the punches since 2007 with their eight wheeled thrills and spills, will be whizzing around StuntFest assisting in raising funds for the events chosen charity.

Tickets will soon be available at the cafe and via the Ace on-line web shop as well as "On the gate on the day"

Tickets will soon be available at the cafe, free tea or coffee with purchase at cafe.

Tickets (Gate)
£10 per person
£15 Family Ticket (available on the day only)

Club & Group pre-booking concessions will be soon be available - please contact Lora David at the cafe on
[email protected]

www.ace-cafe-london.com

Compass Expeditions is excited to release the dates for the 2015 circumnavigation of the entire South American continent the 360 Expedition. Our 128 day, 33,000 km Expedition will depart Santiago, Chile on 21st Feb and return to Santiago, Chile on 28th Jun 2015.

“This is one of the biggest rides on earth and covers an impossible diversity of landscapes, cultures and riding experiences” say Jerry Cook founder of Compass Expeditions. “The greatest ride on earth” was how one client put it after completing last year’s inaugural 360 Expedition.

“This expedition is a ride of superlatives as we ride the mythical Patagonia to the worlds southernmost city of Ushuaia before turning northwards through Argentina to Iguazu Falls. From there we move along the coast of beautiful Brazil until reaching Brazil’s mighty Amazon River, where we’ll move at a leisurely pace by boat to the former rubber export capital of Manaus. Riding north again by motorcycle we’ll cross through a land that time forgot to Venezuela, home to Arthur Conan Doyle’s “The lost World”. This region is a spectacular surprise with it epic scenery and the worlds tallest waterfall in Angel Falls.

Heading south we’ll pass through the rider’s paradise of Colombia, past rumbling volcanoes in Ecuador, explore ancient cultures in beautiful Peru, witness the incredible Uyuni Salt Flats of Bolivia before heading across to the Atacama Desert, The highest and driest desert in the world and then finishing the epic adventure back in Santiago”.

128 Days of spectacular scenery, good company, multiple cultures and languages and with a support vehicle to carry your belongings.

The beauty of this ride, besides the fantastic achievement of circumnavigating the most vibrant continent on the planet, is that you can choose to ride your own motorcycle or rent one of ours. All shipping of the motorcycle is included to the start point and home from the end, all accommodation is included, many meals and a host of excursions compliment the trip and get you immersed in the various points we explore.

www.compassexpeditions.com