It was a dream come true for Brandon Carter as he was whisked off for a ride on a Harley Davidson.

Hundreds of bikers and pillion riders turned out in support of the 26-year-old. Mr Carter from Colley Gate has been diagnosed with terminal cancer but wanted to fulfil his wish of taking to the seat of his dream bike.

Organisers had originally planned a small gathering but as word started to spread, more and more people wanted to join in and help raise money. And on Sunday 12th January 2014, around 400 bikes descended on Streetbike in Halesowen to set out on a ride to Quatt Cafe near Bridgnorth.

The group which included several marshals set off at about 11am with police stopping the traffic to allow them to leave the site. They travelled to Stourbridge and then on to Enville and Six Ashes before arriving just outside Bridgnorth. Mr Carter, who was diagnosed with a melanoma in November, said he was ‘shocked’ by the huge turnout.

“It was a surprise. I wasn’t expecting so many people. “I’m a big fan of Harleys from watching films” he added. 

His uncle David Brenton said he was ‘bowled over’ by the turnout. “The number of bikes there was unbelievable. I am so grateful from the bottom of my heart. This is exactly what Brandon needs and hopefully will give him a bit of a lift.”

One of the organisers, Stewart Boggild, 26, from Bridgnorth Bikers, said: “This is what bikers do. We are a family. We like to support each other. When word got out on Facebook about the event, we couldn’t believe the reaction. Before we knew it we had almost 280 people sign up. I’m the same age as Brandon and it was important for me to get involved because of what he’s going through,” he added.

Streetbike director Gary Marshall said he was ‘delighted’ to support the event. “I don’t think bikers always get enough credit. It is a real community and an event like this shows how people pull together. I was very happy to be involved.”

Collections were held at the event to raise money for Brandon and Macmillan Cancer Support.

Article supplied by Express & Star

This vibrant event from Overlander’s website Horizons Unlimited will be in its 14th year in 2014, making it the longest running overlanding event in the UK.

It’s all happening between June 19th and 22nd at the new venue – the Donington Park Farmhouse Hotel DE74 2RN. The intention of the event is to inspire, to inform and to connect overland travellers. Got travel questions? This is the place to find the answers – frequently from people who have been there and done.

The 4-day event will see over 150 sessions of presentations and demonstrations, authors and film makers, and competitions. In addition to all the activities, specialist overlanding companies will be on site to display and talk through the kit that they have designed, manufactured or sourced specifically with overlander in mind. Overland travel related clubs, magazines and forums are also made very welcome.

The buzzy but laid back atmosphere is pretty much unique to the adventure traveller and though many of the attendees are experienced overlanders, newcomers will experience no airs and graces. The buzz of the event comes just as much from the activities and fantastic presentations, as from the sight of friends meeting up for the first time since the road, or new friends being made. It comes from the happily exchanged advice and tips of the road, to the real ale and the excellent food that’s on offer from the hotel at tremendously good value. You’ll even find a small mini market on the campsite.

Please be aware that this isn’t a day visitor event. That would defeat the object of the event and scupper the amazing atmosphere.

For the full details just go here

The HUBB UK - Inspiring, Informing and Connecting Overland Adventure Travellers

www.horizonsunlimited.com

· Contributes £7.2 billion a year to the UK economy

· Directly employs 65,500 people in more than 6,350 businesses (that’s more than UK call centres or taxi drivers)

· Can help ease congestion and ‘green’ targets for personal transport

· Meets social need through making personal transport affordable

www.mcia.co.uk

As part of 'Freedom Day' events, a 'British Bikers Protest' has been planned for Australia Day in London, where organisers have vowed to “protest for our rights to associate”.

Starting at the Ecuadorian embassy, to highlight the plight of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, the group plan on converging on Australia House to protest the Newman government's Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment Act. The group organising the protest has taken to Facebook to ask likeminded people to “please merge on the Australian Embassy in your country on the 26.1.14, on bike, foot truck or push bike in support of the victims of this horrendous law in a so called free country”.

Details for protests around the nation on January 26 are also set out.

One post in support of the group's plans came from Sacramento in California, where Robert Tabaldo, who said at a recent 'Biker Unification Rally', the “VLAD law in Oz” was discussed and the rally attendees were “100 per cent behind your cause. This is a global issue and we stand united with our Australian brothers,” he said.

The laws have continued to dominate the political narrative, three months after they were introduced.

Premier Campbell Newman, while still staunchly supporting the laws he spearheaded following a public brawl in Broadbeach last September, has softened his approach, admitting again that he doesn't like the laws and previewed their end. But he has repeated his belief that they are necessary to “keep Queenslanders safe”.

In response to the Australia Day protests, Mr Newman said they demonstrated “Firstly that there is a significant PR spin exercise being undertaken by criminal gangs and secondly that they clearly have significant resources and international links. It beggars belief that anybody in London could possibly understand the facts about what this legislation really involves or have any legitimate motivation to protest.

Opposition leader Annastacia Palaszczuk said the laws had made “Queensland a laughing stock”, but Mr Newman said it was the target of the laws who were to blame.

“The only people who are impacting our reputation are criminal gangs who continue to spread the lie that these laws affect innocent Queenslanders" he said. "These laws were supported near unanimously in the Parliament including all Labor MPs.”

Read more here

The Heritage Motor Centre is inviting families to enjoy a fun packed week of ‘Auto Science Live’ during the February half term. The event, which runs from the 15 – 23 February, features a range of free activities bringing automotive engineering and the science behind it to life. Included are family Story-telling tours as well as drop in sessions and workshops to inspire children of all ages. Every day children can get ‘hands-on’ and test their powers of observation with the Auto Science Trail.  There is something different going on every day.

‘Mad Science’ is brought to life on the Monday at 11am and 1pm for a 45 minute show full of cool interactive demonstrations and hands on activities where visitors can feel the power of what science is all about. Back by popular demand ‘Lego Technics’ takes place on the Tuesday from 10:30am – 3pm when children can design, build and test their own Lego Technic machines. They can then race them along the ‘Heritage Track’ with the fastest car of the day winning the title ‘Champion Designer’ as well as a prize.

Visitors up for a challenge can take part in Wheelie Lego on the Wednesday from 10:30am – 3pm. Children can become a HMC engineering apprentice for the day and try and engineer a Lego car to come down the ramp and travel as far as possible! ‘Auto Crafty’ takes place on the Thursday with some ‘hands on’ crafty activities from 10:30am – 3pm. To round off the week visitors can enjoy a fast and furious hour setting their lap time on the fun sized Scalextrix race track with Mighty Fast Friday from 10:30pm – 3pm.

Emma Rawlinson, Life Long Learning Officer for the Heritage Motor Centre stated “We are delighted to be hosting a week of family fun Auto Science Live activities with all of them designed to entertain but also educate. Not only do our activities include something for all ages, but all are free of charge!”

All activities are FREE of charge but normal Museum entry fees apply: Adults £12, Child £8 (5-16 years) under 5 free, Concessions £10 & Family £34 (2 adults & up to 3 children). Buy one day and get 12 months free if you Gift Aid your entrance. For more information about the HMC please visit www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk or call 01926 641188.