With the news today that three police forces are trialling roadside eyesight tests and could take licenses away at the roadside, IAM RoadSmart has warned motorists that they can expect to be tested for a suite of reasons if they happen to be stopped by the police for any reason.

Every driver stopped by police from Thames Valley, Hampshire and the West Midlands in September will be required to read a number plate from 20 metres. Anyone who fails will have their driving licence revoked there and then.

Police officers in those areas will be implementing their powers to request an urgent revocation of a licence through the DVLA, if they believe the safety of other road users will be at risk if that motorist remains on the road.

IAM RoadSmart, the UK’s biggest independent road safety charity, has welcomed this new trial and warns drivers that if it is a success they can expect additional basic safety checks from traffic police in the future.

Neil Greig, IAM RoadSmart director of policy and research, said: “Law abiding drivers have nothing to fear from this – but we believe that extending the range of checks that the police could and should be doing will help remove many more unsafe drivers from our roads.

“They should be, as a matter of course, examining the following five key items: driving licence, MOT, vehicle insurance, drink/drugs and now eyesight.

“Adding a vision test to the standard list of roadside checks will be a sharp warning to those drivers who chose not to wear their glasses, or not get their eyesight checked, that the enforcement is now out there to back up the regulations. Our message is simple - don’t risk it!”

It started in 1938 and just keeps rocking n’ rolling into 2018 and beyond.

From Sept 7th to Sept 9th the legendary Ace Cafe London celebrates its 80th Anniversary and 25th annual Ace Cafe Reunion at the cafe on London´s North Circular Road and on Madeira Drive in Brighton.

Performing live and joining the celebrations at the Ace and at Brighton is Stray Cats drummer Slim Jim Phantom. Considered by many as the coolest drummer in rock n’ roll, and with over 30 million record sales, Slim Jim is set to lift the roof off at the Ace on Saturday 8th September, and then as the culmination of the Burn Up on Sunday 9th, to “Strut” n’ “Rumble” in Brighton

Slim Jim Phantom

With Isle of Man TT racing Guest of Honour, Manxman Conor Cummins, and our premium partner Blaze Wear launching their all new Motor Wear Range, the packed full weekend long programme includes Ride Outs and Awards. 

The arrival of the ‘Continental Run’ at the famous north London Ace Cafe on Friday 7th, special guests, plenty of live music, and the run from the Ace down to Brighton´s famous seafront on Sunday 9th all add to the buzz!

Come and join thousands of riders from around the UK, across Europe and  far flung overseas places. 
 

Take a minute and picture a motorcyclist... Maybe you conjured a long-haired outlaw like Jax Teller from Sons of Anarchy. Perhaps you visualized Ewan McGregor and his motorcycle adventures abroad. Or possibly you thought of the last motorcyclist who shot past you on the Interstate.

But chances are that you thought of a man—not a woman.

There are 8.4 million motorcycles registered in the United States—a tiny number compared to the 264 million registered cars and trucks. Motorcyclists are definitely a subculture and a heavily male-dominated one at that. Only 14%–about 1.18 million—of the motorcycles on American roads are registered to women. The American Motorcyclist Association encourages more women to try motorcycling if they are interested. As the AMA’s Managing Editor Jim Witters notes, “there's always room for more riders.”

"Women riders should be as common as women drivers." 
–Maggie McNally, Chair of the American Motorcyclist Association. McNally is the first female chair of the AMA in its 94-year history.

But numbers aside, women motorcyclists simply haven’t broken through in the American popular imagination. That doesn’t mean there are no motorcycle heroines. In fact, there are many female motorcyclists who deserve broader public attention for their taboo-smashing derring-do and their insight into the souls of two-wheeled conveyances and the people who ride them. Three of them are particularly worthy of celebration: Lois Pryce, Melissa Holbrook Pierson, and Bessie Stringfield, three riders who took very different journeys on what Pierson calls “the perfect vehicle.”

One English woman rode outward across whole continents and forged personal connections in remote and forbidden countries. Her vulnerability and good humor were her strengths.

Another rode inward through her own psyche to understand the allure of motorcycles and the people who ride them. Her fearless and honest introspection were her guides.

Their spiritual ancestor rode onward to confront the institutionalized racism and sexism of Jim Crow America. Her powerful faith and personal toughness were her allies.

Read the full story here 

Ace Cafe London is hosting cafe’s annual vintage Japanese motorcycle meet with the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club at the cafe on Sunday 2nd September. The day  includes Ace awards!
 
Spend £5 or more over the counter from 9.30am and receive a raffle ticket. Draw at 3pm.
 
 To find out more about the VJMC, founded in 1982 and now the UK’s premier club for Japanese bikes fifteen years old and over, check out.

The International Dirt Bike team is pulling out all the stops for this year’s show and has now confirmed the Bolddog FMX Display Team as yet another attraction for visitors to enjoy at Europe’s largest off-road show. As the UK’s number one freestyle motocross team, and Lings Motors and Honda UK’s official UK stunt team, the Bolddog FMX Display Team bases its show around the world’s largest and most sophisticated mobile landing system, performing all the top death-defying freestyle motocross moves!

The team appeared on our TV screens back in 2014, getting as far as the live semi-finals in ITV’s popular Britain’s Got Talent series. The team, featuring the UK’s top ranked freestyle motocross riders, left viewers and TV judges open-mouthed during their time on the show. Unlike the rest of the semi-final performances, Bolddog FMX riders filmed their entry ahead of time as ITV bosses genuinely feared for the safety of the group and deemed their stunts too dangerous for live TV!

The International Dirt Bike Show is held across four days – November 1-4 – at its now traditional home of Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire, in partnership for a third year with oil and lubricant giant MOTUL. 

Show manager Nick Mowbray said: “We are delighted to confirm that the Bolddog FMX Display Team will be performing at our 2018 event. The team pushes the boundaries of freestyle motocross and leads the way for motorcycle display teams. We cannot wait to witness those 35ft-in-the-air tricks at the Dirt Bike Show.”  

Event organiser Mortons Media Group will be looking to build on a sell-out 2017 show with an action-packed agenda to wow the crowds again this year. Advance tickets are now on sale and can be purchased online – dirtbikeshow.co.uk – or by calling 01507 529529. Prices start at £8.

If you’re new to the event and would like to find out more about booking a stand, either visit the website or call the organising team on 01507 529430.