The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has reacted with disappointment to the big increase in fatalities on Scotland’s roads as announced this morning by Transport Scotland, stating it made the Scottish government’s mid-term review of its Road Safety Plan all the more urgent.

Key Reported Road Casualties Scotland 2014 figures show of the total of 11,240 road casualties reported in 2014 there were 200 fatalities - 16% more than 2013.

There were also 1,694 seriously injured, some 22 or 1% more than 2013. Figures show there was a 44.6% increase in motorcycle casualties including 31 fatalities (see reference 1 for all figures).

Neil Greig, IAM director of policy and research, said: “While in many areas figures are falling, in some very important ones they have risen alarmingly.

“There has been a lot going on in road safety in Scotland with projects such as the A9 average speed cameras coming on stream but the challenge of breaking the link between rising traffic and crashes remains a huge one.

“Alongside the government the IAM want to see more incentives for individuals and companies to improve the quality of their driving and riding. New roads and new cars have delivered year on year death reductions for decades but the underlying human factors involved must now receive even higher priority.”

The IAM’s Manifesto addresses what the charity believes need to happen to reduce the numbers of those killed and seriously injured on the roads. You can download it here

COMING UP!

Triton & Cafe Racer Day, Sunday 28th June, 9am – 5pm

Ace Cafe London’s annual Triton & Cafe Racer Day, celebrating clip-ons, rear-sets and swept-backs, this year not only includes with stands and displays by both the 59 and Busy Bee clubs, but also Mascot Leathers, whose London roots go back to 1881, displaying their newly reintroduced legendary “W” style “Black Night” & “Black Rock”, ton-up single zip black leathers jackets!

Up for grabs on the day, as a very special prize, is a brand new, uniquely styled and iconic, Mascot Leathers Ltd jacket, as first introduced and available to the public in 1957.

Spot prizes for “Best Cafe Racers” throughout the day include for:

Best Triton
Best Classic
Best Modern

In addition, spend £5 or more over the counter at the cafe from 10am, and receive a raffle ticket to be in with a chance of winning prizes to include:

A pair of tickets to attend the cafe’s Elvis Tribute Night 8.8.15

A pair of tickets to attend the cafe’s annual Stunt Festival & Streetfighter Show, Wembley 26.7.15

A pair of tickets to attend Ace/Brooklands Ton Up Day 5.7.15

Draw will take place at 3pm

www.mascotleathers.com
www.brooklandsmuseum.com

For more information about what's on at the Ace, check out:
www.ace-cafe-london.com

John Surtees announces auction and star-studded line-up for the 2015 Henry Surtees Foundation Team Karting Challenge | Tuesday 30 June 2015 | Mercedes-Benz World Circuit, Brooklands

The fourth annual ‘Henry Surtees Foundation Team Karting Challenge’ will take place at the Mercedes-Benz World Circuit, Brooklands on Tuesday 30 June. The prestigious event will see approximately 30 teams consisting of over 100 competitors from the world of motorsport; business and entertainment battle it out in a 2hr endurance race in Daytona’s high-performance, two-stroke Dmax karts.

The race will be officially flagged off by five-time Le Mans winner Derek Bell and closed by Former Formula 1 World Champion Damon Hill OBE. Also pledging his time and support to the foundation is ‘Great British Bake Off’ TV presenter Paul Hollywood.

During the karting interval will be a fabulous parade – as Damon Hill OBE will take to the circuit in the 1965 Tasman 2.5 litre Climax Lotus type 32B that Jim Clark won the Tasman Series with (Courtesy of Classic Team Lotus) to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Jim Clark winning his second Formula One World Championship. Derek Bell MBE will be reunited with the Surtees TS7 that he successfully raced for the team; Scott Malvern will drive the Surtees TS10 Formula 2 car that John Surtees won the Japanese Grand Prix and Imola Gold Cup in 1972. The ex-Alan Jones TS19 will be driven by a driver nominated by the Racing Steps Foundation.

John Surtees OBE said “There are still a limited number of places available for teams to participate in the HSF Team Karting Challenge. Why not put a team of four together and come and join us at Brooklands - the original home of motorsport, where you will be able to enjoy the superb facilities of Mercedes-Benz World in the company of the Henry Surtees Foundation and our star guests”.

Aside from the karting action and celebrity driver parades, visitors are being actively encouraged to attend the event, which is FREE to spectate!, and provides a great opportunity to explore the impressive Mercedes-Benz World visitor attraction featuring interactive displays, racing simulators and motorsport exhibits.

The HSF Team Karting Challenge event culminates in a prize giving Champagne reception courtesy of G H Mumm in the impressive state-of-the-art Mercedes-Benz World venue where the prestigious 'H' trophy is awarded to the 2015 karting champion. A trophy will also be judged and awarded to the highest finishing corporate team, to compete without a race license holder within the team.

Tickets are also available to attend the Champagne and canapé reception (£65 per person). The reception will be hosted by Steve Rider and feature trophy prize giving, interviews with racers and celebrity guest participants plus a fabulous fundraising auction hosted by Malcolm Barber of Bonhams featuring exclusive artwork, memorabilia and experiences. G.H. Mumm Champagne will, once again, be poured by generous arrangement with the House and Bernie Ecclestone. The reception is open to all paid guests. To purchase tickets, please email: [email protected]

Event Address: Mercedes-Benz World, Brooklands Drive, Weybridge, Surrey, KT13 0SL

Event Schedule:

10:45 – 11:00 Drivers Briefing
11:15 – 11.45 Kart Tests
12:00 – 12:50 Practice (50mins)
13.10 PRESS CALL: Group photograph
13.30 PRESS CALL/INTERVIEWS AVAILABLE WITH JOHN SURTEES, DAMON HILL, DEREK BELL, SCOTT MALVERN and OLIVER ROWLAND
14:00 – 14:10 Qualifying (10mins)
14:15 – 14:45 On-track demos with Derek Bell, Damon Hill, Scott Malvern and Oliver Rowland
15:00 – 17:00 Race (2 hours)
18:00 – 20:00 Champagne Reception including Awards Ceremony/Auction.

A number of high profile World Superbike riders are heading for the next round of the championship in Misano this weekend with their lap of the iconic TT Mountain Course still fresh in their memory.

Four of the leading contenders, Chas Davies, Sylvain Guintoli, Jonathan Rea and Tom Sykes, enjoyed a parade lap around the iconic 37¾ mile circuit in the break between races last Wednesday as part of the 2015 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy.

Following the lap 2014 WSBK Champion Sylvain Guintoli, whose varied career has also included MotoGP and British Championship campaigns said:

"What an unbelievable feeling. That felt so fast. I had to push to follow the other riders. I looked down at one point at the speedometer and it said 170 and I thought that's not right and I even managed to outbreak myself at one point. What a track."

Isle of Man resident Jonathan Rea and his Kawasaki Racing teammate Tom Sykes were also on the lap. Jonathan Rea is no stranger to the track and has already enjoyed a closed road lap but it was a first time experience for Tom Sykes who said:

"I can see why all these riders are so in love with the place. I've never been round it and suddenly looked down and I'm at 170mph as I go through a village. I would have liked to go behind Milky (TT Rider liaison officer Richard Quayle) the whole way round as I felt I was riding blind when I wasn't behind him and was really relaxed when I was. We had a fantastic reaction from the crowd and it was a great experience. I only wish I'd been able to do a few more laps."

The Kawasaki pair will now resume their head to head at the top of the WSBK leader board in Italy. Rea has built up a lead of over a hundred points with race wins in every round but Sykes ended that run with double victory in the British round of the series at Donington Park.

The fourth WSBK rider to experience the closed road lap Welshman Chas Davies, the 2011 World Supersport Champion, said:

"There was so much to take in over one lap. It was like nothing else I've done. My respect levels for the road racers were really high before this but seeing this now, feeling the bumps they're gone through the roof. I'm currently on a safety commission for WSBK and we complain about a few bumps but it's fair to say my perspective has definitely changed."



Tom Sykes, Jonathan Rea, Sylvain Guintoli and Chas Davies enjoy an ice-cream at the Isle of Man Mountain TT course. 

The Heritage Motor Centre has everything all wrapped up for Father’s Day whether it’s a special day out or a unique gift for fathers and grandfathers that love British motoring. Not only does the Museum boast over 180 historic British cars to admire from Aston Martins to Minis and everything in between, but the nostalgic Banbury Run also takes place on Sunday 21 June. An added bonus is that entry into the Museum on that day is just £8 instead of the normal £12 entry fee.

Visitors on the day will be able to see over 500 Veteran and Vintage motorcycles ride out, starting and finishing at the Museum. The event, now in its 67th year, is the largest gathering of pre-1931 motorcycles & 3-wheelers in the world and a spectacle not to be missed.

If you are looking for a motoring gift then the Heritage Motor Centre has a range of exciting and unique products for every British marque of car available from their shop or online. The choice ranges from pewter models, books, DVDs, mugs and tin plaques to more personalised and bespoke gifts such as tax disk cuff links that can feature the registration number and production date of your father’s car or a Heritage Certificate for his classic car. Many more products are available to purchase from the Museum’s shop as the website has only a limited selection.

If pictures are a more suitable gift, then choose from thousands of British Motor Industry Heritage Trust archive photos using our online picture library - Motorgraphs. Available as a framed print, canvas or collage, you will find a wide variety of attractive historical images featuring famous makes such as Austin Healey, Triumph, MG, Rover, Land Rover, Austin, Morris, Riley and Wolseley. There are also attractive advertising posters and colourful scenic pictures from the 1950s to the 1980s, just the thing for that difficult-to-buy-for father or grandfather!

For more information about the Heritage Motor Centre please visit www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk or call 01926 641188.

For the online shop visit www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk/store.

For more information on Motorgraphs please visit www.motorgraphs.com