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Category: Events and Shows
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Robert Shaw, aged 64, is an engineer at Boeing who is participating in the fundraiser for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity. He is joined by Boeing colleagues as part of “Team BRAVO”.
Born in Eastbourne, East Sussex, Robert was raised in a military family. His father saw active duty in the Army during World War Two, having joined the Territorial Army (TA) the day before war broke out. His father was immediately drafted into the regulars, where he helped protect London from air raids and V1 flying bombs.
While still in school, Robert was a semi-professional musician, but he eventually changed careers to become an engineer. In the 41 years since, Robert’s career has seen him work with all the Armed Forces, supporting them on-site, remotely and on active duty.
For years, when not at work, one of Robert’s great joys was taking to the road on a motorbike. But in 2009, a car accident left him tetraplegic, with limited mobility. Now, Robert has acquired a stable, Can-Am Sea-to-Sky 3-wheel bike which he uses for pleasure and to participate in charity fundraising for causes that are close to his heart.
It is on this bike that Robert will participate in SSAFA’s 13 Bridges Challenge, taking him from Trinity Square Gardens near Tower Hill and across some of London’s most iconic bridges.
Robert’s route has been modified slightly, and he will participate on the day as part of Boeing’s Reserves and Veterans Organisation (BRAVO) Team, comprised of Boeing staff who are all fundraising for SSAFA. Boeing has been a Corporate Partner of SSAFA since 2015. 
Commenting on the 13 Bridges Challenge, Robert said: “Coming from a military family, and having worked with Armed Forces personnel for much of my career, I know the difference that a bit of support can make. It’s important to me that service personnel can get help when they need it, and fundraising for SSAFA is a great way for me to fulfil that mission.”
Robert has already raised £360, and Boeing will match all donations. People can donate to his efforts here: SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity: 13 Bridges Challenge 2025
SSAFA has been working for the whole UK Armed Forces community for 140 years, since 1885. Its mission is simple: to reach and embrace the Armed Forces family, so they never battle alone.
The 13 Bridges Challenge is a 10-mile trek through central London that is open to people of all ages and abilities. 28 June 2025.
For more information, and to sign up, visit: https://www.ssafa.org.uk/support-us/events/trek/13-bridges-challenge-2025/
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The British Motor Museum will host five classic motoring shows in July. These will include the Wythall Busfest on 5 July, MGF 30th Anniversary celebration on 6 July, the BMC & Leyland Show supported by Peter James Insurance on 13 July, the Old Ford Rally supported by Peter James Insurance and Rootes Heritage Day, both on 20 July.
The Wythall Busfest is arranged in partnership with the Transport Museum Wythall, and will feature over 100 restored, vintage, and modern buses and coaches. There will even be a display for post-2000 buses, including the more recent hybrid and electric buses, creating a diverse show that all bus fans can enjoy. Visitors can also enjoy free heritage bus rides around local routes and the Museum’s internal road network.
The MGF Register 30th Anniversary event promises to be a highlight event for MGF or MG TF owners and admirers alike. Visitors can see hundreds of MGF and MG TF cars including some special vehicles and a whole variety of MG cars coming from across the UK and Europe. Plus, there will be special guest talks, live music, trade stands and a crafts village.
The BMC & Leyland Show supported by Peter James Insurance, will feature a wide range of British marques produced by the British Motor Corporation, British Leyland and The Rover Group. Hundreds of vehicles will be lined up outside the Museum, from Minis and Morris Minors to the larger Rover 800s, Montegos and Maestros, as well as a variety of vans and lorries. This year the show will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the British Motor Corporation Competitions Department at Abingdon on Thames. Visitors can see a display of 100 cars to recognise the success of BMC and British Leyland rally and sports cars across three decades.
The Old Ford Rally supported by Peter James Insurance, will enable fans to see around 400 classic Fords, aged between 50 – 100 years old. A huge range of cars are expected to be on display, from Model Ts to the cars of the pre-war austerity years, as well as the more luxurious post-war Zephyrs, Zodiacs, and Granadas, plus the fan-favourite Anglias, Mk1 and Mk2 Cortinas, Capris, Escorts, and Fiestas.
Taking place alongside the Old Ford Rally, the Rootes Archive Centre Trust will be holding their Rootes Heritage Day, celebrating all kinds of Rootes classics, from earlier Hillmans, Humbers, Sunbeams and Singers to the later Chryslers, Simcas and Talbots. Ticket holders on the 20 July will be able to enjoy both the Old Ford and Rootes shows, as well as entry to the Museum and Collections Centre, all with one ticket.
On the day, the Museum will also be playing host to a Meccano exhibition, in partnership with the Midlands Meccano Guild. This regular fixture of the show day has grown from 25 tables in the beginning to over 50 tables this year, holding an impressive collection of Meccano models from all over the country. This unique addition is a must-see for modelling fans, who may even find some inspiration for their next great projects!
Tom Caren, Show Manager at the British Motor Museum, stated, “We have a fantastic range of classic motoring shows for our visitors and enthusiasts to enjoy throughout July! These five shows literally sit at the heart of our shows season and really reflect the values of the British Motor Museum!”
Advance ticket prices are £17 per adult, £9 per child (5-16 years), Under 5 free, £15 per concession and £46 for a family. Anyone wishing to enter a vehicle into a show can do so online. Camping is also available at some of the shows. For more information about the shows, please visit the website at https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/whats-on
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Watch the UK’s fastest hill climb motorcycles tackle the thrilling course
- Dick Shepherd’s legendary Triumphs in live action
- Lansdowne Classic Series British Championship debuts at Shelsley
- NEW: Charity ride-in supporting Midlands Air Ambulance Charity
Get ready for a thrilling day of motorcycle action as Bike Bonanza returns to the iconic Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb on Saturday 5 July 2025. This high-octane event promises everything from classic motorcycles to fiercely contested roadgoing classes, all taking on the narrow, fast and challenging 1000-yard, 1:6 gradient course.
More than 100 bikes are set to compete, with classes for 250cc, 350cc, 750cc, and 1400cc machines, plus exhilarating sidecars and Morgan 3-Wheelers. Be sure to stay for the end-of-day run-offs, as the fastest 10 riders go head-to-head for top honours.
Alongside the full programme of competitive hill climb action, the day features star bike demonstrations, a new charity motorcycle ride-in, and plenty of off-track entertainment including live music, a ‘George Formby’ tribute, interviews and more.
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- Film-set inspired stand will showcase pan-brand product offering with a range of interactive consumer experiences
- European debuts for the static Honda 0 SUV, dynamic Prelude, and Civic Type R Ultimate Edition, alongside a new all-electric urban concept vehicle – the Super EV Concept
- Visitors will also experience models from Honda’s best-selling motorcycle line-up – starring the EV Fun Concept, Urban EV Concept and the brand’s V3 engine concept, the world’s first with an electrical compressor – and the Miimo robotic mower
- On the Hill, there will be a dynamic run from the Honda-powered Williams FW11 – the brand’s first Formula One championship winning machine from 1986 – while it also marks 60-years since the brand’s first Formula 1 race victory
- Followed by 2024 Dakar Rally winner Ricky Brabec, riding his 2020 race winning CRF450 RALLY factory bike, and John McGuinness (MBE) on the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP superbike, commissioned to commemorate his 100th start at the Isle of Man TT
Honda will bring the magic of the movies to the British countryside when it returns to the Goodwood Festival of Speed from 10-13 July, with scene-stealing performances from across its award-winning product portfolio and motorsport history.
All inspired by the brand’s commitment to electrified innovation, as it showcases its accelerated pursuit of carbon neutrality with an expanded hybrid line-up and advanced next-generation EVs. Underpinned by many technologies that have been developed during Honda’s storied success within top-level motorsports.
On the stand, and fresh from its debut at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, the Honda 0 SUV prototype model will make its European premiere at Goodwood.
While on two wheels, a pair of models first shown at the EICMA motorcycle show in November 2024 will be on display: the EV Fun Concept - Honda’s first ‘full size’ EV motorcycle - and the Urban EV concept, which embodies Honda’s vision of urban electric mobility with a function-focused design. Honda will also be displaying – for the first time in the UK – its V3 motorcycle concept, the world’s first with an electrical compressor, which will take centre stage as part of the brand’s ‘Dream Tech’ roadshow.
Following its appearance as a concept at the festival in 2024, the all-new Prelude e:HEV hybrid coupe returns for its much-anticipated sequel, as it prepares to make its first dynamic run in Europe on the Hill.
And rounding out the on-stand experience, there will be a meet-and-greet with every movie hero’s favourite sidekick – the Miimo robotic lawnmower.
The Stand
Designed to mimic the experience of a live film set, this year the Honda stand will give visitors the chance to channel their main character energy with a range of interactive experiences centred around the products on display.
First up, visitors can experience modern movie magic by climbing aboard a Civic Type R to shoot their own film trailer on our extended reality (XR) stage. Before diving into a world of mini movie studios – posing for their own AI action movie poster, riding a Gold Wing motorcycle through scenic desert highways, hanging from the wing of a HondaJet, or starring in their very own marine adventure.
Hans de Jaeger, Senior Vice President, Honda Motor Europe, said: “We are excited to return to the Goodwood Festival of Speed this year with a dynamic pan-brand showcase of everything Honda has to offer our European customers. Our business is about more than our products alone, but how our customers feel when they are using them, and this has been the inspiration behind our stand design this year. I look forward to seeing everyone visiting us and experiencing our brand across the four days.”
Hillclimb
The action will continue away from the Honda stand and throughout the Festival of Speed, with a variety of models heading up the Goodwood Hillclimb. This will not only see the dynamic public debut of both the Prelude and Civic Type R Ultimate Edition, but also the first appearance globally of a new all-electric urban concept vehicle – the Super EV Concept.
This has been designed to demonstrate how an A-segment model might offer fresh, ‘fun-to-drive’ electric performance alongside trademark Honda usability. Wrapped in a striking purple design, this small, sporty model has already carried out feasibility testing in the UK in the leadup to the event – as part of a wider global program.
On the Thursday, there will also be a heritage procession featuring every generation of the Civic Type R – led up the Hill by Isle of Man TT legend John McGuinness, riding his CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP superbike, and followed by Honda’s luxury touring motorcycle, the Gold Wing , which this year is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its first production.
Motorsport
This year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed is celebrating 75 years of Formula 1, and Honda will be no different. As a key contributor to this history, the brand will not only mark 60-years since its first victory at the pinnacle of four-wheel racing, but also its first Constructors’ Championship success with the return of the Williams FW11.
Powered by the Honda RA166E engine, said to produce some 1,500 horsepower, it will be driven up the Hill this year by iconic British driver Nigel Mansell – one half of the title-winning duo from 1986.
Not only that, but there will be an appearance from two-wheel hero Ricky Brabec, riding his Dakar-winning CRF450 RALLY model as a further showcase of Honda’s more recent motorsport success.
All of which demonstrate how the brand, since its founding, has regarded racing as a proving ground for both its people and technologies, boldly taking on top-level motorsports across both two- and four-wheels.
Koji Watanabe, President, Honda Racing Corporation, said: “We always look forward to showcasing our storied motorsport heritage at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, as one of the world’s great celebrations of two- and four-wheeled racing. This year is no different, as we celebrate an icon of Honda’s success in F1 over the past 75 years – the Williams FW11. Not only was this our first championship-winning car in 1986, but it is also one of the sport’s most recognisable, and we are excited to welcome Nigel back into the cockpit this year. Alongside rides from our motorcycle legends, Ricky and John, it promises to be a fantastic celebration of Honda racing.”
For more information on the Honda products set to appear at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, head to: https://www.honda.co.uk/cars.html
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Ragley Hall, Warwickshire - Following on from an extraordinary festival in 2024, with just shy of 700 test rides taken over the weekend, Royal Enfield returns for ABR Festival 2025 with an even bigger presence, set to take place from 26 to 29 June at Ragley Hall, Alcester.
Star of the show this year is the Himalayan 450, with a special exhibition in Royal Enfield’s ‘Immersion Tent’. Various Himalayan 450s will be on display, with some models featuring the latest GMA accessories , along with members of the team behind the latest generation of Himalayan - notably its Lead Designer, Steve Everitt, who will attend to discuss and explain the full story behind the legendary adventure bike.
Visitors to the Immersion Tent will be granted unparalleled access to learn about the full Himalayan 450 development story: from the new liquid-cooled Sherpa 452cc engine, to the 2025 developments for the chassis, and the overall style choices for the latest Himalayan. Experts will be on hand for the entire weekend to answer questions and divulge the full story on the evolution from the Himalayan 411 to the 450.
Elsewhere, in the Community Tent, there will be the chance to connect with Royal Enfield Ride Partners to plan rides in the UK and beyond; Biker BnB, Vintage Rides, and Moto Junkies will all be in attendance to discuss ride opportunities for later in the year; a perfect time to find out about exciting and unique Royal Enfield experiences - from gaining off-road Himalayan experience with Moto Junkies, to exploring Vietnam on the ‘Vietnam Jungle & Shores’ tour with Vintage Rides, or embarking on the Highland Scramble in Scotland with Biker BnB.
Back in the ABR Festival grounds at Ragley Hall, there will be plenty of weekend ride opportunities to be had, both on-road and off-road. The full 2025 range of Royal Enfield motorcycles will all be available to book for a ride. Guided rides will be available from 10am each day, with booking officially starting at 9am - it is highly recommended to plan ahead to avoid missing out.
Also returning from an epic ride will be legendary global adventurer, Nick Sanders, coming home this time from his 30,000 km Edge of Europe ride on a Bear 650. With Ragley Hall set as his final destination, Nick will no doubt be happy to share tales of his latest adventure at the festival, providing the perfect inspiration for a Bear 650 test ride whilst there.
Further, Nick has confirmed some appearances for the show:
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Thursday - 30,000KM Edge of Europe Finale - 4 PM Nick's arrival on the Headline Kove Stage
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Friday - 5 PM Travellers Stage presentation
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Saturday - 4:50 PM Himalayan Stage presentation
Hosted by Vanessa Ruck (The Girl on a Bike), Royal Enfield’s Himalayan Master Class stage, will have notable speakers across the entire festival weekend, including:
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Topic
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Speaker
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Date and Time
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Documenting Adventures - Get the Best Photos from your Trip
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Tom Perkins & Guests
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Friday, 2:20 pm
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Himalayan Evolution: From Start to End
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Mark Wells & Development Team
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Saturday, 10:10 am
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An Insight from the Indian Scene
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Aiyappa Ponnappa & panel; Satyadeep Misra, Ashok George, Anand Dharmaraj, Arun Ramdas
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Saturday, 2:20 pm
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Nick Sanders: Evening Presentation
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Nick Sanders
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Saturday, 4:50 pm
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Vanessa Ruck will host sessions over the weekend with practical themes to help riders make the most of their next two-wheeled adventure.
Royal Enfield owners will also be treated to a free coffee at the Royal Enfield Coffee Bar by simply showing their key, or even a few photos of their motorcycle, to the team.
With much, much more to come over the full weekend, the Royal Enfield tents are not to be missed.
About Royal Enfield
The oldest motorcycle brand in continuous production, Royal Enfield has created beautifully crafted motorcycles since 1901. From its British roots, a manufacturing plant was established in Madras in 1955, a foothold from which Royal Enfield spearheaded the growth of India’s mid-sized two-wheeler segment. Royal Enfields are engaging, uncomplicated, accessible and fun to ride; a vehicle for exploration and self-expression. It’s an approach the brand calls Pure Motorcycling.
Royal Enfield’s premium line-up includes Bear 650, Classic 650, Guerrilla 450 modern roadster, Hunter 350, Meteor 350, Super Meteor 650, Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650 twins, the Shotgun 650, the new Himalayan adventure tourer, the Scram 440 ADV Crossover, the iconic Bullet 350, Classic 350 and Goan Classic 350. The company recently unveiled its new city+ motorcycle brand – the Flying Flea – a fresh take on urban mobility, blending authentic design with advanced technology.
Riders and a passionate community are fostered with a rich profusion of events at a local, regional and international level. Most notable are Motoverse (previously Rider Mania), an annual gathering of thousands of Royal Enfield enthusiasts in Goa, and Himalayan Odyssey; a yearly pilgrimage over some of the toughest terrain and highest mountain passes.
A division of Eicher Motors Limited, Royal Enfield operates through more than 2000 stores across all major cities and towns in India and through nearly 850 stores in more than 60 countries around the globe. Royal Enfield also has two world-class technical centres, in Bruntingthorpe, UK, and in Chennai, India. The company’s two state-of-the-art production facilities are located at Oragadam and Vallam Vadagal, near Chennai. Across the world, Royal Enfield has six modern CKD assembly facilities in Bangladesh, Nepal, Brazil, Thailand, Argentina and Colombia.
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