Category: Events and Shows

1. Start Your Engines for the 2013 Coventry Festival of Motoring

   Posted on 12:01am Wednesday 27th Feb 2013

   Entry for the 2013 Coventry Festival of Motoring is now open for clubs and individuals and organisers are aiming to attract hundreds of cars and motorbikes and their owners to take part in the event, which makes a welcome return to Stoneleigh Park over the August Bank Holiday weekend of Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th August.

   Last year’s Festival was the first to take place at Stoneleigh, having previously been held at Coventry’s War Memorial Park, and was hailed as a huge success.  Over 1000 classic vehicles took part, with around 600 of them on the flagship Sunday morning Historic Vehicle Run through Kenilworth, Leamington and South Warwickshire. 

   Over 30 car and motorbike clubs mounted impressive displays and 20,000 visitors enjoyed the weekend’s events at Stoneleigh Park. This year’s Festival is set to build on the success of 2012, with the return of the Future of Transport Expo, showcasing some of the region’s most exciting vehicular innovations, as well as a buzzing programme of entertainment, shopping and competitions planned throughout the whole weekend. 

   The Show & Shine and WheelSkills precision driving contests will also return for 2013, having been hotly contested in their inaugural year.

   Anyone who would like to take their car or motorbike on the Festival of Motoring Historic Vehicle Run can apply online at www.festival-of-motoring.co.uk  Entry costs £22 for cars and £11 for motorcycles, and will remain open until Friday 10th May 2013, or until all places are filled, whichever comes soonest. As well as the car run, the other integral element of the Festival of Motoring is the many and varied car and motorcycle clubs who display throughout the weekend, and entry is now open for clubs who would like to take part in the event.  Display space for clubs is free of charge, and can be booked now by downloading an application form from www.festival-of-motoring.co.uk

   Gary Hall, Chair of the Coventry Festival of Motoring Organising Committee said: “We had a great time at Stoneleigh Park for the 2012 Coventry Festival of Motoring and we’re planning for the 2013 event to be even bigger and better, with lots of motoring-related festivities across both days of the Festival.  I would urge any classic car or bike owner to log onto the Festival website and get involved in this wonderful event.”

2. Win a place on Experience Africa with Riders for Health raffle

   Posted on 12:01am Friday 15th Feb 2013

   Riders for Health are launching their most exciting raffle yet to give away a free place on their Experience Africa off-road adventure ride to Zambia in 2014. The raffle, which will be launched at MCN Motorcycle Show 15th-17thFebruary, will raise money for the organisations’ life-saving work in Africa.

   Experience Africa is more than an off-road motorcycle ride. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see the inspiring work being done in Zambia by Riders for Health, the official charity of MotoGP™, and see how motorcycles are saving lives in Africa.

   For your chance to win this incredible prize worth £4,800, visit Riders for Health’s stand A225 at Carole Nash MCN Motorcycle Show at Excel, London to buy a ticket for just £1. Riders will also be selling raffle tickets at all of the events they are attending in 2013, including British Superbikes races, British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF) shows, Day of Champions and the British MotoGP and World Superbike races at Silverstone.

   The raffle will be drawn at the BMF Tailend show,14th- 15th September,at the Peterborough Arena (formally the East of England Showground). The lucky winner will join a small group of participants on either the May or November 2014 Experience Africaride. Riders of all experience levels enjoy Experience Africa and there is lotsof off-road training and support available.

   Find out more at www.riders-experience.org or speak to one of the team by calling 01604 889569.

   The money raised from the sale of the raffle tickets will directly support Riders for Health’s programmes in Africa. Riders ensures health workers in Africa always have access to a vehicle which never breaks down, no matter how harsh the conditions. By training health workers to ride safely and carry out daily checks on their vehicle, Riders for Health makes sure they can deliver health care, reliably, to even the remotest community.

   Find out more about the Carole Nash MCN Motorcycle Show and book your tickets at www.mcnmotorcycleshow.com

   Find out more about the BMF Shows and book your tickets at www.thebmfshow.co.uk

3. SCOTLAND’S BIGGEST AND BEST MOTORCYCLE SHOW IS BACK

   Posted on 12:01am Friday 15th Feb 2013

   Scotland’s biggest and best motorcycle show returns to Edinburgh’s Royal Highland Centre this March with all the latest models, major manufacturers, and breath taking live action. The Carole Nash MCN Scottish Motorcycle Show, held on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th March, is a haven for anyone with a passion for motorcycles.

   Major bike manufacturers such as Triumph, Kawasaki, MV Agusta, KTM, Ducati, Suzuki, Victory, Honda, Yamaha and Harley Davidson will showcase their new models for 2013. Plus there will be exclusive offers from the dealers on new and 2012 motorbikes.

   Thrill seekers can also enjoy stunt shows from the Wall of Death, Broke FMX and Kevin Carmichael in the outdoor Live Action Zones or head indoors to see The Inch Perfect Trials Display Team who will also host an additional ‘Try Out Trials’ arena where visitors over 16 years of age holding a DVLA motorcycle licence or an ACU licence can get advice and tips from the experts.

   Top Biking Celebs Niall McKenzie and John McGuinness will be making an appearance over the weekend with Niall being at the show both days and legend John McGuinness appearing on Sunday, with more celebs to be confirmed so you will get to see your favourite superstar at the show!

   If you like the older models then why not take a ride down memory lane in the Classic Bike magazine Classics Pavilion where you can find Scotland’s biggest collection of classic motorcycles spanning over 80 years or keep ahead of the trend in the Custom Zone hosted by the House of Custom. Plus don’t forget to check out the Knockhill Stage that will be jam packed with entertainment all weekend. 

   Bag a bargain in the Bike Jumble and browse the Retail Village where a host of traders will be able to fit you out with new leathers, boots or helmet.

   If you want to improve your bike’s appearance there’s a wide array of suppliers to help make your bike stand out from the crowd. For families with a tight budget the great news is that children under 15 go free and there’s plenty to keep them occupied with the Live action zone and fabulous bikes means the Carole Nash MCN Scottish Motorcycle Show is THE place to be for all things bike!

   Why not make a day of it at the show we open at 9am until 5pm each day. Advanced adult ticket prices just £12 or £16 on the door. Senior citizen tickets are £7 in advance or £12 at the door. Kids under 15 go free when accompanied by a paying adult. Parking is £5 per car, motorcycles are free and secure helmet storage is available.

   To book tickets call the 24hr ticket hotline on 0844 8540064 or visit www.scottishmotorcycleshow.com where you can find all the latest updates.

4. 'DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME’ TEAMS LINED UP FOR SPECTACULAR SHOW

   Posted on 12:01am Friday 25th Jan 2013

   DAREDEVIL riders will push the limits of what you can do on two wheels when they perform spectacular stunts at Scotland’s top motorcycle show.

   The Carole Nash Great Scottish Bike Show takes place at Lanark Agricultural Centre, Hyndford Road, Lanark, on Saturday, May 11, and Sunday, May 12.

   The Vertical Trix stunt team and their ‘stunt monkey’ will be burning rubber as they drift and jump their sports bikes around the arena; classic 1920s motorcycles will race around the gravity-defying Wall of Death and the Danny Butler Extreme Mountain Bike Show will provide pedal-powered thrills.

   Brian Marr will be proving that trials riders see every obstacle as an opportunity and there will be a classic scrambles competition on a dedicated scrambles track for both days of the event too.

   Show-goers can practice pulling wheelies on a Repsol Honda bike in complete safety on the Extreme Wheelie machine and children can join in the fun on an inflatable mini quad bike track.

   Star guests at the show will be father and son Scots racing champions Bill and Ian Simpson. Both are Isle of Man TT winners and Ian scored a long list of victories in Grand Prix and road races.

   A wide selection of trade stands will also be offering motorcycling parts and merchandise for sale and there will be both private motorcycle exhibitors and club stands.

   Classic Bike Shows organiser Nick Mowbray said: “We’ve got some very talented performers lined up for the Carole Nash Great Scottish Bike Show and I’m looking forward to seeing what they can do.

   “Clubs and private owners will be showcasing a huge selection of both classic and modern machinery that you’ll be able to examine at close quarters.

   “Our star guests Bill and Ian Simpson have got some amazing stories to tell about their racing careers and there will be loads to see and do whether you come on your own or bring the kids too.”

5. WHISTLING BILLY MAKES RACE RETRO DEBUT

   Posted on 12:01am Thursday 24th Jan 2013

   You don’t get much more historic in motorsport than ‘Whistling Billy’, the 1905 steam powered racing car that has undergone a full restoration and rebuild, and will make its Race Retro debut at Stoneleigh Park from 22-24 February.

   Originally built by the White company, this steam works sprint car was made for the popular new motor racing on the dirt trotting horse tracks throughout North America. It was called Billy but was soon renamed Whistling Billy because of the howl that it made from its burners going down the straights.

   Its engine was a 1905 compound 20hp White steam car engine with Stephenson’s link motion that was soon modified to have a piston valve instead of a slide vale on the high pressure side, something all Whites had after 1907. The steam generator was a 30hp mono-tube as used then in the 30 and 40hp cars from 1907 onwards. Most of the other parts were stock parts from production cars. The car was fuelled by gasoline or kerosene and the burner jets were enormous.

   Whistling Billy started winning races; on July 4th 1905 it took nearly four seconds off the World track record for the mile with a time of 48.35 seconds (about 74 mph). Driven by Webb Jay, who believed he was driving the fastest car in the World. Its fastest recorded speed was 120 mph and Race Retro is hoping to make it whistle once again if it can bring Whistling Billy back to life in the Fire Up Paddock.

   Visitors can also enjoy high octane rally action on the Live Rally Stage on Saturday and Sunday, appearances by motorsport legends Sir Stirling Moss and Murray Walker throughout the weekend* on the interview stage, the Silverstone Auctions Retro and Classic Sale and the Fire Up Paddock as well as hundreds of traders.

   Adult tickets for Race Retro, sponsored by Peter James Insurance and HERO, start at £20 in advance with children’s tickets at £5 for Friday and Saturday and free on Sunday. Car parking is free and has been moved to a hard surface area nearer to the halls. The show is open from 9.30am each day and closes at 5.30pm on Friday and Saturday and 4.30pm on Sunday.

   www.raceretro.com