Category: Events and Shows

1. Christmas comes early for MOSI’s Harley winner

   Posted on 12:01am Thursday 22nd Dec 2011

   When Jeremy Harrison admired an 883 Sportster Harley-Davidson motorcycle during a visit to MOSI (Museum of Science & Industry, Manchester) earlier this year, he never imagined that he might actually get to ride it. The doctor from Lancashire is celebrating Christmas early this year as he is the lucky winner of the motorcycle in a raffle organised by exhibition organiser Claridon and MOSI.

   The bike was the star prize for a raffle associated with the Customising, Culture & Harley-Davidson exhibition, which ended on 30 October 2011. The raffle sold 1989 tickets and closed on 30 November. The motorcycle, which was provided by Claridon, comes with a full tank of petrol and 12 months warranty. Emergency Medicine Consultant Jeremy Harrison, (age 51 years), who is married with four children and lives in Carnforth, won the bike after buying six raffle tickets during a visit to MOSI with his children.

   Jeremy said: “I saw the Harley-Davidson bike when I came to MOSI and stood there admiring it for ages before I bought the tickets. Afterwards I forgot all about it and was completely blown away when I heard I’d won it. I thought the kids were winding me up as I never win things! I had a motorcycle when I was at university and have been on the verge of getting my full licence for years, so I guess this will be the thing that finally makes me do it!”

   Chris Scott from Claridon said: “I’m delighted to present this fantastic Harley-Davidson motorcycle as a prize in association with our recent exhibition. This is a great bike to get Jeremy back into motorcycling and I wish him many happy years of adventures on it. Jeremy is always more than welcome to come riding with the Claridon team. ”

   Customising, Culture & Harley-Davidson exhibition was at MOSI from 15 April – 30 October. For more information about MOSI please look up www.mosi.org.uk 

2. Gearing up for Prescott Bike Festival 2012 New date - Sunday 22nd April 2012

   Posted on 12:01am Friday 2nd Dec 2011

   The first annual Prescott Bike Festival in 2011 was successful beyond expectations. The one-day event attracted in excess of 5,500 visitors, 100 exhibitors and some unforgettable opportunities to celebrate all things two and three wheeled. Most importantly, it raised more than £52,000 for charities.

   The Prescott Bike Festival was born out of the need to raise awareness and funds for the Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes and one of its member groups, Severn Freewheelers. For Sunday 22nd April 2012 (a new date to avoid a clash with major bike motor sport events), the Prescott Bike Festival will be bigger and even better. It will hopefully generate even more money for the Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes than in 2011.

   Set at one of the most prestigious hill climb venues in the UK against the beautiful backdrop of the Cotswold countryside, the Prescott Bike Festival aims to provide something for everyone; a relaxed family atmosphere, a huge variety of entertainment and a rare opportunity to ‘Run the Hill’ on your own motorcycle.

   Well supported by the bike industry, highlights of the 2011 event included the UK debut of the Morgan 3 Wheeler, classic machinery from the Brooklands Museum, helicopter rides, live bands, the opportunity to meet the stars of the British Superbike Championship and riders aged from 8 to 81 taking to the hill.

   In 2012, the Festival will feature the addition of a new Race Bikes Thru’ the Ages display. Never before will such an extensive collection of bikes have been brought together. Here, festival goers will not only be able to get up close with rare exotica, early pioneering machinery, modern MotoGP bikes and more but they will see many of them in action, ridden by race riders. Of particular note is support from competitors in the Lansdowne Classic Series, who will display some of the most prestigious race bikes of the 1950s and 1960s. The 2012 Festival also promises a new Orchard Food & Bar Village, a Run the Hill Fancy Dress competition and much more. One of the most amusing new features for the Prescott Bike Festival 2012 was inspired by the unexpected entry of Superman in the 2011 Run the Hill. For 2012, entrants can choose to tackle the hill climb in fancy dress to raise money for the Blood Bike charities and for the chance of winning a fantastic prize for the best costume of the day!

   www.prescottbikefestival.co.uk has just been launched to provide more details of what will be in store and give riders the opportunity to purchase advance tickets and secure their place to Run the Hill. There are just 200 places available to Run the Hill, so it’s best to book early!

3. SCOTT LAWRIE AND JAMES NEAVE CONFIRM ENTRY FOR 2012 ISLE OF MAN TT RACES SIDECAR RACES

   Posted on 12:01am Thursday 1st Dec 2011

   Scott Lawrie and James Neave, one of the UK’s leading sidecar outfits has confirmed that they will be making their first time appearance on the Mountain Course at the 2012 Isle of Man TT Races, fuelled by Monster Energy. The pair made the announcement at ‘TT Day’ at Motorcycle Live at the NEC.

   Scottish driver Lawrie has had a rapid rise in the British F1 Sidecar Championship and, after finishing 12th in 2010, he shot up the table this season to take a superb 3rd place overall, only denied the runner-up spot to eventual Champion Tim Reeves after bad luck in the closing rounds. With 9 podiums from the 20 race series, it’s clear the talented Edinburgh man will be one to watch as he pits his wits against the 37 and ¾-mile circuit for the first time.

   He also impressed on the World stage and although he only had two appearances in the 2011 World Championship, he made it count with 4th and 5th at the two races held at Oschersleben and 8th in race 1 at Schleiz. That was good enough to place him 9th overall in the Championship table and backed up his 7th place in the 2010 series where his best race result was again 4th, at Rijeka, Croatia.

   Meanwhile, Neave, despite being one of the youngest passengers on the grid at 23, has already tasted race action at the TT having been in the chair with Andy Laidlow in 2009 where they finished 10th in the only race held that year. Their fastest lap was a more than creditable 106.069mph and, having partnered Lawrie since 2009, he’ll be the perfect ballast come June.

   As well as going into 2012 as major British and World Championship F1 contenders, Scott and James are keen to make an impression at the Isle of Man TT, an event they have always been keen to try together and, with this in mind they have readily entered this year’s event where they will contest both three-lap Sure Sidecar Races.

   The pairing have already begun preparing both outfits for the coming season and will call on the expertise of Steve Webster, the ten-times World Champion, who has been assisting their quest in recent years.

   Talking about his debut, Lawrie commented:

   “I’ve been thinking about contesting the Isle of Man for a while and believe the time is now right for me to make my debut. The F2 MR Equipeoutfit will be new to me as well as the Mountain Course, obviously, so I realise that I still have a lot to learn but with James already having solid experience on the Island it will stand us in good stead. The Newcomers have done incredibly well in recent years but I’ll approach the event in my own way and won’t set myself too many targets in my first year. It’s a long term project for me so the main thing for 2012 is to learn the course, do a good, solid job, enjoy myself and come back stronger in subsequent years.”

   With two former World Champions, Tim Reeves and Ben Birchall, again on the entry list for the 2012 TT, as well as the established leading runners, including John Holden and the returning 14-times winner Dave Molyneux, the F2 Sidecar races at the Isle of Man continue to be the most prestigious sidecar races in the world and the two races in June promise action and quality of the very highest order.

   Paul Phillips, TT and Motorsport Manager, commented:

   “I’m delighted that we have secured the participation of this outfit as they are hugely promising competitors who I’m sure will do well on the Isle of Man for many years to come. The sidecar class, once again promises to be the unofficial World Championship and there are a number of very interesting crews in this year’s race.”

   The 2012 Isle of Man TT begins with a week of practice from May 26th through to June 1st with the two three-lap Sidecar Races set for Saturday June 2nd and Wednesday June 6th.

4. Mad Sunday concludes Motorcycle Live 2011

   Posted on 12:01am Monday 28th Nov 2011

   Motorcycle Live 2011 ended on a high today with ‘Mad Sunday’ – a full day dedicated to the Isle of Man TT. Fans of the legendary road race arrived at The NEC in their droves, all hoping for the chance to see their heroes in the flesh and they weren’t left disappointed. 
    
   A whole host of TT stars turned out for the final day of the show, including 17-times TT winner John McGuinness, Michael Rutter, Michael Dunlop, Bruce Anstey, Ian Lougher, Conor Cummins, Ryan Farquhar, Jamie Hamilton, Jenny Tinmouth, Bruce Anstey, Dave Molyneux, John Holden and Andy Winkle. New Honda BSB signing Michael Laverty and Moto2 star Bradley Smith also made an appearance. 
    
   The TT contingent took part in specially-themed Q&A sessions with James Whitham and the Fast Bikes Questions of Bikes quiz with Steve Parrish. Bradley Smith appeared on the Blackhorse stage to draw the winning ticket for the annual Riders for Health raffle – the prize for which was a Yamaha XT660Z Ténéré. He was then presented with a surprise helmet-shaped birthday cake courtesy of Shoei to celebrate turning 21 tomorrow. 
    
   The day ended with a mass-signing session from the Isle of Man TT stars that lasted well over an hour as fans queued to collect a final memento of what has been a fantastic event. Check out the photo gallery for the entire show at www.facebook.com/motorcyclelive
    
   “What a brilliant way to end the show”, says Finlay McAllan, Managing Director of Event organisers, MCI Exhibitions. “There has been a real buzz around the halls this year and judging by all the positive comments we’ve had from both exhibitors and visitors, everyone has thoroughly enjoyed it. I can certainly say that we have!”

5. Motorcycle Live attendance up 14%

   Posted on 12:01am Monday 28th Nov 2011

   Motorcycle Live 2011 has been hailed a success by visitors and exhibitors alike after the show achieved a final attendance figure of 112,197 – a 14% increase on the previous year. 
    
   Yesterday was the last in a nine-day spectacular that saw the tens of thousands of attendees enjoy a varied showcase of the very best that motorcycling has to offer – from all the major manufacturers displaying their latest machinery to the six live and interactive features giving visitors the chance to get on two wheels and non-stop entertainment from racer interviews to quiz shows and games. 
    
   Positive feedback has been flooding in via Facebook and Twitter over the course of the show, undoubtedly encouraging even more visitors to come along and check it out for themselves. Just some of the remarks included: 
    
   “What a great day @motorcyclelive nice to see so many people there and so much to see! Can't wait for next year, counting down the days 364...” – @toriaturner, via Twitter
    
   “What can I say that's not already been said? Fantastic! Got my 10 year old grandson his First Honda Licence and his first Suzuki ride. How I got him away I shall never know, well done to all involved.” – John Page, via Facebook
   
   It is a similar story with the exhibitors, who have all reported a very successful event. “We’ve had an excellent show,” said BMW Motorrad Marketing Manager Tony Jakeman. “There were clearly a lot more people here than last year and we’ve had very strong interest across the whole range.”
    
   Nevis Managing Director Robert Culverwell agreed: “The show has been excellent for us, every day has been really busy. All four of our brands have been brilliantly received by the public and all the dealers here selling our products have reported fantastic sales. We’ll definitely be back next year, bigger and better.” Triumph Motorcycle’s Marketing Manager Andrea Friggi summed it up nicely: “Excellent show, extremely good reception, busy throughout, we’ve really enjoyed it!” 
    
   Finlay McAllan, Managing Director of show organisers, MCI Exhibitions, is thrilled with the result: “I always say that you are only as good as your last show and 2010 certainly helped prove that we are back on track, but this year has surpassed that. What a show! There has been a massive buzz around Motorcycle Live 2011 and the atmosphere has been absolutely brilliant. A 14% increase in the current climate is no mean feat and I think everyone involved can be very proud.”