Category: Events and Shows

1. British Superbike star Hickman special guest at IAM RoadSmart birthday party this Saturday‏

   Posted on 9:00am Tuesday 28th Jun 2016

   British Superbike star Peter Hickman has been confirmed as a special guest at the IAM RoadSmart 60th anniversary bike party on 2nd July at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham.

   Peter, or Hicky as he is better known, races this year for the JG Speedfit Kawasaki Team and currently stands eighth in the series with one win so far. By coincidence his race number is 60 in 2016.

   Peter also raced at the Northwest 200 and Isle of Man TT this year. He scored two podiums at the Northwest and became the fourth fastest rider ever at the TT this year with a 132.465mph lap in the Superbike race.

   Peter will be on the ‘Stars on Stage’ discussion panel which will take place three times during the day, alongside seven times Isle of Man TT winner Mick Grant. MC for the discussion forum will be Steve Plater, 2009 British Supersport champion.

   The event is a celebration of all things motorbike, while also marking the 60^th birthday of the Institute of Advanced Motorists, now renamed IAM RoadSmart.

   Established in 1956, the Institute of Advanced Motorists introduced its advanced motorcycle test in 1976. By 1994 more than 250,000 had taken and passed the advanced test for drivers and riders. Today more than 400,000 have passed it.

   Peter will be joined for the Stars on Stage sessions, which will allow visitors to put their questions to the guests, by Mick Grant. Mick won the fearsome Isle of Man TT race seven times in the 70’s and 80’s.

   MC for Stars on Stage will be Steve Plater, 2009 British Supersport champion and twice Isle of Man TT winner.

   During the funday there will be a slow riding skills contest, offering the chance to show just how good you are - but keeping the speed way down. This is being looked after by Birmingham Advanced Motorcycle Group.

   There will also be a marketplace featuring a number of exhibitors including Intaride, National Association of Disabled Bikers and the National Association of Blood Bikes, and the chance to stock up on memorabilia and useful bike accessories during the day.

   Tickets are just £10 each which includes a barbecue lunch and a tour of the National Motorcycle Museum.

   Peter Hickman said: “I am really looking forward to coming along to help IAM RoadSmart celebrate its 60^th anniversary. Helping so many people become better riders is a real achievement. I know that being safe and precise was my way of becoming a winner – and using these skills on real roads is it’s just as big an achievement.”

   “I applaud anyone who has become an advanced rider, and look forward to meeting so many enthusiasts this Saturday.”

   Tickets are available online through our special event page or by calling 0300 303 1134.

2. Nicky Hayden to return to Goodwood Festival of Speed

   Posted on 10:00am Saturday 25th Jun 2016

   Honda WorldSBK rider Nicky Hayden is one of the stars of this year’s ‘Goodwood Festival of Speed’, which takes place this weekend in the grounds of Goodwood House in West Sussex, England. This will be the second time that the 34-year-old American rider has taken part in the iconic event that gathers together the best of four and two-wheel machines old and new, along with famous sportsmen, celebrities and an incredible crowd of motorsport enthusiasts.  

   The ‘Kentucky Kid’ will take on the legendary Goodwood House hillclimb aboard the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP he is currently racing in his rookie World Superbike season. He will do it four times during the weekend: the first two on Saturday the 25th of June at 9:55 and 13:50, with the other two being scheduled for Sunday at 10:45 and 14:30.

   He will also take part in a series of media activities, including two Q&A sessions at the Honda stand, one on Saturday at 16:30 and the other at 10:00 the following day.

3. Bernie Tormé - Saturday Night Main Headline at Stormin’ the Castle at Stormin’ the Castle 2016

   Posted on 9:00am Friday 24th Jun 2016

   Stormin’ the Castle are pleased to announce that legendary guitarist Bernie Tormé will headline the Main Stage on Saturday night. 

   Guitar legend, blues rock psychedelic shredmeister, glam punk sleaze rock frontman: Bernie Tormé has enjoyed a long and remarkable career. Hit records, world tours and international acclaim came as lead guitarist in Gillan in the 80’s. Bernie stepped in for Ozzy Osbourne in the aftermath of guitar legend Randy Rhodes tragic death before going on to front Electric Gypsies and Tormé. Teaming up with Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider and Iron Maiden’s drummer Clive Burr he formed Desperado and later reunited with ex-Gillan colleague, John McCoy and drummer Robin Guy in Guy McCoy Tormé (GMT).

   More recently, Bernie Tormé has been touring with Chris Heilmann (bass) and Ian Harris (drums) releasing two critically-acclaimed solo albums, ‘Flowers & Dirt’ (2014) and ‘Blackheart’ (2015). Both were crowdfunded, connecting Bernie directly with his fans.

   Bernie: “In the past you were pretty distant and separated from your fans with a record label in between. Making these albums with pledge campaigns has been a great experience. I like having the connection with fans and getting the feedback direct on making an album.”

   His love of performing is still strong: “I feel very lucky, very blessed, to be able to still perform live and as long as I can keep doing it I will!”. In 2013 Bernie started playing solo gigs again returning, once more, to his favoured format of the three piece line- up. 2014 saw the release of the critically acclaimed ‘Flowers & Dirt’ double album and a UK tour, followed by ‘Blackheart’ in 2015 and a further successful UK tour.
   Bernie Torme has recorded over 24 albums in his career to date as a solo artist or band member.

   www.storminthecastle.co.uk

4. Top Gear presenters confirmed as special guests at IAM RoadSmart 60th anniversary celebration‏

   Posted on 9:00am Wednesday 22nd Jun 2016

   Two of the longest serving presenters of popular BBC motoring show Top Gear have been confirmed as panel guests for the IAM/IAM RoadSmart 60th anniversary car party on 9 July. And they will be joined by one of the organisation’s youngest representatives on the panel, who is just 18.

   Chris Goffey, who co-presented from 1981-2000 and Sue Baker, who co-presented from 1980-91, will be at IAM RoadSmart’s birthday event at the British Motor Museum at Gaydon.

   They will be joined on the panel by Paddy Hopkirk, legendary rally and race driver; and winner of the 1964 Monte Carlo and 1967 Acropolis Rallies. The trio will talk about their long and successful careers, share their views on current motoring and motorsport topics and take questions from the audience.

   In addition, the viewpoint of the young driver will be given by our fourth panellist - 18-year-old advanced driver and IAM RoadSmart Young Driver Ambassador Eloise Peabody-Rolf.

   The event will be a celebration of all things motoring, while looking at the many highlights of the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) and now IAM RoadSmart’s 60 years. In that time, the charity has remained dedicated to promoting safer driving initiatives and making better drivers and riders through advanced driving and riding techniques.

   Established in 1956, the Institute of Advanced Motorists came onto the motoring landscape at a time when there were more than 5,000 deaths a year on UK roads. By 1994, 250,000 people had taken and passed their advanced test. Today the numbers of people killed on UK roads stands at slightly over 1,700.

   To date more than 400,000 people have passed the advanced test for drivers and riders, which is delivered by over 200 local groups around the country. Those groups are ably manned by a network of more than 5,000 volunteers.

   Chris said: “I am delighted to be a part of IAM RoadSmart’s 60th anniversary. I also look forward to meeting so many real enthusiasts who know so much about the UK motoring scene over the years. I’m sure myself and Sue sharing our tales of our Top Gear years will be a lot of fun.”

   Added Sue, who takes her advanced test every decade to ensure her skills are up-to-date, said: “I really enjoyed my time on Top Gear, and alongside Chris and Paddy it should be a lively discussion with a lot of laughs. I am looking forward to celebrating IAM RoadSmart’s 60 years on the day.”

   Eloise said: “I am happy to be a part of IAM RoadSmart’s birthday party. It’ll be great to bring a different perspective to the panel, and shows that the organisation welcomes the opinions of young people.”

   For more information about the event and to book tickets online (at £10 a person), click here

   Or you can book over the phone on 0300 303 1134.

   IAM RoadSmart has a similar party a week earlier for biking enthusiasts. Taking place at the National Motor Museum on 2 July 2, more information can be obtained here.

5. Northamptonshire County Council – first in the UK to pursue modal shift towards motorcycles

   Posted on 8:00am Monday 20th Jun 2016

   
   Ride to Work Week (20^th to 26^th June) highlights the benefits of commuting via motorcycle and scooter, which is being actively encouraged by Northamptonshire County Council.

   The Ride to Work team has produced a video showing why this decision makes sense:                                                                                                                                                  

   John Spencer, Team Leader of Road Safety and Travel Choices, Northamptonshire Highways says: 

   “As part of our modal shift strategy Northamptonshire County Council intends to embrace motorcycles and scooters as a sustainable transport mode within the future countywide transport programme. Greater use of motorcycles can bring environmental, congestion and accessibility benefits, particularly on journeys made for commuting to places of employment or education. The road safety team in Northamptonshire is committed to improving safety for all road users but is also looking at encouraging different ways to travel. In 2015 we carried out a motorcycle survey to reaffirm why people were using motorbikes, but also why they were not!  We collaborate with various partners like the Motorcycle Industry Association, Get on Team and the Ride to Work team, to encourage people to take up motorcycling as a safe, sustainable and better way of getting around.” 

   Background to Northamptonshire project

   • Motorcycle Northants was recently launched by Northamptonshire County Council, making it the first local authority in the UK to actively encourage a modal shift towards motorcycles, which is currently just 0.4% of all commuter traffic in the county.  This is part of a wider plan to encourage sustainable transport options, which also include cycling, walking and using public transport.

   • Motorcycle Northants will encourage the county’s leisure riders to use their bikes to commute, especially where distance by pedal bike is impractical, aiming for an initial modal shift of 3%.  Each day in Northamptonshire, an estimated 43% of commuter journeys are made by just one person in a car or van, so there is great capacity for some of these to be made on a powered two wheeler.  

   • Northamptonshire recognises that journey times on motorcycles are shorter due to the ability to filter and reduced pressure on parking. This helps all road users, which is backed up by a European study showing when just 10% of car drivers swapped to a motorcycle, scooter or moped, then congestion for all road users is reduced by 40%.[1]

   • As a county which relies heavily on the distribution/logistics industry, it is important that the roads do not become congested.  For the first phase of the project, Motorcycle Northants has put a framework in place to make sure existing and new riders have access to high quality training providers.

   • A second phase of the project will include looking at increasing motorcycle friendly infrastructure on roads and working with employers to encourage the availability of workplace changing facilities and motorcycle parking.

   • Around two-thirds of motorcyclists do not have commuter cover on their policy, so major motorcycle insurers Ageas, ERS and Carole Nash are making commuter insurance cover available free to existing customers during Ride to Work Week. [2]

   About Ride to Work Week

   National Ride to Work Week spotlights the many benefits of commuting on a motorcycle, scooter or moped and will be particularly active in Northamptonshire this year.  The county’s residents will get the chance to try a motorcycle for free with Get On – the motorcycle industry’s free ‘try out’ programme - during Ride to Work Week.

   • These are available after work each evening at the Obelisk Centre, Kingsthorpe, Northampton, NN2 8UE.  Monday 20^th to Friday 24^th June between 6pm and 9pm each evening.

   • Also available on Saturday 25^th June at the Silverstone Circuit, Towcester, Northampton, NN12 8TN between 9.15 am and 4.30 pm.

   • Get On sessions are with professional instructors and last for half an hour. All protective clothing is provided.  Get On provides a safe and structured introduction to motorcycling.  There are also opportunities to try motorcycling in several parts of the UK during the Summer and Autumn. 
     
     Booking via the website www.geton.co.uk or by calling 02476 408040.

    

   [1] http://www.tmleuven.com/project/motorcyclesandcommuting/home.htm

    

   [2] Information based on around 700,000 unique insurance quotes.