Category: Events and Shows

1. Motorcycle Live 2013 – less than a month to go!

   Posted on 8:56am Wednesday 30th Oct 2013

   With just under a month to go until Motorcycle Live 2013 opens its doors, the tally of major motorcycle manufacturers showcasing their brand new machinery at the UK’s biggest bike show has risen to 30 with the addition of off-road, trials and enduro brands Gas Gas and Husqvarna.

   Over 150 other exhibitors and retail stands will also be at the show offering the very best in motorcycle kit, accessories, products and services, and if that’s not enough to keep visitors busy, the ‘live’ in Motorcycle Live certainly will.

   This year, there are 17 FREE features and zones – including nine opportunities to ride – ensuring that motorcycle fans of all ages are kept entertained. Kids as young as two can get their first balance bike taster on the Kiddimoto Children’s Fun Track, while those aged five and up can experience a powered two-wheeler in the safe surroundings of the Honda My First Licence, the Try a Kuberg – Children’s Electric Motorcycles and the Red Bull Pro Nationals MX Experience features.

   11-16 year olds are catered for with the all-new Silverstone Rookie Rides experience while anyone aged 15 and over looking to get a taste of life on two wheels can take part in a free 20-minute session with the industry-backed Get On campaign. For those already in possession of a full motorcycle licence, the Test Ride Zone sponsored by Shoei, Sidi and Spada and the ACU Try Trials feature are the places to be, while the Yamaha Off-Road Experience offers visitors aged 14 and over an introduction to dirt riding.

   If you prefer watching the experts do their thing, the all-new Crank’d live action show threatens to rip the roof off The NEC, while Behind Bars: The Movie will give visitors an insight into the lives of the UK’s top motorcycle racers. The Nick Sanders Steampunk Cinema will add to the cinematic offering with an intriguing glance into the world of long-distance adventure riding.

   The British Eurosport Entertainment Zone featuring the Blackhorse Stage will provide non-stop entertainment in the form of game shows and Q&As with a daily dose of famous biking faces and racing stars from MotoGP, World Superbike, British Superbike and the Isle of Man TT. The Classic Zone sponsored by the Coventry Transport Museum, the Custom Xtreme Zone sponsored by BSH and the Retro Zone sponsored by Brittany Ferries will each be displaying a stunning range of impressive machinery.

   For more information on all the live features and zones and view promo videos of selected features, click here.

   Advance tickets for Motorcycle Live 2013 are just £17 per adult, £11 for Seniors and £7 for children aged 6-16** (kids five and under accompanied by a paying adult go free). Bike parking is free of charge and subject to availability. Reduced car parking costs of £8 – subsidised by Motorcycle Live. To book your tickets, call 0844 581 2345 or visit www.motorcyclelive.co.uk

2. Ace Cafe - HALLOWEEN PARTY SPECIAL!

   Posted on 8:48am Monday 28th Oct 2013

   With spooky decorations and theatrical props installed (great for taking photos!) and novelty Halloween prizes for children and adults wearing the scariest costumes and best "dressed" vehicles, together with a special Halloween Menu available from Wednesday 23rd October through to Thursday 31st October, why not join us at the Ace for the annual, free to attend, "Shock n' Roll" party from 7pm - 11pm on Saturday 26th with DJ Jinx's Joint.
    
   The Halloween theme continues daytime on Sunday 27th, for the annual Rat Rod & Rat Bike Day, and later on the same evening, from 6pm - 10.30pm for the "Slammed UK" Halloween car meet, or Thursday 31st October, from 6pm - 11pm, for Warr's HD Halloween Night!
    
   The frightening choices are yours!
    
   HALLOWEEN SPECIALS (available from 26th - 31st October)
    
   Goblin's Blood & Guts £3.95
   Homemade Pea Soup served with Croutons
    
   Bat out of Hell Wings £4.95
   Roasted Chicken Wings served with Celery Sticks and a Spicy Sauce Dip
    
   Adam's Broken Ribs £8.95
   Pork Ribs marinated in a Smokey Barbeque Sauce served with Chips
    
   Road Kill £8.95
   Grilled Chicken served with a selection of Roasted Vegetables and Monster Mashed Potato
    
   Ghoul Lash (V) £7.95
   Homemade Soya Goulash topped with Grated Cheese
    
   I Scream! £3.95
   Selection of Ice Creams topped with Raspberry Sauce
    
   Trick or Treat Treacle Pudding £4.95
   Homemade Treacle Sponge Pudding served with Red Custard
    
   www.ace-cafe-london.com

3. Non-stop, fun-packed, celebrity-filled entertainment at Motorcycle Live

   Posted on 11:20am Thursday 24th Oct 2013

   Motorcycle Live 2013 is jam-packed with 30 manufacturers, over 150 exhibitors and 17 FREE live features and zones, but when your feet need a rest and you fancy being entertained by some of the biggest names in biking, head to the British Eurosport Entertainment Zone featuring the Blackhorse Stage.

   Legendary racers-turned-commentators Steve Parrish and James Whitham will once again be at the helm of the Blackhorse Stage, hosting non-stop game shows, quizzes and celebrity interviews. Whitham’s rider Q&As will take place five times daily at weekends and four times daily on weekdays, giving an insight into the lives of some of the world’s top racers from MotoGP, World and British Superbikes and the Isle of Man TT.

   Racers already confirmed to appear include 2013 World Supersport Champion Sam Lowes, 2013 British Superbike Champion Alex Lowes, 20-time Isle of Man TT winner John McGuinness, Honda SBK stars Jonathan Rea and Leon Haslam, MotoGP rider Bradley Smith, 2013 Superbike TT winner Michael Dunlop and three-time BSB champion John Reynolds. The riders will also be taking part in the ever-popular Fast Bikes Question of Bikes quiz, which always brings hilarity and chaos to the British Eurosport Entertainment Zone as their competitive spirits takeover.

   Throughout the day show goers will have the chance to get involved in the stage games and win a whole host of prizes. Oxford Products Dress Undress will reward those who can strip off and re-dress the quickest, while Dunlop Man of Steel will test the strength of its participants as they attempt to hold two tyres at arm’s length for as long as possible. The British Eurosport Memory Game is a challenge for the mind and Blackhorse Race an Ace provides an opportunity for a member of the public to compete against a celebrity rider on a virtual track.

   Advance tickets for Motorcycle Live 2013 are just £17 per adult, £11 for Seniors and £7 for children aged 6-16* (kids five and under accompanied by a paying adult go free). Bike parking is free of charge and subject to availability. Reduced car parking costs of £8 – subsidised by Motorcycle Live. To book your tickets, call 0844 581 2345 or visit www.motorcyclelive.co.uk

4. Ace at Salon Moto Legende Paris‏

   Posted on 10:34am Thursday 24th Oct 2013

   25th - 27th October

   Celebrating this year's 75th anniversary of the cafe having originally opened in 1938, and teaming up with the 59 Club's official French Section, Ace Cafe London is privileged to be able to confirm attendance at the annual Salon Moto Legende Show, Parc Floral de Paris, Vincennes.    

   The Ace presence and display at the show, will include  the 1958 Royal Enfield Constellation motorcycle that featured on the front page of the UK's national newspaper, The Daily Mirror, of Thursday 9th February 1961 together with an array of Ace Cafe, Rockers and StoMoCo items, alongside "Gear with Grit" from Red Torpedo, sponsors of the TT Red Riders (to include Guy Martin, Conor Cummins, John McGuinness and Maria Costello) together with the all new 132 page Ace Cafe London Bookazine and the critically acclaimed seminal, 312 page book, "Ace Times - Speed thrills and tea spills, a cafe and a culture", by author Mick Duckworth will also be available.    

   For more information about the show and the French section of the 59 Club:

   www.salon-moto-legende.fr

   www.59legend.com

   www.ace-cafe-london.com

    

5. CLASSIC MECHANICS SHOW MARKS ITS 20TH YEAR

   Posted on 8:00am Tuesday 22nd Oct 2013

   TWO decades of the Carole Nash Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show were celebrated in style this past weekend as the ever-popular Staffordshire County Showground event saw one of its busiest days.

   The 20th running of the show took place October 19-20 and featured a vast autojumble, over a thousand classic machines displayed, top outdoor stunts and a fascinating guest of honour.

   As exhibition manager Nick Mowbray explained, all of this combined saw a near record crowd descend on the venue on Saturday: “It was another great weekend, and the first day was one of biggest I have seen in the 20 years of the show.”

   Among the attractions that drew the visitors were rows-upon-rows of stunning classic motorcycles, including an extremely rare Yamaha YDS1 which was awarded the Best In Show prize. Owner Mark Cowdery, who only finished his restoration a week prior to the event, found information on the YDS1 hard to come by but clearly did enough to impress judges. “Never again,” said Mark, who took six painstaking years to complete the project. “Although I am doing a 1957 YD1 next so maybe I shouldn’t speak too soon.”

   Also victorious was Rodney Hann’s Husqvarna 180 546cc which scooped the Classic Bikers Club Bike of the Year prize along with a £1000 goodie bag. Both trophies were presented by former 250cc world champ Christian Sarron. The amiable Frenchman also conducted engaging on-stage interviews with compere Dave Craggs where he shared memories from a racing career spanning three decades.

   “Christian’s stories kept the large crowd spellbound,” said Classic Racer magazine editor Malcolm Wheeler, who commented on how much he and those gathered around the main stage enjoyed the discussions.

   As ever, the sprawling Classic Motorcycle Mechanics autojumble covered every available square inch of Staffordshire County Showground, with visitors describing it as the “Aladdin’s cave of motorcycling”. And traders enjoyed a successful weekend too with thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts on the hunt for all manner of motorcycle parts, accessories, literature and memorabilia. There were treats for off-road and stunt enthusiasts as Steve Colley wowed the crowds in the main ring and the Classic Dirt Bike experience gave showgoers a veritable feast of action.

   Colley’s incredible antics weren’t confined to the main ring however, as organising team Classic Bike Shows captured an amazing video of him showcasing his gravity defying display all over the showground.

   Auction house Bonhams brought the gavel down on proceedings late on Sunday afternoon with one of the main highlights of its annual autumn sale a Moto Morini 250cc Bialbero Grand Prix Racer snapped up for just over £83,000. Ben Walker, Bonhams’ head of motorcycles, said: “With over £1.3 million raised, it was another successful Stafford which once again proves that quality always sells.”

   Show manager Nick added: “The success of this year’s show and the superb line-up that we have managed to bring together proves that the world of classics is alive and well, and it is fantastic to see this era of motorcycles prospering.”

   With the Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show moving into its third decade next October, the popularity of one of the world’s premier classic motorcycling events looks set to grow and grow for many years to come.