Category: British Motor Museum

1. 'Shaun the Sheep's' Land Rover takes centre stage at the Heritage Motor Centre this Easter!

   Posted on 10:41am Tuesday 12th Mar 2013

   The Heritage Motor Centre has a whole host of special events and activities for the family to enjoy during the Easter holidays from the 23 March – 7 April.  The Land Rover customised for Aardman Productions 'Shaun the Sheep’, will take centre stage supported by a series of themed special family activities.

   Families can explore the sights and sounds of the museum with a quiz designed to educate and entertain the whole family.  New this year is an outdoor children’s play area featuring a new galleon ship climbing frame offering a variety of challenges, both mental and physical.

   On Thursday 28 March and Thursday 4 April children can make their own ‘Shaun’ or ‘Timmy’ pompom sheep or face masks whilst older children may prefer to design and decorate their own model Land Rover. Children can get inspiration from around the museum or simply let their creative skills run wild with their very own unique designs.

   The baaaringly good ‘Find the Flock’ Easter Trail runs from Thursday 28 March – Monday 1 April. Children who complete the trail can earn an Easter treat.

   On Thursday 4 April youngsters can discover how to create stop-frame animation film in ‘hands on’ drop in sessions from 10.30am - 3.30pm. Animator, Tom Grainger, will be on hand to show how to make puppets, build sets, create story boards, animate and edit a short film.  Youngsters will be introduced to a range of stop-motion techniques and learn how to make their own short experimental films.

   Or why not enjoy a ride in a real Land Rover – take a 20 minute taster session to experience the thrills and spills of off-road driving. These run daily with qualified instructors driving around a challenging off-road course over rocky inclines, steep descents and some pretty impressive water sections. Not suitable for children under 5 years. £9 Adult, £6 Child.

   Great for bored teenagers! The range of Stop Start Driving Lessons are designed for teenagers aged 15+, to experience and learn some fundamental driving skills in dual controlled vehicles. Each hour long lesson costs just £45 which also includes entrance to the museum for the driver.  Pre booking is essential, call 01926 645128, price includes entrance to the Museum for the driver.

   Museum entry fees are: Adults £12, Child £8 (5-16 years) under 5 free, Concessions £10 & Family £34 (2 adults & up to 3 children).  For more information about any of these events please visit www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk or call 01926 641188.

    

2. Missing wedding ring reunited with its owner after ten day ordeal!

   Posted on 10:47am Wednesday 6th Feb 2013

   The Heritage Motor Centre is delighted to have reunited a wedding ring with its owner ten days after it went missing and amazingly still intact after its ordeal.

   Owen Burdekin, from Leighton Buzzard was visiting the HMC for his works conference on the 16 & 17 January during the heavy snow. On returning to his car he had to clear the windscreen with his hand as it was covered in snow. Only when he returned home did he realise his platinum wedding ring was missing. Realising that it must have fallen off by his car, he telephoned the HMC and explained its possible location.

   Staff from the HMC searched for the ring but there was no sign of it. Meanwhile tractors had been out in the same area clearing the snow. Dudley Carter, one of the Security Officers, kept looking out for the ring and nine days later decided to have one final look. Amazingly he discovered it lying in the car-park still intact!

   Dudley, who has worked at the HMC for 20 years, stated “I couldn’t believe it when I found the ring on the tarmac. I’m amazed that it wasn’t crushed by one of the tractors! We were delighted to phone up the owner and arrange for the ring to be reunited with him.”

   Owen Burdekin stated “This is the second time I have lost my wedding ring; the first was on a pebbled beach and I’m amazed that on both occasions it turned up against the odds! The staff at the HMC were incredibly helpful and I’m so grateful that they found it. The ring barely has a mark on it and is now being professionally polished as a special reward!”

   www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk

3. SKYFALL's Land Rover to go on display at the HMC!

   Posted on 10:46am Thursday 8th Nov 2012

   The Land Rover Defender 110 double cab pick-up, driven in the opening sequence of SKYFALL™ will be on display at the Heritage Motor Centre from the 17th December.

   The left-hand drive, Belgium spec, 2.2-litre diesel, 4 wheel drive, 6 speed automatic is seen in the film driven by field agent Eve, played by Naomie Harris.  There were in fact 12 Land Rovers used in the film, all in various stages of damage, and the HMC is delighted to have one of them amongst its collection. The Defender has been on display at both the Paris Motorshow and at Harrods in London.

   2012 marks the 50th anniversary of the James Bond film series. SKYFALL™ is the 23rd official Bond film and stars Daniel Craig as 007 for a third time. Jaguar Land Rover provided a staggering 77 vehicles for the film including Land Rover’s full product line-up of; Defender, Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover Evoque, Discovery and Freelander, as well as Jaguar XJ for use both on-screen and as production support vehicles.

   Stephen Laing, Curator for the Heritage Motor Centre stated “We are delighted to have the Land Rover Defender amongst our collection. We have been privileged to have displayed many iconic and famous film & TV vehicles over the years including Batman & Robins Batcycle, James Bond’s Aston Martin Vanquish from ‘Die Another Day’, Lara Croft’s Land Rover Defender from ‘Tomb Raider’, James Bond’s Aston Martin DBS from ‘Quantum of Solace’, and Dr Who's 'Bessie' a Siva Ford tourer built for the 3rd Doctor Who”.

   www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk

4. HMC welcomes the world's largest gathering of BMWs!

   Posted on 10:41am Sunday 12th Aug 2012

   Up to 3,000 BMWs are set to descend on the Heritage Motor Centre on Sunday 19th August when it hosts the annual National BMW Festival.

   This year marks the 60th anniversary of the BMW Car Club and the Festival is expected to be even bigger than ever before. As well as celebrating this special milestone, the Club will also be celebrating 40 years of BMW Motorsport with a huge display of M Power vehicles representing all four decades. BMW UK will also be in attendance with a display of new and classic vehicles from BMW Classic.

   In addition there will be numerous trade stands. The Club stand will feature the ‘Club Shop’, along with a huge BMW Tombola with a prize for everyone, all donated by BMW UK. Other exciting elements of the Festival include the National Concours final, a ‘Show & Shine’ competition, a ‘Cars for Sale’ section and large displays from the Club’s M Power, Zed, Alpina and MINI Registers.

   Steve Miller, General Manager, BMW Car Club, commented “The BMW Festival is a must for any BMW enthusiast; with BMW displays stretching as far as the eye can see and new and old BMWs from BMW UK and Independent Specialists. Visitors can also enjoy free access to the Heritage Museum and with pre-booking and a small fee, take a turn on the test track. This is THE BMW event to attend this summer”!

   Event prices apply. Discounted tickets are available in advance from the BMW Car Club Office on 01225 709009 or www.bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

   See www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk website for more event details and links.

5. Over 600 vintage bikes gather for nostalgic Banbury Run!

   Posted on 12:01am Monday 21st May 2012

   Over 600 Veteran and Vintage motorcycles will descend on the Heritage Motor Centre for the 64th nostalgic Vintage Motor Cycle Club Banbury Run ™ on Sunday 17th June. 

   The event, which is the largest gathering of pre-1931 Motorcycles & 3 Wheelers in the World, will also feature Club and Trade Stands, over 100 Autojumble pitches and special interest displays.

   The Banbury Run ™ is aimed at those who enjoy the thrill of riding with other Vintage, Veteran & Pioneer bikes. Visitors can see the bikes in all their glory as they set off for their annual Run around the countryside which is an amazing spectacle to watch.

   Visitors can also buy some of the best vintage fashions, accessories, curios and handmade crafts on the first floor of the Heritage Centre. There are free activities for children, including the chance to win a Giant Retro Space Hopper in the Space Hopper Hunt!

   Emma Rawlinson, Event Executive for the Heritage Motor Centre stated “The Banbury Run is a fantastic event and we’re delighted to be hosting it for the fifth year with the Vintage Motor Cycle Club. Watching hundreds of vintage motorcycles cruise the roads is a wonderful sight to see!”

   The Museum will be open from 9am – 5pm on Sunday 17 June with the Banbury Run ™ beginning at 10am.  Advance tickets costs £5 or £7 on the day. FREE museum entry is offered to entrants and spectators. Camping is available from Friday 15 June through to Monday 18 June. Advance tickets or camping can be purchased by phoning the ticket hotline on 01926 645029 Monday – Friday from 9am – 5pm. 

   www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk