Category: British Motor Museum

1. Step back into 'Downton Abbey' with a unique tour

   Posted on 12:01am Tuesday 1st May 2012

   The Heritage Motor Centre (HMC) has teamed up with ‘Parrys International Tours’ to offer visitors a unique ‘Downton Abbey’ tour.

   The highly acclaimed period drama may have ended on TV but visitors can still see some of its locations including Highclere Castle plus the chance to view some of the superb motor vehicles dating back to the Downton period of 1912 - 1922 at the HMC.

   The special three day/two night tour includes a tour of the Cotswolds on day one with stops at Cirencester and Marlborough. Day two includes a tour of Highclere Castle where visitors can view the interiors used in the filming of the scenes and the extensive Gardens along with a visit to Winchester. Day three includes a visit to the village of 'Downton' where the outdoor views of the Church and Hospital were recorded followed by a stop in Oxford before continuing to the HMC at Gaydon in Warwickshire.  Once at the HMC visitors can view a collection of vehicles from this period including a 1912 & 1922 Rover, a 1913 & 1921 Morris, a 1913 Standard, a 1911 & 1915 Rover Imperial Motorcycle, a 1919 Wolesley, a 1922 Austin Twenty and a 1922 Ford Model T.

   These unique tours will take place on the 16 & 23 July and 19 August. Ticket prices cost £199.50 and include coach travel, two nights at the Hilton in Newbury, dinner on both evenings, English breakfasts, visits as on the itinerary, entry to Highclere Castle and the Heritage Motor Centre.

   For more information on the vehicles of this period please visit www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk or call 01926 641188.

   To book a tour please call Parrys International on 01922 414576 or visit the website at www.parrys-international.co.uk

   
    

2. HMC hosts FREE National Bike Safe Show!

   Posted on 12:01am Monday 19th Mar 2012

   The Heritage Motor Centre is delighted to host the National Bike Safe Show, a two day FREE family event dedicated to motorbike safety on Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th April from 10am – 4pm.  

   The aim of the event is for riders to take part in interactive classes or go on assessed ride-outs with Police motorcyclists to improve rider safety and awareness on the road. Riders can try some of the latest motorcycles from a host of Manufacturers and Dealers who will be present at the show.

   Other exciting highlights include stunt rider Mattie Griffin performing some exhilarating motorcycle stunts plus displays of bikes, motorcycle clothing & accessories, motorcycle clubs, a ‘Try before you buy’ scooter arena and refreshments.  On Saturday visitors can see Nick Saunders, one of the most experienced solo motorcycle adventurers in the world plus Susanne Dando, the former British Olympic gymnast will be commentating. 

   Emma Rawlinson, Event Executive for the Heritage Motor Centre stated “We’re delighted to be hosting the National Bike Safe Show which should be a fantastic family day out. If you ride a motorbike or scooter then this is the ideal show for you but even if you don't there is plenty for everyone to enjoy and it’s free to enter!”

   ‘BikeSafe’ is a nationwide police-led motorcyclist casualty reduction initiative that is run by the majority of forces throughout the UK.

   Entry to the Show is free. Entry to the Museum is charged separately at a discounted rate of £8 per person. National Bike Safe is just one of many exciting and unique motoring events held at the Heritage Motor Centre in 2012.

   To find out more information please visit the website at www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk

3. World's Fastest Diesel vehicle joins Motoring Record Breakers exhibition!

   Posted on 12:01am Monday 5th Mar 2012

   The fastest Diesel vehicle in the world, JCB Diesel Max, can now be seen as part of the “Motoring Record Breakers” exhibition at the Heritage Motor Centre.

   The exciting new exhibition, which runs until the 2 September, presents the best of motoring record breakers including some of the fastest British cars, together with more wacky record breakers such as the cheapest and the smallest.

   JCB Diesel Max is a 'streamliner' car designed for the purpose of breaking the land speed record for a diesel-engined vehicle.  It holds the world record, having been driven to over 350 miles per hour (560 km/h) by Wing Commander Andy Green in 2006.

   Other exciting cars on display include the Sunbeam 1000hp (the first car ever to set a land speed record of over 200mph), the steam car 'Inspiration' (which holds the land speed record for a steam car), the 2009 Jaguar XF-R Bonneville (the fastest Jaguar at 225mph), a 1964 Peel P50 (the world’s smallest production car), a 2011 Tata Nano (the world’s cheapest car), a 1922 Ford Model T (for many years the world’s best-selling car) and MG record cars EX135, EX179 and EX181 (EX181 is the fastest MG ever).

   Tim Bryan, Head of Collections at the Heritage Motor Centre stated “We’re delighted that the JCB Diesel Max has joined our exciting collection of amazing vehicles which we are thrilled to be exhibiting. This exhibition really is a must for everyone and not just car fans!”

   The HMC is continuing with its record breaking theme at Easter from 31 March – 15 April, with a family quiz and some record breaking egg-citing fun activities. There are special Craft days on Thursday 5 & 12 April where children can make and race their own egg car. Normal museum admission prices apply and children can take home what they make.

   There is no extra charge to see the Motoring Record Breakers Exhibition as it is included in the standard Museum entry fees. Museum prices are: Adults £11, Child £8 (5-16 years) under 5 free, Concessions £9 & Family £34 (2 adults & up to 3 children).  Motoring Record Breakers is just one of many exciting and unique events to take place at the Heritage Motor Centre in 2012.

   www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk

4. JAY KAY BRINGS 914-6 PORSCHE TO RACE RETRO FOR RALLY REUNION WITH LEGEND BJORN

   Posted on 12:01am Thursday 26th Jan 2012

   Jamiroquai front man and self-confessed petrolhead Jay Kay is bringing his Porsche 914-6 to this year’s Race Retro for a reunion with one of its original drivers, rally legend Bjorn Waldegard.

   Bjorn will be seeing if the car stands the test of time on the high octane Live Rally Stage on Saturday 25th and Sunday 25th February, before Jay Kay himself gets behind the wheel.

   Bjorn drove the 914-6 in the Monte Carlo Rally, an event in which the Porsche was expected to excel. Three works-prepared cars were entered, driven by Bjorn, Ake Andersson and Gerard Larrousse, all highly skilled drivers who knew the Monte course like the backs of their hands. But the weather was to deal the Porsche team a cruel blow.

   The 1971 Monte Carlo Rally was the snowiest on record. Andersson and Larrousse were forced to retire with gearbox problems, but Bjorn soldiered on to finish a worthy third overall. Sadly this marked the end of Porsche's support for the 914-6 in competitiondespite the fact that a 914-6 GT had won its class at Le Mans in 1970.

   The 914-6 is just one of the amazing vehicles in singer Jay Kay’s collection of over 37 rare classics and luxurious supercars. Jay is a keen competitor when it comes to cars, having topped the leaderboard on Top Gear’s Star in a Reasonably Priced Car challenge so he’s bound to push the car to the limits on the specially designed course at Stoneleigh Park.

   Adult tickets for Race Retro, sponsored by Peter James Insurance, 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. To book tickets and for the latest updates, visit www.raceretro.com

5. Historic Rally Car Register celebrates two exciting anniversaries in 2012!

   Posted on 12:01am Friday 13th Jan 2012

   The Historic Rally Car Register is celebrating two exciting anniversaries when it runs its much loved Open Day at the Heritage Motor Centre on Saturday 14th January 2012. 

   The Open Day is one of the most exciting gatherings for all those interested in historic rallying, one of the fastest growing motorsports in the UK. The 2012 event will welcome the 1978 RAC Rally winning Escort of Hannu Mikkola and Arne Hertz as the star of the show. 

   2012 marks 80 years since the first RAC Rally held in 1932 as a reliability trial with all types of tests including a slow driving test. In 1960 the Rally moved onto the private forest roads and grew into one of the World’s best rallies and the biggest spectator event in Britain. Hundreds of thousands of fans stood in the forests to watch rallying household names of the 70's/80's including Roger Clark, Hannu Mikkola, Tony Pond, Colin McRae and Richard Burns battle for the World Rally crown.

   The second of the anniversaries marks 30 years since the event that launched Historic Rallying in this country. The Lombard Golden Fifty took place in 1982 to celebrate 50 years of the RAC Rally and launched a whole new area of motorsport.

   Visitors will be able to see a number of cars on display outdoors on the Western Arena plus have the opportunity of meeting organisers, club shop & specialist suppliers and organising clubs. Stands in the Main HRCR Hall will highlight many of today's historic rallies.

   John Bishop, Car Clubs & Groups Co-ordinator at the Heritage Motor Centre stated “We’re delighted to be hosting the HRCR Open Day which looks set to be another exciting and nostalgic event for rally enthusiasts. If you are interested in historic rallying then Gaydon is the place to be on Saturday 14 January!”

   Entry to the HRCR Open Day is free of charge and attendees can visit the Museum on the day for the discounted rate of £6 per person.  The Open Day is open from 09:30 - 16:00 with the Museum open from 10:00 - 17:00. To find out more information please visit the website at www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk  or the HRCR website at www.hrcr.co.uk