Category: British Motor Museum

1. A classic surprise for 60th birthday celebration!

   Posted on 8:33am Wednesday 15th May 2013

   A classic car enthusiast was given a fantastic surprise to mark his 60th birthday. Steve Garrett and his wife Jacqui travelled up to Warwickshire from the south coast on Thursday 9 May to enjoy a few days away to celebrate his birthday.

   They were met at Berkswell Station by a gentleman in a 1926 Austin 12. After an enjoyable ride in the car they arrived in Kenilworth where Steve was given the keys to a Hillman Minx Deluxe Series IIIA. The car turned out to be his birthday present and not a hired classic car!

   Not only did Steve have an iconic classic car to celebrate his birthday but two days later he was able to attend the nostalgic Gaydon Spring Classic at the Heritage Motor Centre when friends and family joined them for a celebration.  Hundreds of Vintage, Veteran and Classic cars converged at the popular and nostalgic event which took place on Sunday 12 May. Steve’s son-in-law, who kept the car immaculately clean at the event, was also instrumental in helping to search for it.

   It so happened that Jacqui and Steve's first date was in 1971 when they were playing tennis after school and Jacqui suffered a sprained ankle.  Steve cycled to his brother's to borrow his Hillman Minx and take Jacqui to A&E. That particular Hillman Minx happened to be exactly the same colour as the one given to him for his 60th birthday!

   After the Spring Classic, Jacqui and Steve then spent a long romantic weekend at a National Trust Cottage at Upton House near Banbury where the car looked very much at home...

2. Hundreds of vintage bikes ride together for nostalgic Banbury Run!

   Posted on 8:40am Thursday 9th May 2013

   Over 600 Veteran and Vintage motorcycles will ride together when the Heritage Motor Centre hosts the 65th nostalgic Vintage Motor Cycle Club Banbury Run™. 

   For the first time the event will run over two days with a Vintage Training Day taking place on Saturday 15 June offering Vintage Virgins the chance to ride Veteran & Vintage Motorcycles in a safe “off road” environment. The main Banbury Run™, which will take place on Sunday 16 June, is the largest gathering of pre-1931 Motorcycles & 3 Wheelers in the World.

   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. The exact route is kept top secret until the day, but we can exclusively reveal that it will venture through the villages of Cropready, Knightcote and Arlescote. In addition to the Run, there will also be Club and Trade Stands, over 100 Autojumble pitches and special interest displays.

   Tom Caren, Show Manager for the Heritage Motor Centre stated “The Banbury Run is a fantastic day out and we’re delighted to be hosting it again with the Vintage Motor Cycle Club.  All the machines were manufactured before 1931 and to watch them ride together is a really wonderful spectacle to see!”

   The Museum will be open from 9am – 5pm with the Banbury Run™ beginning at 10am. Tickets costs £15 for adults, £8 for children, £13 for concessions and £42 for a family with museum entry included to entrants and spectators. Discounted tickets are available in advance online. Gift Aid Season tickets, Tesco Club cards or any other promotional offers are not valid on this day.

   www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk

   For more information about the Vintage Training Day contact Sam Brown [email protected]

3. 'Back to the Future' replica car on display at Heritage Motor Centre!

   Posted on 10:42am Wednesday 20th Mar 2013

   The Heritage Motor Centre has just taken delivery of a new famous exhibit – a recreation of the DeLorean car that starred in the Hollywood blockbuster ‘Back to the Future’.

   The car, which arrived on Monday 18 March, is on loan from its owner indefinitely and looks set to be a star attraction whilst on display. Although a replica from the film, the car has all the kit including the flux capacitor and the dash board is signed by Christopher Lloyd who played the original Dr Emmett “Doc” Brown in the film. The owner uses the car to raise money for charity and will be attending some of the major events at the HMC dressed up as the “Doc”, whom he incidentally closely resembles!

   Amid a glare of media interest, the first DeLorean cars left the Northern Ireland factory in January 1981 built for the American market. Sales in America were disappointingly low and the company subsequently collapsed. Made famous by the Back to the Future films and infamous by the exploits of its creator, the car is like no other. Just over 9,000 were built and most are in North America. Only a handful of right-hand drive models exist, primarily in England, Ireland and Australia. The car has gullwing doors meaning the doors go up rather than out in a space no larger than 13".

   Stephen Laing, Curator at the Heritage Motor Centre stated” We are delighted to have the infamous DeLorean car on loan to us from its owner. The car already caused a great stir when it arrived and I’m sure it will prove to be a very popular exhibit!”

   Entry fees to the HMC Museum are: Adults £12, Child £8 (5-16 years) under 5 free, Concessions £10 & Family £34 (2 adults & up to 3 children). 

   www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk

4. '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.

    

5. 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