Category: British Motor Museum

1. 500 Vintage bikes ride out together for nostalgic Banbury Run!‏

   Posted on 9:00am Sunday 14th Jun 2015

   Around 500 Veteran and Vintage motorcycles will ride out together when the Heritage Motor Centre hosts the nostalgic Vintage Motor Cycle Club Banbury Run on Saturday 21 June. Visitors will be able to see the motorcycles start and finish at the Museum. The event, now in its 67th year, 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. 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 great day out for those participating and those watching the bikes. Seeing hundreds of vintage motorcycles ride together is a spectacle not to be missed!”

   The Museum will be open from 10am – 5pm with the Banbury Run beginning at 10am. Riders will start at 5 per minute. Tickets for the Run cost £6 in advance or £8 on the day for adults, children and concessions and £25 for a family on the day.

   For more information about the Heritage Motor Centre please visit www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk or call 01926 641188.

2. Relive the past at nostalgic 'Classic & Vintage Commercial Show'‏

   Posted on 11:00am Wednesday 27th May 2015

   Visitors can re-live the past when the Heritage Motor Centre hosts the eighth ‘Classic and Vintage Commercial Show’ on Saturday 13 & Sunday 14 June.  The popular two day show features a diverse selection of classic and vintage vehicles built before 1990. Attracting an array of commercial vehicles such as the lightweight Morris J Type and Ford Transit van through to the mighty Scammell Heavy Haulage Tractors, the event is one of the largest classic commercial shows in Europe.

   On show will be some familiar marques including Dodge, Ford, Austin, Morris, AEC, Leyland, Foden, ERF, Volvo, Scania and DAF. The show also attracts a number of overseas visitors, including entries from Europe, which add to the diverse selection of vehicles to view. For enthusiasts restoring vehicles, there will also be a large indoor and outdoor trade area selling parts.

   In addition there will be an indoor model show within the Museum featuring over 160 tables of models on display. Whether they are kit or scratch built, the models add a different aspect to the show and highlight an array of different scaled models.

   The show is supported by Kelsey Media, who have their own trade stand selling a number of their publications including Classic and Vintage Commercial magazine, Classic Van and Pick up magazine and Vintage Roadscene.

   Tom Caren, Show Manager for the Heritage Motor Centre stated “This event is a real step back in time and a fascinating nostalgia trip, even if you have never been connected to the world of commercial vehicles. Around 4,000 visitors are expected to attend this nostalgic show which will showcase around 400 commercial vehicles for visitors to enjoy”.

   A 1 day advance ticket costs £12 for adults, £5 for children and £10 for concessions. A 2 day advance ticket costs £22 for adults, £10 for children and £17 for concessions. Tickets on the day are slightly more expensive; please see the website for full details.  Camping is available from 4pm on Friday 12 and Saturday 13 June. Last entry to the campsite is 9pm. Price per pitch, tent or caravan is £25 booked in advance or £35 on the day.

   The Classic & Vintage Commercial Show is just one of many exciting and unique motoring events held at the HMC in 2015. For more information about the Heritage Motor Centre please visit www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk or call 01926 641188.

    

3. Visit the Heritage Motor Centre for free as part of 'Museums at Night'‏

   Posted on 12:00pm Friday 8th May 2015

   The Heritage Motor Centre is inviting visitors to join them for an exclusive out of hour’s free experience on Saturday 16 May from 5.30pm – 8.00pm as part of ‘Museums at Night’. For the first time, visitors can visit the museum in a completely different light and take part in special tours and family activities. ‘Museums at Night’, is a UK-wide festival which attracts visitors into museums, galleries and heritage sites by throwing open their doors after hours and hosting special evening events.

   Visitors to the Heritage Motor Centre can explore the extensive collection of British cars, join an ‘object handling’ session with some intriguing items from the ‘behind the scenes’ collection and be part of the Car Stories project by sharing their motoring memories. Visitors can also travel back in time and join a 1920’s theory driving class with the ‘Honourable Mrs Victor Bruce’. Local percussionist Bo Davies, who will drum using car parts, will provide some interactive musical entertainment on the night.

   Anyone who would like to visit on the evening of Saturday 16 May will need to book their place by visiting the website

   For more information about the HMC please visit www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk or call 01926 641188.

   For more information about Museums at Night

4. Last flying Vulcan to fly over RAF Gaydon in salute to heroes of the Cold War‏

   Posted on 1:21pm Monday 22nd Sep 2014

   The last flying Vulcan XH558 is to fly over the former RAF Gaydon base at the Heritage Motor Centre on Thursday 25th September at approx. 3pm as part of the Vulcan Cold War tour.

   The public will be able to view the spectacular fly past from the Centres grounds and HMC have arranged for a dedicated viewing area, reserved car parking and discounted Museum entry from 12 midday of £8 per Adult, £6 per child with under 5’s free. Donations to the Vulcan Trust are optional.

   Gaydon was one of several RAF airfields in the Midlands which enjoyed two separate periods of existence, one as a wartime training base and the other when it was rebuilt and put back into service for very different aircraft. From 1942 - 1974, RAF Gaydon was home to Wellingtons during WWII, V Bombers during the Cold War, and later, Varsities and Valettas as part of the Navigation school.

   On the same day the Vulcan will fly over each of the ten RAF bases where Great Britain’s nuclear deterrent aircraft (the V-Force) were based, tipping her giant delta wings to honour those who were ready to give their lives for their country. The name V-Force comes from the names of the three aircraft developed to carry Britain’s first nuclear deterrent: Vulcan, Victor and Valiant.

   To help people see the Vulcan low over each location, the charity that operates her has established a Cold War Tour webpage including information on the route, a tracking app for smartphones and links to fascinating period video footage. This will be the last of Vulcan XH558’s flights in 2014, a year that the charity has dedicated to remembering the heroes of the Cold War.

   Visitors can learn more about the history of RAF Gaydon at a special lecture on Saturday 27 September given by John Bishop, local historian and HMC employee and aviation specialist Anthony Hooper MBE. There will also be an opportunity to visit the old RAF Gaydon Control Tower, now the Observation Tower and part of the Jaguar Land Rover site. The lecture costs just £40 per person and includes a memory lane tour, Land Rover Demo Ride, visit to the Observation Tower, lunch (one course including tea/coffee) and entry to the Museum. The lecture takes place from 10am – 4pm and must be pre booked as places are limited.

   www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk

   More information on Vulcan XH558, the tour and ways to support it can be found at www.vulcantothesky.org/CWT. There is also a popular Facebook community at www.facebook.com/VulcanXH558

    

5. Over 350 modern classic trucks descend on the Heritage Motor Centre!‏

   Posted on 9:07am Wednesday 10th Sep 2014

   The Retro Truck Show returns to the Heritage Motor Centre for its fourth year and due to its popularity, will take place over two days on Saturday 13 & Sunday 14 September. The show will feature a display of over 350 modern classic show trucks manufactured between 1960 and 2000 including manufacturers Volvo, Scania and Daf.

   In addition to the truck displays, there will also be an indoor model show and indoor & outdoor trade area. A seminar about ‘Middle Eastern Trucking from the 1960’s onwards’ will take place on the Saturday which has now totally sold out. In the evening there will be a disco, charity auction, food stands, licensed bar and free children’s bouncy castle.  Camping is available on the Friday and Saturday nights. On the Sunday, in addition to the Show, visitors can also enjoy free entry to the Museum which houses a display of over 180 historic cars.

   Tom Caren, Show Manager for the Heritage Motor Centre stated “We are delighted that this colourful retro show is being extended over two days. Even if you don’t own a truck, you will enjoy this show and all of its ‘truck’ fun!”

   All trucks that fall into the age category are welcome whether they are show trucks, working trucks or work in progress! There are no trophies or judging, just the opportunity for like-minded enthusiast’s to get together and admire the trucks on display.

   Tickets for the show cost £12 in advance or £15 on the day for adults, £5 in advance or £8 on the day for children and £34 in advance or £42 on the day for a family.  Gift Aid Season tickets, Tesco Club cards or any other promotional offers are not valid on this day. Parking for the public will be at the Jaguar and Land Rover car park next door to the Museum grounds but shuttles will be provided in a Double Decker bus.

    

   www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk