Following the continued growth of Museum LIVE over the past four years, Saturday 27/10/18 will see the museum host our 5th annual free open day when everyone will be invited to visit the museum collection free of charge. Now one of the largest events in the biking calendar, there will also be a host of other free attractions including our amazing “stars on stage” feature. This year, we are proud to announce that “stars on stage” will be presented in association with Norton Motorcycles Ltd.

Museum Live 2018 Timetable: To assist visitors, everyone arriving on site will be given a free timetable with a full list & timings of all the day’s exciting, free, events.

Free Museum Entry: Everyone is invited to visit the museum collection, free-of-charge.

Indoor Autojumble & Trade Area: The event will feature a large indoor autojumble held within the warm & dry surroundings of the National Motorcycle Museum’s conference facilities. For details of how to book a 6ft pitch for just £40.00 (ex VAT) contact Dan Powell on (01675) 444112 or e-mail [email protected]

The event will also feature trade stands & displays from many well-known names including H&H Classic Auctions, Central Wheel Components Ltd, Footman James Insurance Brokers, Triumph, Norton, Bonhams Auctioneers and many more.

The museum shop will also be open throughout the event selling a huge range of classic motorcycling books, clothing & memorabilia.

Meet The Experts presented in association with Central Wheel Components Ltd: In attendance will be some of the museum’s specialist suppliers & craftsmen (including our own restoration team) as well as other classic motorcycling personalities who will be available to chat and answer questions. Don’t miss the LIVE wheel building demos by Central Wheel Components Ltd. 

“STARS ON STAGE” FEATURE & CELEBRITY BOOK SIGNINGS.

Stars on Stage Presented In Association with Norton Motorcycles Ltd

TT legend, TV presenter & Norton factory test rider STEVE PLATER will host two special FREE TO ENTER “stars on stage” features at 11am and 2pm.

Held on the stage in the museum’s magnificent Britannia suite, these free 1 hour chat shows have a Norton theme this year as they will feature current works Norton Rider JOHN McGUINNESS as well as Norton CEO Stuart Garner & chief designer Simon Skinner. The latest Norton TT race machines and stunning new road going V4s will also be fired up live on stage during the show!

1970s Norton race ace DAVE CROXFORD has also confirmed he will be appearing on stage alongside other Norton race personalities from the past & present. More star names will be announced in the coming weeks. 

All our guest stars will also be making personal appearances to sign your favorite memorabilia. There will also be special book signing sessions with TV personality HENRY COLE who will be signing his newly published book “A Bikers Life” at the event. More guests will be announced prior to the event-see www.thenmm.co.uk for details

LIVE “Start Up” Feature Presented by the Brackley Festival of Motorcycling:

See & HEAR some of the most famous race machines in the world started up in our LIVE Start-Up zone, situated in our external fountain courtyard area. Bikes old and new will include some of the museum’s famous racing inventory as well as ex-Moto GP bikes courtesy of the Brackley Festival of Motorcycling & Phil Morris Racing.

Not only this but genius special builder Alan Millyard will be bringing along no less than 4 of his stunning creations including his recently completed Millyard RC374 six cylinder.

NEW LOCATION FOR 2018

Food Court, Bar and Live Band

Fantastic catering provided by the museum’s chefs will be available in its new fountain courtyard food court & bar area location. This external covered area will also be the venue for our live band providing musical entertainment over lunchtime.

The museum restaurant will also be open as normal serving a wide variety of hot meals and snacks from breakfast time onwards.

Plus The Draw For The Best Classic Motorcycle Raffle Prize In The World:

Our summer 2018 raffle to win a 1969 Royal Enfield Interceptor 750cc Series II worth over £12,000 will be drawn by one of our celebrity guests live on stage during the afternoon of the event on 27/10/18.

To win this amazing prize, raffle tickets are available to purchase on-line from www.thenmm.co.uk or by calling the Museum on 01675 444123

Parking:

Car parking for the event is just £5 per car with motorcycle parking absolutely free. Given the events huge popularity, the museum encourages car sharing which makes this nominal parking charge even better value.

www.thenmm.co.uk  

Steve Mercer will line up in the colours of Jackson Racing for the 2018 Isle of Man TT Races, fuelled by Monster Energy, having secured a late deal with the Preston-based team.
 
The Kent rider had been testing with the official Honda Racing team and was ready to deputise for Ian Hutchinson, but with the Bingley rider having declared his fitness last week, Mercer will now ride a Honda Fireblade SP2 for Jackson Racing in the RST Superbike, RL360 Superstock and PokerStars SeniorTT Races.
 
The move sees him reunited with the team he’s enjoyed great success with having ridden for them in 2011, 2012 and 2016, the latter seeing him have his best ever year around the 37.73-mile Mountain Course when also riding Honda machinery.
 
Mercer equalled his best ever result with eighth in the opening Monster Energy Supersport Race and backed this up with tenth in the RL360 Superstock Race, 11th in the second Monster Energy Supersport encounter and 12th in the RST Superbike Race.
 
In addition, the now 36-year-old posted personal best laps on all of the machines including a lap of 129.323mph in the Superbike class, which makes him the 22nd fastest rider of all time, and 124.392mph on the Honda CBR600RR.
 
Since making his debut in 2009, Mercer has racked up no less than 16 top twenty finishes, which includes nine in the top twelve, and has won 11 silver and 10 bronze replicas in that nine year period.
 
As well as Mercer, Jackson Racing will field Manxman Dan Kneen and Craig Neve on Honda CBR600RR’s in the two Monster Energy Supersport races at the TT with Lincolnshire’s Neve also riding a BMW S1000RR in the RST Superbike and PokerStars Senior TT races.
 
Steve Mercer:

“It’s certainly been a busy few weeks and I’m delighted to be back with the Jackson Racing team as I’ve really enjoyed riding for them in the past. My best results, whether on the roads, short circuits or in World Endurance have always been on Hondas and with all the work that’s gone on recently, I will be on one of the best SP2’s available. I was incredibly grateful to get the call from Honda Racing to fill in for Hutchy at the tests at Castle Combe and Cadwell Park and it really helped get my confidence back.”
 
“I was happy to be on stand-by and would have been ready to race if Ian wasn’t ready but, equally, having done a lot of work on the bike and got my hunger back for the TT, I didn’t want to be on the sidelines so I’m very thankful to all concerned for putting the deal together. Alan and Andy (Jackson) are like family to me and Alan’s always been on hand with advice over the years and they always put out great bikes. Like I say, my confidence is back and I’m itching to get going.”

Alan Jackson, Team Manager:

“Unfortunately, we parted company with Daley Mathison a few weeks ago but we were keen to maintain a strong presence in the 1000cc races at the Isle of Man and we’re delighted to welcome Steve back to the team. We’ve worked really well together in the past and enjoyed some great results, particularly in 2016 when he finished in the top twelve in four races at the TT and recorded a whole host of personal best laps.”
 
“We both know how each other work and he’s been getting plenty of mileage in testing Hutchy’s Honda’s as well as at the Le Mans 24-Hour World Endurance round so he’ll be ready and raring to go come the last week of May. Jackson Racing and all of the team’s sponsors have worked hard to put the deal together and with Steve joining Dan and Craig, we feel that we’ve got a really strong line-up with all three riders capable of making a major impression at TT2018.”

Official government figures analysed by road safety charity IAM RoadSmart have found that convictions for traffic offences in England and Wales' courts are steadily increasing again from a low point in 2013 – including a huge 52% increase in dangerous driving convictions.

Guilty verdicts were at 1.2 million in 2006 and declined for seven years until 2014 when the total number of offences started rising again and have continued to do so ever since.

Other surprising statistics to emerge from IAM RoadSmart’s research include a dramatic increase of almost 70,000 over 10 years in convictions for the failure to supply the identity of a driver of a vehicle.

By contrast there were also big drops in drink-drive and mobile phone-related convictions; IAM RoadSmart believes the dangers of both are finally sinking in.

There does not appear to be one single reason why conviction rates are on the rise again, but IAM RoadSmart surmises that a combination of targeted enforcement, increased electronic surveillance and a renewed focus on traffic policing after years of neglect may all be behind the increases.

The news of an increase in convictions will be welcomed by the law abiding majority of motorists; IAM RoadSmart members have for many years been in favour of harsher punishments for those who injure or kill behind the wheel, see story here. 

In 2016 (the latest year for which figures are available) there was an increase of 19% in the total number of convictions compared to the most recent low in 2013.

The figures also reveal a welcome 10% drop in those convicted of drink-driving since 2013 when 43,000 drivers were found guilty compared to just under 39,000 in 2016 – a steady decline over the three year period and an impressive 50% reduction from the 78,029 high in 2006.

However, with deaths caused by drink-driving flatlining, there is still a long way to go in reducing this number further, which underlines the continued need for well targeted anti drink-drive campaigns.

The dangers of using a mobile phone might finally be sinking in to more drivers, with convictions for the offence of using or causing others to use a mobile phone whilst driving dropping by more than half in the past five years, from 32,404 in 2011 to 13,847 in 2016 - a reduction of over 57%.

One motoring offence which has been on the rise steadily since 2006 is ‘failing to supply information as to identity of driver when required.’

In 2006 there were 12,056 convictions but by 2016 this number had grown to a huge 82,029 guilty verdicts. This is most likely linked to increased forms of surveillance leading to more requests to confirm the identity of the driver.

Neil Greig, IAM RoadSmart director of policy and research, said: “This will be good news indeed for motorists who have been concerned for a long time about the level of convictions for the most dangerous motorists.

“It also shows that the most serious motoring offences are being taken seriously by the courts – even though there is a long way to go an increased certainty of conviction might get some drivers out of the mindset of thinking they can get away with drink or drug driving or using a hand-held mobile phone at the wheel of a car.”

"This is how I spend my summers"

Chris Smith

• Manx rider Conor Cummins takes prestigious number one plate

Michael Dunlop heads a stellar line up of some off the fastest road racers on the planet who line up among the top twenty seeded riders for the RST Superbike, PokerStars Senior and RL360 Superstock TT Races at this year’s Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy.

Despite the withdrawals of John McGuinness on the SG7 Norton and Padgett Racing’s Bruce Anstey, all of the seeded riders have lapped comfortably over 128mph. There is a total of 52 TT victories and 140 podium finishes across the entire field, reinforcing the fact that the strength in depth and quality at the top end of the field is at an all-time high.

Conor Cummins and Padgetts Racing have the honour of being first down Glencrutchery Road. It is the first time the Manxman, who will be looking to get back to the form that took him to a brace of podiums in 2014, has taken the number 1 plate.

Ian Hutchinson and Michael Dunlop are set to renew their fierce rivalry. They are just twenty seconds apart for the third time in a row with the former at number four and the latter at six.The leading duo have switched teams for 2018 with 16-time winner Hutchinson lining up for Honda Racing and Dunlop on the Tyco BMW. A big question mark remains over Hutchinson’s fitness and although Dunlop is the favourite to add to his 15 wins, the determination of the Bingley Bullet cannot be underestimated.

The duo will certainly face strong competition from many of the other seeded riders including the three other 132mph+ men in the field – Peter Hickman (Smiths Racing BMW), Dean Harrison (Silicone Engineering Kawasaki) and James Hillier (Quattro Plant JG Speedfit Kawasaki).

Hickman, who retains the number ten plate that served him well in 2017, has been a revelation since he first tackled the TT in 2014. Last year saw him finish on the podium in all five of his races on the island and the Burton upon Trent rider will be looking for his first win at the TT.

Harrison took his first Superbike podiums last year, finishing third in both the Superbike and Senior TT races, clocking his first 132mph lap. Still only 29, he is well placed to take a race win. The Bradford based rider goes at number five, ten seconds ahead of Dunlop.

Hillier starts at number two and although he will need to get back into the 132mph bracket, which he last did in 2015, he could have been on the podium in last year’s Superbike Race but for a refuelling issue during his first pit stop.

Michael Rutter (3), Gary Johnson (7), Dan Kneen (8) and David Johnson (9) are the other riders in the top ten. Rutter (Bathams Racing BMW) is riding as well as ever around the Mountain Course. Last year saw him record a personal best lap of 131.709mph as well as his Lightweight TT race victory so should be amongst the leading pack while Johnson will be hoping to challenge for the wins on the RAF Regular & Reserve Kawasaki after a disappointing 2017.

Kneen starts in the top ten in the 1000cc races for the first time and is expected to go well on the Tyco BMW. The Manxman has a great chance of adding to the single podium he’s taken to date. Australian Johnson adds to the BMW challenge in the new Gulf BMW team and will enjoy being in the pack as opposed to starting at number one as he did in 2016 and 2017.

In McGuinness’s absence, the Norton challenge will come from Josh Brookes who lines up at number 11. The Australianhas a great chance of improving on both his sixth place finish in last year’s Senior TT race and his personal best lap of 130.883mph.

Martin Jessopp, starting ten seconds behind Brookes, is another rider moving up the grid in 2018. Already a member of the 130mph club and a podium finisher in the Lightweight TT Races, the Yeovil man is looking to make an even greater impression this time around.

Lee Johnston, lining up with Honda Racing this year, takes his usual number 13. The Ulsterman will be determined to make amends in his first year as a factory rider after last year’s practice crash at Greeba Castle ruled him out of race week.

Fellow Northern Ireland rider William Dunlop, lining up in the colours of the Temple Golf Club on the only Yamaha in the top twenty, is next on the grid.Derek Sheils, riding for the Penz13.com BMW team,is ten seconds further back at 15.  The Dublin rider’s recent efforts are rewarded with a seeded berth for the first time.

The seeded riders are completed by Sheils’ team-mate Jamie Coward, Phil Crowe (BMW) and Steve Mercer with Mercer expected to take Hutchinson’s Honda ride if he loses his fitness battle.

There are plenty of talented riders to be found outside of the seeds though including Ian Lougher (Suter MMX), Horst Saiger (Saiger Racing Yamaha), Ivan Lintin (Dafabet Devitt Racing Kawasaki), James Cowton and Adam McLean (both McAdoo Racing Kawasaki), Sam West (PRL Worthington BMW) and Daley Mathison (Stobart BMW). The entire top 30 have all previously lapped at more than 126mph

As well as regular overseas competitors such as Stefano Bonetti, Kamil Holan, Xavier Denis, Raul Torras Martinez and Bjorn Gunnarsson, this year’s entry also includes a number of Manx Grand Prix graduates including last year’s double winner Michael Evans.

Eighty-one entries in total were accepted including newcomers Davey Todd, David Jackson and Adam Lyon.