The new look British Motor Museum opened its doors to the public on Saturday 13 February following a £1.1m refurbishment. Previously known as the Heritage Motor Centre, the Museum is now a modern and immersive display of British motoring history.

The Rt. Hon. Gavin Williamson, MP, unveiled the new look Museum on Friday 12 February at a private preview event. It was then officially opened to the public at 10am on Saturday 13 February, by Managing Director, Julie Tew and Josh Harden, aged 8, the face of the Museum’s marketing collateral. Local radio station Touch FM was also broadcasting live on the day.

Visitors to the Museum are now welcomed via a new entrance to an introductory gallery which sets the scene and flows into distinctive new themed zones, including ones for Design & Concepts, Jaguar, Land Rover, Royal Cars, Motor Sport, and Film & TV cars. The popular ethos of allowing visitors to get up close to the exhibits has not changed but there are now different ways to view the cars. Many are on raised plinths including a series of Land Rovers on an all-terrain ‘mountain’ and some life-size matchbox style cars. The visitor experience is more interactive and immersive, visitors can now stroll along the Time Road, whilst touch screens provide interactive interpretation telling the cars’ stories in more detail.

Gavin Williamson MP, stated “I feel very privileged to unveil the new look British Motor Museum. I have loved classic cars since my father took me to the British Motor Show as a child. I am therefore delighted to be here today amongst 400 of the finest historic British cars to declare the Museum and its Collections Centre open for business. The British Motor Museum is instrumental in enabling visitors to learn more about the past, present and future of the British motor industry, its technology and its people. With the exciting improvements and enhancements now made, the Museum can now be counted as being amongst the best motor museums in the world”.

The new Collections Centre also opened on the 13 February, allowing public access for the first time to an additional 250 cars from the reserve collections of the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust and the Jaguar Heritage Trust.

Tours of both the Museum and the Collections Centre will be available daily and can be booked at no extra charge on arrival, (subject to availability) and all half term family activities are also included in admission: Adults £14, Children £9 (5-16 years) under 5’s free, Concessions £12 & Family £39 (2 adults & up to 3 children). Buy one day and get 12 months free if you Gift Aid your entrance.

From 13 – 21 February, the British Motor Museum is celebrating half term with “Build a British Car Week”. Every day children of all ages can test their knowledge with the ‘Family Story’ trail and join one of the workshops in the LEGO® Education Innovation Studio where they can get creative building British cars with LEGO® bricks.

To find out more information please visit the website at www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk or call 01926 641188.

Eleven-time TT winner Ian Hutchinson was awarded the Royal Automobile Club’s coveted Torrens Trophy at the Pall Mall clubhouse for his outstanding determination, courage and overcoming adversity to win multiple TT’s.

The Torrens Trophy recognises an individual or organisation considered to have made an outstanding contribution to motorcycling in Britain. The Trophy was first awarded in 1978 in memory of Arthur Bourne, a motor cycling journalist and Vice Chairman of the Royal Automobile Club who wrote a column under the name Torrens. It has only been awarded nine times in its history and only when the club feels that the achievement justifies it.

Upon receipt Hutchy said: ‘I am very proud to win the Torrens Trophy and be recognised by the Royal Automobile Club. It has been a fantastic year for me and I would like to extend a huge thanks to the team at Paul Bird Motorsport and Team Traction Control Yamaha and to my family for all the support through my days in hospital and recovery’.

This year, was an exceedingly strong year for British motorcycle racing, resulting in a worthy crop of Trophy nominees, including Danny Kent who became the country’s first Grand Prix World Champion since Barry Sheene in 1977, Jonathan Rea who secured the World Superbike Championship and utterly dominated the 2015 season finishing on the podium in all but four races, Tai Woffindon who won the gruelling 2015 World Speedway Championships for the second time and then there was Ian Hutchinson, his dramatic return to the Isle of Man TT and whose hat trick of victories was awe-inspiring.

With such a strong crop of potential worthy recipients, the Club’s Torrens Trophy Nominations Committee - consisting of Royal Automobile Club member Ben Cussons, Torrens Nomination Committee Chairman and ex-bike racer Barrie Baxter, well-respected motorcycle journalist Mat Oxley, former racer and commentator Steve Parrish and Arthur Bourne’s son Richard Bourne, debated long and hard. It was ultimately decided that ‘Hutchy’ would be awarded the Trophy.

Barrie Baxter, Chairman of the Torrens Committee said: ‘Motorcycle racing can be a very punishing discipline, and Ian Hutchinson's inspirational journey is a testament to that. From nearly losing his leg and having to endure over 30 gruelling operations to returning to the pinnacle of a sport which dealt him a cruel blow and win multiple TT’s must be one of the sport's most courageous stories’.

Understandably news of Hutchy winning the Torrens Trophy has been greeted with huge support from industry and fellow racers.

TRIBUTES TO THE WINNER

Former motorcycle commentator Murray Walker said: ‘I first went to the TT in 1925 and have been lucky enough to know most of the greats of our sport but none of them has earned my admiration and respect more than Ian Hutchinson. Uniquely to win five races in one TT year was amazing but even this was topped by Ian`s awesome courage and determination to race again after his subsequent appalling leg injuries. And now he has emphasised his skill and bravery by winning another three TTs in one week - plus a dominant victory at Macau. Truly brilliant! All done with quiet modesty and, as a truly worthy winner of the Torrens Trophy, Ian joins the legends of our great sport. I warmly congratulate him, salute his personality and achievements and look forward to following the development of his great career’.

John Surtees CBE grew up reading the Torrens column during his motorcycling days. The racing legend also paid tribute saying: ‘I would like to congratulate Ian Hutchinson on receiving this award. I am particularly impressed that having first tasted success on the Isle of Man he should fight back from such adversity following that accident by returning to winning form in the 2015 TT. May I add my congratulations to this wonderful personal achievement’

Former World Superbike Champion and previous Torrens Trophy recipient James Toseland said ‘To go from the highest point of his career to the lowest within days must have been a psychological rollercoaster to say the least. We are all very proud of Hutchy for keeping the belief and finding the inner strength to keep going through such adversity, pain and frustration for such a long period of time to being able to ride competitively again. To go from winning 5 TT's to nearly losing his leg to then get back onto the top step in one of the most physical motorcycle races there is, is an amazing achievement and show of character. Hutchy very much deserves this award today and I wish him all the very best for this season coming and hopefully many more TT victories to come!’.

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The Royal Automobile Club was founded in 1897 and its distinguished history mirrors that of motoring itself. In 1907, King Edward VII awarded the Club its Royal title, sealing the Club’s status as Britain’s oldest and most influential motoring organisation.

The Club’s early years were focused on promoting the motor car and its place in society, which developed into motoring events such as the 1000 Mile Trial, first held in 1900. In 1905, the Club held the first Tourist Trophy, which remains the oldest continuously competed for motor sports event. The Club promoted the first pre-war and post-war Grands Prix at Brooklands in 1926 and Silverstone in 1948 respectively, whilst continuing to campaign for the rights of the motorist, including introducing the first driving licences.

Today, the Club continues to develop and support automobilism through representation on the Motor Sport Association (MSA), Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and RAC Foundation, while continuing to promote its own motoring events, such as the free-to-attend Regent Street Motor Show and the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, which are two of the highlights of the Club’s London Motor Week, which next year runs from Monday 31 October to Sunday 6 November 2016

The Royal Automobile Club also awards a series of historic trophies and medals celebrating motoring achievements. These include the Segrave Trophy, the Tourist Trophy, the Simms Medal, the Dewar Trophy, the Torrens Trophy and the Diamond Jubilee Trophy.

Leading Irish Road Racing contender Seamus Elliott will make his Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy debut in 2016, competing in three of the six solo races.

The Ballymoney rider will compete in the RST Superbike, RL360 and PokerStars Senior races on a Kawasaki ZX-10R for the peoplesbike.com team. Run by the enthusiastic Mark Cubbon, the peoplesbike.com have previously competed at the TT with a number of leading competitors including Steve Mercer, Dan Hegarty, Stephen Thompson and, more recently, Alan Bonner.

Elliott has been a leading contender across the classes in both the Irish road races and at the Southern 100 and Oliver’s Mount, Scarborough meetings where he’s been a race winner and regular podium finisher. Indeed, 2015 saw one of his finest performances on the island when he took a superb win in the opening Supersport 600cc race at the Southern 100 ahead of riders including Dan Kneen, Ivan Lintin and Russ Mountford.

Elliott also enjoyed an excellent week of racing at last year’s Ulster Grand Prix when he campaigned the Wilson Craig Racing Honda’s. His best result came in the opening Supersport race when he placed eighth but he also took tenth in the feature Superbike race and 11th in the Superstock encounter with his best lap overall being a more than impressive 128.297mph.

At the Southern 100, Elliott has a personal best lap of 109.077mph which he recorded on his way to claiming seventh in the 2014 Solo Championship whilst he’s also been a regular front runner in the aforementioned Supersport races, something he’s achieved on a regular basis at Oliver’s Mount.

In his homeland, he was in contention for the Supersport race wins throughout 2015, eventually finishing third overall in the Irish Road Racing Championship whilst he also scored impressive top six finishes in the 2014 Irish Road Racing Superbike and Supersport Championships. He’s also been a regular podium finisher in the 250cc and Moto 3 categories further proving his versatility.

Elliott has proven to be one of the most consistent performers in recent years in Irish road racing and his debut at the TT is much anticipated given the excellent results he has already achieved elsewhere in his career.

Popular fan backed TT team thepeoplesbike will be returning for its eighth TT Races campaign with Elliott becoming the latest in a long list of notable riders to represent the team since their inception in 2009. This unique team is partly funded by race fans, who have their picture on the bikes fairings, as well as receiving an open invitation to the team's awnings during the TT to enjoy a brew with the team in return for their support.

The team will post their official T-shirt, cap and signed photo to team sponsors anywhere in the world. During qualifying and race week the team will be tweeting live from the paddock and grid. Photographs will be posted daily on the team's facebook page and website so fans can follow their progress.

Check out the team's website www.thepeoplesbike.com to see how you can become part of this unique team.

Commenting on his Isle of Man TT Races debut, Seamus said:

“We’ve been trying to get over to the TT races for a few years so It’s brilliant that it’s finally come together and I’ve now got this chance, particularly with a team as strong as the peoplesbike who know the Island and what you need to do to run a proper campaign.”

He continued:

“I’ve started to learn the course and I was over on the Isle of Man at the weekend with the rider liaison officers which really got me excited for the races and I just want to repay the faith that the team has in me.”

KICKBACK #8 takes place at Stoneleigh Park Exhibition Centre in Warwickshire from 16-17th April. The KICKBACK Show will feature a stunning and unique collection of custom-made motorcycles.

As well as a fine showcase of motorbikes KICKBACK is also hosting the definitive competition dedicated to engineering & design excellence: the National Championship of Custom Bike Building.

If you have been busy over the winter months in your shed, garage or workshop creating a masterpiece and you'd like to unveil it at KICKBACK, all you have to do is email us a couple of good photos of the build [email protected] and you could be entering the National Championships (see below) or you can just display your bike in the Invitational Showcase (non-compete).

Each owner / builder will receive two free KICKBACK passes for the weekend.

There are six categories in the National Championships:

1. Young Builder (supporting the under 30s)      Class sponsored by Lamb Engineering

2. Freestyle (no rules, any bike, any style, ground up build)     

3. Cafe Racer / Street Tracker (in the modern-retro style)     

4. Old School Chopper (trad/rad chopper, bobber etc from before 1990)      Class sponsored by 100% Biker

5. Performance Custom (streetfighter / road burner style)      Class sponsored by World Wide Bomber magazine

6. Street Cub (Honda Cub based customs)      Class sponsored by Outdoor365.com

Then two further prizes for Best in Show sponsored by Sickboyz Customs

Plus Best Raw Build (no paint, no powder coat...sponsored by Rocket Bobs Cycle Works)

For the KICKBACK National Championships to justify its position as the UK's definitive awards for engineering & design excellence, only the finest custom masterpieces will be competing. Meanwhile, the judging panel certainly matches this very high standard and includes Larry Houghton (Lamb Engineering), Pete Pearson (Rocket Bobs) and Paul Milbourn.

Only three British custom bike builders have ever finished in the top 5 in the AMD World Championships (Freestyle) and they are Larry, Pete and Paul! We have all three on the judging panel again!

 KICKBACK #8: Motorbikes. Engineering. Design. Lifestyle. Art.

www.TheCustomShow.com