The results from visitor surveys undertaken by Isle of Man based Research Offshore for the 2015 Isle of Man TT Races and 2015 Isle of Man Festival of Motorcycling have shown significant growth in the number of visitors to the Isle of Man and the economic contribution that both events make.

The Department introduced a new marketing strategy for the events in 2011 with funding from the Government's Marketing Initiatives Fund. This new marketing approach coincided with the launch of the Classic TT Races and the evolution of the Manx Grand Prix Festival into the Isle of Man Festival of Motorcycling.

This year's TT Races attracted over 42,000 visitors while the Festival of Motorcycling attracted over 15,000 visitors. This represents visitor growth of over 42% over a six year period, the majority of which has occurred since the introduction of the new marketing strategy in 2011.

The two events combined generated almost £28,000,000 for the Isle of Man economy in 2015, which is an increase of £11,900,000 from a 2009 Treasury survey figure, an increase averaging 12% per year. The benefit to the exchequer has also risen sharply during this period increasing from just over £3,000,000 in 2009 to £5,000,000 per annum by 2015 giving average annual growth of 11%.

The surveys also showed that over 30% of the visitors in 2015 were attending one of the events for the first time, which represents almost 15,000 new visitors to the Isle of Man this year alone.

It was announced that the Department will shortly start looking for an independent promoter to further develop the commercial and marketing programme for the TT and Classic TT, and to ensure these opportunities for further benefits to the Manx economy and taxpayer are realised.

David Cretney MLC, Department of Economic Development Member with responsibility for Motorsport commented:

"The results outlined in the recent TT and Festival of Motorcycling surveys demonstrate just how effective our marketing approach to both events has been in recent years. The TT continues to enjoy year on year growth in all measureable areas, whilst the introduction of the Classic TT and the formation of the Festival of Motorcycling has delivered sharp increases in visitor numbers and spend in a very short period of time."

"The Department will have spent £4,600,000 by year end delivering these two events for 2015. With commercial income streams for both events rising sharply to over £2,400,000 for 2015 and with the benefit to the exchequer of £5,000,000, we are delivering almost £3,000,000 worth of net receipts back to Treasury while at the same time generating almost £28,000,000 for the Manx economy on an annual basis."

TAS Racing has confirmed that 11-time Isle of Man TT winner Ian Hutchinson will be joining Tyco BMW for the Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy and other international road races in the 2016 season.

Hutchinson was back to his very best in 2015 with a hat-trick of wins at the Isle of Man TT including a new Superstock class race record and is now looking forward to teaming up with Tyco BMW, where he will ride BMW Motorrad S1000RR Superbike and Superstock machinery next season.

Hutchinson said: "We've been in negotiations for a couple of months but I've always been serious about coming to the team for next year. I'm really looking forward to getting going now with Tyco BMW. After pretty much four years away from the sport I now need a bit of consistency. BMW is a huge brand and along with Philip Neill at TAS, they have shown how much they want to be involved with me for next season. That enthusiasm sold it to me and with direct support from BMW Motorrad it was hard to turn down."

Tyco BMW Team Manager Philip Neill said: "Hutchy was undoubtedly the dominant force at this year's TT so to sign him up for 2016 is hopefully a big enough statement from both BMW Motorrad and TAS Racing, as to our aspirations for next season. We've talked about working together previously and it didn't quite come to fruition, but I think we've joined forces at the best possible time. I believe Ian can add to his International Road Racing success next season on BMW Motorrad machinery with the support of TAS Racing."

Hutchinson is also scheduled to ride BMW Motorrad S1000RR machinery next season for Tyco BMW in the National Superstock 1000cc series, which will keep him sharp for his TT Races and International Road Racing campaign.

… we turn left onto Highway 6 and head south. To my right are driftwood strewn beaches, and ahead an empty road winds through the trees and fields. Every now and again I pick up the rhythms of the bends and it feels like I'm floating over the road. We stop briefly at Ross, once a gold mining town, and now recovering from its near closure thanks to tourism (you can even try your hand at panning for gold.) And then the serious riding begins.

White snowcapped mountains rise above the trees as the Triumph climbs rapidly, and I can sense the bike’s enjoying this (the 3000 m peaks are just 30 km from the ocean). Riding style can be scratch or relax, either way it is sublime. The blue white glaciers of Fox and Franz Josef loom closer at every turn in the bright sunlight, wild waterfalls splash us as we zip past, narrow bridges slow us down. Having to overtake is a surprise, there’s so little traffic. And then we’re there – our helicopter awaits for a scenic flight that possibly beats even the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Tomorrow – Westland, Haast and Queenstown here we come…

I wish every winter could be like this!

Southern Moonlight
14-day self-guided tour
November – April
From £1620 pp.
Flight inclusive tours available

Call me, Dave Simpson if you would like to experience some Kiwi winter magic on 01256 770775 or simply reply to this email.

Like Winter Biking - New Zealand on Facebook

www.hctravel.com

The Skegness Annual Beach Race, which takes place 7th and 8th November, is helping to extend the tourist season, according to a report by East Lindsey District Council.

Last year’s race attracted a record number of entrants (313) and over 20,000 spectators – the largest number to date. The event is popular with both out of town visitors and local residents, injecting nearly three quarters of a million pounds into the local economy. The race is organised by the Amateur Motorcycle Association (AMCA), a not for profit membership organisation which exists to promote grass roots participation in off-road motorcycle sport, particularly motocross.

The report includes testimonials from the Town Manager, local Chamber of Commerce, retailers and hoteliers, who all support the race.

Councillor Adam Grist, now Portfolio Holder for Market Towns and Rural Economy says: “The event is a very important one in East Lindsey’s sporting and cultural calendar and helps to extend the visitor season beyond the summer months. Since the race first came to Skegness in 2010, AMCA has helped to provide a huge boost to the town at a traditionally quieter time of year – last year with upwards of 20,000 people attending the two day event. This provides an increased footfall in the town which supports local businesses, amenities and attractions with people staying, eating and shopping locally. We look forward to working with AMCA in the future to ensure this popular event continues to take place in Skegness.”

Town Manager Lisa Collins explained it was particularly helpful to seaside traders: “(The Race) is helping Skegness extend its traditional visitor season: it allows traders to remain open for an extra weekend, in particular the traditional seaside traders on the seafront. Not only is this a popular and important event for visitors to Skegness, but it is well supported by local families, who enjoy seeing the beach used for events such as this. It is key to the town’s future that we retain such events to actively promote Skegness as an all year round visitor destination.”

Visitors to the race also increased footfall in Hildren’s Shopping Centre, according to centre manager Steve Andrews: “The event definitely brought people into the town, not just the seafront. Indications from my tenants are that we were around 6% up on sales over the weekend across the centre.”

Nigel Tett, who represents local hotels and bed and breakfast providers through the Skegness East Coast and Wolds Hospitality Association, says the influx of visitors extends well beyond the town: “The AMCA beach race is the biggest event that takes place in late autumn in this part of the world. The input to this part of East Lincolnshire is enjoyed by all companies across the business spectrum ranging from Skegness right through to the other side of Louth and all along the Coast.”

Organisation

This is the sixth year the race has been staged and the event is now making a small profit for the AMCA.

“To begin with it was a loss making event” explained AMCA General Manager Suzanne Potts, “we can’t generally afford to operate at a loss over the long term and we could have pulled the plug on the event, but we had such a great working relationship with the local council and events team that we really wanted to make it work. We knew it would take a few years to establish the event properly and thanks to the ‘can do’ attitude of staff at East Lindsey District Council, we persevered and shaped the event to maximise its impact.”

History

· The first event was held in December 2010. This was bought forward to November for 2011, in order to incorporate an extension of the town’s illuminations.

· This boosted rider and spectator numbers but still fell short of financial breakeven for the AMCA.

· In 2013 £5k worth of funding was secured from the council to help the AMCA continue to stage the event.

· 2014 saw a small profit being generated, which is hoped will be sustained for 2015.

· This year’s race will take place 7th and 8th November, with races for solos, quads and sidecars.

Beyond economic benefit

The report also acknowledges additional benefits to staging motorsport events. Admission is free and many locals volunteer as marshals, which generates a ‘feel good factor’ within the town.

This echoes government research which informed last year’s decision to pass legislation making it easier for local authorities to stage their own motorsport events.

The Government press release which announced the introduction of new legislation included this statement from Roads Minister Robert Goodwill:

“Motor sport events are great fun, extremely popular and make a valuable contribution to the economy. Allowing local authorities to organise carefully managed motor sports events is great news for the industry and will potentially benefit local communities around Great Britain.”

Tourism and motorcycling across the UK

A study of the economic impact of the motorcycle industry on the UK economy has found motorcycle-related tourism spending in the UK totals £562 million annually and supports 13,200 tourism jobs. In addition, motorcycling tourists from overseas spend £28 million on trips to the UK, supporting approximately 650 tourism jobs.

www.mcia.co.uk

Colwood Wheel Works is an established wheel building business and owner Vince Warner now also offers the UK’s only Motorcycle Wheel Building Course.

With over 40 years of experience building wheels, customers will be thrilled to be able to receive nicely tensioned wheels that are beautifully crafted and have a five year guarantee. Vince also has a passion for old bicycles and provides a courteous and friendly service.

The motorcycle wheel building course started in January 2015 and is currently taking students who wish to receive the best knowledge from the Colwood Wheel Works wheel specialist.

Students get to receive a one day or three day course with provided light refreshments and lunch from one of UK’s premier wheel specialists. Each course will have room for just two students at any one time.

Here you will learn how to build strong and reliable high quality bicycle and motorcycle wheels, along with time to practice wheel building during training with direct supervision. You will learn skills of lacing and truing wheels as well as the essential and non-essential tools required to fix and repair wheels. Vince Warner goes into great depth to show how to choose the right spokes and measure them to fit the wheel that students are fixing.

One satisfied client Steve mentioned, “Just to say thank you once again for the wheel building course yesterday, practical, no nonsense and professional… I will recommend your services to all.” Another student Brian Bradwell, who took the motorcycle wheel building course commented, “I have learnt a lot and feel far more confident in starting towards a wheel building future; overall your easy manner and gentle approach to learning meant I could absorb much more than I thought possible in the days I was with you.”

Vince Warner is also forming a Wheel Builders Guild which he plans to launch next year. This association will have in its membership the best wire wheel builders in the UK who are carefully selected as having the highest standards in technical ability and superior customer service.

Colwood Wheel Works is a well-established wire wheel building service located in East Sussex. It is the only business in the UK that also offers a motorcycle wheel building course.

Established in 1959 by Edward Warner and operated from Carshalton, Surrey. Vince Warner, Edward’s son, has been running the business from a new location in East Sussex, ever since the passing of Edward in 2005. 

Vince learned about wheel building and repair since the 1960's from his father. With over 40 years of experience building wheels, customers will be thrilled to be able to receive nicely tensioned wheels that are beautifully crafted and have a five year guarantee. Vince also has a passion for old bicycles and provides a courteous and friendly service.

www.colwoodwheelworks.co.uk

www.motorcyclewheelbuildingcourse.co.uk