On Sunday September 27th 2015, more than 30,000 smartly-dressed gentlefolk in over 400 cities will straddle the saddles of their café racers, bobbers, scramblers, other marvellous customs and maybe even a Triumph motorcycle or two, all to raise funding and awareness to help fight prostate cancer.

Last year, over 20,000 participants in 257 cities in 58 countries raised over $1.5 million (USD) for prostate cancer research. The fundraising goal for 2015 is $3 million (USD).

Think you can help raise money? Bring your finest manners, your coolest clothes, your neatest beard, a sense of fun and adventure and enjoy what is sure to be a spiffing old day. And although entry is free, please consider helping our charities by getting your friends and family to sponsor your involvement. After-all it’s what us gentlefolk would do!

Triumph are sponsoring the Distinguished Gentlemen’s Ride.

Forget flowers and chocolates, it would appear that the surest way to woo a potential love interest is to grab the L plates and brush up on driving skills as a new survey from the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) reveals the UK’s biggest first date turn-offs.

Whilst rudeness scored highest in the list, with 81% of Brits citing bad manners as the worst thing a suitor can do, driving is a three-point turn off as nearly half of the 10 worst offences happen in the car before the date has even begun.

The research found road rage to be the worst first-date faux pas for almost half (46%) of people, whilst a similar number say texting at the wheel leaves them wanting to put the brakes on the date.

Talking on a mobile whilst driving appeared at number seven in the list, grinding the gears of 44 per cent of those questioned. And it’s best to bin those crisp packets as nearly a quarter (23%) finds a dirty car unappealing.

Top 10 first date turn-offs

1. Rudeness (81%)
2. Bad personal hygiene (80%)
3. No sense of humour (70%)
4. Being self-obsessed (69%)
5. Road rage (46%)
6. Texting whilst driving (45%)
7. Talking on a mobile whilst driving (44%)
8. Bad dress sense (40%)
9. Sweaty palms (25%)
10. Dirty car (23%)

Top 10 first date turn-ons

1. Sense of humour (81%)
2. Politeness (77%)
3. Good personal hygiene (69%)
4. Good dress sense (50%)
5. Looks (44%)
6. Confidence (44%)
7. Generosity (29%)
8. Good driving skills (11%)
9. Great shoes (9%)
10. Nice car (7%)

A further one in 10 (11%) are irritated by someone who takes 15 minutes to park, whilst an eighth of Brits (13%) find overly cautious drivers who go under the speed limit off-putting.

Other turn-offs include bad personal hygiene, which causes four in five (80%) of us to lose interest, and no sense of humour which shirks nearly three quarters (70%) of singletons. Being self-obsessed (69%) and sweaty palms (25%) also scored highly in the list.

On the flipside, more than one in 10 (11%) Brits say good driving skills get their motors running on a first date – beating a nice car (7%) and great shoes (9%).

The IAM’s chief executive, Sarah Sillars said: “Bad driving not only has an impact on the safety of our roads, but can also affect your chances of romance. Being able to manoeuvre properly and drive carefully should be much higher up on peoples dating priorities.”

The research revealed that Brits pick up on the driving skills of a date – good or bad - within the first 65 seconds of getting in the car, with half picking up on their potential partner’s prowess behind the wheel in just 20 seconds.

Singles can improve their driving skills – and chances of romance – by signing up for a free IAM driving assessment worth £39 at iam.org.uk/lovedriving. See if you can improve your ‘pulling’ power today.

The IAM is the UK’s largest independent road safety charity, dedicated to improving standards and safety in driving and motorcycling. The commercial division of the IAM operates through its occupational driver training company IAM Drive & Survive. The IAM has more than 200 local volunteer groups and over 90,000 members in the UK and Ireland. It is best known for the advanced driving test and the advanced driving and motorcycling courses. Its policy and research division offers advice and expertise on road safety.

On-Line ticket sales close this Friday for Stormin' The Castle 2015 

Just thought we would give you all a quick heads up that you only have until this Friday to buy your tickets on-line.

Adult tickets will still be available in most of the Bike Shops until Wednesday 2nd Sept, however if you want a Thursday ticket or a Saturday only ticket they are only available on-line.

With this being our 25th Year it is shaping up to be a good one, check out the website for the latest info.

Competitors at Classic TT Races presented by Bennetts enjoyed their first full qualifying session this evening as the Mountain Course was bathed in sunlight and riders were even warned about glare.

The F1/F2 and 500cc's were first on the track with Michael Dunlop and Michael Rutter, as they did in last night's session, managed to get to the front of the queue of bikes in pit lane and got away first at the scheduled start time of 6.20. Dunlop went out on the F1 Team Classic Suzuki while Rutter opted for a lap on the Seeley /Ripley Land Racing machine that he will race in Saturday's Bennetts 500cc Race.

Dunlop in particular was able to put the weather frustrations earlier in the week behind him, and indeed his TT experience earlier in the year, blasting a standing start lap of 122.96 mph, the fastest time of the night and the first 120+mph lap of the meeting.

Ryan Farquhar, riding the Team Winfield Harris Yamaha, reminded his countryman that he will face significant competition in Monday's Motorsport Merchandise F1 Race posting 122.134, 8 seconds back on his opening lap.

Behind the Northern Ireland pair, the next nine riders in the session all clocked laps in excess of 117mph, finally getting the chance to put their F1 machines properly through their paces with the Kawasakis of James Hillier (Greenhall Racing) and Ivan Lintin (Steelcote Solutions Ltd), notably to the fore at 118.59 and 118.563 respectively and Australian Dave Johnson on the Team York Suzuki continuing his form from the TT in June with 117.817

Bruce Anstey went out on the Valvoline by Padgetts Racing YZR Yamaha 750 that he won last year's race on and completed a steady first lap before stopping at Sulby on his second lap while James Cowton and Chris Moore both clocked 107mph laps in the F2 Class.

John McGuinness topped the 500cc leader board with two sub 21 minute laps (110.634 and (108.79) and the Morecambe Missile will be looking to add his first Classic TT victory in Saturday's Bennetts 500cc Race to his 23 TT Race wins and put the disappointment of breaking down in the last two 500cc Classic Races in 2013 and 2014.

The sun, and temperature, dropped for the 350's who went away in the second session at 7.30pm. Lee Johnston, riding the Black Eagle Racing MV, showed the form that won him last year's Okells 350cc Race topping the session with 102.321, the only lap over 100mph.

Classic racing specialist Alan Overby on the Davies Motorsport Honda was second on the night with 98.283 mph from Jamie Coward (Ted Woof Craven Honda K4) and Danny Webb, a late replacement for the injured Cameron Donald, who enjoyed a notable run on the Molnar Manx Norton in fourth (96.791). Keith Amor (Dunnell Racing Manx Norton), who missed last year's race with injury, completed the top five.

Tomorrow's session sees the 500's out first at 18.20 with the F1 and F2 machines due to go out at 19.25 and the riders will be hoping for another clear session ahead of Saturday's first race, the Bennetts 500cc.

Ace Cafe London’s regular monthly All-American Cruise-In, combined from 7pm, with Jimmy Guntrip’s Rhythm n’ Cruise Rockin’ Record Hop, includes with prizes up for grabs ranging from pairs of tickets to attend the National Finals at Santa Pod, to the cafe’s forthcoming Billy Fury Tribute night, Saturday 10th October (starring Colin Paul & The Persuaders), as well as copies of Vintage Rock and UK Rock n’ Roll magazines.

Spend £5 or more over the counter from 6pm and receive a raffle ticket. Draw to be held at 10pm.

For more information about Ace Cafe London or what's on, check out: www.ace-cafe-london.com

All American Cruise-In

 Saturday 29th August  4pm – 11pm