A pair of stars from the world of motorbikes are set to join riding enthusiasts from all over the country for the IAM Motorcycling Festival (Institute of Advanced Motorists) taking place in early July.

The event takes place at the National Motorcycle Museum, Solihull and features a full day of activities including many not available to museum visitors. The event is also open to non-members who can buy tickets in advance.

The IAM Motorcycling Festival is a celebration of IAM volunteers from around the country who are the lifeblood of the organisation. Guests and friends are welcome to attend.

The stars are Steve Plater, who will host the event, and John Cooper, with more names to be confirmed in the coming weeks. Steve is a four times winner in the British Superbike Championship and was the 2009 British Supersport champion, while John starred in the 1960’s and 70’s in the 500cc world championship and Isle of Man TT.

The £10 admission includes museum admission and a free quiz, a food and drink voucher plus the opportunity to participate in all activities. Your ticket also gets you a free escorted museum tour and photo opportunities with some of the prize exhibits.

There will also be five official ride-in points from around the country, so if you want to ride in good company this is a great opportunity to do so. Meeting points will be posted on the website soon.

You can also show off your prowess at the wheel of your machine with a 'horseshoe' slow riding challenge. If you don’t feel up to that, you can simply show off your pride and joy itself for the IAM’s best bike competition.

There will also be an exclusive pin badge available on the day only to ticket buyers, serving as a unique memento of the event.

And if you are in the mood to spend some money, a partners’ marketplace will give you the opportunity to part with some pounds. The latest kit from BikeStop, RealRider and many other IAM partners will be on display. In addition IAM examiners and observers will be on hand to offer demo rides and answer all your questions.

Sarah Sillars, IAM chief executive officer, said: “We hope that as many people as possible will come along to our event and rediscover the joy of riding. Riding is not only an enjoyable activity, but a highly social one too. And the IAM Motorcycling Festival is going to be one of the high points of the organisation’s 2015 calendar. We urge everyone to be a part of it”.

To book your ticket call 0300 303 1134 or visit www.iam.org.uk/homecoming

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.

Ace to Squires – Charity Ride Out

Departing Ace Cafe London at 9.30am on Saturday 20th June, the “Ride2Care” heads north to Squires Cafe, near Leeds, in aid of children with Cancer.

The Great North Road (A1) route includes with three (3) tea, coffee and petrol stops:

10:40am to 11:20am  Astwick Connect  Great North Road  Stotfold  Hitchin  Herts  SG5 4BL

12:30pm – 2pm  OK Diner  Bloody Oaks Service Station  Tickencote  Stamford  Lincs  PE9 4AD

2:50pm   - 3:20pm  Total  Old Rufford Road  Newark-on-Trent  Ollerton  Notts  NG22 9DT

To arrive about 4.20pm at:

Squires Cafe  Newthorpe  Gorse Lane  Leeds  W. Yorks  LS25 5LX

Camping available

 or more information: www.ncca-uk.org

Pre-register at: www.ride2cure.org.uk

e-mail: [email protected]

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

Born 27 May 1986, in Douglas, Isle of Man!

Conor rides on the British Road Racing Circuit, competes in the British Superstock Championship and of course, the Isle of Man TT.

Currently riding for the Honda Racing team. 

Here is on the Superbike TT podium.

JORDI TORRES FORCED TO THE FIFTH ROW

Donington, 23 May 2015 – The World Superbike Saturday at Donington started off well for Leon Haslam who rode his RSV4 RF to the top of the list in the last practice session before Superpole. The English Aprilia Racing - Red Devils riders confirmed his improvement despite the fact that the extremely tight gaps preclude any predictions.

In Superpole the English rider managed the available 15 minutes well, taking two flying laps on a race tyre and then throwing himself into an attempt on the softer tyre. The final, exciting minutes of Superople had many of the riders improving on their times, with the final standings under the chequered flag placing Haslam fourth, which translates into the first spot on the second row of the grid. Leon is pleased with the work done today, whereas the races promise to be close, especially in the final laps.

Leon Haslam: “After being fastest in FP4 I'm pleased with the fourth best time in Superpole, especially considering a few mistakes I made in the first sector. Looking at the last few sessions it's clear that the races will be close tomorrow as there are a lot of riders with very similar pace. A good start and staying in the lead pack will be important. Here at Donington the last two tight turns have always shuffled the deck in the last few laps of the race. My ribs are still hurting a bit, maybe more than I expected, but it shouldn't be a problem tomorrow.”

Hard luck for Jordi Torres who, after putting the eighth best time on the sheets this morning with a good feeling astride his RSV4 RF, took on Superpole 1 in the best possible way. Putting in the best time with a race tyre, Jordi was slowed down on his flying lap by a few uncertainties in the braking sections, having to settle for the thirteenth best time in the end. Starting from the fifth row won't be easy, although the progress he demonstrated in the final session makes the Spanish rookie cautiously optimistic.

Jordi Torres: “This morning we took a big step forward, even bigger than the times show because the different tyre we tried was lacking a bit of grip at the rear. This is the positive aspect of the day, because for me it is always important to improve from one day to the next on a new track. I went through to Superpole 1 confidently. I felt like I was doing well but after a good lap on the race tyre the bike was a bit twitchy in the braking sections so I wasn't able to exploit the qualifier tyre well. These things happen, and unfortunately starting from the thirteenth spot is less than ideal, but we'll need to be focused to take on the races, trying to get off the line well and overtaking as many riders as possible in the early phases of the race.”