The Isle of Man Government, Department of Economic Development has attracted a huge entry for the Classic TT Races, the new motorcycle race meeting which takes place in August this year on the Isle of Man.

Entries for the Classic TT, which forms part of the Isle of Man Festival of Motorcycling, closed on the 3rd May with two of the three main races oversubscribed. In total there were over 300 indivdiual entries and the line-up comprises a truly international field of riders including competitors from Australia, New Zealand, the USA, France, Germany, Belgium and Holland.

Racing will get underway on Saturday 24th August with the 500cc Classic TT Race, which attracted an oversubscribed entry for the maximum 90 places on the Glencrutchery Road starting grid. The 500cc Race will turn back the clock with an array of racing machines from the 1960’s, with exotic multi cylinder bikes from manufacturers such as MV Agusta, Honda and Paton going up against the single cylinder British machines from iconic names such as Norton, Matchless and AJS.

The second day of racing on the UK Bank Holiday - Monday 26th August - starts with the combined 350cc / 250cc Classic TT Races. There were over eighty entries across the two races, with the 350cc Race expected to be a battle between the host of Honda machines entered versus bikes from Aermacchi, Norton and AJS amongst others. The 250cc race entry is dominated by Suzuki machines, with a smaller number of Hondas, Ducatis and Kawasakis also featuring.

The biggest entry overall comes in the combined Formula 1 / Formula 2 / Formula Classic Race which was significantly oversubscribed. Over 120 entries were received for the third and final race of the inaugural event. These three races run concurrently and will recreate scenes from the '70s, '80s and '90s with a mixture of Grand Prix racing two stroke machines and early Japanese Superbikes doing battle once again over the challenging TT Mountain Circuit.

Some of the biggest names in modern day TT racing head the entry list with riders such as John McGuinness, Conor Cummins, Michael and William Dunlop, Gary Johnson, Cameron Donald and Bruce Anstey amongst many others all confirmed to appear. They won’t have it all their own way however, with Classic Racing specialists such as Roy Richardson, Alan Oversby, Olie Linsdell and Chris Palmer just some of the riders likely to be in contention in all of their races.

The Classic TT has also drawn in the biggest teams and most respected machine builders from all over the world to compete. The Yamaha Classic Racing Team will make their one and only competitive racing outing at the Classic TT, with Team Classic Suzuki, a factory team from Norton Motorcycles, leading TT teams Padgett’s Motorcycles and CSC Racing and multiple Manx GP winners Team Winfield also taking part.

The line up reads like a who’s who of classic racing royalty with individuals such as New Zealand’s Ken McIntosh and British engineering greats Dick Linton, Andy Molnar, Fred Walmsley, Tony Dunnell and John Davies all either entering their own machinery or heading up one of the major teams.

Trevor Hussey, Head of Motorsport, Department of Economic Development commented: “Now the entry has closed for the first Classic TT Races we can start to get a real feel for the type of racing we can expect this coming August. A lot of hard work has gone in to assembling what we believe will be the best entry for a classic motorcycle race in the world this year, both in terms of numbers and the quality of riders and machinery and the Classic Racing community has really got behind what we are trying to do. There has been huge interest in the event for many months and we already have lots of enquires for 2014, never mind 2013.

The Classic TT, along with the 90th Anniversary Manx Grand Prix, the Vintage Motor Cycle Club activities as well and the two off road trials events which together form the Isle of Man Festival of Motorcycling look set to provide a welcome boost to visitor numbers. Early booking figures suggest significant numbers of visitors will attend the Festival whilst commercial interest, particularly in the Classic TT, has also been encouraging.”

Over 600 Veteran and Vintage motorcycles will ride together when the Heritage Motor Centre hosts the 65th nostalgic Vintage Motor Cycle Club Banbury Run™. 

For the first time the event will run over two days with a Vintage Training Day taking place on Saturday 15 June offering Vintage Virgins the chance to ride Veteran & Vintage Motorcycles in a safe “off road” environment. The main Banbury Run™, which will take place on Sunday 16 June, is the largest gathering of pre-1931 Motorcycles & 3 Wheelers in the World.

The Banbury Run™ is aimed at those who enjoy the thrill of riding with other Vintage, Veteran & Pioneer bikes. Visitors can see the bikes in all their glory as they set off for their annual Run around the countryside. The exact route is kept top secret until the day, but we can exclusively reveal that it will venture through the villages of Cropready, Knightcote and Arlescote. In addition to the Run, there will also be Club and Trade Stands, over 100 Autojumble pitches and special interest displays.

Tom Caren, Show Manager for the Heritage Motor Centre stated “The Banbury Run is a fantastic day out and we’re delighted to be hosting it again with the Vintage Motor Cycle Club.  All the machines were manufactured before 1931 and to watch them ride together is a really wonderful spectacle to see!”

The Museum will be open from 9am – 5pm with the Banbury Run™ beginning at 10am. Tickets costs £15 for adults, £8 for children, £13 for concessions and £42 for a family with museum entry included to entrants and spectators. Discounted tickets are available in advance online. Gift Aid Season tickets, Tesco Club cards or any other promotional offers are not valid on this day.

www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk

For more information about the Vintage Training Day contact Sam Brown [email protected]

20 live bands in three marquees, 3x disco’s, Stand-up Comedy Show, Bike/Trike Show by 100% Biker magazine, Cheap Beer (3 x Bars - including ‘Real Ale’ bar featuring a range of 60 beers and ciders), loads of trade stands and lots of other good stuff.

venue: Astle Park, Chelford, Cheshire, SK11 9AQ price: OTG: £30. Car parking £20 (free disabled parking with blue badge). Caravans £20. Campervans £30. All non blue-badge holders, caravans or campervans must make prior arrangement by phoning the office; car, caravan and campervan passes will not be available on the gate. Strictly no dogs allowed (except guide dogs). Strict 3,000 ticket limit.
tel: 0844 415 4849
website: www.nabd.org.uk
e-mail: [email protected]

It's here, the long awaited arrival of Britain's newest and most radically vibrant motorcycle association.

The aptly named British Bikers Association (BBA) has now launched their action and information packed website. Visitors will now be able to browse exclusive motorcycle news content and get involved in the latest debates.

The BBA team is headed up by Chairman Colin Mahoney, who emphasises that Great Britain needed to do more than meet the needs of the modern rider. Colin who is a multi brand biker of many years is confident that the BBA will mark a sea-change in the way that campaigning groups interact with their most important stakeholders - the people that make up the numbers, the members themselves.

Colin, said, "We all know that the world of motorcycling moves at an ever increasing pace, whether it's new bikes, safety equipment, technology, British bike conservation or unfair and ill prepared legislation that we have to abide by.

The British Bikers Association was launched to reflect that rapid pace of change by providing up to the minute news, advice and for a refreshing change real 'sledge hammer' campaigning clout to its members. We want to set a rigid but fair agenda when it comes to securing better deals for all bikers in all aspects of our lives."

Colin has been actively involved with motorcycling activities for over 30 years. His attitude is that there are far too many shortcuts being taken with peoples' lives in today's Britain and it's only those that shout the loudest and gather the most support that survive; and he sees himself as a survivor.

"As bikers ourselves we know what sort of action we want when we have a justifiable gripe against the unjustified, and that the powerful BBA will be the organisation that precisely reflects the mood of our members.

That's why our Biker's Voice app puts the power to build cohesive networks of riders right in the palm of their hands. Having a voice is being heard and being heard is persuasive power. The app is available on Google play or android at present and will be released for the Apple market within the next month. The BBA's purely electronic mode of delivery means that the latest news from the UK and the world of motorcycling is sent straight to members' Smartphones and email inboxes as soon as it breaks to us.

See here for app

It includes  

•BBA News updates piped straight from BBA to your phone. All the latest news, views, campaigns and promotions are just a finger-swipe away. •Vote in the BBA Website's surveys. A vote from the app will instantly upload on the website, meaning that never again will you need to wait until you get home to join in with our online community. With immediate access to mobile optimised content, online surveys and topical campaigns, Biker's Voice really is democracy on the move. •The app's BBA Fuel meter allows you to monitor your bike's fuel consumption and gives you advice about how much fuel you will need for your next trip based on an average measure. It will also allow you to monitor how much you have spent on petrol. •Keep an eye on your speed with the inbuilt BBA Digital speedometer (GPS enabled phones only).  It will display your bike's current speed and also give you an option to a set a speed limit - great for staying safe, staying legal and managing your fuel consumption. •BBA Record your journey. The app will trace your speed, distance travelled and total time of the journey •BBA Navigational Compass. This tool will help you in your motorcycle journeys by providing accurate navigation.  

Many more additions to the app are scheduled for release over the coming year and members will have the opportunity to request additional resources for the app. We will listen then implement.

It's an approach that Colin and the team believe is vital to maintaining the BBA as a progressive and developing organisation equipped to give its members the best deals possible: "£15 (or 4 pence a day) gets you a year's subscription, and that includes a free bi-monthly e-zine, full access to the Biker's Voice app and the fast-track to some of the most exciting motorcycling features around. It also means you'll become part of a genuine democratic and meaningful campaigning voice for bikers throughout the British Isles.

Colin concludes "Together we're now a force that can safeguard and promote motorcycling for the enjoyment of future generations. I want to be able to say 'I was there at the beginning'"

For more information on the BBA - including how to join and the benefits of membership - log on to www.britishbikersassociation.org

Drink-drive rules involving the most serious offenders are to be tightened up.

Under new regulations the most dangerous offenders will have to prove  they are no longer dependent on alcohol before they are allowed to get  back behind the wheel.

The new measures will also see those drink-drivers who obstruct the  police by refusing to allow their blood samples to be analysed being  treated the same as other high risk offenders.

Currently, all high risk offenders must pass a medical examination  before they can be issued with a driving licence following their  disqualification. However, drivers can start driving as soon as they  have applied for their licence and before they have taken and passed the  necessary medical.

But from June 1 the most dangerous drink-drivers will have to pass a  medical confirming they are no longer alcohol dependent at the end of  their disqualification and BEFORE they start driving.

Also, those offenders who refuse to allow their blood samples to be  analysed will also, from June 1, only get their licence back following  disqualification if they pass the required medical.

Under the  High Risk Offender (HRO) scheme, drivers convicted of certain  serious drink/driving offences must have a medical investigation to confirm that there are no on-going problems with the misuse of alcohol  before they can be issued with a licence.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA is notified of such  offenders by the courts. Last year the DVLA was notified by the courts  of just over 50,000 drink-driving convictions.

Nearly 22,000 of those were classed as high risk offenders. Of those, around 5,000 drivers either failed, or failed to attend, their medical.

Road Safety Minister Stephen Hammond said: "Drink-drivers are a menace  and it is right that we do everything we can to keep the most high risk  offenders off the road."

The IAM's response to tougher drink-drive rules:

Director of policy and research Neil Greig said: "Persistent drink drivers are a menace on our roads and these new rules will be welcomed by the law abiding majority."

"Numbers of repeat offenders are still far too high and the government should urgently consider bringing in a vehicle forfieture scheme like that in Scotland. This has been a success with the strong sanction of having your car sold acting as a real deterrent. Enhanced Drink drive rehabilitation courses may also be an option for these problem drivers but ultimately their selfishness means that they deserve the strongest possible punishment."