Thursday 29 March 2018

ACE CAFE CELEBRATES ITS 80th BIRTHDAY AT THE SILVERSTONE CLASSIC

Silverstone Classic

 

ACE CAFE CELEBRATES ITS 
80th BIRTHDAY AT THE SILVERSTONE CLASSIC

 

• Legendary motorcycle haven pays tribute to its biker heritage
• Displays, track parade plus homage styled paddock dinner     
• Special ticket offer for owners of classic bikes to join party
• Cost-saving Early Bird tickets available until the end of March

The immortalised Ace Cafe will be celebrating its 80th anniversary in spectacular style with a huge presence at this summer’s spectacular Silverstone Classic (20-22 July).
 Saluting its legendary status among motorcyclists, the Ace Cafe will recreate a special homage to its remarkable heritage at the home of British motor sport and be the iconic hub at the heart of the huge paddock display of classic bikes. Fittingly, 80 of these will be selected for an evocative track parade.
First opened in 1938 as a wayside traffic café on London’s new North Circular Road, the Ace Cafe quickly became a Mecca for bike riders, notably with the speedy ‘Ton Up Boys’ in the fifties and then the Rockers in the sixties.
 With changing cultures and the opening of the M1, the original cafe closed its doors in 1969… but the story did not end there. Following the huge success of an Ace Cafe reunion organised by Mark Wilsmore in the mid-nineties, the original building was refurbished and reopened in 1997, and ever since has been attracting biker pilgrimages from all over the globe.
 Bringing that magic to Silverstone, the Ace Cafe will ‘take over’ the Pit Stop Café in the circuit’s National Paddock with menus, displays, dressings and music all embracing the unique appeal and character of the original diner in north west London.
 Adding to the festivities, the setting will also be home to a massive gathering of classic motorbikes – 80 of which will take to the hallowed Silverstone Grand Prix circuit for an astounding 80th birthday track parade at lunchtime on Saturday.
 To encourage all classic bike owners to join the celebrations, a special Ace Cafe Motorcycle Display package is being offered in keeping with the historic values of the event. The package includes two general admission tickets and in-field parking in the dedicated Ace Cafe display area plus free parking for support vehicles and trailers if bikes are transported to Silverstone. 
 “This is a wonderful opportunity for all bike lovers to share in our 80th birthday celebrations and, of course, our ageless passion for motorcycles,” enthused Wilsmore, Managing Director of the Ace Cafe. “The Silverstone Classic is an absolutely incredible event and we are expecting a huge turn-out of both bikes and fans. It’s going to be a daunting ­– yet exciting – task for us to hand-pick just the 80 standout bikes that best represent 80 years of Ace Cafe history for the commemorative track parade.”
 Although predominantly a peerless classic car and historic motorsport extravaganza, bikes are now very much part of the record-breaking show at the annual Silverstone Classic.
 Recent events have seen some of the greatest names in two-wheeled motor sport back aboard their brutal period two-stroke machines as part of the epic World GP Bike Legends showcase. Now the addition of the Ace Cafe 80th Anniversary party, will further fuel the Classic’s appeal for bikers of all ages.
 Classic bike owners wishing to be part of the revelries are asked to contact Ace Cafe directly or email experience@silverstoneclassic.com for details of the exclusive Ace Cafe Display Package.
 All those wishing to attend this summer’s Silverstone Classic – whether two- or four-wheel fanatics – can still take advantage of a range of Early Bird offers if they act swiftly and purchase their tickets before the end of March.
 As has proved so popular in the past, all these tickets – which must be purchased in advance – provide access to both Silverstone racing paddocks, all open trackside grandstands, live music concerts (topped by Soul II Soul and UB40 featuring Ali, Astro and Mickey), air shows, Drive Live test drives, funfair rides and the vast majority of the family entertainment on offer. Options on camping and hospitality are also available. Full details of all 2018 ticket prices are detailed on thesilverstoneclassic.com website.

Photo credits (above and below top and bottom): © Ace Cafe London Archive.


Tuesday 27 March 2018

‘Cotswold Airport Revival Festival’.- Back By Popular Demand And Set To Be Twice As Big!

Back By Popular Demand And Set To Be Twice As Big! 

On 29th and 30th September Cotswold Airport is throwing open its gates to the public once again for its incredible vintage and wartime extravaganza, the ‘Cotswold Airport Revival Festival’.

This year's event will be spread over two days and is set to be an absolutely unforgettable weekend with lots of exciting activities and attractions for all the family.

Both days will be packed full of dramatic re-enactments and demonstrations; thrilling vintage fly pasts; exciting rides and experience flights; hundreds of vintage and military vehicles; full size and miniature steam engines; and plenty of entertainment including period live music.

Find more information and buy tickets at www.cotswoldairportrevival.com

The first musical acts for Sywell Classic: Pistons and Props confirmed!

The first musical acts for Sywell Classic: Pistons and Props confirmed!

Back by popular return, The Houndogs will grace the Scarf and Goggles Stage once again!

 
Top rockabilly three-piece The Houndogs return to Sywell Classic: Pistons & Props on Saturday 22nd and 23rd September 2018. Expect to hear tunes from Elvis, Buddy Holly and The Stray Cats. Expect energetic performances throughout the weekend.

Single Day and Weekend Camping tickets are now available to purchase from www.sywellclassic.co.uk
Buy Tickets
View the Houndogs on Sky 1's Must Be The Music

Peaks of the Adriatic Pre War May 18 - 27, 2019

Peaks of the Adriatic
Pre War

May 18 - 27, 2019
 
For 2019 we have planned some exciting rallies all starting in Italy and going southeast along the Adriatic.

Peaks of the Adriatic Per War: May 18 - 27, 2019; Along the Adriatic and into the mountains to Greece.
Via Flaminia Classic: June 8 - 15, 2019;    Italy - Slovenia - Croatia - Bosnia - Slovenia - Italy.
Peaks of the Adriatic Classic: September 14 - 23, 2019; much as the pre war but for classic cars.

 
The first one opening for registration is the Peaks of the Adriatic for pre-war motor cars. In 9 days this small rally will cover 1750 kilometres through 8 countries. So bring your passport !
First the rally will be going along the magnificent Adriatic coast and stop in the centre of the historic towns of Zadar and Split.
Then it will be going into the mountainous regions with some truly spectacular roads over passes with views right into the Balkan on one side and towards Italy on the other side.
From Montenegro we cross into Albania and towards the lake region in Macedonia before our last border crossing towards Greece.

The finish will be in a resort at lake Kastoria. From there it is a day’s drive over splendid roads towards the ferry in Igoumenitsa, which will bring us back to Ancona.
The people in the Balkan are very welcoming and they will be very impressed by the cars, which we bring. The nature is overwhelming and at times astonishing.
In general the roads are in good condition. A big effort is going on in making them up to “our” standard.
Early registration for the Peaks of the Adriatic has just started. The fee for a crew of two is € 3.900, -. We welcome your booking. Only 25 entries available.

This includes 9 nights in excellent hotels, seven dinners and lunches, technical support by Altena Classic & Rally Services and a large commemorative picture book by photographer Wico Mulder.

Additionally you can book the motorail from Düsseldorf to Innsbruck or from Hamburg to Vienna. For the trip back we provide a lorry from Firenze Airport to Holland and Essex (UK).
We are also planning two rallies for classic cars up to 1974:

- Via Flaminia Classic, June 8 - 15, 2019
- Peaks of the Adriatic Classic, September 14 -23, 2019

We will keep you informed. Mark the dates in your agenda!

For questions, please get in touch with Bart Kleyn at +31 6 242 343 45 or mail him at b.kleyn@via-flaminia.com.

On The Road To Brighton LBHVR


On The Road To Brighton 

 
Entries open for the 122nd staging of the world’s longest running and most charismatic motoring event 
 
Entries for this year’s legendary Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, supported by Hiscox open this week. The Royal Automobile Club will be staging the 122nd Run this year on Sunday 4 November.
 
The world’s longest running motoring event commemorates the Emancipation Run of November 1896 which celebrated the passing into law of the Locomotive on the Highway Act. It was this milestone legislation that raised the speed limit for ‘light locomotives’ from 4mph to 14mph and came after the equally antiquated requirement for a man to walk in front of all moving vehicles waving a red flag had also been abolished.
 
Now, more than 120 years after that very first Run, hundreds of extraordinary pre-1905 vehicles honour the pioneering spirit and engineering dexterities of those intrepid early motorists on a similar historic 60-mile journey from Hyde Park in Central London to the seafront in the Sussex coastal resort of Brighton.
 
Such is the unique character and allure of the annual automotive pilgrimage that it attracts entries from all over the globe and draws vast crowds along the route.
 
Many famous personalities take part each year. In recent running these have included knighted Olympians Sir Steve Redgrave CBE and Sir Ben Ainslie CBE, Le Mans winner Jochen Mass, rock musician Nick Mason, BBC radio presenters Chris Evans and Ken Bruce as well as master baker and television presenter Paul Hollywood. Last year Movember Foundation ambassadors 1996 F1 World Champion Damon Hill OBE and adventurer Charley Boorman jumped aboard one of the very first Rover-badged cars.
 
“It was an utterly amazing experience,” reported Hill. “We expected lots of people to be lining the road when we left Hyde Park but they were all the way along the route cheering, hooting and waving. We gave the trumpet on the side of our car a good work out and my arm is a bit tired from all the waving!”
 
“It was an incredible adventure – bizarre but absolutely wonderful,” added Boorman. “The roads to Brighton were just full of people. It’s one of those marvellous events you just have to do if the opportunity presents itself.”
 
This year’s Run again will include a well-earned mid-way halt at the ever-enthusiastic and helpful Honda Gatwick dealership where cars can be fettled and motorists refreshed plus a time-honoured checkpoint in Crawley High Street where travellers and spectators all will be well looked after with provisions and entertainment provided by Gatwick Airport.
 
Though not itself a competitive event, the Run will also include a Regularity Time Trial thus providing plucky entrants with an additional challenge. Participants have to pre-nominate a target average speed for an allocated 13-mile section in the Sussex Downs with the driver who gets closest to their selected speed being declared the winner. 
 
As in recent years, the Veteran Car Run provides a fitting grand finale to the Royal Automobile Club’s busy London Motor Week – a week in which the celebrated Club presents an array of functions and events to suit all motoring tastes. Of late these have included forums, dinners, trophy presentations, lectures and exhibitions as well as the free-to-view Regent Street Motor Show now held annually on the Saturday immediately before the Run.
 
Adding to the build-up, renowned auctioneer Bonhams hosts a special London to Brighton Run sale on the preceding Friday afternoon with an eye-catching selection of veteran cars and related automobilia coming under the hammer.
 
More information on the Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run supported by Hiscox – including full details of how to enter or spectate – can be found on the official website:www.veterancarrun.com.

What's on at Goodwood Motor Circuit

What's on at Goodwood Motor Circuit

We are preparing for what is set to be another fantastic summer at Goodwood Motor Circuit and now that the season has officially started after a excellent Members' Meeting, there's lots of reasons to be excited!
  
There are plenty of great Track Days for you to come down and watch including Saywell International (Saturday 26 May) and Ferrari Owners Club (Saturday 9 June) to name a few. But if you fancy taking to the Track yourself, there are some fantastic experiences coming up...
Goodwood Track Days
Goodwood 105dB Track Day
Friday 13th April 2018
Enjoy a high-octane, fun-fueled day and push your own car to its limits as you drive in the tracks of legends such as Sir Jackie Stewart and Bruce McLaren.
Don't want to drive your own car? 
Performance Track
Performance Track
Take to the track in a selection of high- performance BMW M Models, a John Cooper Works MINI and the revolutionary hybrid BMW i8. 
Spin and Slide
Spin and Slide
Learn how to master powerslides, handbrake turns and J-Turns with a professional racing driver and feel as though you're in the movies.
Performance Hot Laps
Performance Hot Laps
The 2.4 mile Circuit awaits as you're driven around the historic circuit at exhilarating speeds by a professional racing driver.
Don't forget the youngsters too!
Young Drivers
Young Drivers
For those Under 17, progress through three exciting missions that focus on the basics of driving before graduating on the historic Goodwood Motor Circuit.