Tuesday 31 May 2016

THE CLASSIC FATHER'S DAY GIFT

Silverstone Classic
 

THE CLASSIC FATHER'S DAY GIFT

  • Tickets to the world’s biggest classic motor racing festival
  • A flat-out trip down memory lane for all the family
  • Share the experience by giving dad the gift of a ticket this Father’s Day 
     
Coveted tickets to the world’s biggest classic motor racing festival are a great way to spoil dads on Father’s Day, fast approaching on Sunday 19 June.
 
Moreover, as this summer’s Silverstone Classic (29-31 July) offers unrivalled entertainment for all ages – and a new Family Ticket option – the entire family can join in the high-speed thrills and spills, making what is already an unforgettable Father's Day gift all the more special.
 
No matter what his particular interest, any action-loving dad will be blown away by a visit to the dazzling Silverstone Classic for an amazing flat-out trip down memory lane. Across three full days of non-stop entertainment, there will be a glittering array of attractions and activities, headed by a glorious line-up of unmissable races on the famous Silverstone Grand Prix circuit. These feature many of the world’s rarest, most spectacular and valuable racing cars from past golden eras.
 
Ranging from the evocative racers of the 1930s to the high-tech machines from the 1990s, the stellar race card will deliver some of the most eye-catching grids ever seen in Great Britain covering the history of Formula 1, Le Mans, sports, touring and GT cars.
 
This year’s line-up includes two thundering showdowns for mighty Can-Am cars plus a major tribute to mark the 40th anniversary of James Hunt’s F1 world championship-winning campaign in 1976. There will be famous faces, too, with bike heroes Wayne Gardner, ‘Fast’ Freddie Spencer and multiple sidecar world champ Steve Webster joining a host of legendary riders and drivers from past generations all revving up and adding to the superb nostalgia at Silverstone.
 
As if that isn’t enough to put a huge smile on every dad’s face, there will be more than 10,000 classic cars lovingly exhibited on the infield, ranging from awe-inspiring Ferraris and Maseratis to lovable Morgans and MGs. What’s more this summer several iconic marques including Lamborghini, Porsche and Viper will be putting on huge displays to celebrate important milestones in their histories.
 
As has become customary, live music will also be a popular feature over the weekend, with crowd-pleasing concerts on the evenings of both Friday (29 July) and Saturday (30 July) maintaining the fabulous event’s ‘Rocking and Racing’ tradition. Chart-toppers The Boomtown Rats will strut their stuff on Friday, while Saturday’s performances are headlined by Reef and The Stranglers. Entry to all these rock concerts is included within the general circuit admission price.
 
But the entertainment doesn’t stop there. A vintage funfair, aerial displays, three auctions, hot air balloon display, helicopter flights, streetcar shoot-outs, 4x4 passenger experiences, spitfire demonstrations, crazy golf, a huge shopping village, an adrenaline ride zone, Car Clinic shows with Mike Brewer and a live Range Rover restoration, both presented by eBay, as well as giant TV screens showing all the on-track action are all part of the most remarkable show of the year.
 
"The Silverstone Classic is the biggest and best classic motor racing festival in the world as well as one of Europe's most entertaining and action-packed car-themed events," said Nick Wigley, CEO of organisers, Goose Live Events. "There really is something for everyone – that’s why a family day out at the Silverstone Classic is the perfect Father's Day gift for any dad with even the smallest drop of high-octane fuel in his veins."
 
In keeping with the event’s widely acclaimed ‘access all areas’ policy, all tickets include free entrance to both racing paddocks and pit complexes, trackside grandstands and live music concerts on Friday and Saturday evenings. Adult admission is from just £42 and considerable savings are on offer for those festival-goers spending the full weekend at Silverstone. This year there’s also a special Family Ticket. Full details can be found on the officialwww.silverstoneclassic.com website.  

Tuesday 24 May 2016

SUPERCARS IN TOP GEAR AS THE STIG GUEST STARS IN SCOTLAND

Press Release For Immediate Distribution: 19/05/16 

SUPERCARS IN TOP GEAR AS 
THE STIG GUEST STARS IN SCOTLAND

 

• Lamborghinis, McLarens, Porsches and AMG Mercs all confirmed
• Performance laps from the mysterious BBC star on all three days of the show
• Action guaranteed at Scotland’s unique celebration of motoring


Top Gear’s tame racing driver, The Stig, will be in action behind the wheel of a stunning selection of supercars to ensure Glasgow’s IGNITION Festival of Motoring is the must attend event of the summer.

One of the star displays at the festival, to be held at Glasgow’s Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre on 5-7 August, will be the Top Gear Magazine Supercar Grid, which will be crammed with Lamborghinis, Porsches, McLarens, Mustangs, Mercedes and more.

But this will be no mere static display. At regular intervals, the supercars will be fired up and taken out on high-speed laps of the show’s bespoke street circuit to be laid out around the SECC and the nearby SSE Hydro Arena.

The Stig will be the lead driver for the performance laps throughout the Show’s three days.

“You seldom see cars like the Lamborghini Huracan (below middle left), Audi R8 V10 and McLaren 675LT (below top) out on the road, but thanks to Top Gear magazine, you can go one better than that. Come to our grid at IGNITION and not only can you get up close to some of the latest and greatest cars from around the world including the Porsche 911 GT3 RS (below middle right), Ariel Nomad, Mercedes AMG GTS (below bottom left), the iconic Mustang V8 (below bottom right) and many more, but you will also be able to see and hearthem in action,” said Top Gear magazine Editor in Chief, Charlie Turner.

Advance tickets for Scotland’s three-day festival of tyre smoking, engine-revving excitement, are now on sale, with prices to suit every pocket. Single tickets bought in advance start at just £28 while a family day ticket for two adults and up to three children costs just £65.

Full details on all ticket prices, including special VIP entry to the show’s star-studded opening evening, can be found on the IGNITION website – www.ignitionfestival.co.uk – where you can also sign up to the event newsletter and be among the first to hear event news.

IGNITION promises to be the most ambitious motoring event ever staged in Scotland. Presenting the best in motoring from the past, present and future as well as highlighting Scotland’s own contribution to motor sport, IGNITION is a dynamic celebration of high octane excitement.

As well as hall after hall of cars and bikes old and new, highlights include a live action zone while there will also be display laps by iconic competition machinery including a Red Bull Racing RB7 Formula One car which will be driven by Scotland’s own Formula One hero David Coulthard.

Coulthard will drive the RB7 on Saturday and Sunday, 6 and 7 August, Sergio Sette Camara from the Red Bull Junior team will be behind the wheel on Friday 6 August while rally legend Jimmy McRae will be demonstrating son Colin’s championship-winning Subaru Impreza. Boyzone star Shane Lynch will be drifting his supercharged Nissan 370Z and the Top Gear Live Stunt Team will be offering thrills a plenty.

Joe Aitken, Head of Major Events at Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said: “We're really looking forward to hosting the inaugural IGNITION Festival of Motoring. The announcement of the Street Circuit is incredibly exciting as it marks a UK first for Glasgow and will put the city right at the heart of the action. Today's announcement reinforces Glasgow's enviable reputation as a world-class destination which works with major event organisers to create show-stopping events that pack a real punch for audiences.”


Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland’s Director of Events, said: “The IGNITION Festival of Motoring promises to be an exciting event, and it is fantastic news that the Stig will be the lead driver for the performance laps.

"The event is expected to attract visitors from across Scotland and further afield, for what will be thrilling weekend of motoring action that will fully utilise the outstanding facilities in and around Glasgow’s SECC."


IGNITION Festival of Motoring is staged by the team behind the globally successful Top Gear Live events, the London Classic Car Show, Top Gear Festivals and the Chris Evans-inspired CarFest North and South family shows.

May Newsletter - Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run supported by Hiscox

New Route Maps
 
In acknowledgement of feedback from participants, clearer route maps have now been produced for both those taking part in the Run and the many hundreds of spectators that line the route from London to Brighton. These give greater detail of the route locations and time periods when best to view. These can be found on the event website: Participant and Tender: www.veterancarrun.com/register and Spectator: www.veterancarrun.com/event-info.


          
Veteran Car Dating
 
The VCC Dating Committee were pleased to inspect two candidate veteran cars for this year’s Run at the April Creepy Crawly Rally.
The committee remains keen to encourage as many German-owned cars as possible to enter this year to acknowledge the 2016 theme of ‘Celebrating German Motoring’. Consideration will be made for the holding of a dating inspection in Germany later in the year, depending on a sufficient number of cars requiring inspection. To register your interest in such an inspection please contact dac.vcc@gmail.com with details of the car and its location.

1879 Steam Car

This due de dame type carriage steam car built in Tuscany in 1879 is undergoing a complete restoration by Davide Lorenzone in Italy with the aim of entering this year’s Run. We hope we can welcome this fantastic car into the Run this year and will keep you posted on developments.


  
2016 Run Registrations
 
In the first month since entries opened the organisers are pleased to report that they already have 231 cars registered from as far afield as Australia, North America and across Europe. This level of entries is up on previous years at the same point and includes twelve new participants. A reminder that Early Bird entries will close Friday 27 May. When making your entry don’t forget to also enter the Regularity Time Trial operated over the section of route from Crawley to Burgess Hill.
Bonhams

Now entering its 13th year, Bonhams invite consignments for the annual London to Brighton Run auction, taking place on Friday 4 November at their flagship New Bond Street salerooms.
Each year the Bonhams sale exclusively features pre-1905 cars, many eligible for the Run, as well as a varied selection of fascinating automobilia.
The 2015 auction saw great success, with a packed saleroom, 95% sold and a total of £1.5 million, led by starring lot, the 1903 Clement Model AC4R four-cylinder, rear-entrance Tonneau, sold to a British bidder in the room for £415,900. 
Elsewhere, the 1904 Napier Model D45 12hp four-cylinder, five-seater, side-entrance Tourer sold for £326,333. One of the few Napier models that were assembled in period in America, the exceptionally rare Napier boasts inclusion in three major international car collections and comes with an enviable record of completed London to Brighton Runs.
For further information on Bonhams London to Brighton Sale, contact Bonhams at ukcars@bonhams.com.
 
Concours d'Elegance
 
The Veteran Car Concours d’Elegance will again be a main feature of the Regent Street Motor Show scheduled for the day before the Run, Saturday 5 November. We have a capacity for 100 Veteran Car Run eligible cars that can take part, so ensure your place by booking in now as we are already half full for this year.

                                        
    
Wellington Arch & The Mall
 
English Heritage and London’s Royal Parks have again, for the 3rd consecutive year, granted the Run organisers permission to use Wellington Arch and The Mall in St James’s Park as the first part of the route out of London from the Serpentine Road, Hyde Park start line. The Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run supported by Hiscox joins only Her Royal Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, and the Royal Horseguards in being permitted to drive under the Wellington Arch.

          
BBC Children in Need

The team of Chris Evans, Alex Jones and Ken Bruce will again be joining the Run this year driving the 2015 BBC Children in Need auction winners in vintage buses along the 60 mile route. Since the association between the Run and the charity was forged in November 2014, over £500,000 has been raised.
 

GATWICK AIRPORT FLIES TO SUPPORT THE WORLD’S OLDEST MOTORING EVENT


VCR 2015

GATWICK AIRPORT

FLIES TO SUPPORT THE WORLD’S OLDEST MOTORING EVENT  

A warm welcome is promised as London’s second
Airport becomes an official partner 

  

Gatwick Airport, the UK’s second busiest airport, has been appointed the Official Airport and a partner of the 2016 Bonhams Veteran Car Run supported by Hiscox.

The Airport will be providing a warming drink to all participants at the start of the event – not just welcome but also likely to be much needed on an early November Sunday morning – and will be rewarding participants for their punctual arrival at the official finish line in Brighton’s Madeira Drive.
The world’s most efficient single runway airport will also be welcoming visitors to Crawley (above and below) by providing them with hand warmers and the opportunity to sit inside a veteran car to have their photo taken.  Crawley, a mere three miles away from the Airport is a major viewing area and gathering point where the public can get close to the pioneering horseless carriages.
Ben Cussons, Chairman of the Veteran Car Run Steering Group, said: “We are delighted that Gatwick Airport has come on board as an official partner. It is perfectly positioned in the middle of the run equidistant from both London and Brighton. The supporters at Crawley will certainly receive a warm welcome and a chance to get closer to the action this year!”
Melanie Wrightson, Community Engagement Manager, Gatwick Airport, said: “The London to Brighton corridor is an important UK transport link with Gatwick uniquely placed at the centre of this growth corridor. We are delighted to be sponsoring this year’s Run and are particularly pleased the event will be returning to Crawley, the home town of Gatwick. We wish all the participants a successful event and applaud the pioneering spirit of all those involved in helping to make this event possible.”
This year’s Run marks the 120th anniversary of the first ‘Emancipation Run’ from London to Brighton, which was held in November 1896. It marked the passing into law of the Locomotives on the Highway Act which raised the speed limit for ‘light locomotives’ from 4mph to 14mph and abolished the need for the vehicles to be preceded by a man carrying a red flag.
As tradition dictates, the Run – which has been organised by the Royal Automobile Club since 1930 – will take place on the first Sunday on November, which this year falls on the 6th. More than 400 three- and four-wheelers – all built before 1905 – will take part in the Run.
The Run is just one element of the Royal Automobile Club’s London Motor Week – a seven-day celebration of motoring, which includes an art exhibition, motoring heritage lectures, a motoring forum and a motoring books awards evening. The penultimate event in the week is the free-to-view Regent Street Motor Show, on Saturday 5 November, which turns London’s premier shopping street into a motoring showcase that puts the spotlight on veterans and moderns alike. And just before 7am on Sunday 6 November the Club’s premier event, the 120th anniversary Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Run supported by Hiscox, gets underway.



For more details of the event and access to registration forms visit www.veterancarrun.com.


[Ends]

Share
Tweet
Forward to Friend
+1
Read Later
Click on images for Hi-Res versions

RECORD NUMBERS OF VIPERS TO SNAKE AROUND SILVERSTONE


Record numbers of Vipers to snake around Silverstone
Silverstone Classic
16/05/16

RECORD NUMBERS OF VIPERS TO SNAKE AROUND SILVERSTONE 

  • American muscle cars out in force to mark UK club’s 20th birthday 
  • Special display and anniversary track parade on Saturday
  • Car and Bike Clubs Display Package open until the end of May
As tradition dictates, this summer’s Silverstone Classic (29-31 July) will be home to a huge number of enthusiastic car clubs all celebrating significant model or marque milestones with vast displays and glittering track parades.

Recent events have exulted in record breaking birthday cavalcades of E-type Jaguars, Ferrari F40s, Porsche 911s, Ford Mustangs and Grand Prix racing cars. This year’s highlights will include an unprecedented gathering mighty Dodge Vipers, one of America’s most iconic muscle cars.
Originally conceived by Chrysler in the late eighties to be a modern day Cobra, the venomous Viper RT/10 Roadster first went on public sale in January 1992. While the finish of the dramatically styled two-door roadster was pretty spartan (there were no windows or exterior door handles!), it came with a Lamborghini-inspired 8-litre V10 engine and thus walloping 160+mph performance. A true US classic was born.
Four years later came a slightly more powerful and refined second generation Viper plus a GTS coupe version for road and track. Also in 1996, the United Kingdom Viper Club was formed and, thus, it is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a record-breaking display at the 2016 Silverstone Classic. 
“The Classic weekend is going to be the biggest event for us in what’s a very special year,” enthused Adrian Swift, President of the UK Viper Club. “We have at least 16 Vipers coming from Europe to join us at Silverstone and expect to have more than 30 Vipers in Saturday’s track parade. It will be the largest number of Vipers that has ever been gathered together at one spot in the UK!”
It’s not only the UK Viper Club that will be out in force in July; a colossal number of car clubs now make the Silverstone Classic the base for their annual celebrations, and 2016 is set to be no different. Owners and enthusiasts will be marking 50 years of the iconic Lamborghini Miura, 70 years of Allard and 80 years since the introduction of the evergreen Morgan 4/4 (below bottom right) – a car that is still being crafted in Malvern today making it the longest single model production run in automotive history.
Amongst all these varied celebrations, the retro-styled Nissan Figaro (below bottom left) will be honoured 25 years since its launch. The distinctive little convertible has acquired a cult following in the UK, and is sure to be a standout feature at the Silverstone Classic.
Homegrown classics enjoying their weekend in the spotlight include the Lotus Esprit turning 40 this year, the Jaguar XK8 celebrating its 20th birthday, plus the Triumph GT6 and Vitesse 2 Litre, which are both 50. In fact, wherever you turn within Silverstone’s vast infield, there will be huge club displays and festivities taking place.
And it’s not too late for others to join the party either – but time is running out. Special ‘Car Club Packages’ are available until the end of May. These offer members of registered car and bike clubs the chance to purchase two adult tickets plus a coveted infield display parking pass at a significantly discounted price. Club registration is free and full details can be found on the official website: http://www.silverstoneclassic.com/whats-on/clubs.
Whether drawn by the record numbers of Vipers or the myriad of other attractions at the world’s biggest classic motor racing festival, visitors must buy their tickets in advance. Adult admission starts at just £42 and sticks to the Classic’s widely-praised ‘access all areas’ policy. This provides admission to both National and Wing race paddocks, trackside grandstands, the vintage funfair, air displays and the live music concerts which this year include chart-toppers The Boomtown Rats, Reef and The Stranglers.
Full details of all tickets – as well as hospitality packages, special family offers and weekend festival camping – can be found on the event’s official website: www.silverstoneclassic.com.