REGENT STREET MOTOR SHOW HEADLINED BY ILLINOIS ROUTE 66 HELPS CELEBRATE MILESTONE 200 YEARS     • The UK’s biggest free-to-view car show helps Regent Street mark its 200th anniversary in style • Full-spectrum of motoring past, present and future to honour one of the world’s most-illustrious thoroughfares • Illinois Route 66 renews partnership with the UK’s most popular car-themed showcase • Traditional date on the eve of Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run: Saturday 2 November Already established as the country’s biggest free-to-view car-themed spectacle enjoyed by more than 500,000 visitors, this year’s glittering Illinois Route 66 Regent Street Motor Show (Saturday 2 November) will also serve as one of the stand-out events marking Regent Street’s distinguished 200thanniversary. Adding to the excitement, the Show is teaming up with Illinois Route 66 for the third year in succession.  It was back in 1819 that Regent Street took its name from Prince Regent who had instructed celebrated architect John Nash to build London’s first purpose-built shopping street, and what is today a world-famous global destination set right in the heart of the capital city.  To mark this momentous milestone, several stylish celebrations are planned along the length of Nash’s iconic curve throughout the forthcoming months including, of course, the Regent Street Motor Show. As tradition dictates, the crowd-pleasing attraction will be staged on the eve of the Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run and will feature a magical mix of motoring past, present and future.  Though Regent Street precedes the introduction of Karl Benz’s game-changing 1885 Motorwagen, its hallowed facades have witnessed the full evolution of motoring from those early days of self-propelled horseless carriages right up to the latest city-friendly electric cars – an amazing journey through time, echoes of which will be reflected in the landmark 2019 Show. As ever the formative early days will be wonderfully represented by more than a hundred extraordinary pre-1905 pioneers taking part in the annual Veteran Car Concours d’Elegance before heading off on their route to Brighton at first light the following morning. The unique Concours is always a huge attraction – even more so as many of the intrepid time-travellers, who come from all over the world to be part of the occasion, are dressed in eye-catching period costumes. At the other end of the spectrum, the Motor Show always provides a glimpse into the next 200 years of powered personal transportation with thought-provoking displays of futuristic vehicles, many propelled by the latest innovative generation of low carbon drivetrains.  Equally arresting collections of evocative classic and desirable contemporary cars bridge the decades between the dawn and impending eras of motoring and take on even more significance this year with Regent Street honouring its full history both as a major thoroughfare and as an internationally renowned shopping destination. Ben Cussons, Chairman of the Royal Automobile Club, said “Putting the spotlight on the timeline of the automobile, the Regent Street Motor Show is now one of this country’s top motoring spectacles. This captivating journey through the automobile’s history never fails to capture the imagination of the public; part of its charm is its universal appeal which draws in both the lifelong car enthusiast and the interested passer-by. We are delighted to welcome back Illinois Route 66 as headline partner, and with Regent Street itself celebrating its 200th anniversary in 2019, this year’s show will take on added significance.” Now entering its third year, the event’s title partnership with Illinois Route 66 – another of the world’s most historic and famous highways – continues to go from strength-to-strength. The city of Chicago, Illinois' most popular gateway, is home to the start of what is often called the ‘Main Street of America’ or the ‘Mother Road’. Jan Kemmerling, Acting Director of the Illinois Office of Tourism, said, “We are thrilled to partner with the Regent Street Motor Show for the third consecutive year. We know a significant number of UK visitors enjoy travelling to Chicago each year to experience Route 66 in Illinois, where the journey officially begins. This premier motoring event is the perfect opportunity to inspire more travellers to visit Illinois and travel back in time along the 'Mother Road' - featuring world-famous historical landmarks and must-see sites, from Chicago to Springfield to Alton and many stops in-between. We look forward to promoting Illinois Route 66 road trips to car enthusiasts attending this year's Regent Street Motor Show." The first 100 miles of the epic 2,448-mile journey to the West coast is situated between Lake Michigan and the Illinois River, a region filled with miles of trails and waterways that stretch from suburban Chicago all the way to Starved Rock State Park. The next stretch of Route 66 is also peppered with iconic landmarks taking travellers through the Springfield region, renowned for its extensive and authentic collection of historic Abraham Lincoln sites, and then into Illinois’ Great Rivers & Routes region, home to another of America’s legendary automotive arteries, the Great River Road along the Mississippi River, stretching north-south from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. Whether it is a road trip on Route 66 or a visit to Regent Street in its 200thyear, there is lots to savour in 2019. Further details of the not-to-be-missed Show will be revealed in the coming months.

IF YOU PLAN TO MOTOR WEST.. - Route 66 Regent Street Motor Show

IF YOU PLAN TO MOTOR WEST..

• So much for all ages to enjoy at the Illinois Route 66 Regent Street Motor Show 
• Introduction of the new Kids Zone adds extra youth appeal to the UK’s favorite car show
• Junior karts, Top Gear Experience, dance routines plus movie star car 
• More than 500,000 visitors expected in Regent Street on Saturday 3 November

As the great rock and roll classic song recommends, more than half a million visitors will be ‘getting their kicks’ at the Illinois Route 66 Regent Street Motor Show in central London on Saturday 3 November. Open from 10:30 to 16:00 the annual event set on the capital’s premier shopping destination is a highlight of the week-long London Motor Week organised by the Royal Automobile Club.
 
Firmly established as the country’s most popular free-to-view car-themed event, last year’s show attracted a record crowd of more than 520,000 and, once again, huge numbers of visitors are expected to savour a spectacle that features the full spectrum of automotive history, backed by the US state of Illinois.
 
From the dawn of motoring come more than 100 of the extraordinary pioneers that will be participating in the following day’s famous Bonhams London to Brighton Run Veteran Car Run supported by Hiscox. Dating back to pre-1905 and bursting with period innovations, these amazing machines are always a huge draw on Regent Street which is pedestrianised between Piccadilly and Oxford Circuses especially for the occasion.
 
Adding yet more interest and sparkle, many of the owners attend in period Victorian or Edwardian dress – what’s more, the amazing collection of horseless carriages are entered into a Concours d’Elegance judged by a panel of well-known personalities and renowned experts. This year’s awards ceremony will be presented by well-known television gardener, author and classic car lover Alan Titchmarsh MBE.
 
While the rarely-seen numbers of eye-catching veterans are always a huge crowd-pleaser, they are just one of the dazzling show’s countless attractions. Bringing the story right up-to-date, manufacturers such as Renault and Triumph will be displaying their latest creations on four and two wheels while a stunning collection of supercars is certain to be another huge draw. The roster of 200+mph rocket-ships includes a Pagani Zonda, Ford GT and no fewer than three lush Lamborghinis.
 
Classic cars, too, will be on show with a pride of much-loved Jaguars lining-up alongside a posse of equally evocative Volkswagen Beetles while, for retro motor sport fans, the Silverstone Classic will be out in force displaying golden age F1 and Le Mans racers that will be on track at next summer’s fun-fuelled festival.
 
Motor sport fans will also be stirred by the special one-off presence of competition cars celebrating the 60^th anniversaries of both premier MSA British Rally and MSA British Touring Car Championships – the latter represented by Colin Turkington’s recent title-winning BMW 125i M Sport.
 
The new Kids’ Zone is gearing up to be another popular addition offering children a chance to experience the excitement of electric karts plus a ride in the Top Gear Experience simulator as well as a host of other interactive entertainments.
 
The event’s charity partner – the Movember Foundation – will also be exhibiting again this year with lots of moustache-friendly activities throughout the day, including a pop-up barbershop and themed games as well as lots of ‘mo-merch’ up for grabs such as a collection of limited-edition motoring pin badges which will be available to purchase.
 
Lastly and perhaps most importantly, to ensure that all those attending really do ‘get their kicks’, event title partner Illinois will be paying homage to the fabled Route 66. America’s celebrated ‘Mother Road’ starts in Chicago and travels its first 300-miles through the mid-west State – a route that is steeped in legend, nostalgic eats, quirky museums and more kitsch than you can shake a restored 1940’s gas pump at!    
 
Giving visitors to Regent Street an insight into what remains one of the greatest road trips on Earth, the Visit Illinois display features a number of iconic US street machines including a Ford Thunderbird, Dodge Charger, Pontiac Trans-Am, 1957 Chevy Pick-up plus, of course, a pair of charismatic Harley Davidson Sportsters.
 
“There really is something for all ages and interests at this year’s Illinois Route 66 Regent Street Motor Show,” enthused Ben Cussons, Chairman of the Royal Automobile Club. “Those with a passion for cars will love the incredible variety of machinery on display while there’s so many other attractions for more casual visitors of all ages to enjoy. Moreover, all Regent Street’s eminent stores are open, providing all-comers with a great opportunity to start their Christmas shopping.”
 
Nick Wigley, CEO of event organisers, Goose Live Events, added: “We are thrilled to be bringing more content to the Show this year than ever before. Each year it just gets better and better. Last year visitors told us they’d like to see more family-friendly activities on the Street and we’re delighted to have such a packed line-up for all ages to enjoy!”

REGENT STREET OFFERS EVEN MORE FUN FOR ALL THE FAMILY

REGENT STREET OFFERS EVEN MORE FUN FOR ALL THE FAMILY

Next month’s Illinois Route 66 Regent Street Motor Show in central London on Saturday 3 November really will have something for all-comers of all ages and all interests.

To entertain a younger audience now comes the addition of a special Kids’ Zone. The country’s most popular free-to-view motor show has always included many children’s pursuits but never before have these been positioned together to create a dedicated attraction. Bringing extra excitement, the newly created Kids Zone will be home to even more activities and amusements than ever before.

TrackStars is one of several new additions offering those aged between four- and ten-years-old some highly enjoyable and safe karting action. What’s more, the battery-powered karts are environmentally friendly, near silent in operation and, being easy to drive, loved by children.

A 1930’s red fire engine and crew will be at hand to provide a perfect photo opportunity.

Aimed at a slightly more mature audience – those aged nine- to 25-years-old – Greenpower challenges young people to design, build and, ultimately, race an electric car. Events are held up and down the country engaging 10,000 students studying STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects. Sparking further interest, a number of these inspirational Greenpower racers will be providing show-goers with a great insight into the initiative, while a pit-stop challenge provides an extra interactive element to the display.

For movie lovers and selfie seekers, the Kids Zone will also star a modified DeLorean ‘time machine’ straight from the Back to the Future film-set complete with gull-wing doors, flux capacitor and, who knows, perhaps even a plutonium-powered engine. Other eye-catching attractions in the Kids’ Zone include the always popular Top Gear Experience simulator and regular appearances by the West End Kids elite song and dance troupe.

Scalextric will be demonstrating an impressive layout for racers of all ages to play for free. It will feature aspects of their latest technology in ARC AIR, with state-of-the-art gameplay which presents drivers with the option of recreating adverse weather conditions and race incidents with the added ease of wireless controllers. The racing system will be set up outside Hamleys, the world’s oldest and largest toy shop – one of the many flagship stores located on Regent Street.

Meanwhile, more venerable visitors with a natural love for nostalgia will be able to savour dazzling collections of much-loved classic cars plus the super-evocative veteran car Concours d’Elegance featuring more than 100 of the pioneering horseless carriages that are participating in the following day’s annual Bonhams London to Brighton Run supported by Hiscox.

“Offering totally free admission and set right in the busy heart of London, the Regent Street Motor Show never fails to attract a massive family audience,” said Ben Cussons, Chairman of the Royal Automobile Club. “The creation of this wonderful new Kids’ Zone will not only give children their very own entertainment area but fuel their imaginations. It’s all set to become yet another highly popular component of what’s already the country’s best-attendedcar-themed event.”

With the world famous shopping destination closed to through traffic from Piccadilly to Oxford Circuses, Regent Street provides the perfect pedestrianised setting for families to enjoy the show. Many of the 500,000+ visitors will also take the opportunity to enjoy some pre-Christmas retail therapy in many of the celebrated street’s famous stores.

The Illinois Route 66 Regent Street Motor Show – open from 10:30 to 16:00 – is a key event in the week-long London Motor Week run by the Royal Automobile Club.

Source: Regent Street Motor

FAST LONDON START TO 2019 SILVERSTONE CLASSIC

FAST LONDON START TO 2019 SILVERSTONE CLASSIC

Next summer’s Silverstone Classic is already off to a superfast start nine months ahead of the fun-fuelled festival’s eagerly-anticipated return over the weekend of 26-28 July in 2019.

A full range of Super Early Bird tickets went on sale today (Thursday) supported by the launch of a refreshed, new-look silverstoneclassic.com website.

Keeping the pedal to the metal and further whetting appetites, a special Silverstone Classic display will be wowing upward of 500,000 visitors to next weekend’s Regent Street Motor Show (Saturday 3 November).

With London’s flagship shopping destination closed to through traffic all the way from Piccadilly Circus to Oxford Circus, the wide pedestrianised thoroughfare is reserved for a unique automotive showcase, making it the perfect free-to-view shop window to promote all the wonderful entertainment the annual Classic has to offer both on and off the famous Grand Prix circuit.

The on-track action in 2019 will again feature an unrivalled feast of retro races starring the full-spectrum of magical motor sport history and, as ever, the packed racing programme is just one of the major attractions at the three-day festival of Rocking and Racing that promises flat out fun for all the family.

Further fuelling petrol-head passions will be more than 10,000 privately owned classic cars, displayed on the infield by over 120 car clubs as well as a host of interactive driving experiences.

For those with less high-octane blood running through their veins, there are eye-catching air displays, fun-fair rides, stunt shows, an adrenaline zone, a shopping village, live music concerts plus a host of other family entertainment… most of which is included absolutely free in the ticket price.

As well as savouring a handful of the great cars that will be competing at the 2019 Classic, all those attending the Regent Street Motor Show will be able to find out more about what to expect from this year’s event. Icons on display in central London include an imposing Bentley Blower from the 1930s, a racy Mini Cooper S from the Swinging Sixties, a stunning Ligier-Ford JS11 from F1’s fabled DFV era, a mighty V8 propelled De Tomaso Pantera and a sensational Aston Martin DBR9 as raced at Le Mans in 2009.

All those inspired by what they see on Regent Street can take advantage of a full range of Super Early Bird tickets that are now available for those purchasing before the end of the year.

Offering savings of up to 22 per cent on Standard tickets, Super Early Bird adult admission starts at just £35 with the price of the three-day weekend ticket frozen at £99. Full details of all ticket prices – including Parc Fermé and Clubhouse hospitality packages, the RetroRun and camping – can be found on the recharged silverstoneclassic.com website.

JAGUARS TO ROAR ON REGENT STREET.

JAGUARS TO ROAR ON REGENT STREET.

Jaguars all set to roar at Illinois Route 66 Regent Street Motor show

A pride of prowling Jaguars will be one of the many highlights at next month’s Illinois Route 66 Regent Street Motor Show in central London on Saturday 3 November. Instagram

The presence of iconic models from one of Britain’s most loved automotive marques is sure to be a huge crowd-pleaser at the country’s most popular free-to-view motor show, a Royal Automobile Club event which last year drew more than half a million visitors to the capital’s famous thoroughfare, pedestrianised between Piccadilly and Oxford Circuses.

Organised by the ever-enthusiastic Jaguar Drivers’ Club, the special display will showcase some major milestones in Jaguar’s illustrious history with an eye-catching collection of the company’s significant models from bygone eras.

It is exactly 70 years since the seminal XK120 sportscar was first launched at the British Motor Show at Earl’s Court – just a stone’s throw from Regent Street. With an affordable price tag, stunning drop-top styling plus Jaguar’s all-new six-cylinder engine endowing the two-seater roadster with a fantastic turn of speed, the trailblazing XK120 put Jaguar on the world map.

It was clearly a busy year for the Coventry Cats at the famous Browns Lane factory as the Mark V was also introduced at Earl’s Court in 1948 – a four-door executive saloon which immediately proved popular with businessmen and even heads of state. Like the XK120, it similarly boasted a sporting pedigree, notably when scoring a Monte Carlo Rally podium in 1951.

Dazzling examples of both septuagenarians will be on Regent Street to mark their respective sapphire anniversaries, where they will be rubbing bumpers with a number of XJ saloons. First unveiled 50 years ago in 1968, the XJ has been Jaguar’s flagship model for the past five decades, offering a wonderful mix of performance, space, style and luxury. Models illustrating the XJ’s long-running evolution will add yet another head-turning dimension to this very special showcase.

Now firmly established as one of the must-attend highlights on the calendars of both car fans and Londoners, the esteemed Illinois Route 66 Regent Street Motor Show takes place on the eve of the annual Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run supported by Hiscox and provides visitors with the rare opportunity to see the full kaleidoscope of automotive history.

From the dawn of motoring, the show includes more than 100 of the remarkable pre-1905 horseless carriages as they prepare for their pilgrimage from capital to coast. Adding to the pageant, many of the drivers and passengers appear in period dress. The presence of the Jaguar anniversary collection will be one of the many features on the closed street, bringing the motoring story more up-to-date. Others include state-of-the-art electric cars from Renault, a display of modern day supercars and the latest motorbikes from Triumph.

The Illinois Route 66 Regent Street Motor Show – open from 10:30 to 16:00 – is a key event in the week-long London Motor Week run by the Royal Automobile Club.