EVENTS GUIDE - april/MAY 2008

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MAY 2008

Friday 2
Rockers’ Return, from 7pm, Squire’s Coffee Bar, Sherburn Elmet, West Yorkshire. Drag out the Triton, squeeze yourself into the Brando jacket and get along to a celebration of the great days of rock ’n’ roll at one of Britain’s most famous bike cafes. Classic bikes will be on show and the Golden Oldies DJ will be playing all those favourites by Elvis, Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Bill Haley. Highly recommended – a great night guaranteed. More details www.squires-cafe.co.uk
Bike Night and Streetfighters, from 6pm, Ace Cafe London.

Friday 2-Saturday 3
Predators MC Party and Custom Show, Pawlett Pavilion, Bridgwater. Somerset. Entry £10, camping £5. Site open from 4pm. See www.predatorsmc.co.uk

Friday 2-Sunday 4
Suzuki Mopedathon, MFN Club, Shipley Gate, Eastwood, Notts. Hosted by Suzuki Owners’ Club. See www.suzukiownersclub.co.uk
Paignton Bike Festival, Paignton Seafront, Devon. Bikes, bands, £1000 best bike competition stunt show, wall of death and more. Friday 6pm-10pm, Saturday 10am-10pm, Sunday 10am-6pm. Small charity donation for entry. BMAD’s weekly Wednesday evening bike nights start again on 28 May and run through until 24 September with live music some nights. Visit www.bmad.co.uk
Yorkshire MAG Into the Valley Rally, Sledmere House Estate, Sledmere, Nr Driffield, East Yorkshire. Two marquees with bands and disco playing throughout the weekend. Camping with or without campfires. Food and quality beers at pub prices. Trade stalls and on the Saturday evening a ride-in custom show. Tickets on gate £20. Full MAG members receive £3 in product/beer vouchers and affiliates get £1 back both on production of a valid MAG card. Book online at www.intothevalley.co.uk or ring 0800 988 3199.

Friday 2-Monday 5
Applecross Dash, Applecross, Ross-shire, just above Isle of Skye. Local bikers attempt to promote area as the best destination in Britain for biking. Great roads to explore, live music at local pub, campsite, cafe and restaurant.
Over the Edge Rally, Military Road, Isle of Wight. Live bands, rock DJ and bike show. Call 07815 692349 or visit www.overtheedgerally.co.uk

Saturday 3
Aviation Heritage Wolds Run. Stars 11am from the Aviation Heritage Centre, East Kirky, near Spilsby, Lincs. Signing on from 8.30am.Concours open to pre-1980 bikes only but modern machines also welcome on the run, which is in aid of the Notts and Lincs air Ambulance. Entry £5, includes entry to the Heritage Centre for riders but that’s £5 extra for pillions. More info and entry forms www.skellingthorpe-motorcycleclub.org.uk
Legend of the Motorcycle Meeting and Auction, Ritz Carlton, Half Moon Bay, near San Francisco, California. See www.bonhams.com for auction details including ex-Steve McQueen Indian Scout and ex-Evel Knievel Harley. The Ace Cafe’s Mark Wilsmore is one of the guest judges.
Cadwell Park, Lincs, Retford and District race meeting.

Saturday 3-Sunday 4
Magnificent Motoring Spectacular, Eastbourne Seafront, East Sussex. Open to classic cars, bikes, buses traction engines, military vehicles etc. Opens with vintage cavalcades at 10am days. Showground opens 11am. See www.magnificentmotors.co.uk
Coffin Scratchers MCC Rock and Custom Weekend, Coalville Rugby Club, Hall Lane, Whitwick, Leicestershire LE67 5PF. Starts 11am Saturday. Weekend ticket including camping £7.50. Sunday Custom Show only ticket £2.50. 0116 225 7730.
Speed Harrogate, Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate. Cars take centre stage but bikes sneak a look in too. See www.speedharrogate.com

Saturday 3-Monday 5
ACU Drag Bike Championship, Spring Speed Festival, Shakespeare County Raceway, Warks. Now the first round of the series following the cancellation of the proposed opener at Santa Pod last month due to snow. More details www.shakespearecountyraceway.com
Llandudno Transport Festival, Bodafon Fields, Llandudno, North Wales. Open from 9am each day. Seafront showground playing host to lorries, tractors, cars, buses, coaches and yes, motorcycles. Day admission £4.50 adults, £4 concessions, £1 children. See www.llantransfest.co.uk
BSB, Oulton Park, Cheshire. See preview centre pages
Scarborough Festival of Speed, Oliver’s Mount, Scarborough. www.auto66.com Tel 01723 37000.

Sunday 4
MAG Cumbria Charity Run, starts and ends The Farmhouse, Priory Road, Ulverston. Meet from 9am for 11am start. 150-mile ride in aid Ulverston Inshore Rescue and Furness General Hospital Oncology Unit. Entry £5 each rider and pillion. Ride followed by hog roast, live music, auction and raffle. More info Mike on 0793 183 7599.
Round 1 Quad Racing Association’s British Quad (H&H) Endurance Championship, Hannington, near Basingstoke, Hampshire. Visit www.qrauk.com See feature pages 6 and 7.
Italian Bike Day, plus V-Max and general bike meet, all day, Ace Cafe London.
Live bands, from 7pm, Vic Bikers’ Pub (The Queen Vic), Coalville, Leicestershire. The Queen Vic is famous for three things – its bike nights, belly buster breakfasts and music. Four bands play every Sunday evening. Other dates this month are 11th, 18th and 25th.
RWYB, Santa Pod Raceway. Northants. Visit www.santapod.co.uk
MotoGP, round 4, Shanghai, China. If you can’t afford the airfare there’s always the TV.
Maxxis ACU British Moto Cross Championship, Cadders Hill, Lyng, Norfolk NR9 5AL. See www.britishmxchampionship.com
Quads Cross-Country Rallies World Cup, Sardaigne, Italy. First of five round series for the four-wheel motorcycles. See feature pages 6 and 7.

Monday 5
BMF + Autoscoots + WIMA + London Bikers, from 6pm, Ace Cafe London.
Bike night, from 6pm, MFN Club, Shipley Gate, Eastwood, Notts.
Hastings May Day Run. This event is a biking tradition going back centuries (well, to the 70s) and it attracts anything up to 20,000 to the resort. The run starts around 7am from the High Street, Locksbottom, Kent. Go to the website – www.maydayrun.co.uk – for route and join in wherever the fancy takes you. And what happens when you get to Hastings? Well, you have a beer, an ice cream and a paddle. Organised run from Ace Cafe starts at 8am.
Wakefield MAG Bike Show, Wakefield Hospice, Clarence Park (off the A636), Wakefield. From 9.30am, judging at 3pm. Trophies for best classic, best modern and best in show. See http://wakefield.mag-uk.org
Wold Bikers Rideout, leaving 7.30pm The Red Lion, Revesby, near Horncastle, Lincs. All welcome.
Classic Car and Motorcycle Show, Thoresby Park, nr Ollerton. Notts. See www.classicshows.org
Monday 5-Saturday 10
Scottish Six Days Trial. The best feet-up event in the world. Action starts 7am each morning from West End Car Park, Fort William and takes in some of the most dramatic scenery in Britain. Details www.ssdt.org

Tuesday 6
Kyzers’ Kustom Bike Night, The Bowling Green, Cellarhead, Werrington, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs ST9 0JQ. New meeting planned for the first Tuesday of the month from now until October. Customs, streetfighters, cruisers, trikes especially welcome but open to all. Best Bike award. See www.kyzers.com
Bassetts Pole Bike Night, London Road, Bassetts Pole, near Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands. One of the country’s biggest bike nights. Held every Tuesday so if you can’t make it on the 6th try the 13th 20th or 27th. Bike start assembling from about 6pm.
Poole Quay Bike Night, Poole Quay, Dorset from 6pm. Bike of the Night competition with prizes. All weekly winners invited back for a Bike of the Year showdown on 30 September.
Bike Night, Great Doddington Club Bikers, from 7pm, Great Doddington Club, Lower Street, Great Doddingon, near Wellingborough, Northants NN29 7TL. Tel 01933 226009 www.doddingtonclub.com Same time same place on 13, 20 and 27 May. This club used to meet the first Tuesday of every month. Now it’s every Tuesday.

Wednesday 7
Bike Night, from 6pm, Black Swan, South Street, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6EF. 01507 522378. One of two huge bike nights held at the pub every year by Mid Lincs MAG. Don’t miss it. The next one’s not until 3 September. Visit http://mid-lincs.mag-uk.org
Bike night with live band Beholder, from 6pm, MFN Club Shipley Gate, Eastwood, Notts.

Thursday 8
Italian bike night and MAG, from 6pm, Ace Cafe London.
Bike Night and barbecue (unless it rains!), from 7pm Vic Bikers’ Pub, (Queen Vic), Coalville, Leicestershire. There is something on every night at the Queen Vic but this weekly big night is the big one. Also this month on 15th, 22nd, and 29th.

Friday 9
Bike Night and Bandits, from 6pm, Ace Cafe London.

Friday 9-Sunday 11
You have been Nabbed 17, Astle Park Chelford, Cheshire. Brilliant annual rally organised by National Association for Bikers with a Disability. Three stages, 20 live bands, comedy show, real ale marquee, adult and kids entertainment, bike and trike show, trade stands and more. Tickets on gate £20. See www.nabd.org.uk
Middlesbrough and District MAG Number One Rally, Tunstall Farm, Tunstall Lane, nr Middlesbrough TS7 ONU. Tickets pre-book £10, OTG £12. More Info 01642 210159
Lash at the Lode. Tewkesbury and District MCC Rally, Lower Lode public house, Forthampton, nr Tewkesbury, Gloucs. Tickets on gate £15 but numbers limited so check before travelling. Visit http://tdmcc.tripod.com

Friday 9-Monday 12
Triumph Owners MCC National Rally, Bainland Park, Woodhall Spa, Lincs.

Saturday 10
Luke Baglee Saddlesore Rally. A 1000-mile in 24 hours charity ride starting in Gosport and ending back there after visiting locations as far north as Edinburgh. To take part you have to raise at least £100 for the Juvenile Haemochromatosis Society. For more details call Dave Baglee on 02392 601515 or visit www.orangebikers.com

Saturday 10-Sunday 11
Thundersprint, Northwich, Cheshire. Saturday 10 May – Thundersprint Bike Show, Winnington Park (three miles Northwich town Centre). 11 May The Thundersprint, Northwich town centre with star riders Giacomo Agostini, Jim Redman and more. See preview page 22.
BSB, Brands Hatch, Kent. What should have been round one in the series rescheduled after the April meeting was knocked out by snow. See preview page 24.

Sunday 11
Demo ride against new motorcycle test plans. Assemble 9.30am for 10am start from South Lake District Test Centre, Trinity Enterprise Centre, Unit 11, Ironworks Road, Barrow-in Furness. The protest ride goes to the new MPTC in Carlisle. All bikers urged to show their support. See page 4.
World Superbikes, Monza, Italy.
The Spikes Run. Charity run in aid of Hedgehogs, organised by Mid Lincs MAG. Starts 3pm from the Town Hall, Horncastle, Lincs. Bring tinned dog or cat food – our little spikey friends love the stuff. See http://mid-lincs.mag-uk.org
World MX1 and MX2 Moto Cross Championship, Sevlievo, Bulgaria.
Round 1 European Quad Championship, Brou, France. See news feature pages 6 and 7
British and Classic Bike Day, all day Ace Cafe London.

Tuesday 13
Poole Quay Bike Night, Poole Quay, Dorset from 6pm. Bike of the Night competition with prizes.

Wednesday 14
Bike night with live band Helvelin 2, from 6pm, MFN Club Shipley Gate, Eastwood, Notts.
British bike night with Triumph and Royal Enfield, from 6pm, Ace Cafe London.

Thursday 15
Supermoto + XJROC + NABD +Scooters, from 6pm, Ace Cafe London.
Harley-Davidson Riders Club of GB (Naseby Field Region 21) Meet at the Royal Oak, Church Street, Naseby, Northants. New addition to our regular Best Location listings. The club also meet first Thursday of every month at the Welland Lodge Pub, Harborough Road, Lubenham, Leicestershire More info 07919401298 or visit http://www.harley-davidson-hangout.com/forum/

Friday 16
Rockers and classics bike night, from 6pm Ace Cafe London.

Friday 16-Saturday 17
Spring Autojumble, Netley Marsh, A335 between Cadnam and Totton (between junction 1 and 2 M27), Hampshire. See preview. More info www.classicbikeshows.co.uk

Friday 16-Sunday 18
Rat and Survival Bike Show, MFN Club, Shipley Gate, Eastwood, Notts. Bike show, live bands, trade stands, late bar, camping. Tickets £10 on gate or £8 in advance. See page 27. Visit www.ratbike.org
Automotoclub Storico Italiano Moto Show. circuit-based classic motorcycle event at Varano de Melagari Track (Parma), Italy. Free admission for spectators. See www.asifed.it

Friday 16-Saturday 24
Barry Sheene Memorial Motorcycle Challenge. Charity ride starting UK and visiting various race circuits across Europe to raise funds for the children’s cancer charity Clic Sargent. Second event takes place 2-11 June. More details www.clicsargent.org.uk

Saturday 17
North West 200, Northern Ireland. See www.northwest200.org See preview page 31.

Saturday 17-Sunday 18
BMF Show, East of England Showground, Peterborough Cambs. See preview page 21.

Sunday 18
3B’s Custom Show, King Billy, 2 Commercial Street, Northampton NN1 1PJ. Live band and barbecue at the 3B Club’s annual and very friendly custom show. Call 01604 621325. Visit www.3bs.uk.com
MotoGP, round 5, Le Mans, France. The perfect scene stealer for the arrival of Rossi, Toseland, Stoner, Pedrosa and co at Donington Park on 22 June.
ACU British Quad Championship, Dean Moore, Workington. See feature pages 6 and 7. More details www.qrauk.com
MX1 And MX2 World Moto Cross Championship, Montova, Italy.

Monday 19
Wold Bikers Rideout, leaving 7.30pm The Red Lion, Revesby, near Horncastle, Lincs. All welcome.
Bike night with Show and Shine, from 6pm, MFN Club Shipley Gate, Eastwood, Notts.

Monday 19-Saturday 24
Moto Giro, Italy. Details www.motogiroditalia.com

Tuesday 20
Poole Quay Bike Night, Poole Quay, Dorset from 6pm. Bike of the Night competition with prizes.

Wednesday 21
Bike night with live band Almaboobies, from 6pm, MFN Club Shipley Gate, Eastwood, Notts.

Friday 23
Bladeday2, Donington Park, Leicestershire. Celebration of the Honda Fireblade with special guest appearance by Blade designer Tadao Baba. See news story page 10.

Friday 23-Sunday 25
Driffield Bike Day Rally, Driffield Showground, Kelleythorpe, Driffield, East Yorkshire. Bands Friday and Saturday, stunt show, falconry display, club and trade stands. Custom show on the Sunday with £350 first prize. Profits to charity. Pre-book £12, on gate £15. Kids under 14 free. Limit of 800 for camping. Sunday ticket £4. Call 07952 344065 or visit www.driffieldbikeday.co.uk
The Spartans’ Arachnophobia II Rock and Custom Show, at Netherseal St Peters Sports Club, Main Street, Netherseal Swadlincote, Derbyshire. Live bands, rock disco, late bar and stalls. Pre-book £8. On the gate £10. Call 07921 912331. More details www.the-spartans.net

Friday 23-Monday 26
Welsh National Motorcycle Show, Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells. Brilliant festival of bikes and bands. Highly recommended. See preview.
UEM Drag Bike Championship, Santa Pod, near Wellingborough, Northants. More details www.santapod.co.uk
Patriots Party in the Pub. The Patriot, Main Road, Crumlin, Gwent NP11 4PT. Classic rock bands, Saturday ride-out, stalls. Free admission. More details www.patriotmc.co.uk

Saturday 24
Brit Butt Rally, starts 6am Hurricane Travel Inn, Stafford and ends back there 6pm the next day. See story pages 14 and 15. Visit www.ironbuttukrally.info

Saturday 24-Sunday 25
May Chaos on the Coast, The Whitburn Lodge, Coast Road, Whitburn, Tyne and Wear SR6 7ND. Extreme sports event. See preview page 26. Visit www.vbsx.com
Pageant of Motoring, Whitewebbs Museum, Whitewebbs Road, Enfield, Middx EN2 9HW.

Saturday 24-Monday 26
BSB, Donington Park, Leicestershire. Including on 25 May the British Sidecar Grand Prix. See preview centres.

Sunday 25
World Supermoto Championship, round 2, Castelleto di Branduzzo, Italy. See story page 19.
Honda and Monkey Bike Day, Ace Cafe London. Plus usual Valkyrie Club and general bike meet.

Monday 26
Margate Meltdown. Run to Kent resort starts 10.30am Ace Cafe London. See preview.
VMCC Vintage Training Day, Twisty Sprint Circuit, Curborough, Staffs. Your chance to find out what it’s like to ride a pre-war handchange motorcycle but numbers limited and entries close 16 May. Contact VMCC 01283 540557. See preview.
Bike Night with Show and Shine competition, from 6pm, MFN Club Shipley Gate, Eastwood, Notts.

Tuesday 27
Poole Quay Bike Night, Poole Quay, Dorset from 6pm. Bike of the Night competition with prizes.

Wednesday 28
Paignton Bike Night, the seafront, Paignton, Devon. The first of the year. A £1 donation is all it costs and charities reap the rewards. A £50 prize for the best bike kicks things off. See www.bmad.co.uk
Bike night with live band Blood Orange, from 6pm, MFN Club Shipley Gate, Eastwood, Notts.

Thursday 29
Harley Night, from 6pm, Ace Cafe London.

Friday 30
Bike Night + Performance and Fast Bikes, from 6pm, Ace Cafe London.

Friday 30-Saturday 31
The Big Knock, Diesel Motorcycle Rally, Bat and Ball pub, Newpound, Wisborough Green, Billingshurst, West Sussex RH14 OEH. Call 07763 305967. More details www.DieselBike.net

Friday 30 May-Sunday 1 June
Ag Ol Anns An Achadh Rally, Edinburgh and District MAG. Now in its 17th year. Bands, stalls, prizes and MAG members get £5 back in beer vouchers. Call 0131 553 7307 or visit http://edinburgh.mag-uk.org

Saturday 31 May-Sunday 1 June
BMF Garden of England Motorcycle Show, Kent County Showground, Detling, near Maidstone, Kent. New venue and dates for the show, which now doubles up with the Truckfest South East (one ticket covers both events which are being run side-by-side. See preview page 26. Visit www.bmf.co.uk
British Moto Cross Grand Prix, Mallory Park. Leicestershire. Practice 31 May, racing 1 June. Strong British contingent led by Billy MacKenzie in the MX1 class and Tommy Seale in MX2. Also veterans race. See www.britishmxgp.com
Norasport Gimoto National Supermoto Championship, Three Sisters, Ashton-in-Markfield, Wigan, Lancs WN4 8DD. Including Superquader championship on 31 May. See www.norasport.com

JUNE 2008

Sunday 1
Lincoln BIG Bike Show, Brayford Wharf, Lincoln. Free bike show in picturesque waterside setting in the heart of the city. See preview page 23.
Shaft Drive Sunday plus V-Max and general bike meet, all day, Ace Cafe London.
Live bands, from 7pm, Vic Bikers’ Pub (The Queen Vic), Coalville, Leicestershire. The Queen Vic is famous for three things – its bike nights, belly buster breakfasts and music. Four bands play every Sunday evening. Other dates this month are 11th, 18th and 25th.
World Superbikes, Salt Lake City, USA.

Monday 2
Wold Bikers Rideout, leaving 7.30pm The Red Lion, Revesby, near Horncastle, Lincs. All welcome.
Bike night with Show and Shine, from 6pm, MFN Club Shipley Gate, Eastwood, Notts.
BMF + Autoscoots + WIMA + London Bikers, from 6pm Ace Cafe London.

Monday 2-Wednesday 11
Barry Sheene Memorial Motorcycle Challenge. Charity ride starting UK and visiting various race circuits across Europe to raise funds for the children’s cancer charity Clic Sargent. More details www.clicsargent.org.uk

Tuesday 3
Bassetts Pole Bike Night, London Road, Bassetts Pole, nr Sutton Coldfierld, West Midlands. One of the country’s biggest bike nights. Held every Tuesday so if you can’t make it on the 3rd try the 10th 17th or 24th. Bike start assembling from about 6pm.
Poole Quay Bike Night, Poole Quay, Dorset from 6pm. Bike of the Night competition with prizes. All weekly winners invited back for a Bike of the Year showdown on 30 September.

Wednesday 4
Paignton Bike Night, Paignton seafront, Devon. £50 prize for best bike. See www.bmad.co.uk
Bike night with live band Isolysis, from 6pm, MFN Club, Shipley Gate, Eastwood, Notts.

Thursday 5
Bike Night and barbecue (unless it rains!), from 7pm, Vic Bikers’ Pub, (Queen Vic), Coalville, Leicestershire.
Mod n Mini (classic scooters), from 6pm, Ace Cafe London.

Friday 6
Bike Night and Streetfighters, from 6pm, Ace Cafe London.

Friday 6-Sunday 8
Tribal Gathering Rock and Blues Coastal Rally, Burton Pidsea, East Yorkshire. Tickets £8 in advance, £10 on gate. Rally to include ride-out and custom show. Fee including free camping. Call 077 86915122. For full itineray www.tribalgathering.org.uk See preview.
Grumpy Old Bs and Lincs HDRC GB Summer Party, Horncastle Golf Club, Twin Lakes, Shearmans Wath, West Ashby, Lincs, LN9 5PP. Tickets £10 on gate. Live bands and disco, late bars, food, stall, rideouts, camping.
Unwanted MCC Trike and Custom Show, Beech Inn, Derby Road, Stretton, Burton on Trent, Staffs DE13 ODL. Hog roast, disco and film show. Bike show on the Saturday. Enter your bike in the show for £3, gio along and watch for £2 or camp over for a fiver. Call 07855 133029. Visit www.unwantedmcc.co.uk

Saturday 7
BikeFest UK, 9am-5pm, Donington Park, Leicestershire. Track sessions are the cornerstone of this show. You can take to the track on your own bike or borrow a test bike from one of the manufacturers present. Trade stands, mini moto and stunt displays are also on the bill and you can join the KillSpills team in an attempt to beat their own world record for the number of different model motorcycles on a race track at the same time. See preview. Tickets on the gate are £15 but you can save a fiver by booking in advance. The track sessions are £25 per 15-minute session. See www.bikefestuk.com See story page 11.

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