On 30th June 1937, Wal Handley lapped the famous Brooklands Outer Circuit at 107.57mph on a 500cc BSA Empire Star. For that lap, he was awarded a Brooklands Gold Star, the tiny enamel badge that signified so much. That achievement led the BSA Company to name their top sporting 500 "The Gold Star", which became perhaps the best-known name of any British motorcycle. On 30th June 2012, 75 years to the day, the Gold Star Owners Club plans a commemorative celebration at Brooklands, the world's first purpose circuit for motorsports. The aim is to get more Gold Stars and Rocket Gold Stars in one place at one time ...

Posted May 21, 2012 by Nigel in Events | No comments yet

Over 600 Veteran and Vintage motorcycles will descend on the Heritage Motor Centre for the 64th nostalgic Vintage Motor Cycle Club Banbury Run ™ on Sunday 17 June. The event, which is the largest gathering of pre-1931 Motorcycles & 3 Wheelers in the World, will also feature Club and Trade Stands, over 100 Autojumble pitches and special interest displays. 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 ...

Posted May 13, 2012 by Nigel in Events | No comments yet

Rider training for “Vintage Virgins” is back in 2012 when the VMCC will be holding two Vintage Motorcycle Training Days following the success of last year’s events. The dates have now been set for the “Southern” and “Midlands” events which will be held at the following locations in May & June- TRAINING DAY SOUTH- Sunday May 6th 2012, Arborfield Barracks, Nr Reading, Berkshire. TRAINING DAY MIDLANDS- Bank Holiday Monday June 4th 2012, Curborough, Nr Lichfield, Staffordshire. The Vintage Training Days give both VMCC members & non members the opportunity to experience the type of machine that they might not normally get the chance to ride. Owners of 1920s and 1930s ...

Posted January 16, 2012 by Nigel in Events | No comments yet

Kenny Roberts is certainly one of the all-time racing greats in motorcycling. When I heard that he was visiting Mallory Park for the 2011 Festival of 1000 Bikes, I just had to take the opportunity of meeting him and finding out a little more about him. Along with Barry Sheene, Kenny Roberts was the biggest name in the sport in my younger years, so I was thrilled at this chance. Kenny was born in 1951 and started his hugely successful career on the ...

Posted August 4, 2011 by Nigel in Interviews | 5 comments

1954 MV Agusta 175 Super Sport Monoalbero “CSS” to make appearance on August 21, 2011 at the 2011 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. This is one of the most important motorcycles in MV Agusta history and it will be displayed at The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on Sunday, August 21, 2011. It has enormous charm due to its superb performance, but also thanks to the design of the gas tank it gives the bike its nickname Disco Volante (flying saucer). The Super Sport was the dream of all sports bike enthusiasts and was often used for racing. The “Earles” type front fork is one of the main distinguishing characteristics of this model. This Disco Volante CSS was found in unrestored, original condition ...

Posted July 18, 2011 by Nigel in News | No comments yet

What a superb weekend, full of classic and vintage motorcycles of all sizes, shapes and types. From the modest BSA Bantam to full-on fire-breathing Manx Nortons, the Festival of 1000 Bikes really offers something for everyone. The weather was great, the organisation superb and the atmosphere was so relaxed. I've taken pictures of over 100 of my favourite bikes from the event and have posted them in a gallery on the Vintagebike website for you all to enjoy. Not only that but I was lucky enough to spend some time with King Kenny Roberts, Phil Read and Graeme ...

Posted July 15, 2011 by Nigel in Events | 1 comment

The British Motorcycle Charitable Trust is a Registered Charity, run by motorcycle enthusiasts to promote and support the preservation and restoration of our motorcycle heritage - and what a great job they are doing!  Their challenge is to identify and secure rare British motorcycles, ensure their restoration and make them available and accessible to the nation through a network of museums and collections. By doing this they aim to establish and preserve a rich working record of an important cultural and sporting aspect of our industrial and engineering history. Without the work of the Trust, many fine machines would be taken abroad, or into private collections – or be lost forever ...

Posted May 23, 2011 by Nigel in Features | No comments yet

Easter arrived with some spectacle at the 31st International Classic Motorcycle Show at Stafford this year.  There was a superb range of machinery present ranging right from the turn of the century through to the 1980s.  We managed to get there on the Sunday - nice and early before the crowds arrived, and spent a thoroughly enjoying few hours wandering around taking pictures! I must say it is on days like this, that I realise how lucky we are to be based right here in the UK with all these superb classic bike events to choose from.  But for those who were unable to make it, I ...

Posted April 26, 2011 by Nigel in News | No comments yet

A perceptive, witty, often tongue-in-cheek book, this is a fascinating personal perspective on the history of Triumph Motorcycles seen through the eyes of two different social eras. When lawyer Nigel Winter takes a few days off to follow in the tyre-tracks of Edward Turner, on his way from Land's End to John O'Groats, he finds far, far more than he expects. For Mr Turner designed the Triumph motorcycle that powered Marlon Brando to fame in The Wild One, and on which Steve McQueen tried to jump the wire in The Great Escape. Along the road to John O'Groats, the author riding his modern ...

Posted April 13, 2011 by Nigel in Products | No comments yet

Some really exciting news...  A new 3D film telling the incredible story of the TT is about to be released.  We're thrilled to be able to tell you about it, and lucky to be able to offer you the chance to attend the World Premier of the showing in London on April 14th!  All you have to do is submit your entry below, and the lucky winner will be notified by email on Thursday April 7th. If you would like to attend the World Premier of this film in London, on the evening of Thursday 14th April then all you have to do is send me an email by clicking the button below.  The winner will be announced on ...

Posted April 2, 2011 by Nigel in News | 3 comments