William Dunlop has joined the newly formed Team National Motorcycle Museum Racing for the 2015 Classic TT Races presented by Bennetts. The museum, based in the West Midlands, is home to the largest collection of British Motorcycles in the world with over 100 marques including BSA, Ariel and of course Norton. Dunlop will ride one of the museum's original and iconic Rotary Norton bikes from the 1992 British Championship season in the Motorsport Merchandise Formula 1 Classic TT Race on Monday 31st August 2015. Dunlop has three podium finishes in the TT Races Supersport class in the last three years and also finished runner up in the inaugural ...

Posted February 17, 2015 by Nigel in News | 2 comments

The 1929 Grindlay-Peerless JAP 500cc ‘Hundred Model’ that is one of only two of its kind known to survive lapped Brooklands at over 100mph in 1937. An extremely rare racing motorcycle from the 1920s that lapped the famous Brooklands race circuit at over 100mph is expected to generate intense competition among bidders at the Bonhams Autumn Stafford Sale on Sunday 21st October 2012. One of only two of its kind known to survive, the 1929 Grindlay-Peerless-JAP 500cc ‘Hundred Model’ (estimate £50,000 - £70,000) won the Brooklands ‘Gold Star’ award in 1937 in the hands of prominent VMCC member, the late Edmond ‘Boy’ Tubb. When Grindlay-Peerless rider C W G ‘Bill’ Lacey ...

Posted July 30, 2012 by Nigel in News | 2 comments

Nearly 20,000 people visited the Festival of 1000 Bikes in 2011 and the organisers are promising it will be even better for 2012 with GP legend and former World Champion Kevin Schwantz confirmed for the event on July 6th - 8th. Schwantz first rode a 500cc two-stroke at Mallory Park in 1986 and it kick started a fantastic and exciting career. Other names included on the list already include Carl Fogarty, Randy Mamola, Mick Grant and Stan Woods, Neil Hodgson, Paul Smart and many more. And don't forget the autojumble, trials, grass track, sprint, avenue of clubs, trade stands, real ale bar and entertainment. A whopping 1349 bikes are booked to ...

Posted July 4, 2012 by Nigel in News | No comments yet

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 | 7 comments

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

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

You don’t see many of these on the road…  You don’t see many for sale either!  This one is coming up for auction at Bonhams in Paris.  It’s a very rare 640cc Megola.  I’m not sure exactly what year this example is, but they were made in very limited numbers (around 2000) from 1921 to 1925.  Made in Munich, Germany, the name Megola is derived from the names of the designers, Meixner, Gockerell and Landgraf. The obvious feature making this classic motorcycle stand out from the crowd is the five cylinder side-valve rotary engine mounted within the front wheel.  The wheel axle was formed by the crankshaft that ...

Posted January 12, 2011 by Nigel in News | 1 comment

Here's an event for your diaries... February 25th sees the start of the 2011 Race Retro event at Stoneleigh Park near Coventry. It promises to be a spectacular event, with a real focus on action! For those not familiar with the event, it celebrates everything sporting on both 2 and 4 wheels. The iconic Ace Cafe London returns this year as the sponsor of the new "Fire Up Paddock". Classic cafe and road racing bikes will be brought back to life, giving visitors the opportunity to hear the motorcycles as well as see them in all their glory up close. ...

Posted December 20, 2010 by Nigel in News | No comments yet

Have you got a jar full of pound coins that you have been saving for a rainy day? Fancy getting yourself a nice little Christmas present? Then take a look at the classic motorcycles coming up in the Bonhams Las Vegas auction on January 6, 2011. Leading the group are no less than five Vincent motorcycles, including: • 1948 Vincent HRD Rapide B • 1949 Vincent HRD Rapide B • 1949 Vincent HRD Rapide B • 1952 Vincent Black Shadow C • A Vincent Café Racer Hybrid • 1953 Ariel Square Four • 1963 BSA Rocket Gold Star • 1961 BSA Gold Star • 1965 Royal Enfield Interceptor • 1964 Velocette Venom ...

Posted December 3, 2010 by Nigel in News | No comments yet

November is a depressing time of year for us poor souls trapped in the doom, gloom and despondency of the start of a Great British Winter. However, there is always something to look forward to. Spring is far to distant to even consider, but there is one last Classic Bike Show of the year! Last weekend we were at the Footman James Classic Motor Show, held every year at the NEC in Birmingham, and what a huge show it was! Three massive halls filled with classic and vintage cars, and of course, the reason I was there, a ...

Posted December 3, 2010 by Nigel in News | 1 comment