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.
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.
