Iconic Vintage Motorcycles to take to Prescott Hill Climb

Prescott Bike Festival - Sunday 17 April 2016

Prescott Hill Climb, Gotherington, Nr Cheltenham GL52 9RD

The biggest annual fundraiser for the Blood Bike charities

Iconic Vintage Motorcycles to take to Prescott Hill Climb

Prescott Bike Festival will take place once again on Sunday 17th April 2016 at Prescott Hill Climb, near Cheltenham. The Festival prides itself on its diversity and celebrates engineering excellence; from rare, classic, modern, customised to hand built bikes and those of historic significance, this year the organisers have secured the most diverse motorcycles yet, from the World's fastest shopping trolley powered by a Chinook helicopter engine, Kevin Schwantz' 1995 Suzuki RGV500 XR85, the last Suzuki GP bike Schwantz ever rode, through to Bob Farmer, winner of the 1966 Lightweight Manx TT with his 1960's Aermacchi (the model he took the win on).

Unlike a static bike show, Prescott gives you the unique opportunity to get up close and see, smell and hear lots of historic, classic and race bikes take to the historic hill climb course; “better than Goodwood", said one excited visitor last year. It's not just for modern bikes either, the classic marques are well represented with the likes of AJS, BSA, Royal Enfield, Douglas, Matchless, Cotton, Ariel, Norton, Moto Guzzi, Triumph, Lambretta to Velocette. Whilst there are just too many entries to mention, here are a few to whet your appetite;

• A 1913 Ariel Model TT, 498cc Single speed bike with no clutch and a direct belt drive. This is its' debut, having been off the road since 1924!
• A 1914 Triumph Roadster 4.5hp, one of just eight working bikes left in the world. It ran in the very first London to Brighton Pioneer Run
• A 1914 Douglas 2 3/4hp, 2 speed bike with no clutch, manual timing, manual oiling and lever throttle
• A prototype 1927 Velocette KSS 350cc - affectionately known by enthusiasts as the 'Spring-Heeled Jack'. It was the only one ever built at Hall Green, Birmingham. The motorcycle was a one-off for Alec Bennett, the factory's number one rider at the time.
• A 1930 Sunbeam 9 Sport, 500cc Twin port 500 single sports machine, with open valve springs. It's fast and very loud!
• A road registered 1934 Norton Inter/Manx 500cc. This bike is a rigid/girder International Norton fitted with a 500cc long stroke Manx engine, Manx 4 speed Dollshead gearbox, TT oil tank and piecrust petrol tank
• A 1956 Norton 500cc Manx first raced by Australian Eric Hinton (who recently passed away). It returned to the UK some years ago and was fitted with a Ray Petty engine with Bosch ignition

• A 1962 Honda RC163 250cc 4-cylinder racer replica as ridden by Jim Redman and Mike Hailwood
• The iconic 1962 BSA Rocket Gold Star 650cc. Only 1370 built, over the years many have been 'cloned', but this is a genuine original. Built as club racers with the ultra-close 'RRT2' gearbox and very tall 1st gear, much clutch slipping is needed to pull away from the start line!

• A 1963 Norton Manx 350cc Reverse Head built by Ray Petty, the renowned Manx Norton tuner in the mid 60's. It was extensively raced by Derek Minter with some success and is currently race ready

• A rare 1967 Triumph TR6c 650cc Street Scrambler built exclusively for the California market

We welcome the return of Nuclear Research Engineer and iconic motorcycle builder Allen Millyard who will regularly fire up, and take to the hill on the 'Flying Millyard'. Despite resembling a classic 1920s sedate two-wheeled Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, this beast has two cylinders from a Pratt and Whitney 1340 radial, and a 5.0-litre V-Twin, engine designed for an aeroplane. Allen has numerous other project bikes in attendance which are sure to wow the crowds.

Metal Malarkey joins us for their Prescott debut with five of their traditionally made 21st Century motorcycles. A Triumph Bonnie, Trident, BSA Lightning, CBX Turbo and Ducati SS. Designed in collaboration with their owners, classic styling is retained but with contemporary road holding/ handling, braking, weight and engine performance.

Team Wildcard Racing, part of the Vintage Motorcycle Club are bringing along a 1971 Triumph Rickman Metisse 500cc and a 1961 Triumph 3TA 350cc with a primary belt drive and interspan ignition, a 125 Liquid Cooled Bantam. The team have had recent success and third in the 350cc 1361R championships in 2015.

Prescott Bike festival is truly a big celebration of man and machine with large displays of historic, modern and race bikes, plus a Paddock Specials Show 'n' Tell area and the unique opportunity for members of the public to take part in the spectacle by 'running the hill' or participating in a thrilling passenger ride experience.There's also a whole raft of entertainment too from live music, stunt shows, biker celebrity appearances and hundreds of trade stands, motorcycle manufacturers, dealer zone, motorcycle clubs, demo areas - what's more it helps to raise vital money and awareness for the Bloodbikes charities.

There's so much to see and do:

Ride: You can ride the world famous Prescott Hill and be a Star of the Show, entries for 2016 are now full but there's lots of general admission tickets – book now and save 20% off the gate price

See: Get up close and personal with over 100 historic, rare, modern, factory race bikes, one off special builds and more.Lunchtime interviews in the Paddock with the riders and their bikes. Plus Club stands, Motorcycle manufacturers and more

Do: Take the ride of your life with a thrilling passenger ride experience in a Formula Two or Watsonian Squire Sidecar, a Morgan Three Wheeler, Grinnall Trike or Scorpion – available to purchase on the day (leathers required).

Meet: Come and meet our special 'biker' celebs including James Hillier, Lightweight TT (650cc) outright lap record, a member of the exclusive '132 club' and the 3rd fastest man round the TT course; former British Superbike and Isle of Man TT road racer Steve Plater; Skyzone Racing featuring multiple British champion, Chris Hodgson;; son of 'Mike the Bike' David Hailwood plus BSB rider Richard Cooper, Charlie Nesbitt and for something a little bit bonkers - Matt McKeown and his World's Fastest jet-powered Shopping Trolley! Plus lots more yet to be announced!

Watch: 'On The Edge' motorcycle stunt show - probably the best Trials Stunt Show we've ever seen. Plus the welcome return of the George Formby tribute act from the motorcycle film, No Limit? He'll also take to the hill on his 1920 'Shuttleworth Snap'

Buy: Bring lots of cash, with over 100 trade stands and all the motorcycle manufacturers there's bound to be something you like.

Plus:Live music by 1950s inspired rockabilly band, Josie and the Outlaw plus Chickenbone John and his custom guitars! And great food and drink throughout the day.

Prescott Bike Festival is a 'Must Do' day out for all motorcycling enthusiasts. What's more, all event proceeds of the event go to The Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes and Severn Freewheelers.

Gates Opens at: 08:30am, Track starts at: 10:00am, Festival closes at: 17:00.

Exclusive infield motorcycle parking for Pre-1990 motorcycles: limited numbers, advance booking essential.

Advance general admission tickets cost just £12 and are available online at: www.prescottbikefestival.co.uk

Free parking, free motorcycle side stand puck and free helmet park for bikers
All details of exhibitors and celebrity appearances are available on the website.

Notes to editors:

Event Address: Prescott Bike Festival, Gotherington, nr Cheltenham, GL52 9RD, just 15 minutes from the M5.

About The Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes

The Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes is the umbrella organisation representing 24 regional blood bike charities, all providing a motorcycle based, free delivery service to the NHS; moving vital medical supplies, blood and pathology samples from medical centres and hospitals throughout the UK. NABB member groups are closely involved in the transport of frozen human milk from the donor to the milk processing banks. This has been a real lifesaver due to the necessity of very premature babies having intolerance to anything but human milk. Run entirely by volunteers, NABB member groups have over 1500 active members with a fleet of 120+ emergency response vehicles. All NABB riders are trained in the movement of medical essentials and operate from individual regional charities but with a common goal – to alleviate suffering and reduce the funding pressures on the NHS.

Severn Freewheelers is the regional Blood Bike group operating Gloucestershire, Hereford & Worcester and North Wiltshire. Over 70 volunteers help Severn Freewheelers carry out a much-needed service. Severn Freewheelers runs five BMW R1200RTs and a Honda ST1300; all are emergency response equipped and the members handle some 4,000 call outs per annum, covering 150,000 miles.

Media Contact: Rebecca Leppard, Eventageous PR Ltd on T: 01452 260063, email: Rebecca@eventspr.co.uk

Web & Social Media:

www.bikefestivals.co.uk

www.prescottbikefestival.co.uk

www.shelsleybikefestival.co.uk

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bike_fest

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Prescott-Bike-Festival/275941260263?ref=bookmarks

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Prescott Bike Festival is kindly sponsored by: Bikesure, Carole Nash, Blade Group, KTM and BMW Motorrad