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Over recent months the BFoM Committee have been closely monitoring the developments of Covid 19 Virus and the implications for our unique event. So much has changed and will continue to do so. What is clear is that the many uncertainties that remain for running a large-scale event in the centre of our town with a small team of volunteers at considerable extra cost is not feasible. Therefore, it is with great regret that the Committee have decided to cancel the event for this year and the foreseeable future. We do acknowledge the disappointment this decision will cause but hope that our supporters will understand that to run this special event as we have done before is not an option going forward.
BFoM Committee - February 2022
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It all began in 2008 with one man's dream of a "Brackley motorcycle meeting" in the Town centre15/2/2022 It all began in 2008 with one man's dream of a "Brackley motorcycle meeting" in the Town centre. The dream - a few bikers with their bikes and perhaps a few towns people meeting together with a common interest in motorcycles, maybe using the town centre car park.
The reality was very different - after lots of hard work, enthusiasm and support from the army of volunteers the "Brackley Festival of Motorcycling" was born using the whole town centre and the adjacent school sports field, a site covering in excess of 50 acres, with every kind of motorcycle sport and leisure activity represented. The Festival has grown, year on year to be the largest event of its type in the UK achieving national status. The event runs on a "not for profit" basis, by a dedicated team of volunteers. All proceeds net of running costs go to Charity. Yearly our main charity is the Warks and Northants Air Ambulance and each year we add one or two local charities to benefit Brackley. On the day we close the High Street and use the road as a display and parade arena, making this Festival unique in the UK. The incredible atmosphere created by these machines has proved a real winner. The High Street is also home to the BSB race team exhibits, manufacturers, trades and food outlets. Also on the High Street we have had +70 pukka road racers with both classic and modern MotoGP bikes, we also have owners clubs and custom show plus parades. The main arena is on the field which is use for display and stunt teams. Year on year the range of displays in this area has expanded to included demonstrations of every off road activity. The field also hosts the funfair, the wall of death, trade stands, owners club static displays, rock bands and a food and drinks court. It is with sincere regret that the Brackley Festival of Motorcycling committee has decided to cancel our wonderful summer Festival for another year.
We were so looking forward to putting on another spectacular event for us all in August. However looking at the logistics of planning and then running the Festival, we have had to accept that the risks to health, wellbeing and our reputation, and of course the financial risks, are not ones that are realistic to take. Whilst we are all hoping that Covid 19 lockdown restrictions will have been fully lifted by the summer, it is likely that some restrictions on social distancing will still be in place. Those of you who have attended the Festival in previous years, will understand that the intimate nature of the Festival makes this issue a serious concern for visitor’s health on the day and for the townspeople of Brackley. We have had to ask ourselves whether we would be able to safely manage our local residents attending the town centre and the possible 20,000 visiting Brackley on the day. Regretfully, the answer is no. From a financial perspective after each or our previous Festivals, we have set aside a contingency reserve to put towards running the following year’s Festival. All money’s raised over and above this reserved amount, are shared amongst our recipient charities. As trustees of the money raised at previous events, the committee is duty-bound to ensure that these funds are used responsibly. Now is the time of year when we normally start reserving, booking and paying for infrastructure and services for the Festival. If we are unable to guarantee recouping at least the costs for these outgoings, then as a committee we will be acting irresponsibly in our duties to safeguard the charitable money. Given the uncertainties we all face in the near future we do hope that you understand the rationale behind taking this difficult decision. The Committee would like to express our gratitude to all those who have assisted in our planning to date and sincerely hope that they will join us again in the future to help organise this and other special events. - BFoM Team We are delighted to announce, that we are forging ahead with planning and organisation for our 2021 event, so please put the date, Sunday 15th August, in your diaries! We are really excited and hope that you will be able to join us.
COVID-19 - The welcome news regarding the imminent vaccination programme, means that we are reasonably optimistic that we will be able to hold the event. By August 2021 a large proportion of the population will have had the opportunity of getting vaccinated and the rules and regulations surrounding social distancing will hopefully have been relaxed. We will know more as we move into the New Year and Spring. In the meantime, keep an eye on our web site and social media for news. The BFoM Team -
The continuing threat of COVID-19, and the timescale of only limited easing of restrictions over the next few months, has left BFoM with no choice but to postpone the 2020 Festival until August 2021 (date to be confirmed). It is the responsible decision in light of the environment we now find ourselves in. We do feel the inevitable disappointment that postponing this unique and much enjoyed feature of the motorcycling year will bring to motorbike enthusiasts, our supporters and the local people of Brackley. The Committee would like to express our gratitude to all those who have assisted in our planning to date and sincerely hope that they will join us again in the future to help organise this special event. Dominic Copas - BFoM Chairman BFoM has been monitoring the developments, advice and directives very carefully. It is clear that in the short term an event of our magnitude is not tenable. The longer term outlook for an event in August is less clear. At this point we continue to make preparations for the event to go ahead.
However our monitoring of developments will continue and when necessary, in the near future, we will make a responsible decision in consideration of BFoM, personal and the National interest. Dominic Copas - BFoM Chairman Look who’s coming to Brackley Festival of Motorcycling 2020, we’d love to see you there too!28/2/2020 English Electric Motor Co (EEMC) is the largest premium brand all-electric motorcycle and electric scooter dealership in the UK - with specialist knowledge and years of experience in both the EV sector and motorcycle world. We're utterly convinced that from the moment you swing a leg over any of our electric motorcycles that you'll understand just how incredible these machines can be. Book a demo/doorstep demo or extended demo on our website http://www.englishelectricmotorco.com/ or call 01379 898987
 We are delighted to announce that our amazing Freddie Spencer Honda anniversary celebration cake, by Karen from CakesbyKit, is now complete!!  Anniversary means celebration and that equals CAKE!! Brackley Festival are delighted to be working with Karen from CakesbyKit in 2018. Karen has been working hard to create a fabulous birthday cake in the shape of the Freddie Spencer Honda. Keep watching for progress as the cake comes together. karen@cakesbykit.com
This is the BFoM crew working with the MCN and Freddie Spencer. Freddie Spencer is known as one of the greatest motorcycle racers of the 80's.   Today the crew from Brackley Festival of Motorcycling were at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham hosting a Live 'Fire Up' as part of the Museum's open day. We were delighted to have Freddie Spencer with us talking about the 1993 Honda NS500. A 3 cylinder V 2 stroke which kicks out 125 hpr. This bike belongs to Lloyd Dickinson who nurtured it back to working order for us to enjoy this afternoon. In its day these bikes won GP World Championships and Freddie the 'World Champion' was taking the throttle for old times sake.!!  Air Ambulance Donations top £100,000! At the Air Ambulance home base at Coventry Airport, and despite appalling weather, Treasurer Roger Charlesworth, Gavin Alexander Crirtical Care Paramedic, Doctor Suzy Strokes, Chairman Dominic Copas and Jenny Conway Critical Care Paramedic braved the elements to make the donation. There were smiles all round as this contribution takes the total contributions to the Air Ambulance to over £100,000 since the Festival started.
Blood Bikers ‘Rosalind’ Steps into the Limelight. Brackley Festival of Motorcycling concluded another successful year of charitable fund raising by purchasing ‘Rosalind’ - a new bike to help the Blood Bikers continue their amazing voluntary service to the general public. Nigel Richardson, representing the Blood Bikers, met with Chairman Dominic Copas at Magdalen College School, who support the hosting of the Festival, to formerly receive the new bike. Mr Richardson stated that the SERV OBN Blood Bikers were overwhelmed by this substantial donation of ‘Rosalind’ to their fleet and added that she will be a real asset to their work in helping those in need.
Brackley Bowls Club
Brackley Cricket Club Dominic Copas, Chairman Brackley Festival of Motorcycling, passes a donation cheque to Keith Cartwright President of Brackley Cricket Club at their Annual Club Presentation Evening.
atharine House Hospice Dominic Copas, Chairman Brackley Festival of Motorcycling, presents a donation cheque to Dean Harris , Fund Raising Assistant of Katharine House Hospice.
Since the great Norton years of the 1950s talented engineers have struggled to create a motorcycle that would stem the tide of,firstly Italian and then Japanese motorcycles that have dominated the road-racing World Championships. With the collapse of the British Motorcycle industry in the 1970s it was left to a few talented and driven engineers to strive to resist the foreign onslaught. Men such as Colin Seeley, Don and Derek Rickman and Peter Williams turned their ingenuity to maximise the performance of existing machines, and they had considerable success during the 1970s. These attempts were however doomed to fail from the start because they relied on old technologies and engines. What was required was a new approach. Turn our backs on the aging engines conceived in the 1930s and invest in multi cylinder power which could be tamed by the likes of Colin Seeley and Peter Williams and thus create a competitive British Challenge .  The Major factories of the day had “put their foot in the Multi-cylinder water” in the early fifties but for their own reasons had decided against investment in this technology. Despite this there were men who believed that they could show the factories the way forward and they were determined to push ahead with their ideas against all the odds. The result of two of such men are here at Brackley Festival 2017. The first is the Marsh MR4 racer from 1962. First conceived in 1954 Fred Marsh, an engineer at Harland and Wolff in Southampton was quite simply an engineering genius. Working in his shed he created over eight years a 4cylinder engine racer he believed could take on and beat the world. If he had been able to spend on development or had received backing from the reactionary British Industry he may well have been proved right.  But no investment came and despite a few track appearances in the 1962 and 1963 seasons this truly remarkable and valiant effort was allowed to die. This amazing machine is at the festival courtesy of an inspired restoration project undertaken by The National Motorcycle Museum, the undisputed home of the British Motorcycle Industry. The bike was fired up in February this year but runs round the Brackley circuit will be the first time the bike has ventured out on-track for many years.
But the powers- that- be feared this innovative machine and disputes over actual engine displacement finally led to the end of development and a slow death of this fantastic British “World Beater”. The concept however lives on and a new road-going version is planned with the Crighton/Rotron CR700P at a late stage of development.
Again courtesy of the National Motorcycle Museum we have at Brackley 2017 is the ex Jim Mudie Duckhams Sponsored BSB machine, and many times a race winner See and hear these brilliant, inspired, British machines and dream of “What might have been , if only “?????  AIR AMBULANCE Every day, Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance are helping save more lives. Our critical care paramedics, trauma doctors and pilots fly an average of three rescue missions a day, giving people the very best chance of survival and recovery. The Air Ambulance Service is one of only two totally independent air rescue providers in the UK; They receive no government funding and we provide three outstanding services (Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance, Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance and the Children’s Air Ambulance) entirely through the generosity of members of the public and the corporate sponsors.  Brackley Festival of Motorcycling and very proud of their strong association with the Air Ambulance. To date, the event has raised over a £100,000 for the air ambulance. Our charitable fundraising has always been a principal motivation for organising the Festival and knowing that we are helping to save lives makes all the time and effort given by the Committee and teams of supporters so worthwhile. Many of us will have seen the air ambulance in action or know someone who has benefited from it. The Air Ambulance doesn’t receive any government funding, their life saving missions are fuels entirely by donations and volunteers.  Here are a couple of examples of the Air Ambulance at work; Simon Glover Print manager Simon Glover is known as “the miracle man” to his friends and family Less than a millimetre and the local air ambulance made the difference between life and death for him when he cut his throat with an angle grinder while doing DIY at his home in Northampton. The dad of four was airlifted to hospital for emergency surgery by Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance and within 22 minutes was receiving the medical care he urgently needed. Simon, aged 50, of Grange Park, Northampton, said: “Telling people about how the air ambulance flew me to hospital made me realise what an important part it played in saving my life. “If it hadn’t taken me to hospital so quickly and I was still in the back of a land ambulance when my lungs started to fill with blood then I hate to think what would have happened.”  Daisy Rughoobeer It’s every parent’s nightmare. Daisy Rughoobeer, just seven years old, was on her way downstairs when she suddenly lost her footing and slipped, falling the rest of the way and hitting her head on the corner of a wooden radiator cover. Daisy had sustained a serious laceration to her scalp. It was 8-10cm long and went all the way down to the skull. They immediately rang 999. Within minutes, Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance was at the scene to provide help to little Daisy.   At the Air Ambulance home base at Coventry Airport, and despite appalling weather, Treasurer Roger Charlesworth, Gavin Alexander Crirtical Care Paramedic, Doctor Suzy Strokes, Chairman Dominic Copas and Jenny Conway Critical Care Paramedic braved the elements to make the donation.   The Brackley Festival of Motorcycling 2017 is going to be bigger and better than it has ever been. There’s a new addition this year and it’s the custom village. What’s a custom Village? Well, there will be trade stalls specific to the custom scene, the coffee & cake man in his Airstream trailer, the Gentlemen's lounge - chill out zone with sofas for your comfort, some top-class bike builders for you to talk to, and of course a custom motorcycle show featuring some unique and stunning pre-invited custom motorcycles. Alongside the pre-invited entries, the judges will be selecting 10 custom bikes which have been ridden-in on the day. To make this happen we’ve joined forces with two big names in the UK custom bike scene, Twisted Iron who will be working is association with Sickboyz Customs. Who are they?  Twisted Iron; Are you spending every spare minute in your shed or garage building your dream motorcycle? Twisted Iron is for those of us who have a vision of what they want to ride and then go and build it. It’s a community for like-minded shed dwellers!! It’s run by Russell and Beverly Cort. Dyed in the wool bikers with a background in engineering and design. These two have been organising motorcycle events for the last 10 years, and have organised and run the ‘Oxford Distinguished Gentlemans Ride’ in September for the last 3 years. Twisted Iron started 4 years ago with a Facebook page then a Custom Bike Event called ‘The Happening’. Their following quickly grew and the demand for regular meets increased. Twisted Iron responded by hosting a monthly bike meet at a place called ‘This Is Your Garage’ near Oxford, a very cool venue.  ‘This Is Your Garage’ (TIYG), is a great place. It’s somewhere to meet like-minded car and bike enthusiasts and work on your own vehicle in fully kitted out work bays; there’s even a place to store your pride and joy. If you’re looking for a community for bikers who share the same passion, no airs or graces, just decent guys and girls enjoying their bikes, give Twisted Iron a look. You won’t regret it. ‘The Happening’ 2017 is on 15th-16th September 2017, in a field at Mill Lane, Chalgrove. Oxon. OX44 7SL Further details available from: Facebook: TwistedIronTheHappening Website: twistediron.co.uk Email: info@twistediron.co.uk  Sickboyz Customs; Sickboyz Customs are Wade (founder) and Jane (design and clothing) who together are a multi award winning custom motorcycle manufacturer. They can handle anything and everything, from one off custom fabricated builds to winter servicing, from building bespoke custom motorcycles to bolting on an air cleaner.  Sickboyz have been featured around the globe with articles in national media and have been fortunate enough to have had several front covers of some prominent Uk and European custom motorcycle magazine. Sickboyz Customs have also been featured on “The Motorbike Show” on ITV4 and are known for supporting the UK custom industry.
They have built a reputation for quality and value for money and with their clothing range people have really bought into the whole Sickboyz brand. Facebook: Sickboyz-Customs Website: http://www.sickboyzcustoms.com Email: info@sickboyzcustoms.com  The Story of VOODOO CLUB began in February 2012, when one night, guitarist Mark Bryan approached fellow Guitarist friend Jonny Edwards about forming a band. The rest, as they say, is history. Voodoo Club consists of Mark Bryan on bass (some vocals), Shari Bryan on drums (some vocals) and Jonny Edwards on guitar and voice. Jonny is ex Sussex Pistols from the 90's. Their set spans everything from classic Punk / New Wave, Garage Rock and Surf Music, adding in 70's Art Rock, all with the sound of Johnny Thunders, Sex Pistols and Link Wray melded together. There's even some Kinks, The Who and Joan Jett plus a sprinkling of some originals thrown in. The band gig all over the place and have even played at a nightclub in Venice. They recently supported The Vibrators, Menace and The Glitter band........and on 13th August 2017 they will be playing for you at the Brackley Festival of Motorcycling.  H&H Classics, one of the top UK auction houses, announced today that it is moving its motorcycle sales from Donington Park to the National Motorcycle Museum from June this year. The first sale at this prestigious new venue will be held on June 1st and 2nd. H&H was founded in 1993 as a specialist auction house dedicated solely to the sale of collectors’ motorcars and motorcycles and has been trading continuously for the last twenty-two years. The company is staffed by hands-on enthusiasts with over 600 years combined experience.  This will be a long term partnership with H&H Classics holding three sales in 2017 at the Museum and a minimum of three a year in the future. Dominic Lyncker, CEO of H&H Classics, says: “We have decided to raise the bar on our motorcycle sales by holding them at the most prestigious bike venue in the country. The museum is ‘Bike Central’ for anyone who loves motorcycling. We are determined to make the name H&H Classics synonymous with the very best of motorcycle auctions, so the co-operation with this wonderful atmospheric venue allows us to offer our clients the best.” The National Motorcycle Museum is recognised as the finest and largest British motorcycle museum in the world and originally opened its doors in October 1984 with a collection of 350 motorcycles on display. The Museum collection now boasts some 1,000 plus machines, fully restored to the manufacturers original specifications.  Since opening, this magnificent centre attracts around 250,000 visitors a year. One of the biggest draws for many guests is the comprehensive cross-section of British machines, spanning the “60 Glorious Years” of motorcycle manufacturing in this country. The museum’s aim is to preserve these pieces of history for future generations to come, as a reminder of this great nations industry, engineering prowess and work ethic. James Hewing National Motorcycle Museum Director, say: “We are delighted to welcome H&H Classics auctions for their forthcoming motorcycle auctions. All those attending will enjoy an enhanced experience in terms of the world class facilities not to mention having the chance to visit the museum collection!” Mark Bryan, Head of H&H Classics Motorcycle Department, says: “When deciding to find a new sales venue there was really only one option if we wanted the best for clients and that was the National Motorcycle Museum. Where better to showcase the best motorcycles at auction in the UK? We look forward to a long hand happy partnership with the museum.”  The Custom Village at Brackley Festival of Motorcycling brought to you by Twisted Iron in association with Sickboyz Customs  This year The Custom Show at Brackley Festival of Motorcycling is changing! Twisted Iron who have run the grassroots, shed-builder’s, motorcycle custom show ‘The Happening’ for the last 4 years, in association with ‘Sickboyz Customs’ who build some multi-award winning custom motorcycles, are bringing you a stunning Custom Village. There will be trade stalls specific to the custom scene, Twisted Iron’s favourite coffee & cake man in his Airstream trailer, the ‘Distinguished Gentlemans Ride - chill out zone’ fitted out with sofas for your comfort, some top-class bike builders, and of course a custom motorcycle show featuring some unique and stunning pre-invited custom motorcycles.
Alongside the pre-invited entries, the judges will be selecting 10 custom bikes which have been ridden-in on the day by the public at the Custom Corral parking area just off the High Street – see website map and follow the signage on the day. The bikes will be chosen at 11am (so owners be with your bikes in the Custom Corral from 10.30am please), they will then be escorted to the Custom Village via the surrounding roads. Show bikes will join the parade and prize-giving in the High Street Arena at the end of the day. All motorcycles in the show must be suitable for the purpose of parading which means they must be able to be ridden, and must be able to stay on site in the Village until the end of the event.  Stay tuned for breaking news about who will be joining us in the Custom Village on the day and other updates for entry and prizes. Get a small taste of Twisted Iron’s ‘The Happening’ in the Custom Village at The Brackley Festival of Motorcycling, and for the full experience join us on 15th-16th September in Chalgrove, for a weekend of music, motorcycle and moonshine madness…   Images courtesy of R&B Images
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