MotoFest

MotoFest Coventry

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Our classic car programme to celebrate the best of Coventry’s heritage

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Our classic car programme to celebrate the best of Coventry’s heritage

Motofest Coventry is gearing up for another classic Coventry Concours show with an array of automotive hometown heroes set to line up as part of the ‘Coventry Connections’ theme for this year’s show.

The Coventry Concours has attracted 36 entries for this year’s show, with many of the hometown marques represented, including a 1950 Jaguar XK120 that has already previously made its mark in various premium shows. The Jaguar XK120 wins have included the Jaguar Drivers Club Champion of Champions and also the Meguiars Concours in 2023 and is set to be one of the most interesting contenders of the weekend. 

The main show theme of ‘Coventry Connections’ will include cars that were designed in Coventry, manufactured in Coventry, or have a strong link to Coventry, such as DeLorean, whose head office was based in the city.

The Coventry Concours  – a premium show for vintage, classic cars and motorcycles – will take place on Saturday 1 June and Sunday 2 June, as part of the main MotoFest Coventry weekend programme.

As with previous years, the Coventry Cathedral Ruins will again provide an atmospheric backdrop to proceedings, enabling Coventry Concours to emulate the glamour and glitz of globally renowned Concours D’elegance such as the Valetta and Hampton Court events.

It will also feature a celebrity judging panel, a number of whom are Sustainable Skills Networks Ambassadors representing one of the event’s co-hosts, Association of Heritage Engineers (AoHE). The judging panel will feature Sarah Crabtree, from TV’s Bangers and Cash fame, YouTube channel host Iain Tyrrell, Dominic Taylor-Lane, founder of the Association of Heritage Engineers and Marc Allum, a resident expert on the BBC 1 Antiques Road Show.

Dominic Taylor-Lane said: “It’s fantastic to be involved again in the Coventry Concours and playing my role in organising and judging what is fast becoming a very popular show.

“As with previous shows, the Coventry Concours team has drawn together a stunning collection of very special vehicles, which will help to further secure its place on the annual calendar of classic vehicle events.”

James Noble, MotoFest Coventry Festival Director, said, “We are all set for another fantastic Coventry Concours show, with the popularity growing year on year.

“There is again the opportunity for visitors to enjoy beautiful, premium heritage cars and motorcycles showcasing the best of Coventry’s car and motorcycle manufacturing expertise in an atmospheric setting.

“We also have our classic car displays across the city, with hundreds of vehicles being showcased, as we again celebrate the city’s motoring heritage with another incredibly strong classic car programme.”

The inaugural Coventry Concours took place in 2021, following on from a successful online ‘Coventry Concours’ event in June 2020.

In 2023, the hometown heroes of the Coventry Concours were best friends Michael and Neil, who worked as trained engineers at Jaguar for a combined total of 55 years. They decided to showcase their love of Jaguars by entering their 1977 Jaguar XJ Coupe into last year’s event and won not only best in class, but the overall best in show award as well.

As part of MotoFest past, present and future theme, there will be the traditional classic car, modern modified car and motorcycle static displays across the city centre, with over 300 cars and bikes so far registered for this year’s event. 

With a significant future technology focus, MotoFest Coventry will feature a showcase of the latest alternatively fuelled vehicles, electric cars and advanced automotive technology. 

MotoFest Coventry is a two-day festival dedicated to the city of Coventry’s motoring heritage, taking place on Saturday 1 June and Sunday 2 June. It will feature a unique blend of racing demonstrations, static displays, live music and anything else with a connection to Coventry, transport and the city’s motoring heritage.  

Editor’s Notes:

For any media enquiries, interview or photo requests please contact Mark McLachlan on 0121 362 1630 or 07831 308133, or e-mail mark.mclachlan@waachosen.co.uk

MotoFest Coventry celebrates ten-year anniversary

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MotoFest Coventry celebrates ten-year anniversary with its biggest ever entertainment programme.

MotoFest Coventry is to host its biggest ever entertainment programme, with a full-size replica of the BloodHound Land Speed Record (LSR) car, Extreme E racing simulators and a giant Scalextric track featuring iconic Coventry landmarks among the highlights of the weekend.

The Coventry Transport Museum will host a full-size replica of the BloodHound LSR car in Millennium Place. The replica vehicle will be supported by the BloodHound Education display, with lots of information about the car’s history and development and the important role Bloodhound LSR has played in schools as part of their STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) lessons.

There will be Bloodhound themed PlayHem activities on Saturday in Millennium Place and with free entry to the museum, visitors will get the opportunity to enjoy a fly-through of the Bloodhound engine on the 4D simulator. The simulator will also allow visitors to experience the thrill of driving a Le Mans endurance racing car or get behind the wheel of the Thrust SSC land speed car, with both available across the weekend.  

Headline partners E.ON Next and E.ON x Coventry City Council Strategic Energy Partnership will host an action-packed weekend of events on their stand at Greyfriars Green. Visitors can put their racing skills to the test on the E.ON Veloce  racing simulators, or try their hands at the Batak quick reaction game – used by racing drivers to improve hand-eye coordination and speed up response times.

The stand will also host a 3.6m x 1.2m Scalextric track on which visitors, friends and families can race each other on a track featuring some of Coventry’s most notable landmarks. Elsewhere on the stand will be DJs and a viewing platform to give visitors a perfect view of the MotoFest track action.

Throughout the weekend, visitors might also spot World Rally Cross and E.ON Veloce Extreme E racing drivers Kevin Hansen and Molly Taylor dropping in to talk about their experiences in motor racing and the work they do to promote greater sustainability and equal opportunities in motorsport.

James Noble, MotoFest Festival Director, said: “For our ten-year anniversary, MotoFest Coventry is celebrating with its biggest ever entertainment programme, with a non-stop cultural celebration of the city’s motoring past, present and future.

“The BloodHound LSR replica car and education display located in Millennium Place and the original car inside the museum will quite literally provide a huge attraction. It’s an incredible feat of engineering and visitors can learn more about its development and the role it plays in teaching engineers of the future.

“Our event partners E.ON are hosting a fantastic programme on their stand, with the Extreme E simulators, guest appearances from Kevin Hansen and Molly Taylor, as well as the Coventry themed Scalextric circuit sure to prove hugely popular across the festival weekend.

“There are also the music stages, including our main stage this year delivered in partnership with BBC Introducing West Midlands, our regular fairground with rides for all ages and a huge range of family friendly activities and things to do.

“It’s set to be a fantastic weekend full of thrills, family fun and high-octane entertainment with something for everyone to enjoy across the festival weekend.”

E.ON Next and E.ON will also be showing off the latest updates from the strategic energy partnership with Coventry City Council and highlighting some of the latest low carbon energy solutions available to homes and businesses, such as electric vehicle charging – visitors can drop in to the E.ON Next photobooth and energy generating dance game to learn more.

Chris Lovatt, Chief Operating Officer for E.ON Energy Infrastructure Solutions, who also sits on Coventry’s climate change board, said: “The weather’s getting better and the excitement is definitely ramping up ahead of the tenth anniversary running of MotoFest Coventry.

“Whether it’s meeting champion racing drivers in the flesh or putting yourself in their shoes on the simulators or Scalextric track, we’re building a fun-packed stand for the weekend while also outlining some of the ways we’re backing the city’s ambitions and inspiring sustainable change.

“We’ll be bringing all our energy to this year’s event, whether that’s our work in sustainable motorsport, helping our customers to become cleaner and greener at home and in business, or highlighting some of the work we’re doing to transform this city and make their net zero ambitions a reality.”

Marguerite Nugent, Cultural Director, CV Life, said: “Congratulations to MotoFest Coventry on 10 fantastic years and we are thrilled to be part of event again this year.

“Coventry Transport Museum (operated by CV Life) will be a hub of activity throughout the weekend by offering something for visitors of all ages to enjoy.

“They will be able to see the awe-inspiring BloodHound LSR replica up close in Millennium Place on Saturday, with the actual car inside the museum. There will be a variety of engaging activities designed to spark curiosity over the weekend and a special cycle and motorcycle display on Sunday. Plus, the Museum is free throughout MotoFest weekend.”

The musical feast being served up at MotoFest Coventry will see a new partnership with BBC Music Introducing West Midlands, with the main stage showcasing some of the best emerging artists and bands in the West Midlands region. The full line-up for the daytime and evening stages across both days of the festival weekend will be announced soon.

In addition to the main BBC Introducing West Midlands stage, there will be further live music across both days with various stages featuring local Coventry and West Midlands performers and community groups.

MotoFest Coventry is a two-day festival dedicated to the city of Coventry’s motoring heritage, taking place on Saturday 1 June and Sunday 2 June. It will feature a unique blend of racing demonstrations, static displays, live music and anything else with a connection to Coventry, transport and the city’s motoring heritage.

Editor’s Notes:

For any media enquiries, interview or photo requests please contact Mark McLachlan on 0121 362 1630 or mobile 07831 308133 or e-mail mark.mclachlan@waachosen.co.uk

It’s four to the floor with new historic karting circuit to form quartet of live action arenas

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It’s four to the floor with new historic karting circuit to form quartet of live action arenas

MotoFest Coventry is to host its fourth live action arena with historic karting to feature as part of this year’s festival weekend.

The British Historic Karting Club (BHKC) will host the new karting circuit based at the car park on Gosford Road under the Whitefriars Ringway. It will give visitors the opportunity to see at first hand dynamic displays of a grassroots motorsport that has launched the careers of many legendary drivers over the years.

During the weekend the BHKC will be demonstrating karts from the ‘Golden Era’ of karting -1959 to 1999 and these will be split into two divisions.

There will be Class 1 karts, equipped with direct drive, 100cc engines, no clutch or gearbox and just the single brake on the rear axle. They are capable of reaching 70mph and famous drivers beginning their careers in Class 1 karts include Ayrton Senna, Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton.

The Class 4 karts, powered by a 250cc motorcycle engine, four-wheel braking and capable of over 100mph on longer circuits, will also feature as part of the dynamic displays. These are the karts legendary British Formula 1 driver and former world champion Nigel Mansell drove early in his career and were also driven by BHKC patron Chris Hodgetts before he went on to win two British Saloon Car Championships and become a Le Mans class winner.

James Noble, MotoFest Festival Director, said: “We are excited to announce a new fourth live action arena at MotoFest, with the British Historic Karting Club taking centre stage with historic karting displays.

“This is true grassroots motorsport and an opportunity to experience what has been the traditional testing ground for up-and-coming racers and the launch pad for some of motorsport’s greatest drivers over the years.

“The new historic karting circuit, the unique Ring Road Sprint Circuit, the Drift Arena and the Auto Test Challenge will provide four unique showcases of live action motorsport for visitors to enjoy in what will be our largest vehicle content programme ever at the event.

“It’s set to be an event full of thrills, family fun and high-octane entertainment with something for everyone to enjoy across the festival weekend.”

Mike Topp, Secretary of the British Historic Kart Club, said: “We are really looking forward to bringing our classic racing karts to the streets of Coventry.

“Many people don’t appreciate the performance of these racers, so this is our chance to show them! Drivers will also be on hand to talk to anyone wanting to know more about the karts and our activities.”

Historic karting evolved from a group of enthusiasts who attended Shenington Kart Racing Clubs’s fortieth anniversary race meeting in June 2000 to demonstrate their old karts.

Following that event, it grew rapidly and the BHKC was formed in 2005. The club now has around 250 members, while historic karting has over 8000 Facebook followers and is a recognised branch of karting in both the UK and Europe.

The unique 1.6 mile Sprint Circuit, created from the city’s ring road, will again host the British Automobile Racing Club’s (BARC) Connaught Speed Championship Rounds as its centre piece event. This will be supported by an array of modern and historic race vehicles taking part in the Sports and Performance section, with the full programme to be announced soon.

Alongside the BARC Connaught Speed Championship, MotoFest Coventry will also host an official round of the British Autotest championship. The Drift Arena, based at Coach Park, White Street, Coventry City Centre and operated by The Crewsade team, will also showcase all the best in “smokin’ hot tyre and sideways action” across the festival weekend.

MotoFest Coventry will also combine with lead sponsor E.ON to demonstrate the motoring future with a sustainable transport showcase featuring the latest alternatively fueled vehicles, EV and advanced automotive technology.

The Innovation Zone, first introduced last year and based in the main Greyfriars Green festival site, will see exhibitors committed to showcasing the latest electric vehicles and motorcycles. Many of those two and four wheeled exhibits will also take part in dynamic displays on the main sprint circuit and the motorsport and drift arenas.

MotoFest Coventry is a two-day festival dedicated to the city of Coventry’s motoring heritage, taking place on Saturday 1 June and Sunday 2 June. It will feature a unique blend of racing demonstrations, static displays, live music and anything else with a connection to Coventry, transport and the city’s motoring heritage.

Editor’s Notes:

For any media enquiries, interview or photo requests please contact Mark McLachlan on 0121 362 1630 or mobile 07831 308133 or e-mail mark.mclachlan@waachosen.co.uk