We have had a very busy and exciting year despite Covid with the adaption to our main motoring festival and many other automotive themed events.

Coventry Moves – City of Culture’s Opening Event

The first event for MotoFest in 2021 was supporting Coventry UK City of Culture with their opening event. This saw residents, artists and professionals all coming together to deliver an extravaganza of everything Coventry.

 You, Club MotoFest, came out in force to support and show the variety of Coventry designed and manufactured vehicles to highlight ‘People Power’ within the city’s roots, supported by Ska, Irish and Bhangra dancers performing along the route.

MotoFest Month 2021

With the ever changing Covid restrictions and the need to keep all of our team and audience safe, we switched up our traditional motoring festival into separate weekends spread out over a month during summer 2021.

Our first weekend save the launch of Our Future Moves, a year of Transport Innovation highlighted with an exhibition within the Coventry Transport Museum. This project not only helps our city and region to continually be the leaders in automotive development, but helps MotoFest highlight the future outlook of our three perspectives (Past, Present and Future).

Were you able to visit the Our Future Moves exhibition? If not, you can still visit the online Our Future Moves exhibition here.

Motorcycles at MotoFest Month 2021

Weekend two saw the roar of hundreds of Motorcycles ride once more into Coventry City Centre after a scenic ride in from Coombe Abbey taking in the beauty of the South Warwickshire countryside.

Once in Coventry, our riders helped fill the new City of Culture event space – Assembly Festival Gardens. We saw individuals, clubs and small businesses all thriving under the newly released Covid restrictions.

We also welcomed the return of the Fox Family Wall of Death which wowed visitors with their death defying stunts. Alongside, MotoFest Team member Paul Malin, taking on the challenge of the Wall of Death for the first time ever, to raise money for some incredible charities! Read more about this here.

Coventry Concours at MotoFest Month 2021

MotoFest Month 2021 saw the first physical Coventry Concours competition, after the event had to go digital in 2020.

Coventry Concours is an authentic Coventry take on the traditional Concours D’Elegance format.

The event began with all participating vehicles driving through the City Centre, before parking up on display in the world-famous Coventry Cathedral ruins as part of the two-day extravaganza. We had an esteemed panel of judges who reviewed all the vehicles, why not check out who our Concours winners were here.

Drive Ins at MotoFest Month 2021

During the final week of MotoFest Month 2021, we hosted a variety of Drive In events including a cinema experiences to celebrate Coventry, as City of Culture. Featuring the BBC Four documentaries, Classic British Cars: Made in Coventry and Coventry Cathedral: Building for a New Britain.

We were then joined by families to honour our love of all things automotive with the showings of two iconic films – Disney’s Cars and Blues Brothers. 

Finally, for one night only, we hosted a live stage show packed with awesome music, guest interviews and plenty of laughs, plus appearances from the Riley Car Club and Victor Riley, grandson of the firm’s founder William Riley.

MotoFest Car Weekend at MotoFest Month 2021

The final weekend of MotoFest Month 2021 saw Broadgate, in the centre of the city became a showcase for classic Bentleys, Daimlers, Lotuses and many more famous marques, including some fine examples of the city’s most iconic motoring marvel – the Jaguar e-type.

The car clubs and individual enthusiasts had driven from as far afield as Manchester and the South of England, all drawn to Coventry by the clarion call of MotoFest’s annual homage to the city’s motoring heritage.

Just a short stroll from Broadgate, Coventry marque Riley celebrated its 125-year anniversary with a display of vehicles that showcased its own rich automotive history outside Coventry Cathedral

Alongside the classic metal on display in the city, there was also plenty of high octane, turbo charged car fun for the modern, motoring enthusiasts. The Modern Modified, modern classics and modified cars under 30 years old, took part in a Modern Modified display in the former Ikea car park.

Heroes Hour Parade at MotoFest Month 2021

On the final day, MotoFest celebrated the local unsung heroes of the pandemic, as 15 individuals took part in a special ‘Heroes Hour’ vehicle parade. The community heroes were taken on a tour of Coventry in a vehicle parade featuring Ecto1 the famous converted American ambulance from the Ghostbusters film escorted by an array of American Police cars and a military vehicle of the type featured in Ghostbusters.

Our Future Moves Events

After an adrenaline fuelled summer, the team turned their attention to the future view of MotoFest. We joined with Coventry and West Midlands based partners to host a series of Our Future Moves outdoor events highlighting the amazing technologies and innovations we have available right now in our city and region.

With trial areas, local businesses on display and not forgetting breakfast being served by Esquires. We saw Millennium Place, come to life with bicycles, e scooters, classic cars, electric vehicles and motorcycles showing us a glimpse of how our future streets might look.

Christmas Carols Under the Arches

The final event for MotoFest this year, has been our much loved Christmas Carols Under the Arches.

Back by popular demand, we adapted our previous Drive In only format to allow for a standing audience too. Partnering with our friends at Jubilee Church and City Church we were able to host two memorable evenings of Christmas fun and music.

Looking forward to 2022

As we look forward to 2022, the team at MotoFest Coventry are deep into planning and finalising the dates and details of our main festival in summer 2022. We will also be running a series of exclusive and early access Club MotoFest events.

Find out the latest on all this and more by following us on social media using the buttons below and catch our first Club MotoFest News of 2022 on 26th January.

Until then, heres to a Happy and Healthy New Year!

The Association of Heritage Engineers (AoHE) has launched a new initiative in collaboration with its members, AoHE trade specialists and supporters aimed at engaging with a wider public audience. 

Many in the driven heritage and classic vehicle community have done their best to minimise their impact on the planet over decades, the community is already quite exceptional at recycling, repurposing, restoring and repairing. The AoHE feel that now is the time to share the community’s credentials more widely as well as demonstrating that we all realise the world is changing and we need to play our part moving forward. 

Those involved so far include ‘tuning guru’ Iain Tyrrell, Coventry MotoFest and AoHE members the Vintage Sports Car Club, Classic Project Shop, Classic Performance Engineering, Blue Diamond Riley Services, The Classic Engine Workshop, TyreDox and Vintage Tyres.

Dominic Taylor-Lane Founder and MD of the AoHE said: 

“As various political agendas move forward I feel it wise that we set and control our own rather than wait for any to be imposed and we certainly need to be both progressive and certainly not be seen as belligerent. AoHE is very privileged to have a number of high profile supporters from both politics and the media prepared to help us, providing our message is both level headed and in tune with what is happening. 

As the initiatives title suggests, it is about encouraging those within our community, owners and businesses, to make classic vehicles as efficient, safe and ‘clean’ as they can be, that, on top of the data from the 2021 FBHVC survey detailing owner habits and spending, will I hope, make a compelling case moving forward for our place in a new future. 

We aim to involve all our AoHE specialists in the initiative from those in engines and carburettors to tyres, oils and fuels.

We will also have the support of, amongst others, Iain Tyrell. His YouTube channel currently has 104k subscribers, over 6 million views, his videos on tuning in particular have really caught the public’s attention worldwide. This is not about sensationalism, but an attempt to the best we can be, responsible and aware of the public’s perceptions and concerns about our industry. 

The initiative is open to all those AoHE members and supporters wishing to take part.’

MotoFest Coventry’s Car Weekend saw hundreds of classic cars on display across the city as this year’s new month-long format was hailed a ‘success’ by organisers of the festival.

For Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th August, the Broadgate area in the centre of the city became a showcase for classic Bentleys, Daimlers, Lotuses and many more famous marques, including some fine examples of the city’s most iconic motoring marvel – the Jaguar e-type.

The car clubs and individual enthusiasts had driven from as far afield as Manchester and the South of England, all drawn to Coventry by the clarion call of MotoFest’s annual homage to the city’s motoring heritage. 

Just a short stroll from the city centre display, those attending the Car Weekend were further rewarded as Coventry marque Riley celebrated its 125-year anniversary with a display of vehicles that showcased its own rich automotive history.

With the city’s iconic Coventry Cathedral providing a wonderfully atmospheric backdrop, the city’s University Square was filled with an array of the coupes, tourers and saloons that help shape Riley’s reputation as one of the city’s most famous car and bike manufacturers.

James Noble, MotoFest Coventry Festival Director, said: “We are delighted to have rounded off this year’s new month-long format with the Car Weekend, a great success and a fitting finale to the festival programme.

“It’s amazing to see so many people travelling from all over the country to visit MotoFest Coventry. One such example is a gentleman from the Gay Classic Car Club, who travelled down from Manchester in his Bentley turbo R on Saturday morning and drove home Saturday evening. He enjoyed the day so much he drove back to Coventry again the next day!

“That’s the attraction of MotoFest Coventry, even in a Covid disrupted year people still make the effort to attend the festival and we thank all of them for their support.

“It’s been a difficult event to stage this year due to the challenging circumstances but our incredible MotoFest team, the City Council and all our sponsors and supporters have helped make it a great success. We will return bigger and better next year, with the Ring Road Sprint Circuit and various arenas all set to return, with new elements to the show that will continue to celebrate the city’s rich, automotive heritage.”

Alongside the classic metal on display in the city, there was also plenty of high octane, turbo charged car fun for the modern, motoring enthusiasts. The Modern Modified, modern classics and modified cars under 30 years old, took part in a Modern Modified Show and Shine competition and the ‘MotoFest Underground’ evening display.

On Sunday, MotoFest celebrated local unsung heroes of the pandemic, as 15 individuals chosen through a public nomination process, took part in a special ‘Heroes Hour’ vehicle parade. The community heroes were taken on a tour of Coventry in a vehicle parade featuring Ecto1 the famous converted American ambulance from the Ghostbusters film escorted by an array of American Police cars and a military vehicle of the type featured in Ghostbusters.  

Following the parade, Ecto1, the American Police cars and military vehicle all parked up as part of the Modern Modified Car display.

MotoFest Coventry is dedicated to the city’s motoring heritage, taking place in 2021 across three weekends in July and August as part of the new MotoFest Month 2021 schedule.

As the largest free motoring festival in the UK, it brings live motorsport, including dynamic motorsport displays, classic and modern vehicles, and the cutting edge of automotive innovation right into the heart of the UK’s Motor City, free for everyone to enjoy across three weekends. 

MotoFest Coventry is serving up a music menu to suit all tastes for its finale weekend with an eclectic mix of internationally acclaimed headliners and local talent taking centre stage at the festival.

The MotoFest Drive In show on Saturday 7^th August, doors open at 7pm for a 7,30pm start, is an exciting Drive In show on the Nexus ICA Stage, in Millennium Place. It will feature MOBO nominated Sandra Godley, Coventry singer and songwriter Rob Halligan, who has toured extensively around the world as a solo performer and worked with 80s band Wet Wet Wet’s guitarist Graeme Duffin.

They will be joined on the evening line-up by UK Folk legends The Longest Johns, who’s track WellerMan has become a viral sensation. Other guests include Coventry legend, the Selector’s Pauline Black, The Zodiacs and musicians from the Coventry indie music scene.

As well as the music programme, there will be guest interviews and some of Coventry’s finest vehicles – past, present and future plus plenty of laughs for all the family. Tickets are available in advance or on the gate with details on the events available at https://bit.ly/MotoFest-Month2021

In the afternoon of 7^th and 8^th August, there is a packed music line up, featuring local Coventry bands and musicians.

In addition to the MotoFest Drive In Show, there will also be special Drive In screenings of the new BBC commissioned documentaries – Classic British Cars: Made in Coventry, and Coventry Cathedral: Building for a New Britain – all celebrating Coventry’s contribution to Culture.

Both of the BBC documentaries will be screened in Millennium Place, Coventry on the evenings of 4^th and 5^th August, both days and will be free to attend by registering in advance at https://bit.ly/BBCDrivein.

Following on from the BBC documentaries, there will be the MotoFest Film Festival, taking place on the afternoon and evening of 6^th August in Millennium Place and the evening of the 7^th August in the Coventry Cathedral Ruins.

For the MotoFest Film Festival, there will be an exclusive screening of both Disney’s Cars and the Blues Brothers on the 6^th August, tickets are available in advance or on the gate with details on the events available at https://bit.ly/MotoFest-Month2021

A special screening of The Italian Job, organised in partnership with Flatpack Festival as part of CineCov, will take place in the Coventry Cathedral Ruins, with more details available at https://bit.ly/CineCov.

On Sunday 8^th August, ELO guitarist, Dave Scott Morgan will be headlining the free Hope at MotoFest event with his band, along with Rob Halligan and the Psalm Live Worship experience. Organised by Coventry Churches and Hope Coventry, the event takes place in Millennium Place and starts at 6pm.

The entertainment extravaganza will take place across MotoFest Coventry’s new format for the 2021 festival. For this year, MotoFest Coventry will switch from its traditional date on the first weekend in June, to a new ‘MotoFest Month 2021’ programme, stretched out across three individual MotoFest Coventry weekends, from 17^th July to 8^th August 2021.

James Noble, MotoFest Coventry Festival Director, said: “We are delighted at the return of MotoFest Coventry in 2021.

“Following two successful weekends in July, getting us off the starting grid, we now head into the final lap with a full schedule of events and activities.

“The MotoFest Drive In Show is the culmination of a series of Drive In activities offering something for everyone that begin mid-week and ends across the two days of our final festival weekend.

“With the MotoFest Car Weekend showcasing classic cars and modern and modified vehicles, alongside the 125-year anniversary of the city’s famous Riley manufacturer brand and our MotoFest Heroes Hour parade, it’s all set to be a fitting finale to this year’s MotoFest Coventry festival.”

The final weekend on 7th and 8th August is the MotoFest Car Weekend, celebrating both the old and the new, with classic cars over 30 years old and Modern Modified, modern classics and modified cars under 30 years old, on display across the City Centre.

For the classic car lovers, there will be a dedicated display area in Broadgate and surrounding areas of the City Centre with a showcase of hundreds of classic vehicles.

As well as displays, there will be a special 125-year anniversary celebration of the city’s famous car and bicycle manufacturer brand, Rileys, with an array of festivities planned to mark the occasion.

The Modern Modified, modern classics and modified cars under 30 years old, will feature a Modern Modified Show and Shine competition and an evening display titled ‘MotoFest Underground’.

On Sunday 8^th August, the new MotoFest Heroes Hour parade will celebrate the local unsung heroes of the pandemic, chosen through a public nomination process. These amazing individuals will be taken on a special parade through Coventry and feature the Ecto1 car from the Ghostbusters film, a flanked escort of American Police cars and a military vehicle

Following the parade, Ecto1, the American Police cars and military vehicle will all park up as part of the Modern Modified Car display in and around the former Ikea Multi storey Car Park.

MotoFest Coventry is dedicated to the city’s motoring heritage, taking place in 2021 across three weekends in July and August as part of the new MotoFest Month 2021 schedule.

As the largest free motoring festival in the UK, it brings live motorsport, including dynamic motorsport displays, classic and modern vehicles, and the cutting edge of automotive innovation right into the heart of the UK’s Motor City, free for everyone to enjoy across three weekends.  For more details visit https://www.coventrymotofest.com/motofest-month-2021/.

Coventry MotoFest, Coventry University

Call out:

Launch open call – 28 July

Deadline – 9am Monday 20 September

Selection – 21/22 September

Notify – 24 September

Lab dates – 4-8 October (inclusive) (10am – 6pm)

General Information

This is a call out for an artist’s lab developed by Coventry Moto Fest and Coventry University.

The lab is funded by Arts Council England.

The lab is open to artists from all art-forms including visual arts, photography, theatre, sound, live art, design, digital and any other hybrid forms. It is open to artists at ALL career stages as a professional development opportunity. You must be based in the West Midlands, within travelling distance of Coventry.

The lab will be facilitated by artist Simon Poulter in Coventry. We will be working with a range of inputs from people investigating the way we work and travel in the near future. This will include inputs from faculty staff at Coventry University and also the public sector in terms of planning.

The week-long session invites artists to consider novel or distinctive responses to travel and what a truly connected city means, against the backdrop of Coventry’s year of culture in 2021.

A key objective of the lab is to broker links between artists and industry to stimulate a human centred innovation in thinking about connectedness. Artists’ journeys can be imagined in many ways and we encourage applications that are expansive in response to the theme.

The call out and selection of artists will be reflective of the West Midlands diverse population.

What will it be like?

Successful applicants will have an opportunity to make new work, learn new skills and participate in a peer-to-peer making environment.

The lab environment is intensive, friendly and encapsulates both practical skills and theory. There will be exploration of Coventry as a city, along with sessions run by other professionals. You will learn new skills and have the opportunity to present your own work to peers. It has been described as ‘like doing an MA in a week’.

If you have any particular needs around mobility or access you can identify these to us in advance, as the lab is built around the participants. If you are accepted onto the lab, we will call you beforehand to discuss the process with you and any particular questions you have.

What is the commitment level?

You have to be able to commit to the whole week, it is not a course, it’s an intensive lab.

Professional Development, food and honorariums

This is a professional development opportunity to develop your practice. However, we acknowledge that equal access support is needed, to make this open to participants on lower incomes. We offer a flat rate honorarium of £300 to every participant. Food is covered for the duration of the lab.

More notes on practice and process

The lab approach aims to fold live performance, digital outputs and site-specific production into new work. Artists are encouraged to work outside of their normal skill sets and consider wider producer models for making new work.

The lab will combine practical input from previous projects, with taught technical sessions.

Artists do not have to have previous experience of technical tools and may arise from any artistic background and skill level.

To Apply:

Write one side of A4 about the work you do and the challenges you face in your practice. Tell us about what you have been making in the last year and what you would do if you had the right resources. We are looking for artists at all career stages, who want to find some new directions in their work. We particularly welcome applications from diverse candidates, or artists that have not followed a traditional art education track. (You do not need an art degree to apply.)

If you are unable to write a side of A4 but would be willing to submit a video application including the details stated above, we will also accept this kind of application. Please also include any specific access support you would need to make the lab work for you.

Places are limited for this lab but in rare circumstances we will consider artists who work as part of a shared practice (up to two people). If you apply as a duo, then provide one application for both people with relevant CV and imagery of shared practice.

Send us some web links or a digital portfolio (up to ten pages as PDF format). Try to keep the file size under 15mb if you can.

Other notes:

We will provide lunch and refreshments during the day but are not offering overnight accommodation for artists. You will be resident in the West Midlands area and able to attend for five days in Coventry.

There are 10 places available for the lab.

Applications should be returned to: kat@coventrymotofest.com