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MotoFest Coventry

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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

MotoFest Coventry unveils E.ON as lead partner for 10th anniversary festival 

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MotoFest Coventry unveils E.ON as lead partner for 10th anniversary festival

MotoFest Coventry has announced E.ON as its lead partner for this year’s tenth anniversary event, continuing the relationship with the Coventry based energy supplier to supercharge the city showcase of the latest in advanced automotive, future and electric vehicle (EV) technology. 

The partnership with its hometown motoring festival will see E.ON play a lead role in this year’s festival weekend on Saturday 1 June and Sunday 2 June. 

Continuing its theme of past, present and future technologies, MotoFest Coventry will combine with E.ON to host a sustainable transport showcase with all the latest alternatively fueled vehicles, EV and advanced automotive technology all on display. 

The Future Technology 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.

As MotoFest Coventry celebrates its ten year anniversary this year a new specially commissioned film documenting a decade of the UK’s largest free to attend motoring festival is to be premiered across MotoFest’s online and social media channels.

James Noble, MotoFest Coventry Festival Director, said: “We are delighted to announce E.ON as our lead partner for the event. It’s an association made in Coventry and working together we have exciting plans in place to celebrate both MotoFest’s ten-year anniversary and the city’s motoring heritage. 

“As a result of the partnership with E.ON and other significant relationships with stakeholders such as Coventry City Council and Coventry University, we are in an incredibly strong position to demonstrate the best in sustainable transport, low carbon motoring and advanced automotive and electric vehicle technology. 

“We look forward in the coming weeks to announcing exciting new initiatives, promotions and content for the festival weekend, which will make MotoFest Coventry 2024 one of the most electrifying event spectacles of the year.”

Chris Lovatt, Chief Operating Officer for E.ON Infrastructure Solutions, who also sits on Coventry’s climate change board, said: “Coventry is our home and we’re thrilled to be supporting the MotoFest party, building a fun-packed weekend while also backing the city’s ambitions and inspiring sustainable change in how we live our lives in the future.

“Getting people excited about the switch to a lower carbon lifestyle is a key part of the journey to a zero-carbon world and 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 to make their net zero ambitions a reality.”

Alongside its support for MotoFest Coventry, E.ON has taken its commitment to further Coventry by a pioneering 15-year strategic energy partnership with Coventry City Council.

The Strategic Energy Partnership is designed to drive a new green economy for Coventry based on cleaner energy; helping people to save money and also boosting the local economy. It involves initiatives designed to develop more energy efficient public buildings, shifting from fossil fuels to locally produced renewable energy and, perhaps most importantly, creating thousands of green, reliable jobs.

E.ON recently launched its Sustainability Heroes campaign to shine a light on the people and businesses across the city who are leading the way in making Coventry more sustainable, with a view to encouraging others to follow in their footsteps.

The most inspiring submissions will be selected as Sustainability Heroes for 2024 and will have the chance to share their story and passion for creating a better world. 

While this year’s MotoFest Coventry will have an increased future vehicle technology focus, there will still be plenty of high-octane action for petrol heads and traditional motoring enthusiasts to enjoy as MotoFest Coventry celebrates its ten-year anniversary as an event. 

MotoFest Coventry 2024 will see the return of the unique Sprint Circuit, carved out of the City Centre Ring Road, and the new drift arena, launched at this year’s festival. This will be further supplemented by an events programme that includes dynamic and static vehicle displays, music, entertainment and exciting new additions to be unveiled in the coming months.

The motoring past will also be well represented at this year’s festival with classic car displays, dynamic runs and car shows. As with previous events, there will be a dedicated area in Broadgate and surrounding areas of the city centre with hundreds of classic vehicles and motorcycles on display.

Coventry Concours, MotoFest Coventry’s premium car show, will take place at this year’s festival with a Queen’s Platinum Jubilee theme, showcasing 70 years of the city’s motoring heritage.

Taking place in the city’s iconic Coventry Cathedral Ruins, the Coventry Concours will expand its curated display this year to include motorcycles and modern vehicles with a Coventry heritage, ranging from the 1950s through to the present day.

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 

MotoFest Coventry unveil Tree-V partnership to promote climate positive motoring 

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MotoFest Coventry unveil Tree-V partnership to promote climate positive motoring

MotoFest Coventry is to partner with Tree-V in a drive to promote climate positive motoring and reduce the carbon footprint for the 2024 event. 

The partnership with MotoFest Coventry will see Tree-V’s innovative approach to tackling vehicle emissions through carbon offsetting and carbon capture, enable the miles driven by both event visitors and the MotoFest team to be offset across the festival weekend.  

Tree-V has implemented similar partnerships with the Vintage Sports Car Club and National Motor Museum, utilising various data sources, including the latest government statistics and the results of historic vehicle surveys, to calculate the emissions generated by visitors to those venues and events.

As part of its carbon balancing services Tree-V undertakes both carbon capture and carbon offsetting. As part of its capture strategy, Tree-V works with various projects to plant trees across the UK, including Tom’s Wood in North Yorkshire, to counterbalance the CO2 generated by vehicle emissions. All trees are planted in accordance with the Woodland Carbon Code and registered on the UK Land Carbon Registry. 

Tree-V’s carbon offset approach sees them work with Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) projects in Bolivia, Guatemala, Peru and Uruguay, to protect trees from deforestation. These accredited schemes must work in line with UN Sustainable Development Goals, which require a commitment to developing economic growth, equality, clean water and sanitation improvement.  

First formed in 2021, Tree-V was founded by a family of car enthusiasts, whose very own classic Morris Minor was the first vehicle to be carbon balanced by the business. Since then, Tree-V has grown to assist various individuals, companies and events, all of whom have unavoidable vehicle emissions, do their bit for the environment through carbon capture and carbon offsetting. 

James Noble, MotoFest Coventry Festival Director, said: “We are very proud to partner with Tree-V as their business ethos is one shared by the MotoFest Coventry team. 

“As an organisation, the Tree-V message of climate positive motoring shows that being environmentally conscious and a motoring enthusiast do not have to be mutually exclusive. 

“It’s a message we will be actively promoting to MotoFest visitors, and we will be practicing what we preach by implementing our own tangible actions to reduce the long-term carbon footprint of the event.

“We look forward to working with the Tree-V team and sharing their vision with the MotoFest Coventry community across the festival weekend.”

Tom Worthington, of Tree-V said: “As a local company we’re incredibly excited to be helping our ‘home’ car show keep it green. 

“Coventry and the Midlands has a proud motoring heritage that we want to keep on the road, to celebrate the past and inspire the next generation of engineers, but we want it to be responsible in this green 21st century.

Our motto is ‘preserve the past, preserve the future’ and this partnership with MotoFest does exactly that.”

Councillor Jim O’Boyle, cabinet member for job, regeneration and climate change, said: “This is a fantastic idea and a great step in the right direction for a more environmentally-friendly motoring event.

“We are always looking to provide people with the option to travel in more environmentally friendly ways so I am very pleased that this brilliant Coventry showcase of all things motoring will use carbon capture and offsetting to be more green. 

“Coventry led the industrial revolution and now we are leading the green industrial revolution with projects like Coventry Very Light Rail, the fact we will be the UK’s first all-electric bus city and of course our first of a kind strategic energy partnership with E.ON.

“MotoFest is a great weekend and now it will also be carbon neutral which is great.”

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, 2024. 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 2024 dates

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MotoFest Coventry 2024 to celebrate special anniversaries
as new event dates are revealed

MotoFest Coventry will return in 2024 to its traditional first weekend in June with a series of special anniversary celebrations set to be among the highlights of next year’s festival.

Organisers of MotoFest have officially announced Saturday 1 June and Sunday 2 June as the main festival weekend dates with the traditional motorcycle Ride In again set to be the curtain raiser to the weekend’s core festival programme.

MotoFest Coventry 2024 will host two major anniversary celebrations with MotoFest celebrating its 10-year event anniversary and also pay tribute to the Vintage Sports-Car Club (VSCC) as they mark their 90th anniversary. While the official celebration of VSCC’s 90 years will occur later in the year, a prelude will be presented at the MotoFest Coventry weekend.

The VSCC is active in every aspect of motoring and motorsport for pre-war cars and is one of the largest and best-regarded motoring clubs in the world. As part of their 90th anniversary year, VSCC members and their cars will attend MotoFest 2024 to take part in a series of dynamic and static displays, in what is set to be one of the most spectacular highlights of the festival.

James Noble, MotoFest Coventry Festival Director, said: “We are delighted to announce the new date for MotoFest 2024, which will be a particularly special year as we celebrate ten years of MotoFest Coventry.

“From its humble beginnings in 2014, MotoFest Coventry has developed into the UK’s largest free-to-attend motoring festival, with over 200,000 visitors at this year’s event, and we are very proud of our achievements.

“Alongside our own anniversary celebrations, we are honoured to have the Vintage Sports-Car Club (VSCC) join the party, with their own 90-year anniversary commemoration. We look forward to seeing VSCC members and their incredible cars take to the MotoFest sprint circuit for what will be one of the most amazing spectacles of next year’s show.

“As well as providing a showcase for Coventry’s motoring heritage, we will also be working with event partners such Coventry City Council to demonstrate the best in sustainable transport, low carbon motoring and advanced automotive and electric vehicle technology at next year’s show.

“We look forward again to the electrifying prospect of a special anniversary MotoFest Coventry in 2024, with our Past, Present and Future theme providing the foundation for the spectacular return of the UK’s biggest and best, free to attend, motoring festival.”

Tania Brown, Club Secretary for The Vintage Sports-Car Club, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be a part of MotoFest Coventry’s 2024 celebration. The Vintage Sports-Car Club (VSCC) has a rich history of promoting and preserving the heritage of pre-war cars and motorsport, and to attend this iconic event in our 90th year is a true honour.

“Many marques important to the Club have links to Coventry, and we can’t wait to showcase our cars and share our passion for classic motoring with the wider community.

“Moreover, we are also excited to demonstrate our commitment to sustainability within motorsport, as we believe in both preserving the past while embracing the future of automotive technology.”

Councillor Abdul Salam Khan, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Events at Coventry City Council, added: “I’m delighted to hear that MotoFest will be returning to Coventry in 2024 following the success of this year’s event.

“MotoFest is not only a key event in Coventry’s calendar, it’s a celebration of our city’s motoring heritage. It’s also a great way to show the city’s current transport projects and future plans.

“Next year the event will be celebrating its 10 year anniversary. I expect we will see many residents attend the spectacular event as well as visitors from outside the city.”

The parade of VSCC member cars on the unique MotoFest Sprint Circuit will be one of the flagship events of MotoFest Coventry 2024 classic vehicle programme. This will also include the ‘Coventry Concours’ premium car show and the traditional classic car displays across the city centre.

MotoFest Coventry’s celebration of the city’s motoring heritage through its classic car element of the show has been formally recognised this year with nominations for two prestigious national classic car event awards. MotoFest has been shortlisted as a finalist for the Historic Motoring Awards ‘Concours of the Year’ award and for the Royal Automobile Club Historic Awards 2023 ‘Motoring Spectacle’ category.  

Dominic Taylor-Lane, Founder and Managing Director of the Association of Heritage Engineers, (AoHE) said: “It is an absolute privilege for the AoHE to co-host the Coventry Concours event.

“Being nominated for the two most prestigious awards in the industry in only its second year is really quite exceptional and a tribute to the event, the iconic venue, judges, entrants and the amazing team I am so proud to be a part of.”

As with the 2023 festival, the 2024 event will also have a significant future technology focus, with a showcase of the latest alternatively fuelled vehicles, electric cars and advanced automotive technology.

The new future technology zone which debuted in 2023 and is located in the main Greyfriars Green festival site, will again 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 2024 will see the return of the unique Sprint Circuit, carved out of the City Centre Ring Road, and the new drift arena, launched at this year’s festival. This will be further supplemented by an events programme that includes dynamic and static vehicle displays, music, entertainment and exciting new additions to be unveiled in the coming months.

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, 2024. 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.

For more details about MotoFest Coventry, visit https://www.coventrymotofest.com/.