Two new events organised by the Department of Economic Development are set to be the entertainment highlights of a packed 2011 Manx Grand Prix Festival entertainment schedule.

This year sees the introduction of a new ‘Nostalgia Day’ at the Manx Grand Prix paddock on Saturday, August 27, and the Manx Grand Prix Festival ‘Party on the Prom’ on Tuesday, August 30.

The Nostalgia Day’ at the Grandstand, which is free to enter including free parking in Noble' s Park, will include a vintage car display by the Manx Classic Car Club, Chris Wilson’s collection of prestigious classic racing bikes, the Morton’s ‘Magic Moments of the Mountain’ – a showcase of some of the best images from the rich archive of the UK’s leading Classic Bike publishers - and a live performance from the Manx Jazz Aces who will be playing throughout the day.

TT racers John McGuinness, Keith Amor and Dave Molyneux will all be on hand to meet fans and sign memorabilia. Fans will also have a chance to get a close look at the Classic racing bikes taking part in this week’s Manx Grand Prix races in the Bonham’s Classic GP Paddock, including John Sims' 3 XR69 Suzukis, Yamahas, Kawasakis and Hondas that will sit alongside machines from evocative manufacturers such as BSA, Aermacchi, Norton, Seeley and Paton.

Also new to the MGP Festival Schedule is the ‘Party on the Prom’ night. This event kicks off at 4pm on Douglas promenade and will include The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Concours d’Elegance run by the Isle of Man branch of the Vintage Motorcycle Club. It features a static display of many of the classic and vintage bikes that will be parading round the Isle of Man during the festival.

The bikes will assemble at the War Memorial at 4pm with judging from 6pm and a prizegiving at 6.45pm with an overall prize of a return ferry ticket for two people and a bike for next year’s festival. Entries are open in Classic, Vintage, Custom and Competition categories and people are encouraged to bring their machines down and enter their ‘pride and joy’.

The evening will also feature a live music and chat show in the MGP Fans Beer Tent, with modern TT racer Conor Cummins joined by former World Champion Brian Reid, MGP and TT winner Richard ‘Milky’ Quayle, 14-time TT sidecar winner Dave Molyneux and current TT and MGP competitor and double TT winner Ryan Farquhar, who also holds six MGP titles.

Also on the line up is a spectacular beach race along Douglas beach with some of the Island’s leading bike competitors rumoured to be taking part. Practices for the Beach Race start at 6.30pm with racing from 7pm.

The MGP Fans beer tent, run by the Outback, features more than 100 local and guest beers, ciders and stouts and is open from Friday, August 26 to Friday, September 2.

Isle of Man Tourism Political Member Geoff Corkish said:

"We are continuing our plans to develop the whole festival side of the Manx Grand Prix to build some exciting events to entertain both visitors and residents off the track. We are confident that we have some excellent entertainment to match the track action."


Taken/copied from the MGP Festival website
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