Vintage lifestyle and automobile festival, Race the Waves, will get Bridlington revving with excitement again from Thursday 9 to Sunday 12 May.
BACKFIRE, the event organisers, consider their creation ‘a theatre of automotion’. Attendees will be treated to a free spectacular of vintage American hot-rod style vehicles and motorcycles, racing the waves along the South Beach in pairs from a flagged start.
The Race the Waves weekend will also feature a static auto show, containing vintage and classic vehicles displayed on South Marine Drive. The auto show is promoted by BACKFIRE and is supported and organised by members of the Bridlington Lions and the Bridlington Gold Radio roadshow. The event has also gained the support of a Bridlington youth group, the Bridlington Red Admirals Majorettes, who will offer performances to the visitors throughout the weekend.
There will be several refreshment vendors and community stalls, as well as entertainment along the Princess Mary Promenade at this year’s event. There will also be a limited number of souvenir brochures available to purchase in Bridlington over the weekend.
Visitors to Race the Waves 2024 won’t need to worry about being able to see the vehicles. The auto show area on South Marine Drive offers a safe environment to view the vehicles on display, along with uninterrupted views of the beach race activity below. The roof area above the Yorkshire Water Pumping Station on South Marine Drive provides further opportunities to safely view the beach activity and is especially accessible for those with impaired mobility. The Princess Mary Promenade offers the very best opportunity for the visitor to safely navigate all the viewing possibilities for the beach activity.
The Race the Waves Vintage Beach-Race is free for the visitor to watch and enjoy and is easily accessible on foot by being only minutes away from the Belvedere Park & Ride.
To compliment the weekend event, the Race the Waves organisers BACKFIRE have added the following to their event’s programme:
Thursday 9 May
10.00-15.00: in conjunction with the Burton Fleming Village Hall committee, there are Press / Interview opportunities with the Race the Waves organisers and possibly a few beach-race participants too within the Yesteryears Day vehicle gathering. The day is supported by various items of rural machinery at the Village Hall & Event Field in Burton Fleming.
16.30: in conjunction with the Bridlington Classic Car Club, interest is invited to their free to attend classic vehicle gathering at the Flamborough Lighthouse.
Friday 10 May
The Bridlington Old Town is keenly awaiting our arrival on Friday 10th. There with be lots of vehicles & motorcycles to see on Church Green whilst the owners register for the beach-race. This is the perfect opportunity for the town folk and visitors to engage with the racers, see the vehicles up close and also take some time to visit the hospitality and the shops within the Old Town
10.00 – 17.00: Church Green, Old Town Bridlington is home for the beach-racers registration and the technical inspection for their race vehicles. Route Yorkshire Coast will provide the event hub within their promotion trailer; to register the beach race participants. The Bridlington Old Town businesses will be offering a warm welcome to our visitors. Please note: there will be a suspension of parking and a road closure at Church Green & on a section of Kirkgate from 06.00 – 19.00
Bridlington’s hospitality sector is actively encouraging our visitors to stay a while longer by hosting themed evenings at various locations over the weekend. (venues to be confirmed)
Saturday 11 May
From 10.00 – a range of traders and stalls on Bridlington South Beach Promenade (nr the Yorkshire Water Pumping Station)
From 11.30: (and subject to the condition of the beach) The Beach-Race featuring a range of vintage vehicles
From 13.00 – Cycle Karts Display
10.00 – 16.00: Steampunk Emporium in The Royal Hall within The Spa.
19.00: An evening with Ten Tudor Pole; The Spa (admission by ticket)
Bridlington’s hospitality sector are actively encouraging our visitors to stay a while longer by hosting themed evenings in various locations over the weekend. (venues to be confirmed)
Sunday 12 May
From 10.00 – a range of traders and stalls on Bridlington South Beach Promenade (nr the Yorkshire Water Pumping Station)
From 12.00: (and subject to the condition of the beach) The Beach-Race
10.00 – 16.00: Steampunk Emporium in The Royal Hall within The Spa.
In conjunction with King Street Market, The Bridlington Food Festival, King Street.
Please also note: there will be suspension of parking and a road closure in operation on South Marine Drive / Kingston Road, from junctions, Cardigan Road to Shaftesbury Road on Saturday & Sunday from 07.00 to 19.00 each day to accommodate the static Auto-Show.
The Race the Waves weekend is organised jointly; between East Riding of Yorkshire Council (Visit East Yorkshire Events) & BACKFIRE and supported by The Yorkshire Coast Bid.
For Race the Waves information please visit the BACKFIRE website: www.backfireinfo.weebly.com
