On Saturday 28th June, at the Silverlake Stadium, the much-anticipated Silverlake MotoFest 2025 brought together thousands of automotive enthusiasts, local businesses, families and community members in a vibrant celebration of motorsport culture. The event, organised by Silverlake Automotive Recycling, attracted over 5000 attendees and raised thousands of pounds for Hampshire and IOW Air Ambulance [HIOWAA], an organisation that plays a crucial role in saving lives across the region.
HIOWAA took every opportunity to engage with the crowds, manning a stand with a helicopter simulator, which generated lots of interest and giving an eye-opening talk about the work they do on the main stage.
Lucy Butcher, Supporter Engagement Officer at HIOWAA, shared her gratitude:
“A huge thank you to Silverlake Automotive Recycling for putting on such a brilliant MotoFest. Our volunteers all had a great time, and the engagement with the local community was beyond our expectations. Everyone was so positive about the airbase move to Southampton, and their generosity reflected this.”
Crowds enjoyed the vehicle showcases ranging from supercars to classics, custom-built, motorhomes, motorbikes, electric bikes and everything in between. The outstanding car competition was a highlight, with so many vintage and exotic vehicles on display. The winners were: 1st Place: 1968 Morris Minor 1000 Saloon; 2nd Place: 1991 Mitsubishi GTO Twin Turbo, and 3rd Place: Ferrari F12. Super car rides from Sporting Bears Motor Club, live demonstrations, Rev-Offs and talks from local celebrities Tiff Needell, James Beattie and Matt Le Tissier added to the excitement. Paul Fullick, a motor racing driver from Team BRIT, the world’s only competitive team of all-disabled racing drivers, gave an inspiring talk about following your dreams. Paul Sawyer, Mini Challenge motor racing driver and DJ, spoke about racing with passion and kept the decks turning at the event. Street food stalls took care of everyone’s hunger. F1 simulators and axe throwing were great sources of on-site adrenaline, while ice creams, face painting, and fairground rides kept the children entertained.
Peter Cooper Motor Group, which exhibited at the event, was impressed by the turnout and the community engagement.
“MotoFest was a fantastic event for the Peter Cooper Motor Group. It gave us a brilliant platform to engage directly with the local community, showcase our latest vehicles, and capture some valuable leads in a fun, dynamic setting. We had a great time being part of the action and look forward to more exciting collaborations with Silverlake in the future.”
Allen Prebble, Managing Director of Silverlake Automotive Recycling, thanked his event team, all attendees, exhibitors and participants for their invaluable support.
“We are so proud of the turnout and the spirit of unity that MotoFest has brought to Hampshire. It was incredible to see so many people come together in support of the Hampshire and IOW Air Ambulance, a cause close to our hearts that makes a huge difference to the region with their life-saving services. A special thank you to the Rotary Club for providing marshals, to Paul Sawyer for the great music and also to our local celebrities – Matt Le Tissier, James Beattie, Tiff Needell, and Paul Fullick for joining us and adding that extra touch of excitement to the event. We’re already looking forward to MotoFest 2026!”
