[Next >>]

New Oval GT Sports Car and INCARACE ACADEMY - see story below

[Next >>]

Join our Discussion Group

Click here to subscribe to thenerf

Home
Diary
Message Board
Features
CD-ROMs
Wallpapers

BriSCA F1
BriSCA F2 & Related
Saloon Stock Cars
Legends
Other Formulae
Rods
Bangers

Fixtures

Links 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5
Discussion/Chat
Acknowledgements

email

Guestbook

Sponsor this Site

Autosport International - National Exhibition Centre - Birmingham - 9 to 12 January 2003

Reporting and pictures by Dave Carter

PRESS DAY

The pictures on this page were taken on Press Day at the 2003 Autosport Show. As the Oval Racing section opens only on the Saturday and Sunday (11 and 12 January) there was only a limited amount specifically of interest to short oval fans but there was still plenty to see and do. The expansion of the Engineering section has continued apace with the number of exhibitors rising to something like 400. Such growth over such a short space of time seems astonishing but is surely an indication of the rising importance of the motorsport industry.

So as not to 'spoil' the experience of visitors to the Show many of the images taken will not be published until after the event has ended but rather on this page to concentrate on three aspects to the show which are directly of interest to oval fans. These are a newly launched INCARACE Academy based on a new car produced by Image Wheels, a new Motorsport Tourism Website and Map launched at the Show and last but no means least the BriSCA F1 Stock Cars that once again are a mainstay of the show in the Live Action Arena.

THE INCARACE ACADEMY

The concept is really quite innovative as the formula and its drivers will be nurtured outside of the established fixture programme. It will happen like this. On the Saturday morning of each raceday at Birmingham Wheels (a minimum of 19 fixtures are planned) there will be an Academy Practice session between 9.30am and 11am. After practice each driver will then have two heats and a final with points and certificates awarded in each race. The entry fee for drivers will be £35 to include a day licence and personal accident insurance. This represents good value for money and is also intended to encourage drivers who may wish to borrow or hire cars before jumping in at the deep end. Spectators will be allowed to attend free of charge. At the start the sessions are likely to be quite low key with just a handful of cars but there does not seem any reason why the concept should not catch on!

WWW.MOTORSPORTVALLEY.COM

This is a new website officially launched at the NEC to promote Motorsport and is accompanied by a UK Motorsport Map which locates major motorsport places and events. This is a major initiative by the Motorsports Industry Association (MIA) in association with the East Midlands Development Agency. The really important thing about this venture is that the inclusion of oval racing forms an integral part of the plans and you can do your bit by visiting the stand and registering on the site.

LIVE ACTION ARENA

As ever this features a wide variety of classes and attractions - including Jo Guest! - and any visit to the Show is incomplete without seeing at least some race cars turn wheels in anger. The BriSCA F1 Stock Cars once again feature as an anchor in the show and the race on Thursday's only running of the LAA featured John Lund, Frankie Wainman Senior, Peter Falding, Derek Fairhurst, Ivan Pritchard and Neil Scothern who won the race having started at the back!