BTCC - MK 15/9/05

[shao_khan]

So as a spot of advertising for the forthcoming BTCC at Silverstone, Milton Keynes Council (in an astounding bout of good decision making), the Centre MK, Xscape and BTCC brought the main teams to Milton Keynes on 15/9/05.

Daytime cars and drivers were available in Middleton hall in CMK for viewing, sitting in, signing autographs and mechandise sales. At 1600 these were moved to a makeshift paddock just outside of the Xscape building by Avebury Boulevard.

Accompanying the BTCC cars were next years 997 Porsche cup car, Clio cup car and some single seaters.

Pulblic allowed into 'pit' area to see cars having tyre changes and general cleaning up. Drivers and team members aroudn to answer questions and everyone I spoke to seemed very willing to answer any question.

1830 Avebury Boulevard was closed off from Secklow gate Traffic lights to Cambell Park roundabout. roads cleared and spectators made safe.

Driver walkby - didnt realise there were female drivers, nice one at that

Team Vauxhall first car out gave demonstration on 4 wheel change - approximate time for this in the middle of the road was under 10sec.

Then the cars each competed in timed sprints - up the dual carriageway, round the roundabout at the end and back down the other side. Team-Seat driver suggested they were seeing 3 figures on the speedos on the return leg.

The Single seaters were just playing for teh crowds, accelerate 0 - 60 - 0 in matter of a few secs, squirming around all over the roads - quite good fun to watch.

The Touring cars were actually better fun than I expected, drivers were clearly trying to show how fast the cars would sprint, and air filled with typical burning rubber, unburnt fuel kind of smells gave it a pretty cool atmosphere. Noise was great it was making babies cry and setting car alarms off!!!! Favourite of the day for me was either the Integra Type R which seemed to fly and the Lexus whos driver was able to accelerate for nearly 1/4 mile with his wheels spinning for the whole distance!

Fastest car of the day I would think was the 997 Porka - very very fast, and slowest without a doubt was the Clio, with no corners to give it an advantage the poor thing looked lost. Loudest car had to be either the Seat Toledo or Vx Astra Coupe both of which were popping and burbling like poppygurgly things.

Overall worthwhile event, great way to build enthusiasm for the race day and something I think they shoudl do again.

[shao_khan]

Oh forgot to say - No photograpsh because this reporters camera is broke.

[Luke]

Nice report SK, How fast is a BTCC car by the way.

[shao_khan]

Waiting to see the timer results - havent seen them yet.

[Smudge]

Pictures added here!

[Ari]

That sounds fantastic, and good on the council for letting it happen and not be thwarted by the H&S namby pambies.

Actually it sounds better than the actual races! Went to one once, boring as hell. All the cars scream off, you see nothing for a bit whilst the commentator reports all the exciting action on the other side of the circuit that you can't see, then whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh they all whizz past, then nothing whilst the commentator reports all the unseen action again...

Was great for about 5 mins then dull...

Better on the telly.