USC 2011 boasts the biggest ever music line-up to grace the stage, with the kind of acts that might think you turned into the O2 by mistake.  DJ set from Chase and Status with MC Rage, live performance from Skepta and even full-length set from The Wideboys with Ministry of Sound and BCM World Tour means that the evenings off the strip promise to be as exciting as the days on it!

Talking of which, expect blistering drag demo runs from the fastest modified cars in Europe, as well as the Euro Sports Compact racers. Not forgetting the most important drivers of all, of course! You!!!.. the enthusiasts, with three whole days of RWYB sessions to allow you to settle scores and enjoy yourself on a fully FIA sanctioned strip.

Team Maximum Lock will be demonstrating the true art of drifting, alongside Europe’s leading stunt drivers and riders, making for one of the most eye-popping displays of car and bike control on the planet.

If you’re more about the ‘show’ than the go, the UK’s largest Show and Shine contest on the Sunday usually finds the UK’s hottest rides, and for those that like to be ‘shown’ a little more than that, a trip to the legendary adult shows certainly raises the pulse..

With free camping all weekend, and several licensed bars on site, you can stay sober and sharp for the strip in the day and then enjoy a sherbet or two for larging it in the evening – safe in the knowledge you can sleep off your hangover until the sound of tortured rubber serves as your alarm call the next morning.

Sounds like you? Hit the website at www.ultimatestreetcar.com for more details and ticket prices. Or call the USC team on 01234 782828 to book yours now!

Aimed at both enthusiasts and corporate guests, the QMC offers quarter mile fans the chance to enjoy the Pod’s new startline VIP suite for a whole day, refreshments, a buffet lunch and privilege parking and facilities – all for just £89 per person. Under 16s are just half that! With a standing spectator platform just yards away from the most dramatic startline in motorsport, it’s hard to miss the action!

The new hospitality package is one of many offered by Santa Pod for its Blue Riband events. Those looking to spend a little more can enjoy private balcony suites, full seating, breakfast, full hot fork buffet lunch, souvenirs, complimentary earplugs, programmes and paddock tours on top of the already generous QMC package for just £1690 + Vat (for up to 12 people including weekend admission).

If you’re the kind of enthusiast that likes to get right into the heart of the action, Grandstand packages are also available, with all of the same perks as the balcony packages, but enjoying reserved, allocated open air seating for the entire day. This is just £119 + Vat per person and includes weekend admission.

Commenting on this new hospitality packages, Santa Pod’s general manager, David Lloyd Jones commented, ‘We believe these packages are the best value in motorsport, particularly for such a high profile FIA/UEM event. Although we offer the highest levels of corporate hospitality, we have deliberately priced the Quarter Mile Club package well within the reach of the true enthusiasts. After all, even if you’re a die-hard quarter mile fan, there’s nothing like enjoying your favourite sport in comfortable surroundings, just yards from the start. Why not make your next race meeting extra special?’

For more information on Santa Pod events, please click to www.santapod.com or call the team on 01234 782828.

The Northamptonshire based firm will now provide a range of bespoke panel filters for IM’s new ‘Pro-R’ Subaru tuning range as well as a range of high-performance filters for the new Isuzu ‘Pro-Fit’ portfolio. In both cases, Pipercross has manufactured filters precisely to IM’s exacting requirements. For example, on the Subaru models, a custom multi-layer  ‘dry’ foam was chosen, which filters down to a much finer rate than the factory paper filter, whilst flowing significantly more air. This means that for both brands, the new Pipercross filters can be fitted from new, without infringing the manufacturer’s vehicle warranty.

Commenting on the new partnership, Pipercross general manager, James Pearman said, ‘We’re absolutely delighted to be a part of the growing success of these two iconic brands. The demands of both of these marques reflect their standing within the industry, and understandably, IM really put us through the wringer when it came to proving what these filters can do. We relish working with manufacturers and importers as it helps us to push the boundaries of quality and fitment, which we can then transfer to our road car range.’

The new filters will be available from all Subaru and Isuzu franchised dealers.

For more details on the 3,000 vehicles covered by the Pipercross range, please visit www.pipercross.com or call the team on 01604 707750.

The move sees the experienced Mathers taking to the track in Time attack’s ‘Club Pro’ class, in a fully road-legal Subaru WRX Sti Hatchback which has been constructed using many of the high-performance upgrades available from the forthcoming Pro-R High Performance range, which will be rolled out to selected Subaru franchised dealers throughout the season. The range includes suspension, braking, induction and exhaust upgrades, all of which can be fitted by end-users, allowing them to improve and enhance their car using manufacturer-approved parts.

‘I can’t think of a better way to show what the car and these Pro-R parts are capable of.’ explained Mathers at the car’s launch. ‘They have been through extensive pre-range testing already, but real enthusiasts know that the track is the only place to prove that something really works. It’s our first season, and the car has been built to a ‘realistic’ spec for our inaugural outings, so we’re not looking to take any scalps in our first few meetings, simply get our head around the format, do some testing, develop the car and showcase the new Pro-R range.’

As one of the leading lights in Subaru tuning, Crossroads Garage have forged a unique position within the Subaru dealer network, by creating numerous dealer ‘specials’ and many bespoke customer cars. With this extensive knowledge of the Subaru tuning market, Jon Mather’s capable wheelmanship and the support of the Pro-R range, it looks like Subaru enthusiasts finally have an officially backed car to cheer on at the track once again.

For more details on the Pro-R range please click to www.pro-r.co.uk

For more details on Crossroads Garage, please click to www.subaruvehicles.co.uk

The simple device, retailing at just £9.95, fits in just minutes, yet offers a brace of benefits for any conscientious car owner. The unit fits any type of battery post including the Ford ‘square’ type.

Once fitted, simply undoing the plastic knob in the middle disconnects the high-tension side of the car’s ignition circuit, rendering the vehicle immobile immediately. This can be secreted around the car or in a pocket, to be refitted when the owner returns. Ingeniously, a small fused link is included to allow low current drain items like clocks, radios and alarms to still function perfectly. This fuse however, can’t handle ignition duties, ‘blowing’ harmlessly should somebody try to start the vehicle.

With this fused link removed, The Discarnect becomes a superb ‘lay-up’ device for the classic car fraternity. Lack of use is the most common cause of failure for most laid-up cars batteries, yet the fitment of the Discarnect allows the owner to quickly and cleanly connect and disconnect at will, drastically extending the life of any car that is infrequently used.

Whether you buy it for car security – or battery longevity – or both! It will doubtless be the best tenner you ever spend on your car!

The deal sees the tyre firm taking title sponsorship of two of Santa Pod’s key events; The Marangoni Fast Show on Sunday 27^th March and Marangoni USC on the weekend of the 5^th to the 7^th of August, in addition to branding around the FIA sanctioned venue. The package also includes significant coverage of the two television shows that are created around each event and will be aired on Motors TV and Eurosport throughout the year.

Commenting for Santa Pod, Caroline Day, Marketing Manager said, ‘We are delighted to welcome Marangoni back for another year with us. It’s always very gratifying when we can see that previous sponsorship placement has worked and the client has clearly derived value from it. Next year, both shows look set to draw even bigger crowds, thanks to greater pre-publicity and an even better line up, plus our TV format is also drawing bigger viewing figures each year, meaning that Marangoni’s presence at ‘The Pod will be very hard to miss.’

For Marangoni, UK Brand Manager Greg Graham said, ‘Santa Pod is a fantastic fit for the Marangoni brand. Not only in terms of the sheer number of enthusiasts that pass through its gates each year, but also because both the show-goers and Santa pod staff are passionate about the tuning and motorsports scene. When we first took brand space and title sponsorship here two years ago, it helped us to quickly achieve a higher level of brand recognition in several key markets, and undoubtedly assisted us when we forged our exclusive supply arrangement with Kwik Fit. Our goal for 2011 is to further enhance the visibility of the Marangoni brand in the UK consumer marketplace, in turn assisting our partners at Kwik Fit to maximise the brand’s potential.  We can see already that our shows promise even more core content for true petrolheads this year, so I hope that you’ll all join us on Europe’s most famous drag strip!’

For more details please click to www.santapod.com or call the team on 01234 782828.

Here is Tony’s wide arch rwd mid engine vauxhall nova. He’s done a complete bear shell resto including a fully rebuilt e16se twin 40dcoe weber carb fast road cam engine over 15 k and he did it all in a tight single garage over two years;

Engine;
Fully rebuilt 1.6 E16SE
Freshly serviced twin 40 webber carbs
Piper fast road cam
Piper vernier pully
Port and polished head
K&N filters

Gearbox;
Rebuilt with a 4.18 final drive
Lighten and balanced fly wheel
Ebc sports clutch
Hydraulic slave cylinder

Exhaust
Complete custom stainless steel manifold and exhaust system

Suspension
Front Nova coil overs
Poly bushes
Lower and upper strut braces
Gte tie bars and anti roll bar
Rear corsa c front coil overs
Corsa c front subframe and set up
Corsa c front hubs

Steering;
Quife 2.5 quick rack

Brakes;
Front ebc turbo groveed 258 mm disc and ebc yellow stuff pads
Caviler front calipers
Rear mk5 astra calipers
Mk astra handbrake cables
Pug 106 disc
Ebc red stuff pads
Harry hockley bias pedal box
Hydrolic handbrake

Interior;
Corbeau revolution seats fia approved
Luke 6 point harnees fia approved
Plumbed in fire extingsher
Full roll cage
Solid side mounts for seats
Black gsi dash
Gte digital dash
Door card re trim in black
All brake fuel and water pipes routed in side car

Exterior;
Wide arch kit
Poly carb windows
Front with scoopes and sliders
Single wiper conversion
Gsi spoiler
Painted in astra vxr oylimpic white

Wheels;
Cav 5 spoke
Toyo proxie t1r tyres

Fuel system;
Alloy fuel tank filled with foam
Facet fuel pump
Fuel reg a filter king

Misc;
Hid headlight kit
Been rolling road and set up buy aldon automotive

The Sumo Power GT team heads back to Iberia this weekend, where its two Nissan GT-Rs are in action once again for round eight of the 2010 FA GT1 World Championship at Navarra in Northern Spain. The race takes place five weeks after its successful visit to Portugal for round seven, where drivers Michael Krumm and Peter Dumbreck in car number 23 claimed their first victory of the season.
After winning the first of two races at the undulating Algrave circuit in September, the Sumo Power GT team is pleased with the progress it is making in its inaugural season of competition. However, the characteristics of Spanish circuit, with its series of slow corners and flat topography, are quite different to that of the Portuguese track and therefore, it is not a forgone conclusion that either of its Nissans will be able to repeat car 23’s Algarve performance this time round.

Warren Hughes and Jamie Campbell Walter in car 22 will definitely be looking for better fortunes in Spain. Although their car showed good pace in Portugal during race one, their qualifying performance was hampered by a power steering problem and their second race was brought to an early end having been hit by another car at the first corner.

This incident was a graphic example of the issues that can occur when starting from a mid-field position and therefore, the whole team is focussed on making sure that its Nissans qualify well. It then hopes this will transfer into good results for both cars, as the season has regularly seen one of them running towards the front of the field, but so far not two.

This is a particularly significant point at this stage of the season, as Sumo Power GT currently lies third in the teams’ championship and has an opportunity of claiming second place if things go well. As far as the drivers’ standings are concerned, Krumm and Dumbreck are seventh, with Hughes and Campbell-Walter 14th, both crews looking for good points hauls this weekend in order to improve on their positions before the end of the year.

With the Navarra circuit officially opened in June 2010, this weekend’s event will be a new experience for nearly all drivers on the grid. Therefore, to help the Sumo Power GT team hit the ground running when it arrives in Portugal, the team will be stopping on the way down for a test at the Circuit Paul Armagnac, near Nagaro in Southern France, on Monday (18th October).

Another event for the team in advance of this weekend will be the presenting of the Tourist Trophy to Hughes and Campbell-Walter, who won the race designated for this award at Silverstone in May. After crossing the line in third place, the two Aston Martins ahead of them were later penalised, which meant that the Sumo Power GT drivers now receive the longest-standing trophy in motorsport. The presentation will be made at the Royal Automobile Club in London’s Pall Mall on Thursday (21st October).

This weekend’s timetable at Navarra sees the Sumo Power GT Nissans first take to the track on Saturday at 10.00 for Free Practice, followed by Pre-Qualifying at 12.20 and Qualifying at 16.45. The first hour-long race gets the green light at 10.00 on Sunday, with the main Championship race, also one-hour long, scheduled for 16.00.

Follow the team’s progress and watch both races live at www.sumopowergt.com

Team quotes

Michael Krumm – Driver Car 23
“I’m looking forward to the challenge of Navarra. It’s always exciting to run on a circuit for the first time. However, it looks like it has quite a lot of slow corners, which will probably not suit us that well, but we are working hard on improving our performance in those areas. ”

Peter Dumbreck – Driver Car 23
“I know very little about Navarra. The one thing I have heard is that most corners are 2nd gear, which is not ideal. We have a few things to try on the car to improve things and, as we have been running in top six at most circuits, I hope we can be there in Spain as well and come away from a weekend with a good points haul.”

Warren Hughes – Driver Car 22
“I’ve been watching some in-car footage of Navarra and it looks like a good venue. Until we get running, it’s hard to predict how the car will suit the circuit, so choosing the right set-up will be important. Initially our focus has to be getting through to Q3 as this sets you up so well for the races and I really want to take some strong results from the last three events of the season.”

Jamie Campbell-Walter – Driver Car 22
“Our initial objective will be qualifying. We’ve had some disappointing sessions recently and it would be great to get both cars through to Q3. As far as knowledge of the circuit is concerned: well I’ve seen it on a map! Therefore, it’s very difficult to say what our car will be like, but we seem to go better at circuits that have flowing, high-speed corners, so this one may not be so good for us.”

Nigel Stepney – Team Manager
“With this being our first season, our cars are driving on circuits for the first time when we arrive for the race weekend. The same applies for us at Navarra, but because the circuit is so new at least it’s the same for all the teams this time round. The layout of the track looks like it won’t favour our cars, so a good result this weekend would be a real bonus.”

James Rumsey – Team Principal
“It’s going to be hard to predict the outcome this weekend as, like many of the teams, we have never been to Navarra before. Our job will be to take good, solid points-scoring finishes in each of the two races, as second place in the teams’ championship is there for the taking.”



Utilising the last sector of the circuit through the long right-hander of Coram Curve and the Russell Chicane, which leads onto the start and finish straight, the EDC drivers had a different challenge to that of round four.

Where as the track at Cadwell Park was narrow and undulating, with Armco barriers each side, the Snetterton layout provided a flat and open course, with far more room to run-off if things got out of shape.

As usual, eight cars were entered and would run in pairs, with the lead car alternating for each run, through a series of heats, a semi-final and a final. The outcome is decided by judges who base their assessments on lines, angles, speed and how much of a gap existed between the two cars by the end of the run.

Heats

The dramas started even before the competition began, when only seven cars arrived at the circuit. This elevated the eventual winner Conlan straight into the semi-finals, a bonus that also applied to Andy Cooper, when the HEL sponsored Toyota Cresta of Declan Hicks consumed two of its spark plugs and was unable to take any further part in proceedings. Therefore, there would be three pairs battling it out for the four places in the semi finals.

First out of blocks were the Cosworth/SVA Imports Nissan 350 of Luney, together with Brett Castle, in his all-chrome Apex Racing V8 Nissan. With almost identical moments of ‘straightening’ from both drivers in both runs, the judges ordered a re-run. The first saw Luney slightly ahead as Castle had to back off entering the chicane. But if there was any doubt, the second was to decide things, when an impressive start by Castle was spoilt when he ended up spinning onto the grass, his exit forwarding Luney to a place in the semis.

The second pairing of Peter Barber in his Swinton Insurance/Hayward Rotary Mazda RX7 against Kieran Cameron in a borrowed Nissan S13 was always destined to go one way. Although Cameron produced a worthy performance as he became more acquainted with his unfamiliar machinery, he could not match the pace and angles of Barber, who subsequently went through to the next round.

Semi-finals

The first of the semis saw Barber face Cooper in his Really Mean Sounds Nissan S14, who took the advantage in the first run after the Mazda driver had to straighten momentarily. However, better control whilst he was chasing in the second run was enough for the judges to award Barber a place in the finals.

The next semi was between Luney and Conlan, which turned out to be one of the most exciting performances of the season by both drivers. Conlan led first, with the commitment from each being clearly demonstrated by the levels of smoke and amount of throttle used. They mirrored each other perfectly and, with the judges unable to decide who came out on top, the last place in the final was all down to the second run.

At first it looked like it was going to be another epic dual between the two leading exponents of the sport, but with Luney perhaps concentrating too hard on what his rival was doing behind him, he suddenly found himself off the track and on the grass. Although clearly annoyed with himself, Luney could now only aim for third place, but was still in line for the title.

Fifth and Third place Drift-offs

The battle for fifth and sixth places was between Castle and Cameron, with Castle holding the edge following the first run. Although the judges could see that Cameron was doing as much as he could to stay in contention in his unfamiliar car, it was Castle that was awarded with fifth place.

This left the battle for third and fourth, with Luney and Cooper going head-to-head – and both a reason to win: Luney wanting to achieve a podium finish in every round this season and Cooper looking to claim his first ever top-three place. A cautious approach in the first run saw both drivers straighten and the judges declared it a draw. So, when Cooper failed to initiate a drift in the second run, Luney achieved his goal of scoring his fifth podium finish of the season and, more importantly had just become 2010 Pirelli EDC Champion.

The final

Conlan led for the first run and, right from the start, it was clear to see that both drivers were giving it their full commitment with good speed and great angles. But as they approached the chicane, Barber got a little too sideways and suddenly, he was heading towards the Armco. Although managing to avoid the barriers, he would now have his work cut out if he was to going to pull back the deficit in the second pass.

Leading for run number two, Barber delivered a faultless performance However, Conlan did the same and therefore the Sumo Power driver took his well-deserved second win of the season.

The outcome of the final round confirmed Luney as Champion, Barber second and Conlan third in what had been another fiercely fought EDC season. Organisers and teams now start planning for next year’s series, details of which are expected to be announced by the end of October.

The Pirelli European Drift Championship is sponsored by: Pirelli, Sumo Power, Kleers, Cosworth, K-Sport, SuperPro, Toyo Tires, BC Suspension, Speedhunters.com, HKS, HEL Performance, Samco Sport, Blitz and Santa Pod Raceway.

Round Five Results
1  Paul Conlan – Nissan S15 Silvia
2  Pete Barber – Mazda RX7
3  Mark Luney – Nissan 350Z
4  Andrew Cooper – Nissan S14 200SX
5  Brett Castle – Nissan R33 Skyline
6  Kieran Cameron – Nissan S13 200SX

DNS Declan Hicks  – Toyota Cresta
DNS James Russell – Nissan Skyline R32

To see photos from this event click here

2010 Pirelli European Drift Championship Calendar
24 April: Oulton Park
16 May: Knockhill
27 June: Brands Hatch
1 August: Cadwell Park
10 October: Snetterton

www.europeandriftchampionship.eu

It seems like a long time until the 2011 show season starts again and there are quite a few miserable winter months to get through. So, what can we do with all this spare time?

Well, you could get your overalls on and head over to Nottingham Dirt Buggies. Based on the outskirts of Rainworth, Bilsthorpe and Edwinstowe you can participate in a range of Off Road Karting activities on one of the country’s latest purpose built tracks with over nine acres of hardcore terrain.

Adults can take control of the 400cc Honda powered Dirt Buggies where as the younger generation have access to a smaller 200cc Honda powered Buggy.

Off Road Karting has never been so much fun, what are you waiting for, get yourselves down to Nottingham Dirt Buggies for some fast and dirty fun!

For more information about Off Road Karting please visit http://www.nottinghamdirtbuggies.co.uk or alternatively give them a call on 0115 953 9865.