The Autosports International Show from the NEC 11-14th Jan 2007

The 2007 Autosport International show from The National Exhibition Centre, Saturday 13th January 2007

Main Show Picture Gallery Andy Carter Launch & Gallery

It was a windy and fairly chilly day but thankfully it was dry - which was different to recent days. I arrived at the NEC at around nine thirty and parked up as directed. In a moment of enthusiasm, I declined the free bus and strode off to tag on the end of an enthusiastic stream of walkers heading to hall 10. I almost forgot to look at the car park details, so I glanced backward over my shoulder to look at the post and made a note of E1. After arriving at the entry arena, we set off through the NEC to get to our hall. Up stairs and along very lengthy corridors, we went and I was beginning to wonder at the wisdom of skipping the bus ride when, at last, we were greeted to the entrance to the show.

Inside, I made a bee-line for the Santa Pod stand where at 12 O'clock, Top Fuel racer and twice FIA European Champion Andy Carter was going to announce his new sponsorship package for at least the next two seasons. I met with Andy and the team and enjoyed catching up with them all for the first time since at least the Flame & Thunder meeting in November. All the team members had black zip-up type jackets on to disguise the new colours underneath. I must say that generally it has been a well-kept secret, this time and there was an air of excitement all round before the launch. To read all about the launch and to look at a separate picture gallery, click here.

I set out to have a wonder round the show and it was good to see a mix of Brisca Formula One and Formula two stock cars peppered around the vicinity of the Santa Pod Stand. It was great to see some old familiar faces as I used to race these Formula One stock cars in the past. The Santa Pod Top Fuel dragster and Nitro funny car looked superb against the local stage and the all these and the Santa Pod stands were generating great interest. On the Santa Pod stand itself, it was good to bump into Jo Harris who was rushing around filling up information outlets as quickly as they were being emptied by enthusiastic visitors. I even flashed the plastic myself at the Santa Pod shop and purchased the 2006 season double DVD's for just £24.99, which I have since thoroughly enjoyed. To order yours, click on www.santapod.com.

Moving on around the show, I was astonished to see on the Motor Sports News stand a car decked out as a bed & I simply didn't get the gimmick - though I took a picture for prosperity purposes! Later on I came across a virtually unrecognisable but extremely interesting car. It was a Citroen Saxo and, of course, it has been completely ripped out and replaced with the most amazing sound system. All the seats are gone and replaced with one central seat with dashboard flat panel mounted screen and butterfly steering wheels and the boot! You wouldn't believe paint job and the stuff in this car, a £100,000 tribute to a car-builders' dream.

The Coys Motor Auction took my notice as I spotted some cars there I hadn't seen since childhood, including the Batmobile from the original TV series. There was even an ex-rally Sunbeam Rapier there, to my amazement. I was a big fan of Roots-Group vehicles as I grew up, myself and my chums could ill-afford anything better to run around in and maintaining them (which was a constant task!) taught us all the basics of under the hood workings and more.

The Le Mans exhibition was interesting but as with any of these static displays, these magnificent machines look a little like beached whales, paralyzed on their cramped stands. Such adrenaline-raising monsters should be thrashing around the tracks, but I guess quite a few of these machines were past their racing best. When I saw the Ford GT40 in it's Gulf colours, the memories came flooding back of when I was lucky enough to have a very high speed ride in this car when it was in the ownership of the Harrison family.

A little later, I had had about enough and I left the show and headed back to the car parks. I wisely waited for a bus and took a comfortable seat for the journey to East 1 car park. The driver had an amusing routine going on the microphone so I was in a good mood when I stepped off the bus and strode into the car park. It was pretty cold by now and the thin coat I had on was not up to the very breezy winds that where beginning to whistle around. As I walked around and looked here...... and looked there..... and marched here.... and shuffled there.... I was beginning to get that terrible feeling of doom when you don't want to accept the inevitable decision when you realise your motor's been lifted. I was beginning to panic. "Some b**tard's boosted my car" started echoing in my head. I was feeling somewhat miffed, I had extremely sore feet and, frankly, panic was in full flow. Just to make sure, I fished inside my coat pocket for the ticket. So much for E1 car park!! What was printed on the ticket was E5! D'Oh! Well, that just goes to show that if you're slightly short sighted and you don't want to misinterpret the car park numbers - put your glasses on!!

Thank you for taking the time to read this tale and to look at the picture gallery. Don't forget to take a look at the Andy Carter launch & picture gallery.

I would like to thank Autosport International for organising a superb show, as always and also to Santa Pod, Carter Motorsports and in particular, Derek Todd for all the help and courtesies.

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