Autosport International - The Racing Car Show 12-15 Janaury 2012, NEC, Birmingham (Part2)

A few more photographs of the Autosport show and some even grumpier captions.

Sports Cars

Bascally, covered in wheels.

Lola-originated Caterham SP/300.R appeared be an "ultimate track day car", or possibly a one make special. At £100k, it makes our cars look an amazing bargain.		This Westfield on the RaceTech magazine stand looked superficially similar to SP/300.R but on closer examination appeared to be a rebodied and winged standard car.		I wondered where a Ligier sports car came from, as Ligier in F1 sank in 2002 as Prost, with the road cars continuing as the excrable microcars. Guy Ligier bought Martini, and produced this sports car which bore the name of Mono member Alex Craven (ie MSV F3 Cup front runner) and F3 team Lanan.		Saker showed a very attractive model, seen here in bare carbon with "voodoo inside" painted on it, as if with a whitewash brush, but I suppose that's called graphic design.

SuperCars

If you have a spare £200k.....

Noble M600 was a very handsome car (with carbon weave deliberately visible through paint) though transaxle gave a big rear deck.		Lexus LFA still surprises. As a front engined car it looks like an upmarket Nissan GTR competitor, but it's close to the price of the two on the right put together.		One can feel little but sympathy for the man forced to choose between Ferrari 458 and...		...McLaren MP4/12C. Both were incredible.

Engineering

As always, the engineering hall was a delight.

Metrology Direct showed this measuring machine (£60k) which rotates cranks and (without the component being accurately centred) measures its deviation from drawing to 2 microns on diameter and 3 microns on length in 42 seconds.		Radical Performance Engines showed the 2xHyabusa based RP-series, up to 500bhp claimed in 3.2l form. Used in an OMS in top level hillclimbing.		GM importers showed Corvette LS3 engine, 6.2L and 430bhp, a bit chunky compared with those either side but positively sveldt for such a large capacity.		3.8l, 90deg V8 turbocharged, 592bhp and 443ftlb. Ricardo proudly showed the MP4-12C engine, which looked beautiful. Ricardo won the 2012 Motorsport Industry Assocaitaion Business of the Year and have recently designed engines for mopeds and ships. Sir Harry Ricardo was, of course, the man who made diesels work effectively in cars.

Imagine my surprise...

Some sights surprised and some delighted.

"Twisted" produce a customised Land Rover Defender		Terry Grant drove a Nissan Juke on two wheels with 7 people inside. With just him, he's driven up Goodwood "hillclimb" course.		Those who paid close attention at the Mono Silverstone GP race will have seen a race for Smart Cars (none of which are as fast as Tristan Cliffe in a hire car Smart). Arguably the most unusual race series....		...unless you count a series being promoted for MkIV Diesel Golfs (130 and 150 classes). Did somebody mis-hear "Toca Package" as "Towcar Package"? Actually, I'm sure they will prvide splendid racing.
Cruden showed this simulatorwhich chucks the "drivers" all over the place. My Aon hosts were excellent in it., I was absolute rubbish.		Dallara F312 rear diffuser and rear impact crash structure. Oooh, nice.		Lovely Porsche 550A ("James Dean" car) had 150 bhp in 1400lbs. A real cutie, but needs a skilled hand to drive it.		Sachs Carbon Clutch was tiny

People (non-Mono)

We spoke to young Sarah Moore 3 years ago. She's part of the MSA's young driver scheme and is getting experience in single seaters, but has ambitions to do GT. As well as racing stuff, she's had "voice coaching", though still has a lovely Yorkshire accent.		Marcus Pye is always somewhere, here on the Castle Combe stand with familiar Combe face Adrian Fawdington		John Surtees, 1964 World Champion for Ferrari		Andy Wallace

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