Fact: 160 mile round trip, fuel cost £22

Price seemed to be the same as last year, if I remember correctly, so I was expecting a bit more for the money. The show has become a bit overpriced in the past few years, especially when you have to fork out for two tickets to keep your lady friend happy!

Fact: 2 tickets at £15 (advance rate), cost £30

First impressions were ok, the gate man was long in the face but once he was out the way things seemed to be a bit more upbeat inside. Didn’t seem that busy though. First up, I had a wonder around the hard standing area on the outside of the track. Saw a number of old faces but some new motors too, some good, some not so – in my humble opinion of course! The Car Catwalk made a debut in the far corner. An interesting concept, if a little slow moving this time out. Something new is always worth a try though.

I wasn’t looking for any trade stands but there didn’t seem to be much in that respect if that was something you were after. The usual magazine stands made up the numbers. No big projects uncovered by them as far as I could tell. Wandering into the indoor centre things looked up. Martyn’s Skyline was one of the first to great you. Immaculate condition, as expected, and a good ambassador for the club! There were a few other cars that caught my eye in here too, again some new, some old, but things always look that bit better under hot lights. This area only contained a few dozen cars but was worth a look.

Fact: 1 bottle of cherry coke, cost £1.50

Out of here and joined the end of a queue. Mindlessly following the crowd I was hoping to find something good at the end as we climbed steps and scaled fences. I braced myself for the fact that it could be a mass exodus to find a decent toilet facility but thankfully it ended trackside for some drifting action! This proved to be one of the better parts of the day with a quick barrage of cars coming past and making a good effort. It was quite fast paced and was the first time I had seen any drifting. Some of these guys looked good but there were a few running ragged!

When this came to an end I found my way across to the inner track. Looked to be mainly clubs in this area, which is fine as we make up the shows. I went down to the main track looking forward to some more action after the drifting wet my appetite but unfortunately this didn’t seem to materialise. The Time Attack challenge was a none event and other than that I only saw a few cars passing by now and again. Not exactly top fuel stuff and certainly not as busy as Trax.

Fact: 2 dinners of sweet n sour chicken, 1 spring roll, 1 bottle of pop, cost £11.50

And next , well, all done. Gave it another quick once over on the way out and spotted the path off to where the jet car was rumbling but it looked a long windy one to see the old timer so gave that a miss! And off then, onto the return leg home. Not a queue in sight , in fact , there didn’t seem to be many cars in sight full stop! The site was bigger which might have made an illusion, but numbers felt lacking all day so it didn’t quite buzz. Then again you could say that was a good trade off compared the traffic fiascos when you leave Silverstone!

And the cars? I am leaning to the less is more cars these days but I still appreciate good workmanship and it takes all sorts to make up the culture. Not so keen on things done for the sake of doing them and that resulted in a few ‘odd’ looking creations! Some older show cars seemed to have been added to which again spoiled them a bit. Sometimes you have just got to leave alone, despite how much you want to touch! I just think things should look right, whatever ‘style’ you go down.

All in, it was a reasonable day, or rather afternoon out, but I came away with the feeling it was a bit no frills. It’s a fact , clubs and owners make up a show. But would it do the organisers any harm to do a bit more organising and earn their money?

Fact: total day out, cost £65 (ouch, that soon builds up!)

I think there was potential here but ultimately I wondered for what. Even if things had been ironed out and the track better used, would there really be anything that wasn’t already in full effect at say, Trax? I always felt that Doncaster was a good place for the first new cars of the year to show. To me that was its niche. Now it seems to have lost its personality. But having said that, with the prices rising you do need more. My ideal scenario? Doncaster at Doncaster and for half the price. If it hadn’t been so over cast I’d think the sun had gone to my head because that’s just not going to happen!

Still, when April comes I’m glad to see it on the events calendar as a prelude to the long summer ahead!

ACZ

Top 3 in no particular order:

Hatches

White Pug 206 with Veilside Nissan 350Z kit – big, chunky and lairy yet subtle at the same time, this was a good example of more in your face styling that seemed to work. Perhaps it was the simple paint that kept it together. Fair play to grafting the kit on and topped off nicely with air or hydraulic suspension. On the outer track hard standing, it seemed to attract a crowd.

Imperial blue Mk6 Fiesta with WRC style wide kit – based around the WRC concept the substantial kit and arches still maintained a factory look. In contrast to the Pug, not too heavily modified as a whole but I think that is why it worked for me. On the outer hard standing, near the ICE displays.

Various Pug 206’s with Esquiss Impact kits – a couple heavily modified candy examples on the Ecosse stand, one green which seemed to work, the other yellow on wire wheels which was different, but not my taste. Also, a black one on hydraulics on the hard standing put up a good show. Love the Impact kit, older now but still wide and stylish.

Bigger cars

Yellow 360 Modena – not the staple modified car but squatting on top quality black and polished wheels with subtle aero styling you are impressed. Ok, the 360 ranks up there even when untouched, but you don’t hold that against it!

RX7/8 – while dismissing the black and pink colour scheme of this RX8 I moved around to the side and found myself admiring the profile before I caught on that it was an RX7 with an 8 front end! The 7 is a sleek car and this conversion brought it bang up to date. Clever and a tough job I expect. In the indoor centre.

Green S2000 with Veilside Millennium kit – not made up my mind on the colour but it stands out! For me the VS kit puts some life into the basic shape of the S2000 and is one of their best kits. With a fully re-trimmed interior this was a top quality package and you don’t go far wrong with a well tuned modern sports car. In the indoor centre and done by Xquisite and D:Class, whose interiors seem to be everywhere at the moment.

Also gaining a mention a Jaguar XK on rims – sports cars seem to do the business when lightly tweaked, Ecosse’s 307cc – a few years old but a personal favourite with more Esquiss kit, candy red Supra on 20’s – again a few years old but still big and bold, candy red Evo VII with ChargeSpeed kit – nice paint, a BMW inside stuffed with single piece alloys – not the BM, but for me the wheels could be there on the right car, and to round up, a handful of 350Z’s – nice cars from the box!

Rate these cars and post your own choices in the forum section!