Show Stoppers
Bored and want somewhere to go, then vroom along to these car events
There is plenty to quench the thirst of parched petrol heads this week, whether their tonic be car, motorbike or truck. First up is the International Motorcycle and Scooter Show which will involve a trip out of the capital and up to Birmingham’s NEC. Once there, you can be one of the first in the world to see BMW’s new R1200GS Adventure model — the latest on/off roader in the company’s heroic GS enduro range. The Adventure is lighter and more powerful than predecessors, and has a whopping 33-litre petrol tank that’ll see you right for a staggering 450 miles.
You can then pop along to the Ducati stand and drool over its super-exclusive, built-to-order-only, 999R Xerox replica. If you own a helmet, take it with you, because there are bikes to try on tarmac as well as turf. And there’s even the My First Honda Licence event for five-year-old wannabe World Superbikers. The show closes its doors on 6 November and tickets retail from £13 in advance.
For four-wheel lovers amongst you, this weekend’s Truck Race Superprix at Brands Hatch, Kent, is a must. It will leave your eardrums in tatters and your lungs full of the black stuff, but it’ll be worth it. You’ll be amazed when you see and hear a grid-full of five-ton trucks bruising and tail-sliding their way round the circuit’s tight twists. These machines are powered by engines with 1,000 brake horse power each. Nice. Tickets are £15 on the gate. Go.
One to put in the diary later this month is an event hosted by “The-man-who-needs-no-first-name” Clarkson. His MPH05 car fest is at Earl’s Court from 17-20 November. See Mr C, his sidekick Richard Hammond and my Fifth Gear co-presenter Tiff Needell hurl abuse at each other and burn a lot of rubber in a lot of flashy, expensive motors. Entry from £25.
The most sought-after hatchback is now on sale and if you like yours as hot as molten lava, you’ve just found your perfect match — the Volkswagen Golf R32.
At £23,745, it’s £4,000 more expensive than the Golf GTI, but it’s worth it. It is the fastest and most powerful Golf ever built.
Its 3.2-litre V6 pumps out 247bhp, and its four-wheel-drive system helps it launch, scrabblefree, to 62mph in 6.5 seconds (the lighter, 200bhp GTI takes over 7 seconds).
It’s all go, and show too, with those beefy bumpers, wide side sills, 18-in alloy wheels that allow you a tantalising look at the big blue brake callipers within.
It looks at its best in three-door guise, but you can buy it with five doors and that, my dear friends, will be your trump card in the “But is it really a family car?” argument.