Events at the NEC?
 

Seem to remember from my childhood days (last 80's, early 90's) a top race taking place the at the Birmingham NEC venue?. From memory it was a hobby show and there was a massive dirt track built and so good guys racing, cant think if it was a promotional event of a championship.

Any one got any memories or photo's? :thumbsup:

(bear in mind it could be all in my head :D)

It's not all in your head,

If I remember rightly it was the British Grand Prix, seem to remember coming away with an engraved tankared.

Also remember getting a phone call on the Saturday to bring foams down as they were working the best.

Model Expo.
 

Something like this :thumbsup:

Model Expo...

http://uk.drccentral.com/nec05.html

A couple of pics on the link..

Would love to get more info as I think there were some americans there and maybe Brian Kinwald???? :confused::confused::confused:

Was there ever anythnig at Alexander Palace in London?

I remember racing at Brooklands Museum at a Car show, that's about the biggest I raced at in terms of Joe Public :blush:

Model Expo is to new, the British GP was late 80's I think.

Kinwald was there, probably at the height of his fame, along with Mike Reedy. Jamie Booth was also racing.

Ally Pally they called it, never went but if I remember they had a 12th scale club night there and maybe nationals aswell?

I remember that the "Model Engineer" exhibition at Ally Pally (Alexandra Palace in London for those that don't know) had racing among many other things. This is late 80s, early 90s.

Don't recall anything from the NEC in them days but that doesn't mean it didn't happen!

The "Model Expo" ran for a couple of years in the mid-noughties at the NEC and also had racing and trade stands but I don't think the figures were adding up so it stopped almost as soon as it started.

It was a full on international meeting at the NEC.
Saw the mag article recently but can't remember the actual title (was a British GP I think but it might have been a Reedy race)
Was '89 or '90 I believe.

There was all sorts of fuss over tyres with many drivers moving over to foams and using additives. By the final day these had been banned but some were still using them. IIRC I think 7 of the top 10 in 4wd were disqualified :o

That was a great day. I believe it was April '91(ish), awesome track that just turned to dust as it boiling and bone dry for the time of year.

It was organised by the Surrey Car Club and run by the late, great Terry Sadler.

It was the British Grand Prix at the NEC as I remember - possibly 1990 or might have been 1991. Mark Pavidis was awesome with a Kyosho Lazer running the Kyosho microblock tyres. Tony Pearson helped to organise massive amounts of dirt and clay to produce a full on US style track and yes, there was massive controversy concerning tyres and the hinted use of additives.

It was still a great meeting though - lots of fun but watching Pavidis was inspiring. Incredible driver.

Awesome event it was... i actually competed in it :thumbsup:

Was pitting with Steve Haynes, Jamie \booth and Steve West... loads of controversey regarding tyres.. the quickest way round was foams but not everybody had them!

Im sure it was a Reedy Race as lots of drivers there.. But then again that coud have been the event at Aire Valley which was defo a Reedy Race as Mr Reedy himself was there along with a load of other yanks.. I think Kinwald and Cliff Lett were there? Cant remember much as it was years ago!
:thumbsup:

Didn't Mark Pavidis win both days? Grooved Yokomo foams in 2wd and Kyosho micro-blocks in 4wd IIRC...

I raced at it too, yes i'm that old. As mentioned, Mike Reedy, Kinwald etc were all there and top UK guys at the time like Rory Cull, Matt Neil, Craig Drescher, Jamie Booth..
There was definately some sort of trade stand arrangement around the outside of the hall but i just cant remember if it was a Reedy Race or British GP and exactly what trade show it was :eh?:

Definately British Grand Prix and it was 1991. I've still got the glass tankard that everyone that raced got presented with, and it's engraved on the front.

I raced there to:thumbsup:yokomo foams were the order...untill they were baned halfway through:D

Don't we all sound old :cry:

Was great though - Ellis was a mere teenager back then along with Lee Wright and Mark Tatman and was more interested in throwing peas at Pete Stevens and William Mitchum in the motorway services and crawling through them SAS style.
Happy Days... Now where's my bus pass...

I remember racing there must have been late 1980's at a big meeting in the "Rallycross shelled buggy class" with my CAT XLS with a John Welch replica Group B Astra shell! It was some kind of model expo.

Seem to remember a disgruntled driver driving across the track to hit my car flat out snapping all the body posts. Never did find out who it was!

Memories!, I have a RS200 body on an old Tamiya!

ALLY PALLY remember them days that was the first time i had started racing, only been racing a month the n got invited to come down by a friend. Also @ the World in South Sheilds, my friend was on the BRCA Team and every thing was Bought and payed for by BRCA i came back with more money than i went with........ And the QE2 droped its no suit rules for BRCA LO..................

I remember the race at the NEC, awesome track!!

I remember the race at the NEC in '91, I was the race controller. It was a great race,and although being in race control for the whole thing was tiring, I got to watch every race. Mark Pavides was just a class above, and made a difficult track look as straight as a drag strip!

Alexander Palace has an RC history going back to 1976, when it held races in the grand hall for 12th cars. The track was huge, so a race was ten laps. Cars were Mardave, 'Lectricar and Tamiya 12th cars. After the usual influx of better motors and batteries, we could cover the 10 laps in about two minutes! Race time was raised to four minutes, and then eventually to five. The Club ran there for some time until it was moved to Frien Barnet, and later Watford Leisure Centre in about 1980.

Since then, Ally Pally has held a few events over the years, around the Model Engineer Exhibition mostly. It was a great venue for RC, and has a place in the history of RC as the first big Club for 12th, from which Nick Adams built the 12th BRCA Section.