Thursday 16th September 2004

Sideways Challenge slides off next week

The antidote to dull F1

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The Autocar Sideways Challenge is the antidote to boring old F1, and it’s taking place at Brands Hatch on Tuesday 21 September. This tyre-smoking competition to test driving skill and car control will be fought out between top racing drivers, rally stars, ITV presenters Matt Smith and Vicki Butler-Henderson and testers from magazine Autocar.

Thirty Autocar readers will also compete against the professionals, with all proceeds from the day going to charity. Competitors must demonstrate supreme skill at the wheel by powersliding a car through Brands Hatch's bends with enough speed, style and precision to impress a panel of expert judges. Spectators are guaranteed lurid slides, blatant exhibitionism and plenty of spins when contestants get it wrong.

Every competitor will get two runs during the morning, with their style and technique rated by judges. Twenty will then go through to the afternoon semi-finals before the top five switch to a surprise ‘monster car’ to compete in grand final for the coveted Sideways trophy.

Spectators not quite brave enough to join the Challenge can watch the event from the sidelines, and also experience the thrills of sideways action at the special Autocar Drift School, in which an instructor will show you how to drift a Caterham sports car like a true professional.

Autocar editor Rob Aherne said: "The Sideways Challenge is a competition like no other. It’s fast, tricky and a little bit mad, and few other types of motorsport can compete with it for drama."

A limited number of spaces are still available for £10 and can be booked online here. Alternatively, spectator tickets are available on the day at Brands Hatch for £15 per person. Under 16’s are free.

[Road_Terrorist]

sounds exactly like a 'drift' competition that they has been around for yonks in Japan.

[anonymous-user]

It is, and last year there were quite a few people from the drift club there having a bash.

[greg_D]

I'm entered up and raring to go, my car may not be as powerful as some there, but it will go sideways with the best of them, if anyone is there, please come over and say hi, (Black MX5. Reg - S880 ***)

Please note, i have never been on a track or airfield in my life, this will be my first time driving at any speed (ie. not traversing a muddy field) off her majesties highway.

I'm really looking forward to it, anyone else entered

Greg

[cptsideways]

I could'nt get an entry, but I've been advised to make an early arrival in case anyone has dropped out.

If not I'll be watching all day then.


Greg you wanna have a go in a boosted & drift sorted MX5?

[greg_D]

cptsideways said:

I could'nt get an entry, but I've been advised to make an early arrival in case anyone has dropped out. If not I'll be watching all day then. Greg you wanna have a go in a boosted & drift sorted MX5?

there's an offer you can't refuse

come over and say hi!

Greg

[Munter]

Looks like Dakkon and myself will be heading over tomorrow. We'll be the 2 maniacs in the blue MX5 coming from Bucks!

[GreenV8S]

Did you have a good time? I think I did a good job of showing what happens when you have more power than sense, and was quite rightly chucked out after the first round. But some of the drivers there were absolutely amazing! (Their behaviour in the paddock was amazing too, but in a different way .) I don't think I would compete at Brands again, far too fast without enough run-off and we were lucky not to have more damaged cars, but I think I would be up for a return match at Silverstone, need to get a bit of practice in first though!

[joospeed]

sorry i didn't get down to cheer you on peter .. heard about a car on it's roof? .. if that's what happens at brands I hope too they return to sillystone next time .. only damage there is gravel rash

[GreenV8S]

Yes, there was one car that ended up on its roof that looked like a write-off, and another that reversed into the tyre wall at speed that looked badly damaged, several more will have suffered superficial damage from the gravel traps. Could have been a lot worse though since there was minimal run-off. I think all the damaged cars were provided by sponsors rather than privately entered, is this a coincidence?

There were various film crew type people there and I understand there's going to be a report in something called "speed sundae" at some point. There was at least one other PHer there with a hand-held cam but I'm sure the footage was dull and uninteresting, I wouldn't pay any attention to that.

[Munter]

Dakkon and I were there.

We saw you!.....well your car. Unfortunately no-one in the morning had any idea what was happening or who was in what car as the tannoy system was not working on the corner.....

The 1st damaged car was an MG ZT V8 thing. Came up the hill WAAAYYY too fast and understeered right into the tyres, up onto the top of the tyre wall, and then fell onto it's roof. (Understeer was the only thing the MG's could do, nice handling in the wet though by the look of it)

The S2000 suppied by honda for the 2nd round, the guy just didn't catch as it snapped back around on him after a slide.....and threw itself into the wall backwards.

Good things about the day were the Dutch guys runs, the Jag xj saloon! and the 200SX boys!

Crap things were the duff tannoy, the only toilets being at the other end of the pit straight, using s2000's in the semi final rounds (no no no...they dont drift, do...you...understand...a...word...i'm Oh your from Honda marketing. I see... ), and being charged £15 for it all.

Stood by your green S for a while but you were not to be seen...

[boshly]

GreenV8S said:

There were various film crew type people there and I understand there's going to be a report in something called "speed sundae" at some point. There was at least one other PHer there with a hand-held cam but I'm sure the footage was dull and uninteresting, I wouldn't pay any attention to that.

Well as I said before, for a price, the video of a Green TVRV8S ploughing a field in Kent can remain under lock and key

[boshly]

Other than collecting some valuable video, the whole day was pretty much as described here. OK not a patch on Silverstone last year and thank god for the Dutch boys (including in that great Titan truck) .... Mad? Or just smokin'

Nice to see some other PH'ers; nice to meet you guys...


>> Edited by boshly on Tuesday 21st September 22:23

[chris.mapey]

I'll second what has been said already. The day, whilst enjoyable, was not a patch on last year.

The highlights were Alistair McQueen reshaping the MG ZT in the tyres & meeting some PH'ers.

Peter, it was me who accosted you whilst you were trying to enter the circuit BTW. I have a couple of photos of your car, I'll post them later. (Don't panic, it looks great!)

Boshley & trackdemon, Hi, nice to put a face to the names & nice Z3 & NSX BTW.

Hopefully it will be back to Silverstone next year, with loos, and a working tannoy

Chris

[cptsideways]

I missed out as my wee MX5 was somewhat ill, (sorry greg) but it's been sorted so Brunters on Saturday is ON

[Sjoerd]

Hi all,

I know some of the Dutch guys who went yesterday, are there any results available?

Cheers,

Sjoerd

[boshly]

Sjoerd said:

Hi all, I know some of the Dutch guys who went yesterday, are there any results available? Cheers, Sjoerd

Hi Sjoerd (how do you pronounce that??)

Please pass my best wishes on to your friends they were Fing great. Not sure the actual results by name but they came 1st and 2nd and the third guy was in the top 6. Damn good showing

See the sideways challenge thread under general Gassing and see my comments.

Andy

[Sjoerd]

Hi Andy,

pronounce it as Sjuard or Stuart if you really struggle You're not the first one! Thanks for the link!

Cheers

Sjoerd

[Graham]

WHich Corner did they use ?

[trackdemon]

Graham said:

WHich Corner did they use ?

Surtees into McLaren for the transition then through Clearways. A bit fast, and not much runoff - not an ideal combination!