in association with Sherwoods Minibuses of Ripon./Saturday & Sunday 4 & 5 August 2012 at Hillside House Farm, Thornborough, North Yorks DL8 2RE
Autograss is often described as motorsport's best-kept secret, although with over 50 clubs split into 22 leagues throughout England, Wales, Scotland, Northern & Southern Ireland, and over 4,500 drivers, it is a secret known to many - more so after Ben Collins drive at Nottingham for the Fifth Gear TV show in 2010.
Race meetings are held throughout the year, roughly from March until November, and any NASA-licenced driver can turn up at virtually any meeting and race without any pre-registration. The only weekends that no other meetings are allowed are for the Men's National Championships (qualification required) and for the Ladies and Juniors Championships (registration required).
Junior drivers can start at the age of 12 and graduate into the Men's or Ladies classes at 16 (Ladies can hold a Men's licence to enable them to compete in the Men's classes). Many "grassers" have gone on to compete successfully in other forms of motorsport, but at grass roots level, the sport remains an affordable, fun way of spending a weekend and meeting up with friends from across the country.
Qualifications for the Men's National Championships are done in different ways from league to league; when the championship starts, there will be 400 cars from all over the UK & Ireland, representing every league, covering ten classes of cars, competing over the course of the weekend to find a winner in each class. The class winners will then go on to compete in the Champion of Champions race to find the ultimate winner.
The Men's National Championships weekend is always full of thrills, spills and action, and this year should be no exception. From the Class 1 standard 1000cc cars, through the saloon-bodied, bike-engined Class 7s, up to the Class 10 open-wheeled specials, the speeds may vary but the competitiveness does not. As the races consist of around five laps for the heats and eight laps for the finals, the racing is close and competitors have to battle it out straight away; the action is thick and fast from start line to finish line.
For 2012, the championships are returning to the ever-popular Yorkshire Dales Autograss Club venue of Thornborough in North Yorkshire, having previously been run there in 2003, 2005 and 2007. Camping is available from Thursday lunchtime through to the Monday morning, * so spectators are able to have a holiday in the area and visit nearby attractions * if they wish. Minibuses will be available at the main gate for a nominal fee on a "tell the driver where you would like to go" basis.
Racing will start at 10.00am on Saturday and Sunday, with Saturday's racing running through until completion of two sets of complete heats unless light or prevailing conditions determine otherwise; Sunday's racing until completion of the Champion of Champions race.
Entrance prices are 10 per person per day for the Saturday and Sunday; concessions and children 12 to 15 years 5; accompanied under 12s are free entry; camping is 5 per unit. Free car parking, trade stands, food stalls, refreshments and a funfair all add to the event.
With these prices and non-stop action all day, where else could you get such value for money? Can you afford to miss it?
mens-nats.co.uk for information on prices, location, gate opening times, nearby attractions, B&B, etc.
