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Days of Thunder Travels To Birmingham

Europe's Fastest Race Series Visits the West Midlands

Think of Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman and 170mph American style oval racing and the 1990 Hollywood blockbuster Days of Thunder springs to mind.

The Days of Thunder Championship, the UK's answer to the style of high powered US racing featured in the film, came to Birmingham on Saturday 25th September, showing the people of the UK's second city that there is more to motorsport than just Formula One.

While Tom and Nicole weren't in attendance, there was a static display of six race cars, driver interviews and autograph opportunities, pitstop demonstrations, performances by the Rock Chick cheerleaders, competitions and giveaways in Victoria Square 

Local driver Mike Luck who in his first year of Days Of Thunder racing, is in contention for the title of "Rookie of the Year" was there and ever friendly with the many who wanted to have a chance to sit in his car and chat with him. Definitely one of the drivers to watch & cheer on.

The Days of Thunder championship races on the 1.5-mile banked oval track at Rockingham, near Corby in Northamptonshire, just one hour from Birmingham on the M6 and A14. Over 120,000 people have been attracted to the events held this year from all over the UK and Europe through its unique combination of high powered motor racing, family orientated entertainment and high profile music acts performing on the Smash Hits Stage.

The Days of Thunder finale will take place on Sunday 3rd October where one driver will be crowned the 2004 champion and Rachel Stevens, The 411 and Blazin' Squad are headlining a six act music line up for a two hour music concert.

High Drama at Rockingham - The Final Rounds

Picture the scene - It's the start of the season an accomplished racing driver finds himself short of money and without a drive for the first race. A year of watching from the sidelines as others race for glory beckons but he is thrown a lifeline when another driver drops out at the last minute and our hero is asked to step into the breach.

Starting at the back of the field in a car he has never driven before, he drives like a man possessed, taking the chequered flag in 2nd place. The team owner is so impressed he offers him a drive for the rest of year. Six podiums and two wins later, he is on the verge of lifting the championship title, needing a top six finish in the next race to clinch the trophy. However, behind him he has six experienced drivers, including two champions, looking for any opportunity to take the title for themselves.

Is this the script for a new Hollywood film?

Days of Thunder 2 starring Tom Cruise?

No, this is real life!

It will certainly be a storybook result if the very popular driver Stevie Hodgson, pictured here in Birmingham, clinches the Championship in the final rounds.

Our heroes name is Stevie Hodgson from Mirfield in West Yorkshire, driving for Corby based Team Monopoly Torquespeed. Behind him he has six drivers looking to deny him a storybook end to an extraordinary year in Europe's fastest race series Days of Thunder.

The final act of this high drama will be played out on the 1.5-mile stage at Rockingham in Northamptonshire on Sunday 3rd October.

Don't miss the Days of Thunder final round at Rockingham 3rd October 2004   CLICK for www.rockingham.co.uk