So how did you get into BTCC

[Eunos]

I know this Thread has been done in the Past, But im not gonna bother Bumping a Yee ancient Thread, Cause it annoys me when People do that :p

My question to you Georgeous Darlings..

What or How and Even when did you get into the BTCC..

For me it Began in 1996 when my Dad took me to the British Grand Prix at Silverstone in 1996.. I would have been 11 at the Time and in my Last Year off Primary School.

The BTCC was a Support Race at the Time, and i guess the idea off 2 Renaults, 2 Volvo's, 2 BMW's etc going at it facinated me...

The First Race was on the Saturday won by Roberto Ravaglia, The 2nd on Sunday after the F1 Race, David Leslie.. As a fan off Damon Hill driving the Williams Renault at the Time, It was only Natural i became a Fan off the Renault Lagunas (Also run by Williams :cool:)

Bought old Seasons on Video Tape

Watched the Races on BBC Grandstand and made me Dad take me to the Finale where there was Big Pile up at Druids where we were Sitting and got abit off Honda Accord and my Friend got abit off Ford Mondeo..

Would watch it Religiously on TV (BBC Grandstand at the Time), and Beg me Dad to take me to the Brands Rounds..

To my Shame i actually kinda lost interest around 2000 and basically stopped Watching..

Saw a tinybit in 2002 and was somewhat horrified by Team Atomic Kitten, and as a Super Touring veteren was somewhat Dissapointed to see he 2 Car Salloon team's being replaced by Hatchbacks and Coupes...

It wasnt till 2006 when i was Channel Flicking and The Round at Knockhill was on TV.. So i decided to check it out.. This was the Dynamics Honda Integra 1 - 2 - 3..

My interest in BTCC was somewhat returning so i purchased the 2006 DVD and was following the off season for 2007 (Around the Time i joined these Forums)..

I went to the Opener at Brands that Year (My first live BTCC event in 8 Years) and that's when i decided i was a Fulltime Fan again, I use to Work Sunday's so the only Rounds i made that Year where Both Brands and the Thruxton Finale..

Since then i have done all 10 Rounds in both '08 and '09... I decided i wanted to see these Tracks in Person that in the Past i have only seen on TV
---------------------------------------

That's my Story

now tell me yours :o

[BTCCROCKS]

I first got into the BTCC in 1997. I told my dad, there was racing at Donington on Easter Monday, didn't even know the BTCC existed then :p. I went Donny for the next 2 years (98 and 99), and the finale at Silverstone in 99. Went to Donny in 2000, my last time I went to the BTCC for a few years, due to my exam years. Started watching the BTCC again in 04. Went to the finale at Donington, and i've not stopped watching it since. Passed my driving test in 08, and instead of just going to Donny, which is my local track, i've been to Thruxton, Oulton Park, Croft, Snetterton and Rockingham. Am hoping to go to the Brands Hatch Finale, the only track i've not been to yet :)

[mattlovestbs]

Quite simple for Dad & I - club race meet at Brands in 2004. Saw on a race calendar BTCC 2 weeks later so went back and got kind of like hooked... Was the race weekend when Huffy took his maiden victory, became my favourite driver for the remainder of 2004

[kezbabybabe]

We'd been watching it on and off in 2007 on the tv and I remember watching the Brands round were all that carnage happened!

After visiting Donington Park that year to watch the Renault World Series we were after something else to watch, after discovering that Thruxton was only about 50 minutes drive away and that it was of a reasonable price we decided to go to the Finale.

Walking through the paddock all the smells coming forward really reminded me of my childhood, so I was hooked from that point.

Jason Plato was our favourite driver (as he is now) and it was fantastic to watch the battle and I found myself getting very excited watching the races unfold and both JP and Giovanardi racing to their utmost limit.

I was hooked from there on in and was very fortunate to be able to go to all the rounds in both 2008 and 2009. It was actually very easy to plan and travel (though you do need the funds to do so.)

I'm always going to be hooked now and I'll try to go as many rounds as is possible as there is nothing like watching it live and with friends. :cool:

[Mondeo2]

Always used to watch BTCC on TV during 80's although I wasn't really aware what it was. The having worked on new press tools for Ford's new car the Mondeo in 91 and 92 and having seen pictures of the car before it was released, I heard that Ford were going to enter the BTCC using the Mondeo. Started watching the BTCC with more interest waiting for the Mondeo to make it's 1st appearance. Didn't realise how close Brands Hatch was until 94 when I went to my first round with my wife, 3 yr old son and my sister. That was the only round that year we went to but went to Media Day at Donington as well as races at Brands and Silverstone in 95. Went to Brands, Snetterton and Silverstone in 96 also found out that the Touring Cars tested on Fridays before race weekends so would take a day off work to go to the Brands Hatch test sessions. Also took my Dad to one of those sessions. As my Dad was in a wheel chair they let us park in the disabled area, that's where the grass bank is in the Medical Compound now.
My youngest Son was born in 97 and went to his first race in 98 at Brands Hatch. I have photos of him climbing inside the Mondeo show race car. After 2000 when Ford left the championship, trackside interest wained abit but still would go to a few rounds each year. Happy to see Ford cars back, but wish Ford would become a manufacturer entry again.

[Reidy_fan]

watching grandstand in the 80's and seeing the RS500's of Rouse, harvey, hodgetts, gravett etc battling away. followed it on TV right through the super touring era into the BTC days. didnt see a race live until knockhill 04 then was hooked, made it to donny 04. In 05 I made it to Donny, Croft and knockhill, then in 06 it was oulton park and after that world war 3 broke out when my mate's oh objected to my mate going racing. spent a couple of years as jonny no mates at knockhill and got bored watching racing on my own until i got chatting to this bloke in an orange romper suit and he really thought orange was my colour ( I dunno was he trying to chat me up???) anyway got a pair of overalls and that began the next chapter. This season I am hoping to do croft as well as knockhill as due to personal circumstances changing (mum who i was her full time carer passed away 2 weeks ago) I have no ties so if i am not working i intend to be marshalling, be it btcc or club racing. hoping to do the britcar 24hr at sillystone in october

[Chris2k6]

good idea for a thread.

I was a huuuuuuuuuuge motorsport fan as a kid, and i caught sight of the BTCC around 1996/1997. The thought of works teams going at it door to door was like a dream come true for me. Then the game come out for the playstation and i just couldnt get enough of it.

I remember the whole 3 fords, 3 vauxhalls, 3 hondas season and thinking "what has happened to this series. At that point i lost a little bit of interest but was still very much tuning after every race weekend for the highlights. Seasons after that were hard with small fields being made up by the production class cars, but i followed it still

Then in 2007 after seeing the improvement of the series i suggested to some mates that we go to Croft for the weekend. They weren't too fussed by racing but thought a weekend away on the booze would be a laugh. So we went, got rather trashed saturday night and loved the racing on the sunday. So much so that they follow it now.

These days i try to make at least 2 meetings a season. I live down South at the moment so brands and thruxton are the usual circuits. Wouldn't mind visiting a few others though

[cxx666]

I had gone through my early childhood having never heard of touring cars. A friend of mine had a copy of ToCA Touring Cars and I started playing that on his Playstation, thinking it was just a made up game.
On a chance trip out one day I picked up a flyer for knockhill because I noticed it had very similar looking cars on it to what I'd seen on ToCA. I mentioned it to my dad and he said he would take my to Knockhill to see them one day. I also tried to watch it on Grandstand as well to see what had changed and a few weeks later I was at Knockhill watchin it back in 1999

[lukeozade0405]

I first got into the Btcc back in 2005 when I was 16, my friend from school invited me to my first race meet at Thruxton, I know I was lucky enough to see Dan Eaves scoop the first treble win of a weekend ever.

Ever since then I have watched it religiously with my fav driver being Plato, again was lucky enough to be at Brands when he too scooped a treble weekend.

[mark barker]

I'd always been a fan of open wheeled racing, and never really given touring cars much thought until recently... Last year I was channel hopping and stumbled across a race and it looked like a close battle, so I watched it. Now I'm hooked! Still not 100% on the rules (I'm a little geeky when it comes to tech specs and rules:o ) but I'm sure I'll pick them up as the season unfolds. Hopefully going to make it to a few races later this season.

[kezbabybabe]

I see your from Swindon, Mark, whereabouts? [Off topic]

[Rapid Fit Mondeo]

Been into all motorsport since I can remember. Seeing BTCC on TV and then as support races for the British GP brought it right into my attention. Of course my first era was the RS500's etc which helped cement things:cool:

[Chris05]

Back in 97 when I was in my last year at Primary School, I got a Playstation with Toca 1 free, and as above, thought it was a made up game until I was talking about it with friends, who went to the races regularly including Brands and Snet. I can remember the night races being a particular highlight for me. I lost interest during the early 00s, most of the manufacturers left and my interests were elsewhere, but got back into it seriously when Gio started up I think. Now my other half gets annoyed cos I'm so obsessed - "what's the point in checking the forum every day?!" lol :o

[simon1220]

I dont entirely know when I first went to rounds, was very young when I did. My mum and dad have always been fans and brought me into it. My earliest memories are at Thruxton, Tim Harvey going off in the Gold/Green Peugeot and me getting a real liking for the Renault Laguna, that was in 1997 so I was only 6.

From then on, we've been to the Brands Hatch round every year, hence my disapointment that I missed it the other week and probably wont make it to the finale. One massive memory of mine is sitting in the pouring rain aged 10 watching the 2001 finale screaming "hes on fire" :)

Over the years we've been to Thruxton a few times as my local circuit, Silverstone, Rockingham, Oulton Park, Snetterton. Its really been the last few years when BTCC has become a real passion, since I joined these forums and become old enough to really know whats happening and know what im talking about. Last year was my best season to date, going to five rounds in all (Brands x2, Thruxton, Rockingham, Snetterton). Ive always gone to rounds with my mum dad and brother, always been a real family affair. Though Snetterton this year may be my first time going to an event all alone :)

[teenymac]

For me, my interest in BTCC started in 1996 I think. Was bored one afternoon and discovered it on the telly, thought it was good and then didn't think much more of it til the following year when we went to Knockhill. I couldn't drive so I persuaded my mum to take me, this was in the days when you had park and ride at Knockhill - now that in itself was an experience!

Anyway had a great time watching it live and did it again for a few years, then kind of lost touch for one reason or another. After a few years of missing it started going again, but only to Knockhill still dragging mother along to keep me company and even took my gran and great aunt a couple of times! I have to say though I think my mum is just as addicted as I am now! I suppose it was inevitable that we would both take a liking to motorsport and cars in general seeing as my grandad was a mechanic and we both liked spending time at his garage and finding out about cars.

Anyway decided in 2008 that it was time to see what the other circuits round the UK were like and ventured to Croft. Awesome weekend, despite the rain! Last year did a few more rounds, Oulton, Croft, Knockhill and Brands (well I had a big birthday and treated myself!) and this year, it's only Oulton, Knockhill and Brands for us mixed in with a bit of Goodwood.

[VR6Steve]

Well, I like Reidy_fan (condolences on the passing of your Mother) have my earliest BTCCmemories courtesy of the BBC on a Saturday afternoon.

Testing my memory now:
Labbats liveried RS500's, Listerine and Omega (?) livered BMW's and the likes of my first BTCC hero John Cleland in the Vauxhall Cavelier (especially as I was working in a Vauxhall dealership around this time). Also remember Rob Gravett and Mike Smith driving their plain white RS500's wondering how they were winning and why no one was sponsering them. I guess some things in motorsport don't change!

Spent some years working on the motor trade on Saturday's and Sunday's and lost touch with the BTCC. (Not to mention the wine women and song distractions!)

Then in 2007, I was passed some free tickets that someone at work did not want. They have become some very expensive free tickets! They have not only lead us to following the BTCC to Brands, Thurxton, Rockingham and Snetterton but also WTCC and DTM at Brands as well. We are also going to the GT Open later this year at Brands as well. ;)

[mark barker]

I see your from Swindon, Mark, whereabouts? [Off topic]

Currently in Moredon, but will be moving to Old Town just as soon as the solicitors and estate agents pull their fingers out!

[mbailey06]

My first meet was Snetterton 1998, as I'd always liked the idea of racing road cars when I was young and my dad decided to take me to Snetterton when I was 8 and met a friendly young driver who would become my favourite called James Thompson...From then on I have always been hooked, through the highs and the lows I've stuck by it because it always guarantees bumper to bumper action, and this year for the first time I am trying to go to all 10 rounds, although this could be difficult as Croft and Knockhill are a real trek for a southerner like myself.

[nicemms91]

I have always been a car mad person from when I was small and I remember watching the odd race on BBC. Then in 2001 my Dad decided to take me to Donington Park and I've been hooked ever since, going to at least one round a year.

Past three years we have been to 2 rounds a season but so far this season I have been to Media day, Rockingham and I'm definately going to Croft and Silverstone (got hotels booked so can do full weekend) and possibly going to Oulton Park.

One season I will do the full 10 rounds when money and time permit!

[Stuart Thompson]

I was first aware of BTCC back in 87 whilst at the WSPC 1000kms. They were on the support package. I remember that Rouse in a Cossie and Sytner in an M3 had a titanic battle for the lead. I actually became a fan the following year wnen it took off with the grandstand coverage.

[kezbabybabe]

Currently in Moredon, but will be moving to Old Town just as soon as the solicitors and estate agents pull their fingers out!
I lived in Old Town for about 3 years, lovely part of town. :)


this year for the first time I am trying to go to all 10 rounds, although this could be difficult as Croft and Knockhill are a real trek for a southerner like myself.
All about planning. ;) Good luck with this. :)

[btccrox]

Went to see WTCC at Brands in 06 just to see what it was like then saw that they had a BTCC series which I thought was going to be cheap and nasty....like most things british. Turns out it's the WTCC that disappointed me and the BTCC had me hooked with the best cars, drivers, racing and of course, the panel rubbing. :)

[nealfan]

I got into it in the early 90s when my dad was marshalling at snetterton.

[cookingfat]

B****y Hell Children!

Watched my first BTCC race 70-71. Marshalled at a lot before the invention of the orange overalls and armco come to that!

Watched most of the 80's championships on TV due to the job I had at the time.

And have attended most meetings in person as either a spectator or mainly to work since 1991!

Christ I feel Old!

[kezbabybabe]

And I bet you have some stories to tell CookingFat. ;)

[tankman40]

Used to watch it on telly in my younger years ....lost track for a few years whilst i was in the army ....(i was stationed about 40mins from Thrux's ..DOOOH) went to Brands in 2007 for something differant to do been hooked ever since ...one day me & jue will do every round !!!!!but work gets in the way at the momment When those 6 numbers come in on a Saturday night ..going to get a box at every round for a few friends ( you know who you are ) to watch in comfort & in the dry !!!!!!

[big g]

started to go to f1 stock cars at odsal stadium bradford when i was a kid,watched a lot of touring cars on telly ,saw my first live motor racing at donnington when someone gave me a renault weekend ticket ,within a couple of weeks we were at croft for the BTCC that was in 2007,been to a couple of media days ,oulton park and croft and rockingham regular and wish i had the money to go to all the rounds ,

[CKM]

First saw BTCC in the early 80's with the Capri's and Rovers but didn't really start watching until 1989 when it was on Grandstand. Didn't go to my first meeting until 1994 at Silverstone and watched Tarquini's alfa get T-Boned at Luffied (it was the only way they could stop it winning!). Went to many meetings after that until Cleland retired as it wasn't quite the same after. Like many other I lost interest in 2001 (new family, less money and no so good racing) until 2006 when I started watching again.
Still can't go to many meeting but at least it's now live on Television.

[Ogami]

B****y Hell Children!

Watched my first BTCC race 70-71. Marshalled at a lot before the invention of the orange overalls and armco come to that!

Watched most of the 80's championships on TV due to the job I had at the time.

And have attended most meetings in person as either a spectator or mainly to work since 1991!

Christ I feel Old!

Phew .... I was beginning to despair .... Being in my dotage I *may* have me dates mixed up but ... Used to go to Palace regularly and if I remember correctly (ha!) I went to see the F3 in 1970 (Ronnie Peterson doing a fantastic drift through North Tower but that's another story). Gerry Marshall was racing that day and that got me hooked ...

P

[cookingfat]

With regret Crystal Palace was a track I never got to. Seen some cracking races from there on TV.
Gerry? Yes I saw him many times.

[scurcic5]

Funny that a load of clapped out old bangers used to run at Crystal Palace... We still have 11 of them doing something similar.

Hopefully that Parish chap who races in the Carrera Cup will fix it :)

[BTCC2]

My love affair started back in 1997. I was living in Darlington at the time and the BTCC came to Croft for the first time. The rest is history...

[Soper_Doper]

Mid ish 80s I suppose, was an F1 (Villeneuve) fan as a 5 year old and remeber crying when he died, my family however have never really been into motor sports, i'm the only one who drives and being bought up in Dorset ment that I never got to go to any meets until I got my own licence and vehicle in my early 20's, anyway, always rembered the Kaliber/Labbatts RS500s and the earliest memory would be the 86(?) British GP support race which was won by Win Percy mainly as my dad had pointed out to me that he was a local racing driver (would have lived about 10 miles from me at the time and funnily enough he is also a good friend of my father in law!) I vaguley recall some Birmingham racing during the Super prix era but no real races or incidents stood out until "that" Soper (hence my handle) / Cleland / Harvey battle at Silverstone in 1992, absolute BTCC gold if not any tin top series in the world, after that watched as much as I could on the BBC Grandstand until ITV took over and did it properly! Attended my first round in 2002 at Thruxton where during the first race of the day (Clios not BTCC) John George caused and approximate 7/8 car pile up at the chicane when he went over the kerbs and dumped the contents of his engine over the racing line as the leaders (including Rob Huff who avoided it) approched to lap him. Later in the day Charlie Butler Henderson (viki's brother - where are you dear??) had a huge crash in a Caterham bringing out a Red Flag after he literally Jumed over another car before hitting a solid wall, Went to the Donny Finale same season and then the 2003 Champ Car event at Brands, Been a regular at Thruxton ever since and will - one day when work, family, funds etc allow follow a whole season but I need to get a bit of everything in during a season whether it be F1 (British and Belgians GPs so far) Sports cars (Le Mans and Silverstone the last few years) DTM, Rally and even Bikes (Donington Moto last year and Silverstone this cannot wait Bradley lets have a win this year!!) however I must say that the BTCC is definatly the best value for money of all the race series that I have attended, plenty action, plenty big names, very easy to get close to the action and wont cost you a months wages!, if your new to the sport or the forum do yourselves, friends, families etc a favour and have a day out at your local BTCC event, you wont regret it.

[dwatso]

Mine started like most with Grandstand. I will never forget the volvo estates flying around the place. Been to Brands every year for the past 5 years. Planning a tour next year to try and get to all the circuits.

[matt89]

I got into it when my dad took me to see the 1994 FIA touring car world cup at donington (local circuit). I was only 5 at the time. Saw that huge crash at the start. Saw it at donington in 95, 96 and 97 whilst watching it on the tv for the rest of the season. Lost interest in 1999 and got back into it in about 2006. I love it again now but i do miss the glory days of the 90's. I treasure my signed limited edition of the 1996 accord. I remember david leslie giving it to me.

[Lambert1]

Got into it when i was about 5 or 6, my earliest memories are watching Radisch go round Donington (my local track) in his Mondeo which i think i had the matchbox mini version of :)

Watched on TV and at Donington with my Dad until about 1998 i think when Nigel Mansell turned up in his Mondeo, as you can see i really am a fan of the Mondeos :D. I then got into football and kind of forgot about motorsport, apart from watching F1 with my Dad most weekends.

Started to get back into it whilst playing games like Toca Race Driver and Toca Race Driver 2 and got free tickets to Donington 04 i think it was and that was like heaven for me because that was when the masters race was on with the likes of Tarquini, Menu, Reid and Plato racing and i managed to get all there autographs. That day was great and it brought back memories of the Supertouring Era which i really miss!

So ever since i have visited Donington every year and last year i managed to get to Rockingham and watched every other round on TV :D. This year i have only attended Rockingham but plan to go to Silverstone and Donington plus one more :D,

My fave driver is Turkington ever since 2003 really when he was Reid's team-mate in the MGs, used to love it when they were manufacturer backed by MG X power! I still have my cap! I do hope he can get out later this season but at the moment i support Team AON and Plato - he might rub people the wrong way but he is a great driver.

R.I.P to David Leslie too such a brill driver even in the Proton!

[Dan F]

Late 80s on TV, first live race was the 92 Toca Shootout. Wrote a blog on it a few months ago so not going to go into it too much here.

[allanm]

for me it was in 2005, was in bed unwell and was flicking through the channels (i cant remembern what channel it was on at that time!), liked the closeness of the racing and the fact there was a bit of panel rubbingf going on.

I watched it loosely until 2007 when i started watching every race..and am looking forward to ITV's coverage on Sunday!

[Daz-NCFC]

I am of a younger generation, and Have not been following the BTCC near as long as some you. I first got into F1 in about the year 2000, and watched every Grand Prix, and that was the only car racing I watched till about early 2006, when a friend reccomended MotoGP to me, so I started watching that, and love it to bits, and still watch it today.

Then It was at the start of 2007, when I went to the British Superbikes at Snetterton in May. I was looking through the Race programme, and saw a poster advertising the Snetterton round of the BTCC later that year, and it looked really good. So I looked the BTCC up on the internet and read what it was all about and when it was on the tele, and I started watching from Round 4 at Croft in 2007 and was hooked straight away.

I now watch the BTCC both Trackside and on TV, I have been to a total of 10 BTCC events since I started watching they are,

2007 - Snetterton,
2008 - Rockingham, Snetterton
2009 - Brands Indy, Snetterton, Rockingham, Brands Grand Prix
2010 - Thruxton, Rockingham

The BTCC is now my favourite type of Motorsport by a long way, Its the best racing, the best day out you can have. I love it!!!

:D:D:D

[sxi87]

i started following the btcc in 1998 when my dad took me to snetterton and got to meet john cleland, legend

[wainwright1974]

Watched on bbc in 90's then Donnington 2004 final tommo wins champonship on fastest lap (hooked) and then its 5 a year for me.

[BTCC Madman]

my storey

was in a local charity shop a few years back (03,04??) and saw a video of the 2000 championship so i decided to buy it and i havnt stopped loving btcc since

after looking at the action on the telly we decided to go to oulton for the 2003 finalie (muller won) and from then have been to knockhill (in the poring rain), croft (my 'local' track) and donny

but now we're into all sorts of racing -


f1
le mans
open wheel
touring cars
fia gt
british gt
alms
lms


all sorts tbh lol!

[donald29]

The first I knew of the BTCC was as an 8 year old. We got a PS1 and had Toca 2 Touring Cars on it (what a game!!)

I started to watch F1 in 2000 and that's when I really began to get into motorsport. I first attended a BTCC meeting at Brands Hatch in 2002 aged 10. I kept an interested eye on the series but didn't start following it properly race by race until 2004.

[ktfcmatt]

Cant remember the exact time when I got into it but think I used to watch it on TV around 1996 (aged 11). Then went to my first round in 1999 at Silverstone, the last super tourer round? My first race as a proper fan was at Brands in 2003 to support MG. Been going ever since to rounds at Donny, Silverstone, Brands, Thruxton and Rockingham. Lost a little interest when the ZS was finally put to bed in 08, but still go to the rounds and now I dont have any specific team to support, I can watch the racing in more detail.

If MG do come back next season, then hopefully Croft, Oulton and Snetterton will be on my list.

[TRL]

My first memory was 1987 - I lived near Dees of Croydon Ford and got hooked on the RS500 for sell in their workshop. Found out they raced them and started doing the rounds - Brands was on my doorstep, went to the Birmingham Superprix and loads more for the next few years. Lost a little interest once the M3 and Cossies went east - watched it on TV every year though and now have every BTCC video and DVD from 1987 to 2009. Rouse was my hero and I loved how Frank Sytner hated DJ Mike Smith - and Dave Brodie would turn up and slag them all off except for Rouse, who he respected.
My interest is back to full speed now though as I "sponsor" the Airwaves BMW Motorbase Team down in Wrotham. Total respect for the passion of David Bartram and the boys and the fact that they can whip the bigger teams running 10 times their budget. Kane is a real surprise for me this year - his mind-set is on another level and as for Matt J - there is a future champion if ever I saw one.

[pjovifan]

I started watching in 2008 (so still a newbie really), Hubby came home one evening and announced that if it wasn't raining on the Sunday we would be going to Thruxton.

My knowledge of racing was so bad that I didn't even know what/where Thruxton was (oops), which turns out to be about an hours drive north of where I am.

So off we went, I didn't know any of the drivers and when we arrived the 1st race had already started. So we cheered on the Seat Leon diesels (only because we both drove Seats at the time), Jason Plato and Darren Turner. But a White BMW took my attention away from the Seats, and this turned out to be Mat Jackson.

When race 2 started we were stood by the start/finish line, and when the engines were revving the smell and noise did something to me and I have been hooked ever since.

We have been to Thruxton 2009 & 2010, and this will now become our annual visit, but we did travel to Brands for the Finale last year (what a day for JP), and Snetterton earlier in the calendar.

Sadly, this year we have only been able to get to Thruxon, we are not sure if we can get to Snetterton, and it is not the same watching it on the TV at home.

Hubby and Son still support Jason Plato, and they give me grief for having defected, but the rivalry makes the viewing even more fun.

[kezbabybabe]

Luckily you haven't defected too far Paula. ;)

[Mad Mat Jackson Fan]

Only just seen this! :o

I first came across btcc in 1997 when i just happened to be watching Sunday Grandstand with Steve Rider and on it came! I already got myself into Formula One the year before, so even more motorsport on my t.v was heaven! :D So gave it a watch, formed a nice crush on a younger looking Jason Plato and that was that, i was hooked! :cool:

Tho after he won the title in 2001 and he left the series to do Ascar, i rather lost interest from 2002-2004! :o Then when he returned in 2005 with Seat, i was suddenly back watching again. :p Me and my dad saw an advert on the telly for tickets to Snetterton that year, so we went along! And i never looked back, it was amazing just seeing and hearing them live and smelling the smell of petrol and rubber, i didn't wanna leave when it was all over! And ever since that day, i've managed to get to every circuit on the calender now which is ace. :) I also developed a lovely crush on Mat Jackson, hence my forum name, after he arrived in Touring Cars after he won the Seat's. I had the awesome chance of meeting him and hanging out in his garage with his team and family at the Brands Finale in 2008, which was just a fantastic experience. One of the best moments so far. :)

I also had the privilege of meeting Kerry, Mark, Colin and Matt for the first time at Snetterton funnily enough, earlier on in the summer of 2008 and my life has never been the same! For the better of course. ;)

I went to every round except Croft last year which was a great achievement for me. Haven't done as well this year, as funds are low sadly. :( Our next live round will be Snetterton hopefully, so looking forward to that. Yay to btcc. :cool:

[Swedishshuffle]

First got into the btcc due to my obsession with volvos. My dad mentioned to me about them racing an estate he had heard althought being 8 I took no notice. Wasn't till on holiday in Spain in 1995 and the highlights for brands came on eurosport when rydell had his massive smash. My dad took me to knockhill that year and have never missed a knockhill round since..... Been to oulton and silverstone a couple of times too.

[obsessivecompulsive2]

My Dad took me to my first live race at Silverstone in 1983. My memory of it is quite hazy now,but i'm pretty sure there were Rover SD1's and Jaguars swapping paint back then. I did my best to follow it on tv from there on in until the start of the 90's when i started work,got myself a cheap car and tried to religiously follow John Cleand and the Cavalier around the circuits. :p

I've been a fan since 83 and have never given up on it,even through it's doldrum years,i don't intend to stop anytime soon either!! ;)

My favourite era.............. 90's and the Supertourers!!! :cool: