First
Days of Thunder Event Attracts Record Crowd
12 May 2003
The record for crowd attendance at any British National level motor
race was well and truly shattered at Rockingham, as over 40,000 people
travelled to the Corby, Northants., venue to see the opening Days of
Thunder event and the aptly named pop band BUSTED.
As the earliest indications came of the crowd exceeding the
organisers highest expectations, extra traffic management resources
were employed and extra parking spaces were quickly found next to the
new 4x4 course to accommodate the massive turnout. Visitors were treated
to a fun-filled family day out, as well as witnessing wins for Dutchman
Michael Vergers and Germany's Roland Rehfeld and Midlander Kevin Clarke
in the action-packed Days of Thunder and Pick Up truck races.
No.1 chart-topping band BUSTED arrived in style, courtesy of an RAF
Sea King helicopter and were greeted by a sea of fans, before performing
three of their hits on a special stage, which was also used by upcoming
local bands.
"We are really pleased with the size of the crowd, which well
and truly exceeded all our expectations," said Rockingham CEO Ashley
Pover. "Today's exceptional turnout has indicated that the mix
of all-round entertainment combining motorsport and music has been a
real hit with the public and the long term looks good, we've now sold
out of all our season tickets for the year ahead."
The total attendance at today's meeting is almost as big as the 42,000
strong crowd seen at Rockingham for the 2001 Rockingham 500. It also
makes the first Days of Thunder meeting the largest of the year so far
at a British motor racing event.
The carnage filled event, which saw only 11 ASCAR runners finishing
the first race, also kept the fans entertained with two air displays,
stalls and skating and bmx displays. Images from the event will be available
here shortly.
See series calendar for ASCAR Days
of Thunder Series
See events calendar for Rockingham
Related Story 01.05.2003 - New
Look, New Name for 2003 ASCAR "Days of Thunder" Series
