Modified Live 2012 Round 5 - Anglesey Coastal

It’s a slightly overcast start to Sunday morning but we’re still buzzing from Round 4 –what a quality event with action and entertainment going on ALL the way through to the morning. Modified Live sure knows how to throw a party as we welcomed the likes of DJ SlipMatt and Rigby to the paddock. We’ve had a huge amount of campers join us on the Saturday (with quite a few looking a little bit fragile this morning) but with even more cars, clubs and traders joining us today we can’t wait to do it all over again.

Just like Saturday, we’ve got a range of racing taking place throughout the day including the Time Attack, European Drift Championship and Civic Cup. Each of these championships brings their own unique element to Modified Live, with the Civic Cup offering door to door racing with every car nearly identical in power and spec and the EDC welcoming some of Europe’s best drifters to battle it out. If you’ve never experienced Time Attack, this is a championship with very few limitations in terms of horsepower and bodywork. Providing it meets the relevant safety regulations you’re welcome to run 200, 500 or even 1000bhp, and with Modified Live allowing you to stand right within the pits it’s an unbelievable experience to feel so much horsepower fly past you just a few feet away.

By mid morning we’ve had a very quick shower of rain during the first EDC battle but this hasn’t fazed any of the race fans attending today. With people coming from Wales, Scotland and England it’s almost mandatory to take a coat and umbrella to any event, be it in summer or the middle of winter. That said, just a few minutes later the rain has subsided and the track can once again dry out – one of the benefits being so close to the coastline. Mark the mouth is on standby with his PA system working the crowd up regardless of the weather, interviewing EDC drivers throughout the day as well as holding competitions for the various clubs courtesy of a rodeo bull next to the stage.

Just behind the EDC area is the Kleers Show & Shine who are always ready to make any show car absolutely gleaming regardless of the weather. Kleers has one of the largest ranges of cleaning products available right now; suitable for all makes and models and even race cars. For today, Kleers has a range of trophies on offer including OEM, Modified, Performance and Best in Show. Each winner gets their own plaque along with a cleaning bag packed full of essentials, and to be in for a chance of winning all you’ve got to do is register your car to be judged.

During the lunchtime break Modified Live allows petrolheads the ultimate racing experience – a public track session around the 1.5-mile Anglesey Coastal circuit. It doesn’t matter what car you’ve got or what racing experience you’ve had, providing your car’s safe and you’ve got a full driving license you can get out on track for just £25. We’ve seen everything out on track over the weekend including a Ford Transit Connect and even Declan’s EDC drift car. It’s safe to say the Time Attack boys make it look easy as they lap round in less than 1min 20secs, but until you get out there you don’t feel the huge elevations Anglesey features making it very tricky to put in a fast lap.

There’s a fantastic trade area for today’s event, with plenty of sponsors slashing their prices exclusively for the Anglesey weekender. We’ve got all bases covered, from steering wheels and exterior upgrades courtesy of Kobe Performance right through to gearbox and engine oil over on the Pro-R stand, something TA competitor Romain Levesque would’ve been hugely grateful for after a gearbox change throughout Saturday.

With clear skies in the distance and a big crowd gathering in the paddock Modified Live is really kicking off now. We can’t stress enough just how open this event is – no other show allows you to get so close to all your favourite cars and drivers. When we say it’s an open paddock, we really mean it. There’s a super-friendly atmosphere all throughout the pits and the guys will always be happy to answer any questions or information about their machines competing. If you’re really lucky, you might even get a hot dog from one of the multiple BBQs the likes of Midlands Performance and Team Eurospec constantly have sizzling away at every event.

Part of what we love about the clubs attending Modified Live is the sheer diversity of cars they bring along to each event. Kroozin North West (KroozinNorthWest.co.uk) undoubtedly had one of the largest displays over the weekend (not to mention winning the club tug-of-war) with everything from turbocharged Japanese metal right through to classic Fords and even a track-prepped Nissan Pulsar. Club-Vaux.com also brought a massive selection of Vauxhalls along including a new VXR Astra, the V8-powered VXR8 and even a classic Nova. Regardless of what age or car you’re into, you’re bound to find something to get you jealous with envy here.

Drifting is undoubtedly one of the fastest-growing motorsports in the UK right now, but just how do you get involved? Step up the Drift Taxis exclusive to Modified Live – simply pay £10, grab a helmet and you can get yourself strapped in to a competition-spec drift car and taken for the ride of your life. Alexis and the DWYB (Drift What Ya Brung) team are some of the most-experienced drifters in the UK, and whether you’re looking to simply go out for a spin or get involved yourself these are the guys to speak to. For more information on drifting make sure you check out www.dwyb.co.uk

After the Time Attack presentations the Anglesey weekender comes to a close – and what a superb event we’ve had the pleasure of hosting. We’ve got to say a BIG thank you to all the Anglesey staff for helping us put on such a great event, from the bar staff to all the marshals who dedicate their time to keeping the track safe. For the big Modified Live finale, we’re heading to Snetterton next month for another weekender packed full of action – make sure you come join us.