Power and the glory: Celebrating everything bizarre and extreme at the Silverstone Classic

Customised for petrol heads, the Friday-to-Sunday celebration in Northamptonshire promises daredevil stunts and astonishing shows of power

Streetcar Shootout, a demo recreation of a drag strip race, has become a firm favourite at the Classic and runs twice a day (Pictures by Silverstone Classic)

The undoubted star of the Power and Glory custom car meet, apart from some thunderously fast machinery, is one of the country's leading stunt drivers - Terry Grant. He is known for his extreme showmnaship as well as his extreme skills as a driver, and you can judge them for yourself this weekend at the historic Silverstone circuit in Northamptonshire.

The organisers claim that the dazzling and rubber-burning demonstrations of automotive power at the Silverstone Classic will be the “biggest and best yet” with one highlight the "spectacular" Streetcar Shootout.

With no fewer than 23 world records to his name, trick driver Grant has taken his stunt show right around the globe – this, though, will be the daredevil’s debut at one of the country's biggest classic motor racing festival, though the Goodwood Revival probably has the edge for entertainment.

Terry Grant drives with due care and attention (Silverstone Classic)

Grant's accumulation of audacious records includes the highest loop-the-loop in a car; the fastest mile on just two wheels; the furthest barrel roll jump; the most donuts standing on the roof of a car (an esoteric one, that); and the highest number of donuts in 100 seconds…and surely more to come.

At the Classic, the four-wheeled showman should be impressing crowds from behind the wheel of both his latest auto-legend, a 1937 Ford sedan, and his custom-built V8-supercharged stunt Ford Mustang.

The right way to spin a TVR, by Terry Grant (Silverstone Classic)

Grant will be performing at lunchtime and teatime on the old section of the famous track between what once were Abbey and Bridge corners – also the site of the Streetcar Shootout.

The demo drag-strip has become a firm favourite with visitors, say organisers, and this summer’s line-up of dramatic wheel-spinners will, they say, be the "biggest and wildest ever seen" at the Silverstone Classic with a total of 22,000bhp tearing up the tarmac.

The popular Taz Racing returns with a full lineup of amazing vehicles including multiple Shootout winner “Boss Taz” (Chris Skinner) and “Scoff Taz” (Adam Skinner) in his incredible 420bhp Fiat, now totally rebuilt after last year’s accident.

New for 2018 are a brace of outrageous customized 1950s Ford Populars hailing from the Outlaw Anglia Racing series, plus an even more extreme 1936 half-ton truck propelled by a monster supercharged 7.7 litre V8 engine with 810 HP on tap. It should all add up to a substantial show of force…

In keeping with the event’s “access all areas” policy, all tickets (which must be purchased in advance) include free entrance and attractions such as the Streetcar Shootout and Terry Grant Stunt Shows but also both racing paddocks and pit complexes, open trackside grandstands, air displays, funfair rides, a host of family activities on the JET Village Green and live music concerts.

Adult admittance is from £45. Full details can be found on the official www.silverstoneclassic.com website.

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