GRIMBERGEN/LEDE (B)

The Nations Cup is an annual model car event where (except for the G12 race) all entrants compete once per year with equal arms: same type of car, same motor, same tires, same controller. The event is open to 12 national teams with 3 or 4 racers each. Racers coming from abroad have their plane tickets and hotel costs reimbursed by the organising IMCA. Curtain raiser on Thursday August 28 is the IMCA 132 Model Car Worlds contested at the Dison 42-m Carrera 6-laner. As promotion for the sport we wish to let see that the best racers of the world are not averse to race simple home cars on a simple home track in a simple club. Since all racers are hosted at the Thermae Hotel of Grimbergen during the whole event, a shuttle comes at 6am to pick them up for the trip to Dison. Racers should keep in mind that just before the start of the main final there will be the Modeler's World Championship (Concourse) for the 124 Nascar cars.  On Friday August 29 a crack regiment of 44 invited racers, coming from 14 countries and 5 continents, continue at Grimbergen with the Team Race and the EuroNats, all reserved for the same (scale 1/24th) Nascar model cars with hard plastic bodies. On Saturday August 30 we start more serious racing going by shuttle from Grimbergen to Lede for the Open G12 Benelux Cup on Noviello's wooden 8-laner, already used at the 2002 IMCA Worlds. At Lede, on the same wooden 8-laner, on Sunday August 31. the selected racers will contest the 2 remaining model car races: The Mello Yello Junior Worlds and the IMCA 124 Model Car Worlds. Racing premises will be closed by 7pm on Sunday, after the traditional price giving with the local mayor and miss Belgium. At the 18th Nations Cup 4 racers can qualify themselves to win an Audi TT Cabrio at the Pinky Point2 Audi Race on July 24, 2004. Then the winner of the 2003 IMCA 124 Worlds, 2003 IMCA 132 Worlds, 2003 Mello Yello and 2003 Modeller's Worlds (Concourse) will have to compete with the four best ranked racers at the PP2 final standings. The car is already bought and will be present at Dison, Grimbergen and Lede. The deal with BMW Belgium was cancelled on July 10, when Chris Eeckels, the PR-manager of BMW Belgium informed us by simple e-mail that BMW Belgium was at once no longer interested to sponsor the car. A ridiculous discount of € 1,000 was all what could be done! Furious about it my company bought immediately an Audi TT Cabrio, full options, in metallic grey.

Grimbergen is an old rural town, originated in the 8th century. Actually it counts 32,746 inhabitants and is situated at exit 7 of the mainway Ring round Brussels. Nearest airport is Brussels-Zaventem at 2.9 miles. Racers coming by car quit the Ring at exit 7, follow the indication "Grimbergen", pass two stop lights and arrive, just after the second stop light, in the Beigemsesteenweg. All they have to do is to continue their way straight on. Once at the Beigemsesteenweg they have to hold during 1.5 miles the pavements until n°330, JPVR's villa.  Lede is a rural village with 16,861 inhabitants, at only 16 miles from Grimber-gen. Origins of Lede go back to the days of the Roman Empire. Of its former castles, only one is left, however in a sorrowful state. By going with our race to Lede we wish attend the rest of the world, that a 16th century castle in ruin, should be saved! Racing goes in the modern Cultural Centre "De Bron".