THE car looked like a toy.

A battered 40 year old mini pickup with no windows, no lights, no upholstery, no windscreen and only two gears.
Inside, it was smaller than it looked and as my 6ft 4��? frame was manoeuvred into the driving seat, not only did my head bash the ceiling, but my knees actually managed to bend the steering wheel.
I had driven, massively hungover from a wedding in Preston, to a field outside Prestatyn, where, in the best interests of the newspaper and our readers I was due to take part in two off road races at the Prestatyn Circuit North Wales Mud Oval Racing Club.

For those not familiar with the sport or the club, it's basically stock car racing - stripped down MOT failures, being flung round a racing track and spraying huge clouds of dust or waves of mud into the faces of the opposition drivers.

It's ace to watch and as I found out, it's even better to take part in.

So there I was, strapped in behind the wheel of an antique mini - a 30 year class racing veteran, that would probably cost in the region on £9,000 to replace if I binned it.
The blue flag drops and off I go, wheels spinning furiously as I speed away. I quickly catch one of my opponents and overtake on the inside. Eat my dust, sucker!
The advantage is temporarily mine and the mini takes the first and second corners perfectly. I rule. I am a racing god.
Or maybe not, the straight requires foot down second gear action and the light car starts to spin, weave and drift. I had expected this, but I wasn't prepared and backed off the accelerator.

Quickly overtaken by the opposition, I have proved that I do not, as previously thought, have balls of steel.
Five laps later to my great joy, nobody has yet lapped me and on seeing the finishing flag I immediately stop.
In the wrong place. Never mind.

My second race, an hour later was in a borrowed Peugeot 205 with a massive 1400cc engine and an extravagant cooling system, involving two large fans in the boot and an electric light switch.
Much the same as before except faster, more furious and I had to almost come to a standstill as the maxxed out tyres failed to grip on the slippy surface - yet more evidence of my lack of masculinity.

I came last in both of my races, but to be honest, I couldn't care less - It was great fun - frantic adrenaline pumping fun. And as safe as sitting at home, playing racing games on an X-box.
All the cars are fitted with roll cages and carry a maximum two gallons of fuel so even if you hit the barriers and flip over in the air, you're not likely to be injured.

The club, which has been going for over 20 years meets at Pydew Farm and meets up every second Sunday during the season.

In August, teams from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales will descend on Prestatyn to thrash, smash and crash their vehicles during the two-day Bank Holiday weekend spectacular.
Visitors are encouraged to camp overnight in the field where there will also be a hog roast.
Members of the public will be able to take part in the events in one of six specially-built cars, and money raised from races and donations will go to the Wish Upon a Star Foundation.
More information is available on the club's website: www.prestatynracecircuit.piczo.com, or e-mail Taj120@hotmail.co.uk

Come along and watch or have a go - it rocks and it's way better than mountain biking.

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