THE final event of the 2003 drag racing calendar takes place at Shakespeare County Raceway this weekend.

The two-day Halloween Showdown is packed with an awesome display of sound and drag racing action plus bonfire and fireworks on Saturday evening.

For sheer exhibition fun, the three Top Fuel Altered Cars of Jim Seward in Harry the Spider, Mickey Moore in the Mob and Chive Mechaell in the California Kid shouldn't be missed.

Alongside them will be Neil Townsend with Northern Spirit and Pete Radcliffe and Mark Needham in their blown-alcohol altered cars, making it a 50/50 Fuel/Alc-ohol field.

All six cars will feature in a US style "cacklefest" which is the first time this has happened in Britain for a long time.

"We shall be bringing the cars to the start line at 11 am on Sunday and starting them all up together, which will culminate in a great crescendo of noise", Lee Child, promoter of the Halloween Sho- wdown, said.

"If you have ever experienced the smell and noise of two fuel cars, imagine what six fuel cars all at the same time will be like - awesome!"

Further fun is promised with a Run What Ya Brung on both days when anyone can bring their own car or bike and take part in some drag racing action.

Also appearing will be regular jet car Firestorm driven by Roger Goring in addition to track record holder for a jet car, Martin Hill, in Fireforce 2 and Tony Baker in Fireforce 1.

Advance weekend entry tickets priced £20 are now available from LA Perform-ance Services on 01803 554308.

Gate prices will be £15 on both Saturday and Sunday or £26 for the weekend. A further £15 per day or £25 for the weekend and the production of a valid DVLC licence and a crash helmet will buy you unlimited runs on the strip.