Summer in the UK is a bustling time for car enthusiasts, with numerous event happening each weekend. With so many options, creating a standout event isn’t easy.
The National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham is no stranger to automotive events, from classic car shows to the renowned Autosport International. Recently, however, it hosted Gravity, organised by the team at Slammed UK, to bring modified vehicles to the Midlands.
Running a car show on a UK bank holiday weekend can be a big risk. While visitors have an extra day to attend, there are major music festivals, pub gardens, and other attractions going on. Yet, judging by Gravity’s large number of attendees this was not an issue for the organisers.
And why would it be – Gravity attracts the best of the best. Along with the show aspect, the event features an outdoor drift arena, a strong influencer presence, live BMX displays, lowrider demos and more.
But as someone who has attended more car events than I could even begin to count, I can attest that it’s not just the attractions that matter; it’s an event’s vibe. This quality, often discussed but hard to define, is how an event makes us feel.
The Slammed UK team nailed it. There was a buzz in the air, amplified by live music that, in my opinion, adds a special touch to any car show.
Along with all the local cars on show, Gravity 2024 drew in a number of builds from abroad, two of which in particular caught my attention.
The first was the Daihatsu Hijet built by Nightride in Poland. ‘Kevin’ is powered by a Yamaha Fazer 600 motorcycle engine and driveline – right down to its chain drive. You can read more about this build here.
The second was Chip Moosa’s Mercedes-Benz W108 280SE ‘Vato’ from Chicano’s Customs in South Africa. This car, which has been extensively rebuilt, features a dark green metallic paint job, a suede interior, air suspension, and wire wheels. Both vehicles earned Top 5 spots at Gravity 2024’s awards ceremony.
These are just a couple of highlights from hundreds of impressive builds. Gravity was one of those rare shows where I struggled to find a car I didn’t like. From E36 BMWs to Lamborghinis, there was something for everyone.
The live drifting demo featured many well-known names, including James Deane in his four-rotor FD3S Mazda RX-7, Becky Evans in her Nissan Silvia S15, Steve ‘Baggsy’ Biagioni in his R35 GT-R, and the Crewsade drift team with drivers like George Barclay in his 1,000hp 2JZ-swapped BMW M2 Eurofighter.
Many enthusiasts chose to spend their August bank holiday at Gravity 2024; a testament to how great this event truly is.
Ben Crosby
Instagram: niftyhaus
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