Car Throttle at Autosport 2012

I booked my ticket to Autosport International 2012 at Birmingham's NEC for three reasons, none of which were to do with the exhibits. Firstly, I knew there were a going to be a few motoring journalists present who it'd be very useful to meet and greet. Secondly, while I'm at university in Brum, the whole extravagaza is on my doorstep, so it's be rude not to have a snoop around. Finally, if there's any good excuse to get out of doing yet more dissertation, then I'll take it. In fact, Autosport proved to be rather more than a bit of cheeky truancy.

If racing cars of all classes, shapes and sizes are your thing, as you'd expect, Autosport had them on show, from GT3 McLarens and Porsches to classic Formula One cars, their modern day successors and all levels of rally machine. An exhibit of the late, great Ayrton Senna's F1 competitors was a tastefully executed, moving highlight.

If it's the brave souls who drive fast that excite you, Autosport comes up trumps as well. Force India's Paul di Resta and Le Mans Audi's Allan McNish gave interviews on the Autosport stand to crowds of fans; David Coulthard and Jake Humphrey of the BBC's F1 coverage were also on hand, the latter cementing his position as my younger brother's personal idol by scribbling out an autograph and posing for pictures. Who says never meet your heroes?

Not me, that's for sure. I meanwhile took up prime position on the Autocar magazine stand to hear Q&As with employees of Ginetta, discussing their acclaimed G50 sports car, and magazine road test editor Matt Prior, who was even good enough to stick around and chat journalism avenues with your Car Throttle correspondent.

Autosport isn't just a racing event though. There are countless tuner stands showcasing everything from engine upgrades (GMR's V8 Vantage supercharger kit was most impressive) to carbon fibre bodystyling and chassis tweaks. You're even guaranteed a one-hour sit down break at the show, as every ticket holder is granted access to the Live Action Arena, feauturing BTCC and Fifth Gear's Jason Plato, precision driver Terry Grant, and lungfuls of tyre smoke courtesy of drifters, autograss racers, motorcross stunts and stock cars to name a few. Only the brave forgo ear defenders...

Rare road cars were out in force, provoking the tiresome task of allocating each one lottery garage space. The PistonHeads Supercar Paddock, part of the Performance Car show which runs adjacent to Autosport and is free to enter, featured mid engined delights from Ferrari, McLaren, Audi, and Lamborghini. Nissan's 2012 GT-R stared out the 997 GT3, but my personal 'Best In Show' has to go to the Lexus LF-A. It was a privilege not only to see this Japanese tour de force in the flesh, but also engage in a large debate which sprung up around the car, when one bystander declared it "an obscene waste of three hundred grand." Cue a jovial set-to between those of us who adore the LF-A's no-compromise inception and Toyota's bravery, and the opposition who demanded to know why it costs twice that of a 458.

Porsche and BMW had manufacturer stands at the show, meaning mere mortals could clamber inside the new 3 Series, M5 and 991 911 models. The new Porsche flagship was a pleasant surprise; its bigger proportions look less inflated in the metal; in fact it looks barely any bigger than a 997. The interior is beautifully appointed even when coated in fingerprints and boasting scuffed seats from hundreds of 'aspiring owners'. Wisely, Porsche protected the also-present 918 RSR atop a rotating plinth for its first visit to UK shores, to preserve their beautiful eco-racecar.

Coy's of Kensington continued their practice of conducting a classic car auction on the show floor. Unfortunately, with starting bids of £85,000 for a Countach QV in quintessential Eighties white, and an eventual winning value of £103,000 for a 1973 Ferrari 246 GTS, your writer left empty handed, though not before seeing the original GT500 'Eleanor' Mustang of 'Gone In Sixty Seconds' fame go for a cool £80,000.

A grand day out then. Standard tickets weren't cheap at £32, but given they include access to all of Autosport International and The Performance Car Show, a live action performance and handfuls of more free goodie bags than you can wave a chequered flag at, the financial cost doesn't sting at all. 2013's Autosport show runs from 17th - 20th January 2013, and I heartily recommend you check it out.