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When racing meets music ...

Acceleration 2014 getting ready for Assen
TT Assen in the Netherlands is the last venue for ACCELERATION 2014 during the weekend of 17 - 19 October. FA1, MW-V6 Pickups, Legend SuperCup, Supercar Challenge and 600 & 1000 cc motorbikes will form the starting grids on this legendary Dutch track. Targeted towards families, ACCELERATION offers three days of races and music performances.

The Dutch public will discover this concept at the TT Assen from 17 to 19 October.

The ACCELERATION promoters are considering the racing-music from the following angle: daytime, the circuit is reserved for cars, and to music on Friday and Saturday evening, which will ensure appeal to a wide range of viewers-listeners.

A kids karting circuit managed by professionals will be set up to entertain children between 5 and 7. Families can also enjoy a real street market.

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, racing will feature different categories. The highlight is the FA1 single seaters, cars already seen before in the A1GP series. The Lola B05/52 chassis, all identical, are powered by a 3.4l V8 Zytek engine, developing 550hp for a weight of only 700kgs. Two runs of 30 and 45 minutes with a mandatory pitstop. The championship is currently led by Dutch Nigel Melker ahead of Italian Mirko Bortolotti, Slovak Richard Gonda and Felix Rosenqvist from Sweden.

MW-V6 Pickup Series
Exciting races, purebred race cars, fast lap times; the MW-V6 Pickup Series features vehicles that look like ordinary street cars, but are powered by a 325 hp Ford engine, for a total weight of 925 kg. A pickup body is fitted to the chassis developed by Weytech Technical Assistance and Harry Maessen. The cars are prepared by Bas Koeten, well-known racing engineer in the Netherlands.

Danny van Dongen, championship leader in the MW-V6 pickup category answers some questions:

You have been involved with the MW-V6 Pickup Series since the test days in Valencia. How do you feel about being involved with this concept from the beginning of ACCELERATION?
"I really enjoy occupying myself with continued development and improvement of the car and making it faster. I also do this as a factory-backed race driver for Praga. It is interesting to improve the car with the team on multiple fronts, but it is only nice to see what has become of the car. For example, we went from balloon tyres to Michelins, the car got a little wider and has been made into a real pickup."

What do you think of the car itself?
"The car itself has to be taken by the scruff of the neck and dragged across the track, it is a real colossus and a real race car. It has no ABS, no traction control. You go back to basics. The cars are run by one team, which makes them practically identical. There are no electronics that can make the difference, it is the driver. The car drives the way it looks."

Legend SuperCup

The initial Legends Cars concept was born in the USA in 1992, and offers spectacular racing with race cars based on American cars from 1930's & 40's.
The Legend SuperCup is the ultimate evolution, keeping the original approach, but using all the modern car racing ingredients to reach an outstanding level of performance and to attract high-level drivers.

Legend cars are back on track with a revisited formula. These small machines look as obsolete as attractive, with a Yamaha 1250cc engine developing 136 hp with a weight of 520kgs. Acceleration is impressive since the 100km/h are achieved in 3''7, flirting with a top speed of 200km/h. David Thomas is building the cars, which are prepared in the Netherlands by Johan Kraan.

Georgian David Kajaia is leading the championship, followed by Irish Niki Meredith and another Georgian Konstantine Koliashvili is third.

The Supercar Challenge will join ACCELERATION for the second time this season, after the Nürburgring last May. Dick van Elk's Supercar Challenge is a good addition to our event and together we hope to make an exciting show and a spectacular finale in Assen. "We complement each other beautifully and provide a unique racing programme for the fans, » said Dick van Elk, Supercar Challenge organizer. « I have worked closely with ACCELERATION, and I am impressed by the commitment of this organization and this new concept across Europe. I hope we can work out a great success. »

Open Wegrace Cup
They may look like street bikes, but the lap times achieved with the 1000cc and 600cc standard engines are just impressive! The riders in this category are particularly eager to show what they are capable of!
The Open Wegrace Cup is a unique training school for riders willing to reach higher levels of motorcycle racing.

Rob Hartog: "With so many different categories, it can only be spectacular."

Are you planning on visiting the music events?
"In Assen, we plan on going to Das ‘Foute' Bierfest. We are participating in the bike races and of course we will visit the accompanying music event!
You were part of the ACCELERATION testing days in Navarra last year. What do you expect of this race?
I expect it will be a fun show for the public. With so many different categories, it can only be spectacular. The bike race will be an exciting race, seeing as Supersport (600) as well as Superbike (1000) riders are racing. So I'm looking forward to it!

TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE
On Friday 17 October in the evening, the music festival starts with "CELEBRATE THE 80s & 90s with The Hoff", presented by David Hasselhoff, the world-renowned American actor, and including a variety of famous international artists. On a mega video wall a variety of pictures and clips intensifies those great memories.

18:00 - 20:30 Get in the mood Pre-Party presented by several 80s & 90s DJs

20:30 - 01:00 Live on stage: David Hasselhoff, 2 Unlimited , Rick Astley,
Samantha Fox, Vengaboys, Turbo B/Snap, DJ Sash!,
Twenty 4 Seven

DAS "FOUTE" BIERFEST 
The Saturday night of ACCELERATION Holland has Das ‘Foute' Bierfest as its theme. It is the largest beerfest in the Netherlands and will be a mix of German gemütlichkeit and Dutch ambiance. The TT Hall will become the largest pub of Holland! Headliner of the evening is showbiz phenomenon and singer Gerard Joling. Additionally, Dutch artists Thomas Berge, Roy Donders, Jan en Anny and Dennie Christian will turn this night into a great party.
Doors open: 18.00
Show start: 20.00
Show end: 00.30

More information on www.acceleration14.com or send an email to press@accelerationevents.com