Two of the deposits were placed for motorcycle-engined DAX Rush cars and the prototype turbo-Hayabusa-powered DAX Rush Lightweight was also a big hit amongst the visitors. The black and aluminium car with its 350 bhp Jack Frost-developed engine only weighs around 400kg!

Following its show debut, it is scheduled to be track tested by current DAX Driver of the Year Andy Sterling and 1998 award winner Duncan Cowper - builder and driver of the DAX Rush Cosworth 4 x4 Quadra which was formerly regarded as the 'fastest-accelerating kit car in the world'. Both drivers are considering building lightweight, motorcycle-engined DAX Rush cars for competition use in 2002.

The Rush Hayabusa was exhibited alongside the first production lightweight, a yellow and black Fireblade-powered car which has been build up by DAX development engineer and test driver Gary Saunders for his own use; the grey V8 Rush De Dion with its 320bhp John Eales-built Rover engine which was recently tested by Tiff Needell on BBC TV's Top Gear; and the now familiar DAX Tojeiro demonstrator - A 428 DAX - with its 400bhp plus small-block Chevrolet engine.

Outside the exhibition halls, The DAX Rush Owners Club was also enjoying success. With more than 20 cars on show on the Monday - and more than 30 over the two days - it was the club's biggest every national gathering. Cars on show ranged from the first ever DAX Rush demonstrator - owned for many years by club chairman Terry Roberts - to the very latest long-wheelbase factory demonstrator.

More information on the DAX Rush Owners Club is available from its web site, 'Adrenaline Rush', at www.rushowners.co.uk