About a month and a half ago, Nintendo announced they were embarking on a search to find the UK's fastest family by taking the 3DS title, Mario Kart 7 on tour across the UK, designing a competition made out of regional heats, leading to a national showdown, with the winners coming away with a family car and a year's supply of 3DS titles. Now, we have news on where and when you'll be able to get behind the wheel and race your way to victory - whilst spamming the other characters with shells, bombs and more, naturally. Taking place in HMV stores across the country this August, starting tomorrow, the places are as follows:
Scotland
- Aberdeen: 113 Union Bridge - 3rd & 4th
- Edinburgh: 129/130 Princes Street - 17th & 18th
- Glasgow: 235 Buchanan Street - 10th & 11th
England
- Newcastle: 56 Northumberland Street - 24th & 25th
- Gateshead: 22 (68a) Cameron Walk, Metro Centre - 3rd & 4th
- Leeds: 1 Victoria Walk, Headrow Centre - 10th & 11th
- Manchester: 90/100 Market Street - 17th & 18th
- Sheffield: 34 High Street, Meadowhall Centre - 3rd & 4th
- Nottingham: Unit 28, The Victoria Centre - 17th & 18th
- Derby: 2 Albion Street - 10th & 11th
- Birmingham: MSU2A, Bullring Shopping Centre - 24th & 25th
- Norwich: 21 Gentlemans Walk - 10th & 11th
- Milton Keynes: 78 Midsummer Arcade - 17th & 18th
- Oxford: 43/46 Commarket Street - 24th & 25th
- Bristol: Unit 47/48 Lower Level Mall, Cribbs Causeway - 17th & 18th
- Reading: 13 Holy Brook Walk, The Oracle - 3rd & 4th
- Basingstoke: Unit 28/29, Festival Place - 17th & 18th
- Guildford: 75/79 The Friary Centre - 10th & 11th
- London: 150 Oxford Street - 24th & 25th
- Kingston: Units 11/12, First Floor Bentalls Centre, Clarence Street - 17th & 18th
- Croydon: Unit 18-22 Centrale - 3rd & 4th
- Canterbury: 12 St Margaret's Street - 10th & 11th
- Brighton: 48-50 Churchill Square Shopping Centre - 24th & 25th
- Southampton: 56/58 Above Bar Street - 10th & 11th
- Exeter: SU 20/21, Princesshay Shopping Centre - 24th & 25th
- Plymouth: Drake Circus Shopping Centre, 1 Charles Street - 3rd & 4th
Wales
- Cardiff: Unit 4, 53-57 Queens Street - 3rd & 4th
- Swansea: Unit 1, 18-20 St. Mary's Square - 10th & 11th
It's worth bearing in mind though, that the competition does have a few odd rules. In order to ensure it's a family affair, you have to be in a team where the age gap between players is at least ten years, and at least one person has to be over 18, while the younger must be over 7. Teams can only be two players, and it's not possible to enter as a pair of siblings - although families can enter more than one team.
The Grand Final will take place on the 27th of October in Birmingham, and those that make it through to the final will be telephoned/emailed by the 9th of September. Until then, Rufus Hound has a few tips and details about his patented P.E.A.C.H training system to help you with your last minute practice:
