IT WAS deafening! But for those who enjoy noise the south’s Wilton House stately home was the place to be for its fifth Classic and Supercar event.

Records were smashed as more than 12,000 enthusiasts flocked to the Salisbury estate that has been home to the Earl of Pembroke’s family for more than 450 years.

But never mind the past as the 37- year-old earl crunched the gravel on his front drive in a million-pound 200mph Bugatti Veyron, leading the 250-car convoy that had travelled from a London start – with a detour for a drag race.

The tyre-burning setting, without spectators, was the former RAF Wroughton off the M4, and the owner with the biggest grin was Rich Bradford from Fawley in the New Forest with his R-registration TVR Cerbera.

The beast he rebuilt himself – helped by a few friends – he confessed was “probably the cheapest car here”.

But when push came to shove on the dragstrip, the Pistonheads’ enthusiast was more than pleased to show first a Ferrari Enzo and then a Jaguar XKRRS a clean pair of back wheels on the three-quarter-mile drag race.

He said: “I was pleased – I went into fourth and topped 160 on the clock before I had to back off, which can’t be bad for a home garage project!”

It was the second time the refinery worker had been invited to take part, after the earl saw his car featured in the TVR club magazine by local photographer Nick Williams.

There was plenty to please the crowd’s senses with the visual appeal backed by a satisfying sound-off as the noisiest cars – and local custom motorbike specialist Larry Houghton of Lamb Engineering – tested the decibels.

Not making a sound though was the Le Mans-winning Audi of Allan McNish, who happily mingled with the crowds and stood with his dirt-streaked machine for pictures and autographs while other static displays included 100 Aston Martins, McLarens, Jaguars and the latest prestige cars.