The Return of the British Motor Show
International motor shows have always been important dates in the calendar as they are often where important announcements and reveals are made, and they also provide an opportunity for the public to see the newest cars on the market in the metal. Which is why the return of the British Motor Show is so significant - there hasn’t been one since 2008 after the shows in 2012 and 2014 were cancelled due to the repercussions of the global financial crisis. What makes this year’s event even more significant is that this is the first international motor show of 2021 in the world, following the delays and cancellations of many others including Frankfurt & New York. The organisers are now committed to the new location of the Farnborough International Exhibition until 2025 with options to further expand the space they use in subsequent years. It has been a promising start with more than 50,000 people attending over the weekend.
In order to widen the appeal, the format of the event was shaken up somewhat. Traditionally these are indoor events that can come off as a bit dry. However, this year whilst the usual indoor exhibits of new cars, sales stands, and talks are firmly in place there were a lot more interactive activities outside. The organisers wanted to make sure they could appeal to the widest possible audience, including to families so there’s plenty of opportunities to either see cars in action at the Live Arena or take a ride yourself through the Sport Bearings or the Caterham Experience. In fact, there was even a section for young drivers under the age of seventeen to try driving a (manual) car for the first time with a dedicated instructor. To spice things up further they even had the event opened on Thursday with an army parachute drop complete with British Motor Show flag. It was unfortunately delayed due to issues with air traffic, though I guess that is to be expected when the event is next to an airport.
The indoor exhibits were not to be missed though as (often in association with local dealerships) you could look at and sit in the newest cars on the market, as well as speak to sales reps who were on hand to answer any questions. If you were shopping for a new car (and there are a lot of people who are right now) then this was the place to be as you could see everything back-to-back. Furthermore, many exhibitors were going a step further and allowing you to test drive cars on the surrounding roads which we did do for the Subaru Outback which we were impressed with on the stand. Sadly, you couldn’t sit in the high-end stuff (Ferraris, Lamborghinis, McLarens), but it was heartening to see so much enthusiasm for these cars from the kids. The engine may be on its way out but there’s still a new generation of enthusiasts dreaming about owning something with eight or twelve cylinders that makes a lot of noise.
Another new addition to the event was the large outdoor section dedicated to classic cars, populated by representatives from various car clubs. This was very welcome as is it important to capture the attention of the youngsters to foster the next generation that will hopefully one day look after and cherish these cars from yesteryear. It also allows the clubs to try and bring in new members who already own classics as well as give them an opportunity to share their passions with like-minded people. This aspect really made it an event that was worth attending, no matter whether you were enthusiastic about the direction the car is headed in or not.
For an additional bit of fun, I took a ride on the Mercedes F1 Simulator where a somewhat disinterested Lewis Hamilton takes you round two laps of Circuit de Barcelona Catalunya. I found it was a lot more fun (due to the challenge) if you didn’t hold onto the railing but tried to brace yourself with just your legs. Well worth a go at least once I’d say. As I mentioned before though, there were opportunities to get a more hands on experience. The Caterhams were screeching around and burning rubber all day long as people went out in hot laps. And, for an extra bit of fun, the driver would have them and their passenger throw their hands in the hard as they drifted in a circle. A testament to how direct such a car is that you can do so purely off the throttle.
Fancy taking a passenger ride in a Ferrari instead? Well, the Sporting Bears have you covered. Founded in 1989 they raise about £200,000 every year for children’s charities by giving people the chance to ride in their dream car for a donation. This was personal to be as a relative of mine (Mick Bryan - who sadly passed away early last year) had been so heavily involved with the organisation from the early days. Although I didn’t get a chance myself to have a ride it was good to speak to people had had known him and could tell me a bit more about his contributions.
Overall, the British Motor Show was back with a bang, and it looks like the new yearly format in Farnborough will be a great success. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if one of the biggest annual car shows in the world just happened to be on our backdoor step? Were you there this weekend? What did you think? Let me know in the comments section down below.
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