The shows must go on
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Aussie 'static' on the working or mobile exhibition concept plus a porn's views
COULD "WORKING" motor shows catch on in Europe? At first sight, it would seem that provided a suitable site can be found, a show where vehicles can be seen working must be an added attraction to an otherwise mere static show.
They have been held in California — The World's Greatest Working Truck Show — for three years and now have spread to Australia.
The Commercial Vehicle Industry Association billed its one in Melbourne last October as "Australia's Greatest Working Truck Show."
"The 'working truck' aspect was merely a competition for the best looking and soundest truck that was still earning its daily bread," reports the Australian magazine Bus and Truck. There were also competitions such as wheel changing. "On the race track proper, vans and light commercials were available for evaluation (7) around the circuit."
Any chance of attracting high attendances was swept away in the buckets of rain that fell on the last two days, it added.
However, despite this and numerous empty exhibition lots, several manufacturers said they received reasonable levels of inquiry from operators.
In New South Wales a group of manufacturers' representatives petitioned the CVIA to stage a mobile event. However, as Bus and Truck describ3d it, when the time came to register and cough up with the entrance fee, several had second thoughts and declined to take part in "Big Wheels in Action" about 50 miles from Sydney.
Public attendance was low, but as one manufacturer said: "One fair dinkum inquiry is better than a thousand tyre kickers."
This show had a 14km heavy vehicle course with a hill for demonstrations above 10 tonnes gross, and a flat 12km circuit for the rest.
The Australian journal reckons this show "puts another nail in the coffin of static truck shows".
Unfortunately, there was little or no profit in the event for the CVIA, which will have to stage a static show this year in order to raise money to continue as the transport industry's representative in negotiations with the Australian Government.
How do the present shows in Britain and on the Continent compare? Personally, writes Bill Brock, I miss the camaraderie of the old Earls Court Show — a site surrounded by restaurants where business could be discussed out of view of the competition. But it's no good looking back; the British show has outgrown the facilities.
At NEC this year nine separate halls will house the combined Car and Commercial show, supplemented by accessory and component manufacturers. It is expensive for the exhibitors and many of the major manufacturers would wish not to be there but fear the repercussions in future sales figures for not being present. The facilities and the location are much better but the Show has grown too big to see in one day.
The same criticism may be levelled of most foreign international shows. It means that the visitor must be selective in what he wishes to see.
Transport in Action sponsored by Motor Transport was an interesting attempt to bring the mobile concept to Britain. It provided a brief opportunity to compare similar aspects of one vehicle's performance directly with another. In most instances, however, it's wiser to examine the vehicle model you intend to buy while it is stationary.