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tival London show breat to SMMT
Page 5
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tIVAL for the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders rningham Motor Show 1980 is to be staged by a London &Rion company — and it will be held in London at the same e as the Birmingham show.
he company, Eagle Exhibii Consultants, says that the w will be a trade exhibition is to be held because, it ms, the commercial vehicle astry lost out at the NatioExhibition Centre show year.
company spokesman said ; week: "Selling commers and trailers and commervehicle components is icipally a trade-only busis and needs easy :essibility for trade cusiers without an invasion by public." He added that what was good news for selling cars was bad news for the commercial sector. The company thinks that more overseas visitors will be attracted by the London-based alternative show.
A spokesman for the SMMT was told about the show and commented: "Rubbish!" But he later admitted that there had been an enquiry for Earl's Court, scene of the 1976 Motor Show, by four trailer makers.
"Other companies in the trailer industry have accepted that we will have a combined show. I don't think that any other can attract sufficient support," said the SMMT spokesman.
Detailed plans for the rebel show are expected to be announced at the end of May, and the organisers will be looking for support from other organisations.
An Eagle spokesman said that it„ was hoped that the SMMT would eventually give its blessing to the alternative project.
It is being suggested that the rival show should be run along Continental lines, with the stands being kept simple and costs kept low and the emphasis on attracting both home and foreign customers.
Eagle says that the idea of a London show in 1980 has already received support from several of the trailer manufacturers who, led by York chairman Fred Davis, were complaining bitterly about the way the 1978 show was managed.
Last year CM received more than 100 letters from visitors to the show, some of whom had travelled up to 500 miles and had been unable to see what they wanted to look at.