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Editorial Best show yet?
Page 4
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WHEN the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders opens the doors at the National Exhibition Centre to trade visitors on Wednesday, it will do so on possibly the best show it has ever mounted. The British International Motor Show will be just that for the first time in its long history.
Until this year the Motor Show has been regarded as a domestic affair. The first step towards making it international was taken in 1980, when it moved from the claustrophobic atmosphere of Earl's Court to the more spacious Birmingham complex.
The new venue was almost too successful and genuine trade visitors to commercial vehicle halls found themselves jostled by what appeared to be the entire school population of the West Midlands.
The concept of three trade days will give the genuinely interested transport people the opportunity to talk to suppliers and view the products in a relatively quiet and comfortable atmosphere.
There will be plenty of new and interesting products on view. Apart from the odd exception, the new products will be familiar to CM readers before they get to Birmingham. Gone are the days when new products were kept under dust sheets until opening day. Visitors this year will go to the National Exhibition Centre with some knowledge of the product.
Armed with this issue of CM they will be able to minimise fruitless visits to stands which do not concern them. Put another way, CM's readers will be able to concentrate their time and effort effectively by using our plan of the show to get to the people who matter to them.
The 1984 show should be a star attraction. We wish the organisers well and look forward to meeting visitors on our stand 512 in Hall 5.