The other motor show
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THE "ALTERNATIVE" motor show — the London Motorfair — is to be revived again and goes ahead next year.
Organised by private enterprise, Motorfair had to be cancelled last year due to the withdrawal of support by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (which runs the "official" Motor Show) and the Motor Agents Association.
Without this support vehicle manufacturers cannot help dealers mount a display and it was primarily this that led to the Motorfair being called off in 1979.
But last week a spokesman for organisers Philbeach Events said that the differences had been resolved and both the MAA and the SMMT have given their backing to next year's show and are to be involved in its organisation. Manufacturers will be represented by dealers who can take actual vehicle orders.
The first Motorfair was held in 1977 at London's Earls Court and was seen as a way of filling the void created when the Motor Show left its London home for Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre in 1978.
It was originally envisaged that the two events would take place in alternate years.
Said Motorfair chairman Tommy Sopwith: "Our research shows that there is a genuine need and desire for the show and we now have plans to stage Motorfair every two years for the foreseeable future."