Rock concerts, powerboat racing, drive-in movies and street parades are just some of the exciting new tactics planned to help resurrect the British Motor Show.Next year the show makes a move from its traditional home at Birmingham’s NEC to Excel in London’s Docklands. The show runs from 20 July 2006 for 10 days.Organiser International Motor Industry Events (IMIE) is hoping the pull of the capital will return the show to international prominence. It is also hoped that the move to London will boost attendance.IMIE is also promising a less-expensive show for both exhibitors and guests. A £4 cut in the £16 entry fee charged last year will bring the UK event closer in price to shows such as Geneva and Paris.The show again moves dates: in 2004 it moved from the usual October school half-term slot to May. This time it is moving to July, in the hope that school summer holidays will increase visitor numbers. The summer date also increases the chances of good weather – vital if the planned outdoor activities are to be a success.With London’s reputation as anything but car-friendly, IMIE expects a similar travel pattern to the London Boat Show, where 70 per cent of visitors come by train, compared with the 75 per cent of people who went to the last British Motor Show by car. There will, however, be up to 8000 car parking spaces at Excel and in the surrounding area, with shuttle buses running to and from the show. Paul Barker
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