02 March – 12 March 2007
If you are well versed with the movie "Cars" you may remember Lightning McQueen vehemently exclaiming ‘I create feelings in others that they themselves don’t understand…‘ This catchy quote didn’t grasp my attention then, when I watched the movie, the way it incited me, after my visit to the Melbourne Motor Show on 5th of March 2007.
I had grown with the impression that cars are for boys and dolls are for girls!! But the Motor Show at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre just proved how wrong I was. The Motor Show attracted people of all denominations ? men & women, young and the old, infact all the Car Crazy people. And like a bolt from the blue, I got addicted to it too!!
Taking my toddler around was a mighty big task. His notion was that these cars are stationed in a similar manner likes the stationery ones found in large shopping malls and complexes, where parents put in a dollar or two and the car’s make small gyrating movements with some rhymes playing in the background! His intention was clear ? just an opportunity to sit in every car at the drivers!
The Motor Show happens every year around the same time and coincides with the Australian Formula 1 Racing. Though I did go to the F1 races, I forgot my camera in the car! This is my 3rd consecutive year at the Motor Show and every year it gets better.
I’ve taken some pics, just so that you get a glimpse of what’s in store! But the best feeling is to have a first hand real experience. For someone like my hubby who eats, sleeps and dreams cars this one was a real big treat!
History and Facts
The Melbourne International Motor Show is a flagship event for the Australian automotive industry. The inaugural Melbourne International Motor Show was officially opened on 30th April 1925 and is one of the longest running Motor Shows in the world and by far the longest running in Australia.
The Melbourne International Motor Show – Victoria’s biggest indoor event – features Australia’s passenger car manufacturers and major vehicle importers. Over the past ten years the Motor Show has attracted over 2.3 million visitors to the Melbourne Exhibition Centre and such is its growth that the Show occupies the total floor space of the Centre, inside and out. The Motor Show occupies the entire 30,000 square metre pillarless exhibition hall together with the 8,000 square metre glass-walled Concourse and various outdoor exhibit areas.
INTERESTING SHOW FACTS (courtesy: motorshow.com.au)
- The Melbourne International Motor Show has a history dating back to 1925. Since that time 73 Motor Shows have been held. The Royal Exhibition Building was the venue for the first sixty-two Melbourne Motor Shows until it moved to its home at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre in 1996.
- The Motor Show established an attendance record of 257,563 visitors in 2004. On average over 245,000 people have visited the Motor Show each year since 2000.
- Over 160 lost children will be reunited with their parents or guardians during the course of the Motor Show.
- Males accounted for over 78% of all Motor Show patrons at the 2004 Motor Show.
- Over 36% of visitors to the Motor Show in 2004 were aged under 30 years with 7.3% aged over 60 years.
- Over 60% of patrons surveyed in 2004 intended to visit the 2005 Melbourne International Motor Show.
- The proportion of patrons attending the Motor Show for the purpose of gathering information prior to making a vehicle purchase decision is 38%.
- Females attending the Motor Show are more likely to attend the show for the purpose of gathering information prior to making a vehicle purchase decision than males.
- The Melbourne International Motor Show continues to be held in high regard by patrons with high levels of patron satisfaction. Patrons continued to rank the event well giving it a rating of 7.8 out of 10.
- Over 160 lost children will be reunited with their parents over the duration of the Motor Show.
- Last year, almost 150 mobile phones were found in and around the Motor Show.
- Approximately 500 motor vehicles will be displayed when the Show is completed!
Boogity Boogity Boogity, boys & gals! Let’s go racin’!
Author: Mira- Australia