The Return of the British Motor Show
The army kicked things off in style with a parachute drop complete with smoke & British Motor Show flag. 1/1000s 70mm F5.6 ISO 100.
International motor shows have always been important dates in the calendar as they are often where important announcements and reveals are made, and they also provide an opportunity for the public to see the newest cars on the market in the metal. Which is why the return of the British Motor Show is so significant - there hasn’t been one since 2008 after the shows in 2012 and 2014 were cancelled due to the repercussions of the global financial crisis. What makes this year’s event even more significant is that this is the first international motor show of 2021 in the world, following the delays and cancellations of many others including Frankfurt & New York. The organisers are now committed to the new location of the Farnborough International Exhibition until 2025 with options to further expand the space they use in subsequent years. It has been a promising start with more than 50,000 people attending over the weekend.
Journalists & VIP guests were greeted by the organisers before a talk on The Road to 2030 with the ban on ICE cars. 1/125s 41mm F4.0 ISO 800.
A supercar paddock greets you upon arrival. 1/250s 70mm F5.6 ISO 100.
In order to widen the appeal, the format of the event was shaken up somewhat. Traditionally these are indoor events that can come off as a bit dry. However, this year whilst the usual indoor exhibits of new cars, sales stands, and talks are firmly in place there were a lot more interactive activities outside. The organisers wanted to make sure they could appeal to the widest possible audience, including to families so there’s plenty of opportunities to either see cars in action at the Live Arena or take a ride yourself through the Sport Bearings or the Caterham Experience. In fact, there was even a section for young drivers under the age of seventeen to try driving a (manual) car for the first time with a dedicated instructor. To spice things up further they even had the event opened on Thursday with an army parachute drop complete with British Motor Show flag. It was unfortunately delayed due to issues with air traffic, though I guess that is to be expected when the event is next to an airport.
The Young Drivers Experience have those under the age of seventeen the chance to get behind the wheel with a dedicated instructor. 1/200s 54mm F4.0 ISO 100.
The Arena allowed visitors to see a lot of the cars in action, including some smoking tyres. 1/1000s 70mm F5.6 ISO 100.
The indoor exhibits were not to be missed though as (often in association with local dealerships) you could look at and sit in the newest cars on the market, as well as speak to sales reps who were on hand to answer any questions. If you were shopping for a new car (and there are a lot of people who are right now) then this was the place to be as you could see everything back-to-back. Furthermore, many exhibitors were going a step further and allowing you to test drive cars on the surrounding roads which we did do for the Subaru Outback which we were impressed with on the stand. Sadly, you couldn’t sit in the high-end stuff (Ferraris, Lamborghinis, McLarens), but it was heartening to see so much enthusiasm for these cars from the kids. The engine may be on its way out but there’s still a new generation of enthusiasts dreaming about owning something with eight or twelve cylinders that makes a lot of noise.
Inside was the traditional exhibition with new cars, activities, talks and sales stands. 1/100s F4.0 29.5mm ISO 6400.
Some stands were dedicated to automotive art. 1/100s 34mm F4.0 ISO 3200.
Unsurprisingly the flash Lamborghini drew a lot of attention. 1/60s 33mm F5.6 ISO 4000.
McLaren’ new Artura - their first V6 car that also comes with hybrid power. 1/15s 70mm F8.0 ISO 400.
The Stig was a welcome addition to the event and was often seen posing for photos with people and cars. 1/15s 31.5mm F8.0 ISO 800.
Out on Subaru Outback test drive. It’s an impressive car for its price point, though unlike the Forester it is not currently available in hybrid form. 1/15s 24mm F14 ISO 100.
Another new addition to the event was the large outdoor section dedicated to classic cars, populated by representatives from various car clubs. This was very welcome as is it important to capture the attention of the youngsters to foster the next generation that will hopefully one day look after and cherish these cars from yesteryear. It also allows the clubs to try and bring in new members who already own classics as well as give them an opportunity to share their passions with like-minded people. This aspect really made it an event that was worth attending, no matter whether you were enthusiastic about the direction the car is headed in or not.
There were plenty of classics on show for those who prefer the older stuff. 1/200s 26.5mm F6.3 ISO 400.
Even the AA had classics on display. It would certainly be exciting to see one of these turn up when you broke down. 1/200s 45mm F6.3 ISO 400.
Lotus was well supported and this Esprit V8 was in very fine condition. It had seen some upgrades that had taken it north of 400 bhp. 1/200s 48mm F6.3 ISO 200.
The pinnacle of this Giorgetto Giugiaro design, the Lotus Esprit HC is by far my favourite of the models and I would love to own one of these in turbo form one day. 1/200s 35mm F6.3 ISO 250.
The cool 80s decals add to the character of the car. 1/200s 70mm F6.3 ISO 250.
For an additional bit of fun, I took a ride on the Mercedes F1 Simulator where a somewhat disinterested Lewis Hamilton takes you round two laps of Circuit de Barcelona Catalunya. I found it was a lot more fun (due to the challenge) if you didn’t hold onto the railing but tried to brace yourself with just your legs. Well worth a go at least once I’d say. As I mentioned before though, there were opportunities to get a more hands on experience. The Caterhams were screeching around and burning rubber all day long as people went out in hot laps. And, for an extra bit of fun, the driver would have them and their passenger throw their hands in the hard as they drifted in a circle. A testament to how direct such a car is that you can do so purely off the throttle.
The Mercedes F1 Simulator, well worth a go at least once for anyone who is a fan of the sport. 1/200s 31.5mm F4.0 ISO 100.
The Caterham Experience gave the public a chance to go hot lapping in one of the most driver focused cars you can buy. 1/40s 70mm F13 ISO 100.
There were plenty of smoking tyres and burning rubber. 1/40s 70mm F13 ISO 100.
The drivers got the passenger to raise their hands with them as they drifted around, much to everyone’s amusement. 1/40s 70mm F11 ISO 100.
Fancy taking a passenger ride in a Ferrari instead? Well, the Sporting Bears have you covered. Founded in 1989 they raise about £200,000 every year for children’s charities by giving people the chance to ride in their dream car for a donation. This was personal to be as a relative of mine (Mick Bryan - who sadly passed away early last year) had been so heavily involved with the organisation from the early days. Although I didn’t get a chance myself to have a ride it was good to speak to people had had known him and could tell me a bit more about his contributions.
The wonderful Sporting Bears raises money for children’s charities through giving people rides in their dream cars for a donation. 1/800s 37mm F5.6 ISO 200.
Overall, the British Motor Show was back with a bang, and it looks like the new yearly format in Farnborough will be a great success. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if one of the biggest annual car shows in the world just happened to be on our backdoor step? Were you there this weekend? What did you think? Let me know in the comments section down below.
A very rare RHD Diablo VT Roadster that certainly grabbed people’s attention. 1/400s 70mm F7.1 ISO 100.
It looks imposing from the rear as well. 1/100s 30.5mm F7.1 ISO 160.
On the move, it had a reputation for being bonkers when it was new and it stills lives up to that today. 1/20s 47mm F11 ISO 100.
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