Motoring shop window on Wexford Quayfront
THERE are few better places for a motor show than the Wexford Quays.
Combine that with balmy weather and an enthusiastic crowd and you have a perfect blend.
The 2017 Wexford Motor Show, which took place on the Quays over the weekend, was a big success, with all the major brands represented in what was a shop window on the motoring world packed into a few hundred metres along the harbour.
Some of the gleaming new cars had older models alongside them which made for an interesting comparison between the way we were and the way we are now, among them a Ford Escort, a Renault 4 TL , a Mini Cooper and a lovely Audi Quattro.
The show had the biggest motor business participation in the country so far this year, with 21 franchise dealers and 27 brands represented, providing a great opportunity to see the huge range of new vehicles available in the Irish market, while having a family fun day out.
Among the side show displays were an RSA simulator, brought in as part of a road safety campaign, and a very popular Formula One simulator complete with Stig-style timed laps.
While there was a large turnout of classics on Saturday another show beckoned on Sunday which reduced the numbers taking part to little more than a handful by lunchtime, among them a VW Beetle, a Triumph Herald, a Golf GTi pickup, a nice Opel and a very tasty looking Lotus Elan S130.
While most of the dealers had plenty of point of sales literature available, some didn’t, which left some people scratching their heads for prices and specs when the sale staff were taking a break.
This year’s charities were the RNLI, Down Syndrome Ireland and the Special Olympics. The show was organised by the local motor retailers and The Society of the Irish Motor Industry with support from Wexford Council, the gardai and the Road Safety Authority.