All the finest cities in the world have one: Frankfurt, Paris, Tokyo, Dubai and New York, to name a few. So it was only a matter of time before Cape Town, voted one of the Best Cities in the World in 2015, would finally announce its own national show entitled The Cape Town Motor Show (CTMS).
The CTMS was officially launched on Wednesday night, 19 October, at a glittering affair at the Sun GrandWest Entertainment World and was attended by members of the SA Guild of Motoring Journalists, other press, celebrities, Motor Industry participants and principles and delegates from both the City of Cape Town and Cape Town Tourism.
The inaugural CTMS will take place over the last weekend of January 2017 (27 to 29) at the prestigious Sun GrandWest in association with The City of Cape Town. It promises a weekend of incredible fun with a broad appeal to all car and bike buffs, petrolheads and, in fact, the entire family, with loads of entertainment.
One of SA’s most recognised comedians and a car-buff himself, Kurt Schoonraad kicked the evening off welcoming all to the launch. Other speakers involved included former Mayoral member heading up Tourism, events and economic development for the City of Cape Town, Garreth Bloor, who had been involved in getting the City involved with the CTMS. Bloor was very enthusiastic about the show saying “”Events like these show we have a massive community of petrol heads and motor enthusiasts right here in our city. The potential to create international events for motor enthusiasts from around the world shouldn’t be underestimated, given Cape Town’s growing status as Africa’s events capital.”
Exhibitions will include: multiple world- and South African introductions; a complete range of domestic and imported passenger cars, bikes and trucks; sport utility vehicles; and experimental or concept cars. Additionally, attendees will have the opportunity to see numerous accessories and auto-related exhibits, competition vehicles, antique and collector cars, engine modifications (pimped-up rides), Sound-Off Beats competitions, virtual simulations, car wrapping, drifting, a large 4X4 outside area, live music and much more!
Finally the Mother City can boast a motor show that will rival any of the international equivalents, hosted in a safe and conducive environment with an expected audience of more than 35 000 over the three days of the CTMS. The show will span the length and breadth of the Sun GrandWest Entertainment World, including the Market Hall, Grand Arena, the Sun Exhibit area, the Sun Park area, outdoor 4X4 areas, drifting zone, bike zone, and Classic and Vintage car displays.
Speakers on the evening included the MD of the CTMS, George Sharp, the CEO of Cape Town Tourism, Enver Duminy and Gerrie Smit, the Honorary Secretary of the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists (SAGMJ).
Master of Ceremonies for the evening, Robbie Stammers, urged everyone to keep an eye out on the press and across social media platforms as the CTMS will be revealing different activations, partners and motor vehicle surprises that will take place at the show over the next few months so that ‘The CTMS can continue to whet appetites all the way right up to the Show itself. The CTMS is going to blow people away.”
Claire Cobbledick, Marketing manager of Gumtree, who are one of the many partners in the CTMS said “Cape Town is a core Gumtree market and we enjoy the most visited online showroom in SA so this partnership was a perfect fit for the brand. We look forward to this inaugural event.’
The evening’s finale ended in style with one of the lucky guests walking away with a GIA certified diamond, compliments of the Diamond Works Institute. All the guests received a cubic zirconium in their champagne flute on arrival and one of them was the real thing in a specially engraved glass.
Marketing and promotions will run in conjunction with the local and national press, television, two radio partners, social media platforms and promotional flags across the city—ensuring the CTMS will definitely be something everyone will get revved up about!
For more information, go to www.capetownmotorshow.co.za or email [email protected]
Tickets can be booked via Computicket.
Tickets are R100 per person, R250 special for a family of four, R60 for pensioners and kids between 12 and 17 and is free for children under the age of 12 years.
Source: CTMS