There will be more than 700 vehicles on display worth more than $50 million across 40,000 square metres.
Russell Avis, general manager of Summernats, which owns MotorEx, told GoAutoNews Premium that compared with Summernats, Meguiar’s MotorEx “is where you see really high-end show cars”.
He said it is “by far the best indoor car show in the country by a country mile”.
Mr Avis said the expo was opened up last year to the Cruiser category for people who drove their cruisers to the event, culminating in an “impromptu parade” on the Sunday afternoon as they left the showgrounds together.
Each year more than 100 Australian-based aftermarket exhibitors attend MotorEx.
MotorEx organisers say that of the 30,000 expected to attend, more than 9000 are directly employed in automotive trade in roles such as mechanics, fabricators and suppliers. More than 2000 of those are managers, workshop owners and decision-makers for their place of business.
Included in the event as a showcase for auto apprentices is a flying spanner competition where automotive students from TAFE colleges strip down and rebuild an engine against the clock.
Teams start off with a complete Holden LS1 V8 engine.
It is stripped all the way down, although they leave the crankshaft and connecting rods in because of time. Teams then put the engine back together again, tension down the heads, give the engine a full 360-degree turnover to make sure nothing fouls and the clock stops when the last tool is placed on the bench.
There are two in a team and a teacher supervises but is not allowed to help out in any way. Typical times are 10 minutes.
The TAFEs have all acquired LS1 engines and they are now practicing on them.
CIT from Canberra is bringing two teams to defend their title from last year.
Teams will compete in heats on Saturday and Sunday with the final two teams going head-to-head on Sunday afternoon. The winners will receive SP Tools.
By John Mellor
Read More: Related articles
