Northern Group Hosts the Motor Industry at the Test Day Barbecue
The Northern Group of Motoring Writers has staged a pre-event gathering for journalists and PRs across the motor industry ahead of the 2019 SMMT North Test Day at Wetherby.
With the bulk of automotive press offices based in the south, the annual trek up to Wetherby Racecourse can be a bit of a bind for many of our colleagues in PR, some driving for close to five hours from their homes.
In order to make the event something a little more enjoyable, NGMW decided to put on a “night-before” barbecue to host as many of our industry friends as possible before the business of the Test Day.
Hosted by Wood Hall Hotel, four miles from the Test Day venue — and conveniently located for the various overnight stops used by the different PR teams — the event was originally intended to be an outdoor barbecue.
While northern friendliness is reliable, northern weather isn’t, and instead the assembled press offices and journalists filled Wood Hall’s dining room for more of a buffet event — albeit one primarily supplying barbecue food!
With support from SMMT itself too, it’s fair to say that the event has so far been generally well-received among the attendees. Hopefully it will be something the Northern Group can continue to host every year to make SMMT North Test Day as eagerly awaited by its southern attendees as those of us who enjoy having such a range of manufacturers on our doorstep this time each year.
The SMMT North Test Day itself will follow on September 24 at its regular Wetherby Racecourse venue, during which NGMW will announce our 2019 Car of the Year.
