A Look Back at our Inaugural mCARnival Mega Car Meet!
It has been more than a week since we held our first-ever large-scale event. With the dust now settled, here’s an objective look at what actually happened on the day itself!
It has been more than a week since we held our first-ever large-scale event. With the dust now settled, here’s an objective look at what actually happened on the day itself!In all honesty, it definitely was not easy to put together such an event, especially with the flip-flopping of the COVID regulations throughout the planning process. It has been months in the making, and involved multiple parties just so that we can ensure we put on the best possible show for our loyal app users.
Before we start this recap proper, we’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone that came down to show us support! We’re also glad that the gloomy weather did not put a damper on the general vibes, as judging from the feedback we’ve gotten from exhibitors and event-goers alike, it does seem that everyone had a good time all things considered.
And as event organisers, that is really all that matters!
Gymkhana in Collaboration with The Next Thing (TNT)
Undoubtedly one of the main highlights of the entire event. This attraction created an opportunity for our contestants to explore the limits of their car in a legal and safe space. We partnered with the folks at The Next Thing, who facilitated the smooth running of the event.
Stamford Tyres also had a presence via TNT, with a booth setup right beside our makeshift skidpad to show off their latest wheel and tyre packages that you’d be able to purchase for your vehicle. There were familiar faces at the skid pad, as well as new entrants that were there to have a taste of what a gymkhana actually felt like.
Spectators were able to witness the on-track action in one of two ways. You could either stand at the cordoned-off areas around the skid pad itself, or purchase drift taxi ride tickets and ride along with a professional driver as he negotiated the course!
Hotwheels Photobooth in Collaboration with Mattel
Another highlight for a lot of the die-hard car enthusiasts is the opportunity to imagine their pride and joy as a Hotwheels scale model. This was done in collaboration with Mattel, which gave us the rights to use their branding for the backdrop.
There were long queues for the photobooth, and whilst we did not have a photographer on hand to take proper photos of the event goers’ cars, there were volunteers on hand to help out. We’re glad that the car community at large embodies a sense of camaraderie!
Hotwheels also had an official presence via one of its local distributors, offering challenges and even slot car tracks to allow the young (and young at heart) to race to their hearts’ content. On event day itself, they have also provided various special offers to those at the venue, and it’s safe to say that many left with smaller wallets but bigger smiles!
Car Boot Sale
Let’s be clear - there’s no real flea market culture in Singapore. The strong turnout for this segment on the actual day itself, especially considering the temperamental monsoon season we find ourselves in, is proof that Motorist has a loyal and very supportive user base.
Here, individuals are allowed to sell their wares from the boots of their vehicles, and you’d be able to find a good mix of items on offer. You’d be able to find anything from collectibles, to sneakers and even hobbyist-grade horticultural paraphernalia.
And the vehicles the attendees have brought along were also a treat for the window shoppers too. There was a healthy representation from each facet of the automotive enthusiast scene, with a good mix of classic cars, JDMs and even some properly tuned Euros!
RC and Sim Racing in Collaboration with SimFai
Here’s the thing, many professional race drivers started out in karts and in RC cars. Simulator Racing has also become a viable avenue into the world of professional motorsport in recent years, following the success of the GT Academy programme, and their graduate’s assaults on the endurance racing circuit.
Which is why we thought it was a good idea to bring in SimFai for the mCARnival. This was to showcase to the public that simulators have come a long way since the titles that you’d find in the 1990s. Pro-grade simulator rigs were on site, and participants can actually pay a $10 entry fee to compete for prizes and bragging rights in a time-attack challenge.
Also available for the public to sample, were the various sub-niches within the RC community. You could have tried out RC Crawlers, and also sampled RC Drifting. This writer has actually had some experience before, but has since left the hobby. COVID meant that there has been somewhat of a resurgence of the hobby, and it is clear that a lot of development has gone into the cars since the early touring-converted drifters of the mid 2010s!
mBassador
How can we forget about mBassador? This was our year-long campaign to seek out the next big thing in the content presentation sphere. We started with 25 contestants, and through various knockout phases and challenges, were down to the final 10.
These participants were then given centre stage, and had to present not only themselves, but also showcase their promotional prowess by attempting to sell various items presented to them at random to our esteemed panel of judges.
These items ranged from a tea satchel to aluminium foil to even a screwdriver. While some of the spiel were more unique than others, each contestant put their own spin on the item they had to present, with some even injecting some humour into their presentation.
Not forgetting the talent showcase, where some contestants sang, some danced, while one even displayed her DJ-ing skills and put on a mini concert right in the middle of the hangar! It was evident that each contestant brought something different to the table, and selecting the winner would be a tough decision.
So Then, What’s Next?
Judging by the online response in the days after the event, it is safe to say that the general opinion has generally been positive. We’re glad that the event goers have had a wonderful time. Will Motorist ever host a follow-up to what we deem as a fairly successful first run? Only time will tell.
To celebrate the successful running of our first-ever mCARnival, we are extending our event-specific promotions on our mDeals microsite! Click here to learn more!
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