History informs us the 10th London Motor Cycle Show was held at Olympia in early November 1924. With no show in 1932, the 20th event was again at Olympia, in 1935. For 1937, the London Show moved to Earls Court. No Shows were held 1939-47, nor in 1950, moving the 30th event on to 1955, again at Earls Court.
Strikes delayed the opening of the 1956 show by two days, and, for reasons best known unto themselves, the British Cycle and Motor Cycle Manufacturers and Traders Union decided to hold the London Show on alternate autumns from 1956, despite strong remonstrations by leading makers and dealers. Thus, there were no shows in 1957, 1959 and 1961. Manufacturers politely but quietly protested, as history informs, while it was okay to lodge such a plea, makers and agents who complained vigorously could well incur hefty penalties imposed by the Union.
From then on, the continuity so important to makers who needed to market next year’s motorcycles year-on-year went out of the window, to be replaced by a confusing shambles, thus:
• 1962–Earls Court, November
• 1963–Blackpool, May
• 1964–Earls Court, November
• 1965–Blackpool, May
• 1966–Earls Court, November
• 1967–Earls Court, September
• 1968–Manchester, April
• 1969–Brighton, April
• 1970–No Show
• 1971–Olympia, January
• 1972–Earls Court, November
With no show to write about during late autumn 1961, the weeklies created their own in print, something motorcycle makers and importers were keen to support, as many launched new season models and updated favourites at the autumn show. While many advertised next
