Abu Dhabi International Motorshow encounters

We have a well-located 100 square metre stand which allows GearOne Automotive Television to report comprehensively from the exhibition. Comprehensive means in this instance with four cameras plus a JimmyJib for shots which swoop down to revel in visions of chrome...

Comprehensive does not, however, mean that all of the world's leading auto marques are represented. Bentley is her, Rolls is not. Ferrari, Mercedes, Lamborghini, Maserati and Hummer present their latest toys in our reportage segments. But Audi and BMW are among the absentees, as is Porsche.

Our channel's CEO took the opportunity to admire the Bugatti Veyron (he's on the right, in white, in the photo below).



All in all, there's plenty to keep our reporters busy and some fine stories to tell. Like the amazing tale told on the website of Deco Rides about the 1960 Cadillac shown below.

The great thing about trade fairs of any nature is the opportunity they provide for meeting up with old friends and former colleagues.

My twice-yearly pilgrimage to Cannes, to the television program market, always produces chance encounters with people from my professional past, whether in the UK, France or Germany.

And now that I have begun to frequent automobile industry events there are similar happy coincidences.

Salah, to my right, was one of my most valued colleagues at our channel until he was tempted to return to the luxury auto sector.



Although the mere term 'luxury' is, perhaps, an understatement when applied to the latest Spyker D 12. It has a 5 litre engine, a top speed of 295 kmh, does 0-100 in 5.0 seconds and has a price-tag of EUR 200,000. The opposed double-doors give a view of the amazing interior.





There are still another three days to go and I'm sure there'll be few more stories for our GearOne team to cover. And much more for me to learn about cars which I could never, ever, be able to afford.