MAJOR INSURER TO SPONSOR CARAVAN, CAMPING & TOURING SUPER SHOW 2002

The show, the biggest in Australia, opens on 23 April and will run for seven days at the prestigious Caulfield Racecourse.

In the first commercial sponsorship deal in the show's 48-year history, naming rights for the expo have been secured by CIL Insurances, Australia's leading caravan insurance company.

National Manager of CIL Insurances, Bruce Illingworth, said that the historic sponsorship deal marked the culmination of forty years involvement by the company in the caravan industry.

"CIL Insurances has agency arrangements with most caravan retailers and we are proud to be involved in the industry's major event at this important time of change," he said.

"The move to the new venue will provide an ideal opportunity to broaden our profile even further."

As part of a five-year plan to revamp the caravan industry's major showcase, the Caravan Industry Association has also announced that the show will move from its traditional city centre base to Caulfield Racecourse.

Leading media agencies have been invited to submit theme proposals for the show plus action plans for a major promotional campaign.

Announcing the Caulfield move, CIA Executive Officer, Peter Wright, said that the new venue would transform the show into a true indoor-outdoor event.

"The lawns and garden areas of the racecourse will provide an ideal setting for the biggest assembly of tents, trailers, caravans and motor homes ever seen in this country," said Mr Wright.

Camping equipment will be set up across the lawn areas in front of the main stand while caravans, pop-tops, motor homes, relocatable park homes and four-wheel drive vehicles will be featured on the garden and concourse areas on the highway side of the stand.

In a $1.5million upgrade the concourse area is being re-paved and covered with giant shade pavilions to provide weather-protected open areas housing a mecca caravan village.

Tourism operators and accessory companies will be accommodated on all four levels of the striking Rupert Clarke Stand where its sheer plate glass walls will provide uninterrupted views of the ground level display areas, the racecourse and the city skyline.

The show will have a strong family focus with pony rides and bands of roaming entertainers to ensure that youngsters never get bored.

A major consideration in the selection of the new venue was its ease of access both by car and by public transport. Caulfield station and a bus and tram interchange are directly across the road from the racecourse.

Close proximity to the South Eastern Freeway and City Link will provide speedy road access with even the northern suburbs no more than a 45-minute drive away. There is almost unlimited car parking on the course and, to encourage early arrivals, parking will be free before 11 am each day.