Last-minute prep and car culture go hand-in-hand.

You’d think you’d outgrow the rush as the stakes get higher, but setup night at the Essen Motor Show (EMS) proves that’s far from the case. A great event is worth its weight in gold, but I prefer the chaos that comes before the doors officially open.

Contrary to what you might expect, high-profile events like EMS often have a preview day for media and press before the public gets access to the halls.

Having early access is one of the perks of this job – not having to fight for a shot or dodge oblivious attendees standing right in your line of sight makes shooting event coverage much easier.

But ironically, weaving through a ballet of cars being hurried into place, avoiding forklift operators on frantic missions, and trying not to trip over stacks of pallets and boxes is somehow even better.

The hustle and bustle is to be expected, but I wasn’t counting on a bird of prey to swoop past me and land majestically on a ledge. Meet Clara, a working falcon tasked with keeping Messe Essen’s halls free of pigeons while the shutters are open for the evening.

With the preview day today (Friday) plus two public days ahead for me (the show runs for a whole week, though), December on Speedhunters will kick off with some of the best modern and classic tuning Europe has to offer.

I’ve also spent the past few days bouncing between Stuttgart and Munich, spending time around three of Germany’s legendary marques and getting up close with everyone’s childhood hero – the Need for Speed Most Wanted BMW M3 GTR – at BMW Welt.

For now, though, I hope you’ve enjoyed this quick look at the manic energy and meticulous planning that goes into an event as massive as the Essen Motor Show. Check out the scale of it too…

I’ve teased a few absolute gems, but I’m saving the best for my main coverage. Stay tuned for more!

Mario Christou
Instagram: mcwpn, mariochristou.world
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