This has been really difficult to keep under wraps, but as
some of you may have seen if you watch the programme, my GT6 appeared on Car
SOS on Thursday night.
The filming took place last September and I was sworn to
secrecy by the TV company and agreed not to publically mention my involvement
in Car SOS or publish any pictures on line etc until after the programme had
been screened.
Last summer I had an email from the production company –
Renegade Pictures who make the Car SOS series for National Geographic. They
contacted me asking if I knew anyone who had a GT6 that they could use for
filming, they wanted a car to film as the example of a tidy roadworthy GT6 to
film in an episode. Snag was I couldn’t
go asking out on facebook groups or internet forums etc as those who watch will
know it would ruin the whole thing if the beneficiary of the restoration was to
find out and the filming was to be in the Brecon Beacons. I couldn’t
immediately think of a GT6 owner in South/Central Wales. As it was a 71 MK3
they would be restoring which is same year as mine I said they could use mine
if they would pay expenses. So having agreed funding for an overnight stop in a
Hotel, breakfast, petrol, and the Seven Bridge Toll I happily agreed.
It was a pretty long day as although it would only be a few
minutes featured on the programme TV production is a long job and it took
nearly 6 hours.
As well as the presenters Fuzz Townshend (The TSSC honorary
president) and Tim Shaw driving the car with driving footage both in and
outside the car I also drove some of the driving sequences, although that will
not be apparent from the TV show.
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| Me posing with Fuzz, Tim and my GT6. |
Filming consisted of lots of driving around a twisty section
of road high in the Brecon Beacons being filmed from the air by a drone and at
ground level several camera men. Cameras were mounted for in car footage of Tim
in the car with Fuzz as a passenger. Then there were some detail shots on the
road with go pro cameras pointing at various bits of the car and road (which I
drove for). There was some filming of the car stationary using a boom camera to
focus in on the interior and exterior details. A few still pictures were taken
as well to use as promotional material.
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| Filming underway, Fuzz getting into my car. |
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| A in car driving sequence being filmed Tim driving my GT6 with Fuzz in the Passenger seat. |
There was some stationary conversation with Fuzz and Tim including a comedy moment that unfortunately didn’t make the final cut, Tim is 6ft 9 tall and really had to squeeze to get into the driving seat. He also had to take his boots off to drive as his huge feet were too wide to operate the pedals except in socks! The boots were put in the passenger footwell, and when Fuzz got in he dumped them outside into the car park. Then the boots were filled with Quavers to attract a couple of local sheep to come and “eat“ them!
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| Tim’s boots dumped in the car park next to my car |
There were two other cars being filmed at the same time for
other episodes. An MGA and a Lancia Delta Integrale.
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| Fuzz and Tim in a really nice MGA |
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| Lancia Delta Integrale also being filmed on the day. |
At the end of the session the TV company gave me a “money can’t buy” Car SOS Key ring, like the ones Tim presents to the deserved recipient of the restored car in each programme when they say “You’ve been Cars SOS’d”.
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| Car SOS Key Ring, I’ve been Car SOS’d |
