As seen on TV

[PollyB]

As seen on TV
Our day out at Rockingham with – James May Polly Booker
This article has been sent to Dolly Mixture so higher quality photos will be available there.
Last year we had a message from Rob Marshall, a motoring journalist and long term Dolomite fan. He said that the BBC were doing a series and needed a Dolomite Sprint for a starring role. He had thought about it and remembered my VA6 Dolly and suggested she would be suitable for the spot, could we get to Rockingham on Friday the 26th June 2015?
Well, after a bit of questioning he finally gave away that it was James May recording a new series of Cars of the People we said yes. Later, having thought a bit about it ourselves, we realised that it was up to us to make sure the Sprint was seen in the best light possible and given that VA6 is a little rickety on her pins and doesn’t like vigorous cornering (she is waiting a hip-op) we suggested Paul’s EFR. A much more close-up friendly and better handling alternative. The BBC agreed and after a bit of careful negotiation with my HeadTeacher we set off after work on the Thursday to Rockingham.
When we rolled up there was a lot of security on the gate but we were waved through to meet a crowd of TV types milling around while a test driver put a BMW 320i through its paces round the track. The BBC crew were very kind and friendly showing which garage we were to leave our car in overnight. These guys (and girls) were obviously used to dealing with nervous owners and took pains to put us at our ease, proffering tea and assurances of high security. They even offered to clean the car but we set to ourselves to take off the dust of the journey. No sign of Mr May, he had been called to London for ‘The Thing’, a mystery assignation designated by bunny ear inverted commas and sideways glances but Hannah, the Associate Producer, and a huge range of apparently very busy people all made us feel very welcome.
We all decamped to a local hotel for dinner where we were entertained by some interesting test driver stories from James Rhodes, Phil Keen and Tommy Erdos.
In the morning we followed our car to a flat area near the track for ‘The Pretties’; a range of tracking and close up shots to be spliced over commentary. Then back to the track for the car to be dressed in, what seemed to be at least 20, cameras and microphones. There was even an in-car monitor suckered to the windscreen. Wires routed round the wheel arches and a microphone installed next to the exhaust with gaffer tape and an amazing black, sticky version of BlueTac which we still find to this day in nooks and crannies under the car. James May turned up looking, it has to be said, a bit worse for wear after ‘The Thing’ but perked up when he saw Dolly. He came over to us a chatted for a short while about overdrives and patting EFR on the roof he got in. Impressions? James May seems to be just the same off screen as he looks on screen, affable, knowledgeable and a genuinely good bloke. It was a busy day with little chance to talk but he also seemed professional and definitely not a prima donna.
Off he went to drive the car around while talking to camera. On the TV this took about 2 minutes but in reality this lasted at least 2 hours. With not much to do we lazed about on the roof over the garages where you get the best view of the whole track.
Over lunch we sat at the table next to James and the Production team while they decided who was going to win the afternoon race. No competition, it had to be, and was, EFR. James May quote for the year ‘If I was driving to London I would take the BMW but for a fun drive round country lanes it has to be the Sprint!’ We’ll take that.
So, after lunch, EFR was stripped of most of the cameras and the ‘race’ was set up. A head to head between the British old guard Sprint against the new-comer BMW 3 series. Several turns round the track later with a Range Rover driving just in front of the pair, a camera man hanging out the back, the cars took it in turns to cross the line first and maneuvered back and too round the corners. Again on TV a 1 minute race, in reality an hour of graceful, fast and expert driving by Tommy Erdos a successful Le Mans driver. Tommy actually bagged the Sprint over the BMW as he really wanted to drive our car and made sure he got to it first so the other test drivers couldn’t get it.
All in all; a very enjoyable and unusual experience that we will remember for a long time. The hardest part? Trying to keep the secret for 7 months until the broadcast on the BBC on the 24th January 2016. A proud moment, EFR looked good on telly (apart from a few dead flies round his nose in one shot) and we think the program did the marque proud. Look up James May Cars of the People Series 2 episode 1 on Youtube or iPlayer if you missed it.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0467lbp

[PollyB]

PaulB checking the installation of the cameras.

[PollyB]

Mr May getting comfortable.

[PollyB]

Race finish.

[Mahesh]

Eye candy, makes the BMW look dull and boring, also some extra history to your ownership, priceless.

[Toledo Man]

Thanks for sharing this with us. There's a lot more to making a TV programme than the end product you see on the screen. I've started to get into video editing and I'm hoping to shoot some videos with my Dolly.

[Galileo]

Watched the show just last night, entertaining as ever, with extra hot sauce of the Sprint Vs BMW segment. I did wonder if it was a TDC members car, as that Sprint looked good out there on the track, so I'm glad you posted your tale Polly!

It's only when you've been behind the scenes that you realise what 'magic' production teams do for the final edit that we get to see. I say magic, because a bit like a magicians trick, once you see how the trick is done you can see it in other programs too.

[lazeruspete]

PROUD

[Sundowner]

&$#^@+*!#...............It's unavailable to us here in the antipodes.
I suppose I'll have to be patient and wait until its broadcast.

What is the vintage of the Beemer 320i they used?

Cheers,
Rob

[GTS290N]

Well done.

[Toledo Man]

Rob, CYR 56V is a 1979 320 (E21) which isn't usually compared with the Sprint because it was introduced in 1975 so it is seen as a newer design. Most of us tend to compare the Sprint with the 2002 which was in production when the Sprint was introduced.

[Sundowner]

Rob, CYR 56V is a 1979 320 (E21) which isn't usually compared with the Sprint because it was introduced in 1975 so it is seen as a newer design. Most of us tend to compare the Sprint with the 2002 which was in production when the Sprint was introduced.

Yes, thats what I've always thought.
If the show was a sort of comparison, wouldn't this be unfair then?
Thanks,
Rob

[PollyB]

We won though.

[Sundowner]

I eventually got to see the episode.....and loved the segment.
I've always liked James May and this episode just cemented that.
Well done PollyB and thanks for posting the story. Its been most enjoyable.
Cheers,
Rob

[AberdeenSprinter]

I have to say in total honesty, I jumped up and cheered when I watched this and the Sprint crossing the line in front.

I had absolutely no idea there was going to be a Sprint on the show and it was absolutely fabulous....and thanks for sharing the story.

James May is a thoroughly decent chap.