Censport
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2008
- Messages
- 595
- Location
- Nashville TN, USA
- Car(s)
- Xterra, '63 Corvair, '06 Yamaha FZ6
The museum I work for was invited to bring out a few cars to display at the Grand Tour taping in Nashville. The producers actually contacted us a few months ago, and two staff came to visit in person. The cast and production staff tossed around ideas for the Nashville episode and in the end, we didn't have anything they wanted to use for the show. But we were still invited to bring a few cars to display outside, and in exchange those driving the cars could attend the taping. Everybody finally agreed on how many cars and which ones, and early this morning, we set off into Nashville traffic to the big tent.
We arrived on time and at the right entrance, but the security staff didn't know anything about us. Which is almost to be expected at such productions. They finally let us in the first lot while they radio'd the GT staff. Eventually, we were instructed to go in the next lot and were finally led to our display spot. One of the GT staff directed the lineup, and the end result looked good. My phone photography does not, however. Sorry, I had trouble with the lighting.
Now I can't not mention this next bit, especially in case you - the reader - are ever approached by a production company to participate in an event: Get the promises in writing. Prior to bringing the cars over, we were told that someone would come get us and take us in through the VIP entrance. We waited and waited, but this never happened. It wasn't until they were about to close the admissions that we got someone working admissions to stop and talk to us. Naturally, they didn't know anything about us either. So they got the head security guy. Who had to radio the GT staff guy who lined up our cars. No VIP treatment. We had to go through the regular entrance. Now I don't mind going through security. Thanks to a Jalopnik post by someone who attended the California taping, I knew phones and cameras wouldn't be allowed and that we would be wanded and/or frisked. Thankfully, one of the agreed-upon cars (the Urraco) has a lockable trunk so we stashed our phones and cameras in it. (There was a security guard whose job it was to keep an eye on our cars. It turns out he just chatted with a police officer while people pawed over and climbed in our museum cars, which is another rant.) No, the problems with not getting the promised VIP entrance were not getting a good position on the floor (we were in the back with crew and cameras running around us) and - most importantly - not having a chance to meet The Lads. Which was the real reason we rearranged our staff schedules, I rescheduled a trip to Japan, and one of our part-time guys rearranged his schedule at his regular job.
Okay, rant over.
At least we got to attend a GT taping, which is rare for anyone. The Lads are as funny in real life as they are on edited television. We saw clips for the 9th episode. We saw yet another celebrity "killed off". I could see Clarkson pretty well most of the time, but only got glances of Hammond and May through the crowd. A friend of the museum, Toly Arutunoff, had an un-credited cameo that will likely make the final cut into the episode, thanks to his knowledge of old record players. And that's about all I can tell you. You'll have to watch the episode.
As my coworkers were loading the Helicron into the trailer, I wandered over to a nice American muscle car in the parking lot to take a quick pic. The gent getting into it was staff and told me that Richard had been driving it the day before. I had tried to source just such a car for the show but the owner of that car didn't respond properly, so this other car was used instead. Still, I gave him my card and asked him to contact me if I could be of help in the future, including in Japan.
We did see The Lads (and the celebrity guest, very much alive) as we were driving out. The Lads were in the limo/van/bus sandwiched between the Matra D-Jet I was driving and the Tatra T-87 driven by one of my coworkers. The still-alive guest was in a limo/SUV a few cars ahead, giving thumbs up to our guys in the Urraco and the Fiat 508C. Heading to different airports, I guess.
Questions?
We arrived on time and at the right entrance, but the security staff didn't know anything about us. Which is almost to be expected at such productions. They finally let us in the first lot while they radio'd the GT staff. Eventually, we were instructed to go in the next lot and were finally led to our display spot. One of the GT staff directed the lineup, and the end result looked good. My phone photography does not, however. Sorry, I had trouble with the lighting.
Now I can't not mention this next bit, especially in case you - the reader - are ever approached by a production company to participate in an event: Get the promises in writing. Prior to bringing the cars over, we were told that someone would come get us and take us in through the VIP entrance. We waited and waited, but this never happened. It wasn't until they were about to close the admissions that we got someone working admissions to stop and talk to us. Naturally, they didn't know anything about us either. So they got the head security guy. Who had to radio the GT staff guy who lined up our cars. No VIP treatment. We had to go through the regular entrance. Now I don't mind going through security. Thanks to a Jalopnik post by someone who attended the California taping, I knew phones and cameras wouldn't be allowed and that we would be wanded and/or frisked. Thankfully, one of the agreed-upon cars (the Urraco) has a lockable trunk so we stashed our phones and cameras in it. (There was a security guard whose job it was to keep an eye on our cars. It turns out he just chatted with a police officer while people pawed over and climbed in our museum cars, which is another rant.) No, the problems with not getting the promised VIP entrance were not getting a good position on the floor (we were in the back with crew and cameras running around us) and - most importantly - not having a chance to meet The Lads. Which was the real reason we rearranged our staff schedules, I rescheduled a trip to Japan, and one of our part-time guys rearranged his schedule at his regular job.
Okay, rant over.
At least we got to attend a GT taping, which is rare for anyone. The Lads are as funny in real life as they are on edited television. We saw clips for the 9th episode. We saw yet another celebrity "killed off". I could see Clarkson pretty well most of the time, but only got glances of Hammond and May through the crowd. A friend of the museum, Toly Arutunoff, had an un-credited cameo that will likely make the final cut into the episode, thanks to his knowledge of old record players. And that's about all I can tell you. You'll have to watch the episode.
As my coworkers were loading the Helicron into the trailer, I wandered over to a nice American muscle car in the parking lot to take a quick pic. The gent getting into it was staff and told me that Richard had been driving it the day before. I had tried to source just such a car for the show but the owner of that car didn't respond properly, so this other car was used instead. Still, I gave him my card and asked him to contact me if I could be of help in the future, including in Japan.
We did see The Lads (and the celebrity guest, very much alive) as we were driving out. The Lads were in the limo/van/bus sandwiched between the Matra D-Jet I was driving and the Tatra T-87 driven by one of my coworkers. The still-alive guest was in a limo/SUV a few cars ahead, giving thumbs up to our guys in the Urraco and the Fiat 508C. Heading to different airports, I guess.
Questions?