Today at 8:30 I arrive at a hotel in the Cotswold town of Stow-in-the-Wold to meet up with Jack the Fifth Gear researcher. Also met up with the owners of the 'opposition'.
A bit later on we were joined by the camera team, who proved to be a cracking bunch. They used to be one of the film crews on the early seasons of Top Gear. Finally Jason Plato rolled in, just as the bacon butties arrived. Introductions made, and butties complete we head for the car park.
What then happened was pretty much a lot of standing around watching the excitement of a film shoot up close. Managed to have a nice chat with JP, who had some tales to tell (can't recount them as they were a bit rude!). Turns out JP had a 3.0 manual Z4 some years ago, and he really enjoyed it.
The rest of the day was a blur of cars leaving covered in cameras, and coming back some time later, to then leave soon after with different camera angles set up. There was then a long wait when the camera crew grabbed a car each and set off with camera car for some still location shots, drive pasts and Jason's final summary. They wouldn't tell us his verdict, so we have to wait till the show is aired next March/April.
However, if the camera crew had any say in the decision it would be the Z4. I asked Jack (the researcher) if he got a go in the Z4, and he said they were all fighting for the keys and he lost out. JP was particularly impressed with the auto gearbox in the car. The camera guys all said it would be their first choice out of the selection.
So now it's all down to a 6 month wait and JP's opinion! :-ss
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The opposition first. Porsche Boxster S 3.2.
Mazda RX-8 (with one of those Wankel type engines!) complete with Chromed Alloys.
Z4 3.0 Auto.
Jason Plato's weapon of choice!
Err, hang on. Complete coincidence there was a Z4 2.0 in the hotel car park.
Jason Looking very much at home!
How many camera crew guys does it take? 4 apparently.
You start filming things while I stuff the microphone up this squirrel!
101 uses for: A Skoda estate.
A bit later on we were joined by the camera team, who proved to be a cracking bunch. They used to be one of the film crews on the early seasons of Top Gear. Finally Jason Plato rolled in, just as the bacon butties arrived. Introductions made, and butties complete we head for the car park.
What then happened was pretty much a lot of standing around watching the excitement of a film shoot up close. Managed to have a nice chat with JP, who had some tales to tell (can't recount them as they were a bit rude!). Turns out JP had a 3.0 manual Z4 some years ago, and he really enjoyed it.
The rest of the day was a blur of cars leaving covered in cameras, and coming back some time later, to then leave soon after with different camera angles set up. There was then a long wait when the camera crew grabbed a car each and set off with camera car for some still location shots, drive pasts and Jason's final summary. They wouldn't tell us his verdict, so we have to wait till the show is aired next March/April.
However, if the camera crew had any say in the decision it would be the Z4. I asked Jack (the researcher) if he got a go in the Z4, and he said they were all fighting for the keys and he lost out. JP was particularly impressed with the auto gearbox in the car. The camera guys all said it would be their first choice out of the selection.
So now it's all down to a 6 month wait and JP's opinion! :-ss
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The opposition first. Porsche Boxster S 3.2.
Mazda RX-8 (with one of those Wankel type engines!) complete with Chromed Alloys.
Z4 3.0 Auto.
Jason Plato's weapon of choice!
Err, hang on. Complete coincidence there was a Z4 2.0 in the hotel car park.
Jason Looking very much at home!
How many camera crew guys does it take? 4 apparently.
You start filming things while I stuff the microphone up this squirrel!
101 uses for: A Skoda estate.
