WHY WORK WHEN YOU CAN PLAY Would you refuse if you were asked to drive one of the most famous Two-Strokes owned by a member of EMS? Steve was over he moon at being given the honour and of course he had to have a navigator! Leaving Peter Briggs to go to work we set off to meet the rest of the celebrities. The film crew were from Practical Classics and the rest of the "stars" were a DAF 44, a Bond Equipe, a Citroen GS and Renault 15TS, not really classic cars but all unusual in their own right. In convoy we wound our way to Holme Fen near Peterborough whose claim to fame is that it is 20 feet below sea level. We checked for big black rain clouds and hoped that the tide didn't come in and then stood around as the photographer and director set the scene. The cars were in place, MLT at the front and that was nearly the end of that as the photographer missed his step climbing a stepladder to take an overhead shot. He landed on his back and lay there holding his head and bleeding profusely from a gash on his elbow. What to do now? He checked if everything was still working wound his hankie round his elbow and climbed back up the ladder. The show must go on. After what seemed like several hours there is talk of breaking for lunch. Finally tummies rumbling the convoy of cars set out not as we thought to lunch, but to another site for just one more shot! This set up had the cars in different positions, MLT this time set out on its own and with the photographer grovelling on the floor, it was like watching paint dry. The photographer finally said it's a wrap and so on to Stilton where we were treated to lunch. However that also took longer than anticipated as the Bond Equipe had another appointment but the photographer insisted on taking more shots. Lunch finished we went over to High Gidding where it was time for shots of the cars in motion. Each car was photographed coming and going at varying speeds round a sharp bend and as by now it had started to rain it was lights on and lights off, windows open and windows closed. Then the director decided it was time he should have some fun test-driving each car leaving the photographer to take shots inside the cars, after removing mats, coats and other sundry items he thought not appropriate. MLT put through its paces, we were preparing to go when they decided they could do some travelling shots from a car travelling along side. This went really well until we lost the camera car on a very sharp bend. Steve slowed down but still they did not appear and panic set in. Had they gone in a ditch? We hadn't a clue so turned back to find there was no sign of them but there was a little cart track turn off so assuming they had disappeared up there and were OK we set off for home. After picking up a large chunk of Stilton cheese and some bread rolls we arrived back at Pete's for an early supper. Thank you Pete for a wonderful day and look out for the photos in the posh magazine. Frances |