OK, so the magazine seems to be in general distribution now so here’s a write up of the 2 days I spent with EVO mag:
Day 1
Arrived at Goodwood at 0915, passed a couple of guys cleaning an immaculate Mitsi EVO 6 TM in the �garages�. Parked up next to a big trailer with Aston Martin written on it, and went into the Aero cafe, met John Barker and a couple of the photographers. A few more people arrived and we were asked to take our cars to the garages to wash them, I followed a Vanquish and we set about cleaning the 2 cars with just a cold hose, sponges and chamois.
Then Henry Catchpole turned up in the 911 GT3 and promptly got on his mobile for the duration of the car cleaning !! I guess cleaning these fantastic cars didn’t appeal to him, like it did us mere mortals.
We then drove the cars out onto the track to a point between Madgewick and Fordwater where we found the new Aston Martin V12 Vantage setup ready for the cover shot. We were called forward one at a time and positioned for the picture. After about an hour and hundreds of photos later (various playing with positions of cars + lights on or off etc) the V12 Vantage was taken off to another part of the circuit for its individual photos.
The 9 �modern icons� cars were then re-arranged for the shot that is at the front of the article. It was getting cold and quite wet by this time, so a chat with Ollie Marriage and Henry in the back of the Photographers van was welcome, whilst the photographers got on with their work.
After lunch, cars were taken off in groups of 3 - Clio Trophy, Racing Puma and Integra R; My Exige, Clio V6 and EVO 6 TM; 911 GT3, 360CS and Vanquish to have action photos taken around the circuit and JB, Ollie and Henry a chance to drive them. The cars not out on circuit were taken 1 at a time to have detail photos taken.
I spent most of the afternoon watching Gus Gregory taking detail shots of the V12 Vantage, I feel the photographers are the real heroes � they spent hours laying on the wet tarmac, playing with various bits of camera equipment, getting the right shot.
Day 1 closed back at the cafe for a cup of tea and plan for the next day. I was the only owner to return the next day, but as both Clio’s and the FRP were from Manufacturers Heritage collections and the 911 on loan from Paragon, these would be around the next day as well.
Day 2
Much smaller team � myself, Henry and his father (along to see what his son was up to), Ollie and Chris Rutter (EVOs own Photographer). Today was a much more interesting day for me as I got to talk to Ollie and Henry loads and they got me put on the EVO insurance for the day.
After cleaning the cars (Henry on phone again!!), the day started with Chris taking detail photos of the cars that were left, whilst the rest of us planned the rest of the day, the weather was much better so we decided to take all the cars up by the horse racing course and take some shots along the top of the South Downs. Before we did this we took the 911, Clio V6 and Exige out onto the track for more action shots including Ollie attaching a video camera to the rear wing of the Exige � hopefully this will appear on the EVO website at some stage.
Up to the Downs
We started by concentrating on the Porshe as Henry needed to get away to catch a flight to Germany to test the new Boxster (see mag for article) but was to deliver the 911 back to Paragon on his way to the airport. I managed to get a ride with Ollie in the GT3 before it left, I’ve never been a 911 fan, but this car is amazing, it holds the road over bumps like no other car I’ve ever been in, and felt like a brand new car despite being on a V reg and having 40k on the clock. Whilst I was out with Ollie, Henry and Chris took the Exige out across the downs. When they returned Henry was very impressed with the Exige, and we have agreed he will have to try it on track sometime.
After saying goodbye to Henry and his father, we took the Clio and FRP to an S bend on the A285, and Chris and I stood in a field whilst Ollie drove up and down the stretch of road for Chris to take pics. Again the patience of both photographer and driver was amazing (we probably did this for about 2 hours) making sure they covered any possible shots they may need, finishing with Chris taking shots of Ollie driving the Clio. I then drove the Clio, following Ollie driving the FRP with Chris taking shots of him driving, back to Goodwood, a good drive and chance to give the V6 some welly!
I really enjoyed my 2 days with EVO and thanks must go to the guys, who made me feel really welcome, Thanks again to NealH for cross-posting, perhaps when the weather improves we could do a �southern� Exige owners meet and I can buy you that beer.
If you’ve read this far � well done, I admit to not being the best story teller in the world, so just stuck to the facts!
Alex