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ARTHUR GODDARD DVD NEWSLETTER 3The latest news of the Arthur Goddard DVD, being prepared to celebrate the 2010 visit to the UK of the last-surviving member of the management team who designed, built and developed the Land-Rover in 1947-48. |
What the DVD will look like, and a launch date with a special guest. Also, 'the book of the visit', and a chance to ride in R16... or is it 260AC?
This Newsletter has been a long time coming, but there's been a lot of behind-the-scenes work going on. As I type this, the edit is almost completed — there's just the name 'supers' (captions) to add, and some backstage admin to do regarding the archive images. When that's done, I'll be able to author the disc and add the menus, and then it's off to the duplication house to make the copies.
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Then there's the box wraps to get printed, and a leaflet to go inside. I'm delighted with the wrap design, having been given access to a marvellous pic of Mike Bishop driving Arthur Goddard through Packington Ford in R16. It was taken by James Mann of Classic & Sports Car Magazine, and I'm grateful to James and the magazine for allowing me to use it. And the launch date? Well, in Newsletter 2 I said I'd missed Christmas... and now I've missed Easter! But the World Premiere of 'Stop Gap' has now been fixed for the Land Rover Heritage Day at the Gaydon Museum, Warwickshire, on Sunday May 1st. It's the perfect occasion, being one of the main events in the UK Land Rover calendar, and is doubly appropriate because it's the same venue, and a year-and-2-days since I first met Arthur as he visited the Archives to see the old dispatch books with his name in. And talking of books... |
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While I've been working on the DVD, Mike Bishop has been going through all the notes that he made when Arthur was here, and digging deeper into the archives to do even more research. He's been in touch with Arthur back in Brisbane, and the result is a book which tells even more of the story of how a set of 1947 engineering drawings were turned, with Arthur's help, into the start of a world phenomenon that has lasted for over 60 years. Although a DVD is good (because the pictures move!), I can't deny that for a real insight into the birth of the Land-Rover, Mike's articles for 'Full Grille' magazine, and now this book, are essential. The title comes from something that Roger Crathorne (Land Rover's Technical Manager, Publications) said when he was first told that Alex Massey had 'discovered' Arthur, in the factory opposite his father's in Brisbane. Mike and I hope that the book and the DVD together will pay tribute to the man who, whilst maybe not the Father of the Land-Rover, was certainly the Midwife. That's him standing in the dark suit by the passenger door of the 50-thousandth Land-Rover. One important chapter features Arthur and Spen King talking together about their careers and what made Rover so great in those days from both a productive and work-place point of view. It's particularly poignant in view of Spen's tragic death just a few weeks later. The plan is to introduce the book and DVD to the Press in the morning — you have to keep them sweet if they're going to say nice things! — and then all meet together for the first public showing at 1400 in one of the first floor conference rooms near the restaurant. There'll be a presentation of extracts from the DVD, and... most important of all... a chance to meet Arthur Goddard himself! Yes, we're honoured to say that Arthur very much wants to be here for the occasion, and is flying over from Australia to visit his family just at the right time for him to come to Gaydon. We hope you'll agree that this is an opportunity not to be missed. I'll confirm all of this before the end of April, but Mike and I very much look forward to meeting you at Gaydon. |
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But what about the anguished wails I hear from those who thought they'd found the perfect Easter present for the Land-Rover enthusiast in their life? After all, DVDs are prefect for posting for Easter (or any other 'prezzie' occasion).
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So once again I'll try to rescue things with a Gift Voucher. If you go to the 'Stop Gap' website, you can follow the 'Buy Online' link to a voucher which will secure a copy of the DVD as soon as it's ready, but will give you something to send for Easter. The price will be the same as the ultimate cost of the DVD (£20), and I'll send you by First Class mail a card voucher which will need to be registered by the recipient. It will come in its own envelope, so that you can mail it on if necessary. |
I'm sorry that this is not quite the same as a crisp, new DVD, but hope that you will find it a useful alternative. In the meantime, to offer encouragement to you, and as my usual 'reward' for being a subscriber to this Newsletter, I'm including a little piece that won't be appearing in the finished DVD, especially for you! We'll take a ride in (almost) the oldest Land-Rover in the world.
Click on the picture to view
It lasts 2.43 and will open in a new YouTube window. It may take time to download, depending on your connection speed
But you'll be able to see even more of R16/260AC on BBC TV shortly, and highly indecent it is too... R16 in her underwear! A forthcoming episode of 'Coast' visits Anglesey, and presenter Dick Strawbridge tells the story of how Maurice and Spencer Wilks famously sketched the basic Land-Rover shape in the sand. A large number of vehicles of all ages were brought together, including 'Huey' (HUE166 — the first production LR) and R16. Dick wanted to show how important the underlying chassis is... so he asked if Mike Bishop would take the body off so he could drive just the chassis alone. And that's what happened... out came the Whitworths, and before long Dick was charging around the beach with just the chassis, bulkhead and seatbox!
Mike says they had a great time. I'm very much looking forward to seeing it, and when the programme is eventually scheduled, I'll email you to give the details.
Wishing you a Very Happy Easter, and hope to see you at Gaydon on May 1st.
GRAEME ALDOUS
To subscribe to the Newsletter, and receive notice of updates, please visit the 'Stop Gap' Home Page