Film Stars

When most people meet The Runner for the first time they often think he's a fairly quiet guy, a typical Bean Counter (I'm not being derogatory, that's his profession). Sometimes I think his first impressions can be quite dour. But once you get to know him you find out that is so far from the truth it's like saying Mad Jim sounded reasonable in The Herald article.

So when we found out someone wanted to make a film about the Race it was no surprise (at least to me) that The Runner wanted to be in it. I'm not sure how much Mr Race Co-ordinator needed to be persuaded but The Film Guys duly turned up at our house to interview The Runner. Early on I decided I didn't want to be filmed. I think I've got a great face for radio and a better voice for the written word.

Anyway, The Film Guys promised they wouldn't be intrusive. The cameraman in our car would just film events as they happened. Yeah, right!

We met The Cameraman at Milngavie station an hour before the start. He had a very small bagpack with him. I think it had a rain jacket, a small bottle of water and a sandwich in it. He cheerfully admitted he had very little sleep the previous night and was suffering badly from hayfever. I really don't think he had a clue what was involved!

So The Bearded One, The Railwayman, The Cameraman, No 3 son and I set off in our brand new shiny car (this will be relevant later!) to film the epic. We stopped briefly at Carbeth and went on to Drymen and set up our stall. The Cameraman duly filmed events as they happened. We then drove to Balmaha and parked. The Cameraman thought he could get a great shot of me driving into the carpark so I had to drive back out on to the road and he filmed me driving back in. That shot wasn't used! We set out our stuff and waited for The Runner to arrive. The Cameraman did a few test shots and was adjusting the sound when he laughed and said "Listen to this!" The occupants in one of the vans parked near us (not realising a sound boom can pick up faraway sound) were clearly discussing us. They wondered how we got to have a camera with us. Obviously they didn't know The Runner well!

The Railwayman now took over the driving so that I could get a rest. One of The Film Guys had asked The Cameraman to get some shots of the runners going up a track. So instead of driving round the bend and up the hill towards Rowardennan, we drove straight ahead and along the wee narrow road. The Bearded One disappeared up a track with The Cameraman to get some shots. They weren't used either!

We came back out towards the main road. The junction is right on the bend and at the bottom of a fairly steep hill. The Railwayman had to stop to let some cars go up. He then pulled out and tried to get up the hill. To be fair, he was driving someone else's car but pulling out on to a steep hill in 3rd gear isn't good. Neither is stalling it. And I really should have pointed out that Honda CRVs don't have their handbrake in the normal position! So it's perfectly understandable he had a bit of trouble with the hill start! But the cars immediately behind us were very understanding and didn't mind reversing back a few yards to let The Railwayman roll back down the hill and get a better run at it. At least The Cameraman didn't ask us for a re-take and I wasn't at all worried about the burning smell!!

The rest of the day passed without much incident. The Cameraman filmed it pretty much as it happened. As I mentioned earlier, he suffered from hayfever and kept taking anti-histamines. However, this made him very sleepy and we had to keep waking him up to film!

The Cameraman chasing The Runner at Rowardennan


Suffering hayfever and midgies at Beinglas


Victoria Lodge


Asleep at Kingshouse


Awake at Kingshouse

Filming The Runner at the end

As The Runner finished there is a great shot of him running along the road towards the leisure centre. The Cameraman achieved this by standing up and hanging out the sunroof while the car is moving (fortunately not my car at this point!) Would it surprise you to know that The Runner had ditched The Bearded One so he wouldn't be in the final shot?!

So far, we haven't been invited to any red carpet events, much to The Runner's disappointment. I'm not even sure the film is completely finished yet. But the posh frock and tux are ready and waiting, just in case!

Note to The Railwayman: We have just bought a new car but have decided not to collect it until the Monday after the Race. Please don't take this too personally!!