My mobile jingles, and when I pick up it is Carla Verdonk of Meguiar’s Holland. Calling to as if I want to take part in one of their photo shoots. When I ask what they have in mind, she explains that it is for a Meguiar’s advertising campaign, showing a Photo of an owner with his car. Each advert will also have the participant’s own quote, in my case; “Where past and present meets Meguiar’s to create a brilliant future”. A professional photographer would take some plates of me with my TR3A in its most original setting, which I said was my own garage. It seemed like a good idea, so an appointment was quickly made. The proposal to use my own garage was however later rejected, as the space was too tight for effective photography. Coincidentally, I had recently met my friend Ben because I helped him with the organisation of his newly acquired industrial “hangar” unit that I had fitted up with workbench, tool boards etc. Having just been completed, the unit was still empty, and on principle of “I scratch your back, you scratch mine”. Ben said; “Use my hangar for your photo shoot”. The day before the photo shoot was due to take place. We moved the TR into the hangar unit immediately followed by a trailer full of TR automobilia from my own garage, to be used to create atmosphere and to help to project the car’s personality. The next day an enthusiastic Belgian female photographer rapidly transformed the hangar into a highly professional photo studio with huge flashlights and reflective screens. Having decided that morning to dress in somewhat contrasting leisure wear. This choice was rapidly rejected by the photographer who almost cried “It must be more English and authentic!”. Her choice fell on an Oxford shirt with silk scarf, blue trousers and a Daks tweed jacket with leather elbow pieces. “Damn” I thought, “It almost going to look like a real fashion show!”. The icing on the cake was a Johnson tweed cap on top of my head . We had a lot of laughs while, time after time, the fuses popped on the flashes. A really nice experience, producing such a real glossy picture. And above all, seven months later the shoot was “awarded”, issued within the famous Meguiar’s calendar and distributed worldwide!

Where past and present meets Meguiar’s to create a brilliant future!