I arrived at 8.15am to find the Mk1 and Mk4 GTI's already there. The Mk1 was the usual bodykitted silver Campaign model that VW have been supplying for PR purposes for many years now with its unusually low mileage marred by the dubious gold BBS alloy wheels and incorrectly place GTI grille badge. The Mk4 was a black 3 door 1.8T model that had come down from Buckinghamshire courtesy of 2 enthusiasts who had been recruited via the www.uk-mkivs.net internet forum just the night before.
Shortly afterwards concours stalwart Ray Partner brought his famous Mk2 16v 'G34 WJH' down from nearby Bracknell and at around 9am, Jeremy Clarkson turned up in the bright red 'WOB' plated left hand drive 3 door Mk5 Golf GTI which he had just driven down from his Oxfordshire home. It really was a surreal site for me as a GTI enthusiast and Top Gear fan - there in front of me was Britain's foremost motoring journalist along with the most eagerly awaited product to wear the famous 'GTI' badge probably since the original was launched in 1976.
Over a coffee in the Portacabin which served as the production office, Jeremy was happy to answer our questions and generally have a very laid back chat with everyone. Naturally we all wanted to know what he thought of the car that was cooling down rapidly just a few yards away and for once we heard what we wanted to hear - "It's terrific, I'm a big fan of hot hatches - I dress from the Seventies and like cars from the Seventies".
With the camera crew now ready, JC hopped back into the Mk5 and took to the sodden runway for the filming of the tracking shots where he followed a camera car at high speed. From a distance we could see Jeremy swerving the car with headlights blazing, from one side of the runway to the other presumably to emphasise its excellent body control. Considering the amount of standing water we were amazed to hear the tyres squealing in protest as this suggests that the levels of grip, even in these conditions are outstanding. Once a number of passes up and down the runway had been completed, the Mk5 was whisked away to be photographed for Top Gear magazine and we were summoned to the runway to form the Mk1 to Mk4 line up.
The bad light meant that the director needed us to leave our headlights on and therefore our ignition on but the engines had to be off which was a bit nerve racking not only because of flat batteries but more because of a fear of frying electrical components such as coils which are harder to fix on a soaking runway miles away from home! It was testament to the reliability of these cars that no problems occurred, I'm sure if it had been an RS Ford line up things may have been different!
The now dripping wet camera crew took some close up shots of each car from a number of angles particularly concentrating on the 'GTI' grille badges - I don't think they realised that the Mk4 GTI shouldn't really have one!
With this completed we had to wait a few minutes before the Top Gear photographers were able to let the star of the show back in front of the TV cameras, ready for Jeremy to record his pieces to camera.
The first one involved reversing the Mk5 into a gap between the Mk1 and Mk4 and gently (though not gently enough had it been my car!) nudging the Mk1 to make the point that insurance is very reasonable for the new GTI. It was a real pity that the Mk1 was not a totally standard looking car as then he walked around the Mk1 saying words to the effect of how the GTI's sporty additions should be like makeup - not too obvious, he compared the rear window decal on the Mk1 to mascara and the red trim around the grille to lip gloss. After that the Mk5 was brought alongside the Mk1-4 line and JC did his final piece to camera which suggested that people should sell their environment eroding 4x4's in favour of the sensible car that isn't really sensible - "save the world, buy one of these"!
During a pause in filming, JC told us how much of a Mk1 GTI anorak he was, quoting the engine capacities and the changes that occurred when the car went to 1.8 litres from 1.6. He agreed that the VW Press Office Mk1's bodykit and gold wheels were a bit sad and as this was in ear shot of the car's custodian something may at last be done about it.
While we were not allowed to drive the GTI or find out who the Stig really was (..so does he go through the security gate with his helmet on then eh??), everyone was very laid back and we could take as many photos as we liked and have a good look around the GTI.
After about 5hrs on site I was on my way home, cold, wet and hungry but happy that I had taken part in a little bit of automotive history.
The only carrot dangled to encourage us to leave our warm beds in distant homes at an ungodly hour to attend the filming was the offer of free tickets to attend one of the studio filming sessions which take place on Wednesdays in a hanger at Dunsfold Park (tickets are free of charge anyway but have to be applied for via the internet normally and there are restrictions in place to encourage a good male/female balance amongst the attendees).
I waited for just under two months to go so I could attend the filming of the episode that included the Mk5 Golf GTI feature. Filming starts at 2.30pm so an early start isn't necessary but we allowed enough time for lunch at a local pub to bolster us up for all the standing around. I travelled down with two fellow enthusiasts and met another there and between the four of us we have owned over 20 Golf GTI's.
On entering the studio, I was surprised to the see a nice original looking silver Mk1 Golf GTI with the correct 9 spoke alloy wheels tucked away in a corner. Surely it couldn't be the bodykitted beauty but a quick check of the registration number etched into the glass confirmed that it was - even its grille badge was in the right place!
At the risk of sounding a complete anorak, it does have all the hallmarks of a Campaign model so the wheels aren't exactly correct but nevertheless it looked a hell of a lot more like the kind of Mk1 GTI that should be rolled out for high profile PR purposes as an example of a classic Mk1. (Update May 2009 - it now has the correct Campaign wheels!).
The filming started with Jeremy standing around the Mk1 (I am just in the shot as I was still looking around it when everyone suddenly came over) and then the film with our cars was played over the studio screens. It was a bit odd seeing your car on TV however briefly, along with the legendary Clarkson but I can say it was definitely worth the effort involved especially if you are a big fan of the programme.
As you'd expect, the Stig was installed behind the wheel and entrusted with showing the world exactly how the new GTI stacks up against its contemporaries on the Top Gear test track. As you'd expect if you've been an avid road test reader, It acquitted itself superbly beating all its immediate rivals with the exception of the peaky Honda Civic Type R which lets face it, is going to perform well on a track but in everyday use is far less of a good all rounder.
So all you people out there with £20,000 or so to burn, please get out there now and buy lots and lots and cover lots of miles very quickly so us enthusiasts can get out there in a few years, (hopefully sooner!) and buy secondhand examples for about half the price, (hopefully less!). And if you need any help covering those miles……. !
A version of this text has appeared in Volkswagen Driver magazine and 'Rabbit', the Club GTI magazine