Zvláštní zásilka pro Národní muzeum Corvette
Our Aston Martin DB5 sat in the beautiful Jamaican villa, on the very same dark-wood writing desk where Ian Fleming created James Bond. In this moment, two versions of the same story finally met.
Příjezd do Nashville
Za pouhé dvě hodiny jsme opustili zařízení pro odmrazování a ranvej pokrytou sněhem na mezinárodním letišti Toronto Pearson a ocitli se v přívětivém slunci ve světovém hlavním městě country hudby a bourbonu: Nashville. Poté, co jsme krátce jeli na sever do Bowling Green v Kentucky, národní muzeum Corvette nám dalo jasně najevo, že jsme dorazili, a to díky úžasně epickým billboardům.
Archiv a knihovna
Budova muzea byla velmi podobná svému obsahu: odvážná a výrazná. Obrovská červená špice vystupující z jasné žluté kupole je první věc, kterou si většina návštěvníků všimne, ale pokud zavřete oči, v okolí je dostatek motorů V8 s 1000 koňskými silami, takže je více než pravděpodobné, že váš vstup do muzea bude doprovázen závěrem bohaté historie amerických muscle carů.
A doorway to the right led to the master bedroom, simply furnished with an oversized bamboo-framed bed matching the sofa, with crisp white cotton sheets, looking out through another open shuttered window, and in the corner, a second dark-wood, two-tiered writing desk looking out towards what we would soon come to enjoy – the most captivating Caribbean sunset.
A second door from the bedroom led outside to Fleming’s bathroom – a lush, tropical bathing enclosure full of palms and exotic planting that allowed the musical notes of the Jamaican birds, tree frogs and ocean waves to provide a sense of calm and tranquillity. A huge claw-foot bath beckoned, and a large chrome rain shower would have provided a much-welcome refreshing shower. In the late afternoon of our visit, the temperature and humidity, mixed with adrenaline and excitement, rendered us soaked through our carefully planned light cotton and linen evening dress.
Immediately on our arrival at Fleming’s villa, our mission was to take advantage of the exclusive opportunity we had to photograph our DB5 on the writing desks where Fleming would have sat creating James Bond. Cameras and video equipment at the ready, we each took turns positioning and posing ourselves and the model car for a photo shoot prior to the main event.
Stephen v archivní místnosti s maximální pečlivostí vybaluje model, který vyrobil expert společnosti Agora – Mark Adams.
Procházka muzeem
Po přepravě našeho modelu v měřítku 1:8 s rozděleným oknem na vozíku pro bezpečnou přepravu nás tým muzea provedl výstavou s jediným cílem: jejich plně obnovený C2 z roku 1963 v plné velikosti, s identickými barevnými schématy jako náš model. Nikdy jsem předtím žádný naživo neviděl, ale tento pohled mi doslova vzal dech. Byl dokonalý, ikonické linie karoserie byly ostré jako břitva, lakování bylo bezchybné a chrom mě donutil škrtit se o mé sluneční brýle. Opravdu byl tak nádherný, jak slibovala jeho pověst.
After the presentation ended, I found a quiet moment as I followed the steep cliff steps to a private beach below. Watching the deep orange sunset, the sea surface glistened like tiny diamonds. It was impossible not to wonder whose footsteps I was standing in and how many stories had begun here.
Bringing the Story Full Circle
The Aston Martin DB5 represents the Bond that millions of people know through the films, while GoldenEye represents the place where the character first came to life on the page. For a few hours, and hopefully for years to come, the most famous car in Bond history stood in a place where Bond himself was created. There was also a lovely symbolism in the fact that Fleming’s Bond originally drove a Bentley in the novels, yet the DB5 became the enduring visual symbol of Bond for generations of film fans. By bringing the DB5 to GoldenEye, we were connecting the literary birthplace of Bond with the cinematic icon that carried the character into global popular culture.
Standing at GoldenEye, I found myself wondering what Fleming would have made of it all. The model before us represented an Aston Martin from a film he never lived to see (Fleming died in August 1964, shortly before the Goldfinger movie was released), yet it existed because of a character he created on this very property. Perhaps he would have been surprised by the scale of Bond’s cultural footprint. But I suspect he would have appreciated the craftsmanship. After all, Bond’s world was built on an appreciation for things done well – whether a finely tailored suit, a well-made cocktail, or a beautifully engineered motorcar.
Vidět model v měřítku 1:8 vedle originálu bylo vrcholem zážitku a návštěva muzea stojí za to, jen aby člověk byl ve stejné místnosti s tak vzácným kouskem automobilové historie, ale muzeum nabízelo mnohem více, díky skvělé prohlídce od Katie.
Jako velký fanoušek motoristického sportu jsem byl ohromen sbírkou bývalých závodních aut v muzeu. „Sportovní auto roku“, bílý C1 z roku 1961 s modrými pruhy, hrdě stálo vedle jasně žlutého C5R a hned za rohem bylo GT3 auto C8 stále pokryté spálenou gumou a závodními troskami, což ukazuje, jak bohaté je dědictví Corvette v motorsportu.
1961 Gulf Racing Corvette C1 zapůjčený od rodiny Skokos. „Sportovní auto roku“.
David Zaritsky's GatherAll
Our presentation was held as part of David Zaritsky’s GatherAll event – an opportunity for Bond fans to gather together in real life, celebrating the style, culture and universe of all things related to James Bond. Sharing in the moment our model connected the books and the films at the place where James Bond was born would be a celebration for us all. Before we arrived, we didn’t quite know what to expect from a GatherAll event, and felt a little unsure about how we might fit in. Would we know enough Bond minutiae to keep up with the conversation? Would we feel overwhelmed by so much Bond talk? Who are Bond fans? Our experience revealed an event that impressed and inspired in equal measure.
The GoldenEye resort forms part of the GoldenEye estate bought by Fleming in the 1940s, but now owned by Chris Blackwell, founder of Island Records. The first thing that struck me on arrival was the calm and picturesque beauty of the lagoon. It was easy to understand why Ian Fleming chose this place and why David Zaritsky invites James Bond fans to gather here year after year. Before taking part in the GatherAll, I thought of it simply as a gathering of fans who shared a common interest. By the end of our stay, I understood it as something else entirely – an immensely enjoyable social opportunity, not just for James Bond fans but for anyone looking for a luxury break in an idyllic location with an opportunity for social connection and light-hearted fun.
Část výstavy věnovaná konceptům a procesu designu a výroby byla obzvláště památná. Corvette během let zdokonalily svou identitu, ale bylo potěšením vidět některé nápady, které designéři a inženýři vytvořili, když dostali volnou ruku být zvláštní a extravagantní. V roce 1986 vytvořili Indy Concept, který mi připomínal potomka mezi C8 a Jaguar XJ220, opravdové mistrovské dílo.
Surrounded by album covers and posters from Island Records’ artists tastefully adorning the beach bar, we sat in the shade with David Zaritsky to discuss plans for our presentation. We felt well looked after and reassured as David took as through the agenda for his four-day GatherAll event. GatherAll guests were invited (but not compelled or pressured) to attend any of the events David had organised, from the cocktail party at the Fleming Villa, catamaran cruise to Laughing Waters, where one of the most iconic scenes from Dr No was filmed, Beach B-B-Q at Button Beach, to a book group chat of Casino Royale under the thatch at Bizot Beach Bar.
David also quite masterfully injected a few fun missions into each day – simple games of find the golden duck, Bond figurine, or Q-The-Music Diamond – achieved by solving a mission clue. Now, if you had told us beforehand that GatherAll involved playing children’s games, we might have had second thoughts about taking part. But we discovered a new sense of fun and enjoyment that entertained us, and more importantly, brought the group together. Guests who had travelled alone enjoyed social connections. Retired couples found renewed fun, enjoyment and companionship. Young entrepreneurs found education, advice, inspiration, and connection. I have often considered what kinds of events we could organise to bring our like-minded modellers together in the real world, fostering greater social connection and opportunity. David Zaritsky had absolutely mastered the art, and I felt renewed inspiration to embark on my mission.
GatherAll is an event hosted by David Zaritsky, of The Bond Experience YouTube Channel. As part of his event in Jamaica, David organises exclusive opportunities for guests to enjoy, including a catamaran trip to Laughing Waters, the famous beach where Honey Ryder (Ursula Andres) meets James Bond (Sean Connery) in the first Bond movie, Dr No.
We were treated to a deep dive into Ian Fleming's first novel, Casino Royale, by one of GatherAll's guests, which stimulated fascinating conversation and revealed some unexpected insights into the author's literary talents.
XP 819, nebo „Ošklivé káčátko“ (podle mého skromného názoru poněkud přísně pojmenované), bylo skvělé, s nímž jsem mohl interagovat, protože nádherně předvádělo interaktivní laserové skenovací software používaný pro digitalizaci automobilů a velmi připomínalo naše vlastní 3D skeny, které používáme pro mnoho našich modelů.
