Erik
June 27th, 2007, 22:24
I got this e-mail today. Tell me, what went wrong?
"What a month it's been, and it was our latest cover car, the Caparo T1,
that caused us the most headaches. We'd been due to join the Caparo team
at a secret test session but bad weather kept intervening, so with time
running out there was nothing for it but to attend the official press
launch at Goodwood, along with all the rest of the motoring media.
Trouble was, this event was right against our print deadline so if it
all went wrong on the day, there was nothing else we could do.
It did go wrong, very wrong in fact, and there were red faces all round
at Caparo. You've probably already read the article, but let's just say
it wasn't the story we'd thought we'd be bringing you. That's
publishing, I guess – but the most amazing thing to me about that day
was why no-one else told you what really happened at Goodwood.
A few days later I read in one Sunday paper how the Caparo had subjected
its correspondent to 3G through the corners and hit 205mph down the
straight that day. No it hadn't. As I understand it, when he went for
his ride in the car it was stuck in 1st and 2nd gear - and even if had a
full compliment of gears there was no chance of going quickly anyway as
Caparo were only allowed to use 60 per cent throttle/engine revs since
the car broke all the noise regs at Goodwood.
I also read a 'First Drive' on the T1 in another rag, even though it was
passenger runs only for everyone that day.
In the race to be first with this story, one website put up an article
that very afternoon on riding in the car, even though the author hadn't
left his seat in reception before filing copy straight from the press
pack. The author's name was changed two days later for someone who had
actually been in the car.
Strange thing, journalism. Integrity is the absolute key to being a
successful writer in my view; lose that and you might as well give up.
Yet on that day at Goodwood many so-called professionals forgot all
about integrity in order to beat each other to the story on the Caparo.
The truth hurts sometimes but you have to tell it as it is, you guys are
our customers, after all, and you want the truth; it pays to remember
that at times like this.
Speak to you next month.
Harry "
"What a month it's been, and it was our latest cover car, the Caparo T1,
that caused us the most headaches. We'd been due to join the Caparo team
at a secret test session but bad weather kept intervening, so with time
running out there was nothing for it but to attend the official press
launch at Goodwood, along with all the rest of the motoring media.
Trouble was, this event was right against our print deadline so if it
all went wrong on the day, there was nothing else we could do.
It did go wrong, very wrong in fact, and there were red faces all round
at Caparo. You've probably already read the article, but let's just say
it wasn't the story we'd thought we'd be bringing you. That's
publishing, I guess – but the most amazing thing to me about that day
was why no-one else told you what really happened at Goodwood.
A few days later I read in one Sunday paper how the Caparo had subjected
its correspondent to 3G through the corners and hit 205mph down the
straight that day. No it hadn't. As I understand it, when he went for
his ride in the car it was stuck in 1st and 2nd gear - and even if had a
full compliment of gears there was no chance of going quickly anyway as
Caparo were only allowed to use 60 per cent throttle/engine revs since
the car broke all the noise regs at Goodwood.
I also read a 'First Drive' on the T1 in another rag, even though it was
passenger runs only for everyone that day.
In the race to be first with this story, one website put up an article
that very afternoon on riding in the car, even though the author hadn't
left his seat in reception before filing copy straight from the press
pack. The author's name was changed two days later for someone who had
actually been in the car.
Strange thing, journalism. Integrity is the absolute key to being a
successful writer in my view; lose that and you might as well give up.
Yet on that day at Goodwood many so-called professionals forgot all
about integrity in order to beat each other to the story on the Caparo.
The truth hurts sometimes but you have to tell it as it is, you guys are
our customers, after all, and you want the truth; it pays to remember
that at times like this.
Speak to you next month.
Harry "