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BBC Young Mechanic of the year #

Posted by Michael Whitworth on November 23, 2009, 11:38 pm
Message modified by board administrator November 25, 2009, 11:22 am

Did anyone watch this at 10.30 on BBC3 tonight?

If so, What did you think?

If not it is repeated a couple of times but not sure when.

Mike

Re: BBC Young Mechanic of the year

Posted by Graham Bullock on November 23, 2009, 11:56 pm, in reply to "BBC Young Mechanic of the year"
Graham Bullock

I personally was not impressed. Why was it not filmed in a modern well equipped garage? A bit of a poor show I thought. It may have portrayed the trade a lot better if they had filmed the top technician finals, but I appreciate it was "Young mechanic of the year".

Graham

Re: BBC Young Mechanic of the year

Posted by Andrew West on November 24, 2009, 12:13 am, in reply to "Re: BBC Young Mechanic of the year"
Andrew West

Hello Mike,
I thought it was quite entertaining, but I missed the very beginning & wondered how much they had to go through to get to the finals & how many there were all together that entered. I expect that they spent ages filming & cut/edited a lot out as they usually seem to do. I do agree with Graham in that they could have portrayed it in a better way, by maybe showing some more of the tasks that they had to complete in order to get through to the final.
I expect Dave Massey will let us know what actually happened & whether he thought what they aired justified what they went through.
Regards,Andrew

Re: BBC Young Mechanic of the year

Posted by Michael Whitworth on November 24, 2009, 7:50 am, in reply to "BBC Young Mechanic of the year"
Mike Whitworth - Administrator

To Eliminate one contestant for being "Cocky" and put through one who is "Passionate" When the Cocky candidate has clearly done a better job I think was wrong.

Although this was for TV and we only see soundbites of what actually occurred.

Just one of many thoughts I had whilst watching.

Mike

Re: BBC Young Mechanic of the year

Posted by Steve Nicholas on November 24, 2009, 8:23 am, in reply to "Re: BBC Young Mechanic of the year"

I must say that I was expecting a lot more, especially with Mr Massey involved.

The initial rounds of the televised show were more like "young auto-electrician of the year".

How some of the initial five even made it to the finals does not say much for those who entered the competition. Maybe all the good mechanics were too busy to be bothered.

The right bloke won, which is reassuring since he is an RAC patrolman. The other finalist got a fundamental question wrong in the very limited interview and did not check spark plug gaps in the deciding test.

He did manage to burst in to tears however, when he was asked how much he wanted the title. So, "good young actor of the year" title won hands-down.

Overall I felt that it showed our profession in a poor light.

If Top Technician was shown on television however, I think that most viewers would not even comprehend what was going on!

These are just my opinions - lawyers beware, I have deep pockets (nothing in them mind!)

Regards,

Steve

Re: BBC Young Mechanic of the year

Posted by Steve Humphreys on November 24, 2009, 8:28 am, in reply to "Re: BBC Young Mechanic of the year"
Steven Humphreys

Hi

Try this on iplayer http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00p2zpj/Young_Mechanic_of_the_Year/

Steve

Re: BBC Young Mechanic of the year

Posted by carl ford on November 25, 2009, 7:26 am, in reply to "Re: BBC Young Mechanic of the year"
Carl Ford

I thought the show was not very well thought out I am 23 and could of done all of those challenges and also have a couple of friends in the trade which could of. How did someone who doesn't check plug gaps get to the final? From the advert they made the show sound like the mechanics would be diagnosing ecus not just noticing a coil is unplugged and someone has twizzled some wires together.

Was really dissapointed as it said they had searched up and down the country obviously lincoln isn't on there map.

Re: BBC Young Mechanic of the year

Posted by Tom Williams on November 25, 2009, 10:12 am, in reply to "Re: BBC Young Mechanic of the year"
Tom Williams

Hi

I didn't watch it. One of the trailers for the programme mentioned that the contestants would be pitted against a car thief. That alone was enough to persuade me not to waste time watching it.

Re: BBC Young Mechanic of the year

Posted by David Massey on November 25, 2009, 11:07 am, in reply to "Re: BBC Young Mechanic of the year"

Good morning Gentlemen

Thank you all for taking time to watch the program and to share your views.
Firstly I would like to say that I also was a little disappointed in the final edit, we must all realise the gulf of difference between reality and television.
The main brief from the BBC was to produce a factual and entertaining program.
The challenges you saw on the program were mapped out by the BBC to be visually effective and understandable by the general public.
I personally suggested a lot more emphasis on high tech diagnostics and workshop; however the budget for the whole program including the cars and equipment was less than 10k.
We spent several months travelling around the UK, interviewing and testing young technicians, from 200 whittled down to the final six.
You only saw a snap shot of their capabilities; nobody was more disappointed than I on some of their performances in the final show.
However I feel very proud of being part of revolutionary show which highlighted the up and coming talent in our trade.
I was equally surprised having interviewed many talented and promising young technicians who failed to spot the most simplest of visual checks on what is a very basic car during the untelevised part of the completion.
I would like to assure you that the final six deserved their chance in the final having excelled in previous rounds.
This competition was widely publicised in the media and this forum, perhaps some of the young critics here would like to enter next year? I personally look forward to your applications in the next series!!

Finally I would like to add that Umar’s presence in the final was well deserved and I stand by my decision having the benefit of judging him throughout the series both on and off camera. If you listened carefully you would have heard me say there was nothing to choose between their work in the final and I had no hesitation on recommending Umar’s presence in the final based on an excellent attitude and I am confident with the right training and motivation he will go on to be a first class technician.

Thank you
David Massey

Re: BBC Young Mechanic of the year

Posted by John Ritchie on November 25, 2009, 8:55 pm, in reply to "Re: BBC Young Mechanic of the year"
John Ritchie

I thought it wasn't too bad , sure it could have been better but "the budget for the whole program including the cars and equipment was less than 10k". Someone mentioned they would like to see top technician of the year on tv ... nice thought but the beeb would have control on the final edit .Maybe all you guys that are the dugs baws in diagnostics need to send letters into the beeb and maybe they can increase the budget and put a show on that will interest the public
In my opinion there isn't enough apprentices in this trade through obvious reason so any show that can potentially get someone interested in mechanics is ok by me

Regards
John

Re: BBC Young Mechanic of the year

Posted by Dave Hill on November 26, 2009, 12:33 am, in reply to "Re: BBC Young Mechanic of the year"

Agh the X Factor meets the Motor Trade. A recipe for disaster if ever there was one. Once a media machine such as the BBC has chewed up & spat out it's own interpretation of the subject, then I am afraid there is no room for reality.

It would be interesting to see how some "respected" UKAT members would deal with the event, I am sure that some would dive in too deep. Others might argue with the "wisdom" of the judges. i.e. Is it obviouse that the catalyst should be the next suspect , after rectifying a misfire & still experiencing a power loss???

It is a tough call, craming the vastness of our profession into an hour long tv show & we need to remember that it is only "light entertainment" at the end of the day. I doubt many Joe Public would give it a second look anyway.

I am suprised Quentin Wilson didn't add his unique perspective & credibiliy to the proceedings

.

I am sure that there is some mileage for a genuine motor trade TV show, but the appeal of this example is limited surely.

Every day at my place is like an episode of Corrie!

Cheers

Dave

Re: BBC Young Mechanic of the year

Posted by Michael Whitworth on November 26, 2009, 7:14 am, in reply to "Re: BBC Young Mechanic of the year"
Mike Whitworth - Administrator

Hello David,

Congratulations on your TV debut, who knows where this will lead, Clarkeson, Wilson and Needell had better watch out.

Seriously though the show was reasonably entertaining but the factual part may have been a bit lost. Personally as this was "Young MECHANIC of the year" I felt there was too much emphasis on electrical problems and not enough on overall mechanical ability.

Although I know your baby is tuning cars I believe this is a specialised area that only a very small percentage of people move into So I don't think it was the best test to show who is the best of the UKs YOUNG mechanics.

Having said that it is easy for us to sit in front of the TV and a computer screen and judge without all the facts to hand.

We have no idea of how the 5 finalists were chosen or how they faired in previous tasks.

regarding the budget you mention, Surely hiring Silverstone for the day would have eaten up most of that.

Lets hope if this becomes an annual competition they will take on board any constructive criticism and use it to improve the competition and not just to improve the show.

One thing that may affect its longevity is that TV is driven by viewing figures so if the show proves to have been unpopular, it may not be re-filmed next year.

Regards,

Mike

ps >>>This competition was widely publicised in the media and this forum, perhaps some of the young critics here would like to enter next year? I personally look forward to your applications in the next series!!<<<<

If they opened the age limit to Under 50s I would be happy to apply.

Re: BBC Young Mechanic of the year

Posted by Russell Davey on November 28, 2009, 1:04 am, in reply to "Re: BBC Young Mechanic of the year"
Andy Davey

You should've seen 'Young Butcher of the Year' Mike...

That was a right 'carve up' too

Re: BBC Young Mechanic of the year

Posted by Rob Harris on November 29, 2009, 1:47 pm, in reply to "Re: BBC Young Mechanic of the year"

On a personal note i think anything that will bring a person in to this trade with enthusiasm to make a career. Well let's support it o.k. may be the wrong people hosting it but it is the first time because i am 51 fat and Fed up of the customer and manufactures

Re: BBC Young Mechanic of the year

Posted by John kennard on November 30, 2009, 6:31 pm, in reply to "Re: BBC Young Mechanic of the year"
John Kennard

Hi I found the program interesting to a degree and agree with a lot of the comments made here. My own personal TV viewing these days is so much less, and this is the first time I have ever watched a program on BBC3. I only watched it last night on BBC iPlayer as this was a niche program because my wife would have only lasted the first 60 seconds of a program to do with the motor trade.

The only people going to watch such a program are people involved in the trade itself which is a considerable number anyway, so please go ahead and lets see the more technical side and forget all the time wasting entertainment bit which drove me up the wall, it was only sheer will power that got me through to the end of watching the program, also because it was motor trade related. So do you hear what I'm saying BBC 3 ENTERTAINMENT MOGULS the entertainment bit wrecked the program for me! or is that just BBC3 annoying culture that gets under your skin?
John Kennard.

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