The widespread availability of cable and satellite TV has been a boon to automobile enthusiasts in that there are now a number of television shows that deal with our favorite subject: Cars. In fact, there are so many good shows on any number of automotive subjects to watch on the tube, quality time with the project car can suffer.

One of the more popular shows these days is My Classic Car with Dennis Gage (you know him, the guy with the exuberent personality and prolific mustache). We were fortunate enough recently to attend the taping of a segment for My Classic Car, and we thought our readers would be interested in seeing how those slick little segments are created. Trust us, there’s much more to it than you probably think.

We met up with the MCC crew at Silver Dollar Raceway in Reynolds, Georgia. Dennis and his guys were taping a segment featuring the 1968 SS Nova owned by our Art Director, Phil Brewer, and his father. This is the Grotto blue, aluminum-headed, 375-horse 396 monster that cleaned house at last year’s Pure Stock Muscle Car Drag Races in Michigan. Since the Nova has a drag-racing history, it was decided to film the segment at the track where the car could be “turned loose” a bit. We decided to tag along and see how this TV stuff works, and the MCC crew were gracious enough to allow us to photograph them as they filmed the segment. Thanks, guys.

The segment MCC was taping on the Nova was slated to be between five and six minutes long when it runs on the show. The crew spent virtually a full day setting up, taping, discussing, moving, setting up again, taping, and so on. It’s really unbelievable how much work is involved in getting that six-minute spot. It’s a testament to the abilities of everyone involved that the finished piece looks so seamless when it’s aired.