Jackson lends movie car for festive parade

CHITTY CHITTY CHRISTMAS: Vintage Aviator Museum test pilot Gene de Marco at the wheel of the original Chitty Chitty Bang Bang flying car from the classic movie of the same name that will this year roll along in the Rotary Club of Carterton Christmas Parade. PHOTO/NATHAN CROMBIE

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang will count among a record number of floats at the Carterton Christmas Parade tomorrow.

Pam Robinson, Rotary Club of Carterton Christmas parade committee convenor, will this year step down from the role after 14 years' involvement and said her 40-float swansong "really will end with a Chitty Chitty Bang Bang".

She said the number of floats would be a new record for the parade and she was rapt to have won confirmation on Wednesday night that the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang car, owned by movie-maker Peter Jackson, will be taking part as well.

She said the Christmas parade committee had been brainstorming about the parade and seized on the idea of having the famous car play a role.

"We thought nothing ventured, nothing gained and drafted a letter and got back a yes, which is just so very cool."

The vehicle is the original used in the 1968 British musical film with Roald Dahl and Ken Hughes as scriptwriters that was loosely based on the Ian Fleming novel Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang: The Magical Car.

Fittingly, a family was bringing the car to Wairarapa from Wellington for the parade launch at midday tomorrow. Mrs Robinson said she would be eager to take a seat, if not a ride, in the famous flying car once it arrived.

The parade also will this year include Santa, the Wairarapa Fern and Thistle Pipe Band, a motorcade of vintage cars, about 300 motorcycles, and Ronald McDonald on roller blades and prizes will be handed out for the best floats.

"Businesses have been simply great with their support this year, so now we're hoping the weather will be kind.

"There's only been a couple of damp days in the past 14 years, so somebody's been looking after us and there's no reason to believe that won't carry on."

The parade will start on High St at 12.30pm, with the theme Christmas Past, Present and Future.