Starting at 4am on the Sunday morning of the event, the glass panels from the bridge leading to Mezzo’s kitchen area on the top floor were removed along one side. This allowed the Vertigo crew to shore up the bridge with temporary scaffolding equipment, and gain access to build a 12m long ground support truss. The truss was supported by two 2m legs going onto the bridge and a two more legs extending down to 6.5 metres onto the downstairs restaurant floor. Once the box truss support system was in place, beams were clamped under the trussing, motors were fixed to the beam trolleys and the Mini - which arrived at 9.30 - was moved onto the bridge with just millimetres to spare.
From here the Mini was clamped to Vertigo’s lifting frame, tracked across the restaurant and lowered onto its angled, revolving plinth below. Time was extremely tight. The Mezzo event started in the afternoon immediately after the Canadian Grand Prix - won by Ralph Schumacher driving a BMW - makers of the new Mini. Ken Mehmed has become an expert in moving cars when not at the wheel! He explained that the biggest challenge - apart from the timescale - facing the rigging operation at the Mini Mezzo event was ensuring there was no deflection on the bridge as they moved the 1100kg of Mini. The precise job called for great concentration and meticulous attention to detail. The operation went like clockwork, and Mehmed working with four other Vertigo riggers, commenced the get-out at 12.30am, and four hours later, were completely clear of the restaurant.
Vertigo simultaneously engaged in automotive rigging at two other London locations for other Mini events managed by Silent Associates. These took place at the Chainstore, Trinity Buoy Wharf (opposite the Millennium Dome) and at Vinopolis on Bankside. Silent Associates International Ltd specialise in supporting US-based production companies for events worldwide. Additional technical support for the Mini events was supplied by Blitz Vision, Delta Sound, Essential Lighting, Stage One Creative Services and Set Square.
