| 3 Wheeling | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Nathan Russell-Raby |
| Written by | Nathan Russell-Raby |
| Produced by | Chris Beauman |
| Starring | Dave Molyneux Tim Reeves Klaus Klaffenböck |
Production company | Beaumanx Productions |
| Distributed by | Beaumanx Productions |
Release date |
|
Running time | 101 minutes |
| Country | Isle of Man |
| Language | English |
3 Wheeling is a Manxobservational documentary film charting thesidecar class at the 2016Isle of Man TT. The film usedhidden cameras andlavalier microphones to capture an insight into the sport's highest-profile competitors,Dave Molyneux andTim Reeves.
The film was financed and distributed by Beaumanx Productions and was shot in association withNorth One Television, Blue Olive Productions and theIsle of Man Government. It received a limitedtheatrical release in Northern Ireland, Germany and the Isle of Man, and was released on home media in May 2018.
Manx sidecar enthusiast and sponsor Christopher Beauman first devised the idea of areality show in the Isle of Man TTpaddocks hoping to promote sidecar racing to a wider audience, in order to increase sponsorship potential for the competitors.[1] Development began in early 2015 withGreenlight International handling sales and distribution.[2]
TheDepartment of Economic Development (Isle of Man) provided support in allowing the production company access to restricted zones at theTT Grandstand,[3] andprincipal photography took place during racing period of 2016 with Dave Molyneux, Tim Reeves andKlaus Klaffenböck attached to star.
Manx-Based company Blue Olive Productions captured original footage with racing footage filmed and licensed by North One Television. The camera-crew described the filming technique as "invisibly intrusive" and admitted that it took several days to develop a suitable method of capturing the action close-up, without affecting the race-team's concentration.[3]
Beaumanx Productions sponsoredDave Molyneux Racing in order to secure the publicity-shy racer. The film's director stated that Molyneux's dislike for the limelight made3 Wheeling difficult to film, but acknowledged that it allowed them to portray Molyneux as a "...brilliant character..." with "...a tremendous screen-presence...".[4]
Second Unit was filmed during the Southern 100 andManx Grand Prix 2016, and the movie took ten months to complete.[5]
The official trailer was previewed at the TT Press Launch in March 2017 and the film was premiered at theVilla Marina on 7 May. Most of the film's stars were in attendance; Reeves and Klaffenböck were unable to attend due to racing seasons commitments.[6] The film was then released in theatres in Northern Ireland,[7] Germany,[8] and the Isle of Man.[9]