An automotive instructor at Augusta Technical College provided some behind-the-scenes’ knowhow for part of a Discovery Channel series filmed in Augusta earlier this year.
“Getaway Driver” airs on the Discovery Channel starting July 19. The first episode aired on Discovery+ July 12.
Taylor Bryant compared the show to a real-life version of the video game “Grand Theft Auto.” It pits 24 contestants against each other and their pursuers.
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“They filmed all eight episodes in two weeks,” said Bryant, who helped repair vehicles during the production, which was shot at the former DSM Chemical site, off Sand Bar Ferry Road.
Bryant said the competition featured on-road and off-road tracks with parts of the contest during the day and other parts at night.
According to the Discovery website, “This 8-episode competition series features 24 elite drivers from drift champions to street racers to hotshot YouTubers who compete to prove they have the skill behind the wheel and the mental toughness to outrun and out-drive the competition in a massive nearly 60-acre compound filled with obstacles. Part ‘Baby Driver,’ part ‘Grand Theft Auto,’ the getaway drivers will put it all on the line — sacrificing their own cars for the opportunity to be the wheelman in a real-life car chase. The rules are simple — evade the pursuers and escape the compound to score some cold hard cash. These drivers already have the loot– but can they get away to keep it?”
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Bryant said the course changed on a regular basis, so drivers couldn’t memorize where the exits were. During the day, there were two exits; but only one exit existed at night.
His job during the shooting was to repair vehicles in between the morning and evening shoots. He also helped outfit the cars of the pursuers, which were old police cruisers, with safety equipment to protect the drivers.
Repairing the getaway cars wasn’t always easy.
“When the whole front end of the car is knocked off, there’s not much you can do,” he said.
Bryant said the two weeks of shooting was intense, working 16 to 18 hours a day, often well-past midnight. Working on a TV series was something he’d never done, but it was probably a once-in-a-lifetime happening.
“They asked me to do a season two. I’m not interested,” he said.
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Bryant’s goal is to help his students, and he has shared with them about the experience.
With all the filming taking place in Georgia, there could be opportunities for them in the future.
During the pandemic, he started recording some of his automotive lessons on a YouTube channel. They became so popular that he started getting royalties from them. He’s used them to establish the “Auto Scholar With Mr. B” scholarship.
“Getaway Driver” premieres at 9 p.m. July 19 with host Michelle Rodriguez.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com.
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