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Little Known Fact?
Aug. 26th, 2004 06:13 pmWhen we were in England last week, we took the kids to see the stage version of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. It was very good, and good fun, and while different from the film in some places, it didn't detract from such a children's classic.
Of course, it was written by James Bond's creator Ian Fleming...but I never realized that Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was a real race car from the 1920s (actually there were three) all owned and raced by an Italian driver. However, what I found even more interesting was were the name comes from.
Unlike in the film, it doesn't come from the sound of the engine...but dates back to World War I. When soldiers in the trenches would be given a pass to Paris, or a "chit". And of course they would go for some "Bang Bang" with ladies of ill-repute.
Didn't tell the kids that little factoid! *g*
Of course, it was written by James Bond's creator Ian Fleming...but I never realized that Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was a real race car from the 1920s (actually there were three) all owned and raced by an Italian driver. However, what I found even more interesting was were the name comes from.
Unlike in the film, it doesn't come from the sound of the engine...but dates back to World War I. When soldiers in the trenches would be given a pass to Paris, or a "chit". And of course they would go for some "Bang Bang" with ladies of ill-repute.
Didn't tell the kids that little factoid! *g*
