***** This thread is now closed, please CLICK HERE to go to Volume 25 *****
Confession time.
I've made the classic mistake of instead of measuring twice before cutting, I only measured the once.
In doing so, I've just deleted the whole of this thread, instead of just Fullchat's misplaced post that was meant to have gone to the Richard Hammon thread.
Fortunately I've managed to salvage an off line version of the thread, and it's attached below.
Sorry. DD.
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The Top Gear Thread - Volume 24 - Posted by dieselhead Sat 22 Jul 06 01:01
{Conversation follows on from VOLUME 23 - DD}
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I think top gear is excellent and the best motoring programme on tv by far. I can remember the days when a typical programme was something like Chris Goffey raving about the new Montego diesel, William Wollard interviewing a Norwegian rally driver or Tony Mason riding on an old Albion lorry or something similarly exciting.
With 5th gear I find watching racing drivers tareing about the track a bit dull although VBH is nicer to look at than Clarkson.
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Top Gear Thread (from 16/7/06) - posted by oldgit Sat 22 Jul 06 10:17
I think top gear is excellent and the best motoring programme on tv by far. >>
Surely you can see, that Top Gear has nothing whatsoever to do with motoring - it certainly does not inform the public about matters to do with motor cars.
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Top Gear Thread (from 16/7/06) - posted by sprice Sat 22 Jul 06 10:58
Surely you can see, that Top Gear has nothing whatsoever to do with motoring - it certainly does not inform the public about matters to do with motor cars.
I wouldn't say it was NOTHING whatsoever to do with cars!
Ok, the cars they review often cost more than a nice semi, but however loosely based, each theme in the show is related to motoring, and is very entertaining (except siarpc)!
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Top Gear Thread (from 16/7/06) - posted by drbe Sat 22 Jul 06 13:49
It has been said on this thread a number of times, by myself among others, that Top Gear is an ENTERTAINMENT programme with a motoring theme.
You would not use it - and I am fairly sure you are not expected to - as a medium to decide whether to buy the Seat xyz gt or the Ford abc cdi.
There are many other devices in the marketplace that will help you make that difficult choice.
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Top Gear Thread (from 16/7/06) - posted by TVM Sat 22 Jul 06 14:09
Like a motor show drbe?
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TourVanManTM < Ex RF >
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Top Gear Thread (from 16/7/06) - posted by Honestjohn Sat 22 Jul 06 14:13
Okay, okay. Motor Show support appreciated, but please stop the punch-up.
HJ
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Top Gear Thread (from 16/7/06) - posted by stunorthants Sat 22 Jul 06 17:59
Top Gear is not supposed to help you decide what car to buy, its about the love of all things cars&motoring and is hosted by pure enthusiasts who each have their own ideas on what they like and combine this with humour - its not 5thGear and thank goodness for that - its dull TV at its best.
All im waiting for is to see that Bugatti go round the track and hope that they dont set fire to anything else - I hope that was staged for TV!
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Top Gear Thread (from 16/7/06) - posted by Imagos {P} Sat 22 Jul 06 18:05
If you don't like it , don't watch it.. simple.
I shall be in front of the telly though at 8 tomorrow as usual.
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Top Gear Thread (from 16/7/06) - posted by Dynamic Dave Sat 22 Jul 06 19:59
I shall be in front of the telly though at 8 tomorrow as usual.
Currently watching a repeat of last weeks episode on BBC3 as there's nothing else on tv to watch.
Oh, and btw, the mobile number for James May is non existent.
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Top Gear Thread (from 16/7/06) - posted by No FM2R Sat 22 Jul 06 21:52
>>Oh, and btw, the mobile number for James May is non existent.
I don't believe you actually dialled it. You so need to get out more.
BTW, that would be why area code 555 is used in virtually all "film phone numbers" in the US - so many people try to ring the number.
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Top Gear Thread (from 16/7/06) - posted by Dynamic Dave Sat 22 Jul 06 23:55
BTW, that would be why area code 555 is used in virtually all "film phone numbers" in the US - so many people try to ring the number.
But not you, I suppose ;o)
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Top Gear Thread (from 16/7/06) - posted by dieselhead Mon 24 Jul 06 14:08
>Surely you can see, that Top Gear has nothing whatsoever to do with motoring - it certainly does not inform the public about matters to do with motor cars.
Admittedly some pieces are included for purely entertainment value but are usually origonal and funny. I don't see how being critical about a Vectra that doesn't handle particularly well (probably exagerated but the market is now so competitive that such a fault is significant) or David Cameron looking like an idiot posing with some "green " cars has nothing to do with motoring.
The caravan piece was brilliant although I can see it could offend some people and them writing to the BBC etc. but why are we expected not to offend anybody anymore?
Many presenters now seem to copy Clarkson's style but none are as good. . It's a sad fact that in Britain some always seem to try to knock succesfull people and don't like to see the cars they drive...a ferrari should be appreciated for it's technical excellence not dismissed because it cost the same as a bungalow and therefore irrelevant .
It's a small comfort that there is at least one voice in the popular media able to speak against the thousands that wish to impose their self righteous politically correct views upon us and for that TG is worth watching.
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Top Gear Thread - posted by Thommo Sun 23 Jul 06 13:47
Top Gear is light entertainment pure and simple.
I will watch tonight with a nice Chianti (slurp slurp slurp).
But if its Clarkson going COOOOOORRRRR for 10 minutes in soft focus whilst driving a zillion pound Fergatti then I will start flipping channels.
There are 'real' car programs out there. Charlie Taupe doing his auction thing on Men and Motors comes to mind. Also the sadly under used Mike Brewer pops up occasionally to talk a lot of sense, I would have thought some production company would have come up with a vehicle (pun intended) for his talents already.
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Top Gear Thread - posted by TVM Sun 23 Jul 06 14:23
Brewer? Talent? a man who can't pronounce mitsubushi or Ka properly?
he burbles on about a kay ay
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TourVanManTM < Ex RF >
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Top Gear Thread - posted by Honestjohn Sun 23 Jul 06 14:26
Mike Brewer was doing TV at the Motor Show so it has to pop up on a channel near you some time.
HJ
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Top Gear Thread - posted by Dalglish Sun 23 Jul 06 17:36
Mike Brewer was doing TV at the Motor Show so it has to pop up on a channel near you some time
>>
he said on last week's men&motors "automundial" that the motorshow would be on the programme this week.
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Top Gear Thread - posted by Manatee Sun 23 Jul 06 16:45
Brewer? Talent? a man who can't pronounce mitsubushi or Ka properly?
Do you mean Mitsubishi, or were you doing Mike Brewer's pronunciation?
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Top Gear Thread - posted by Pugugly {P} Sun 23 Jul 06 16:48
According to Private Eye they're looking at doing a 4x4 race from Kuwait to Basra. Wouldn't fancy that.
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Top Gear Thread - posted by oldgit Sun 23 Jul 06 17:29
Brewer? Talent? a man who can't pronounce mitsubushi or Ka properly? he burbles on about a kay ay ------------------------------ TourVanManTM < Ex RF >
Or even Mitsubishi?
My friend always refers to this make as ' Mitsibushi'
It's very easy as a typo or mis-pronunciation to get your 'u's' muddled up with your 'i's' it appears!
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Top Gear Thread - by Lud Sun 23 Jul 06 17:33
Don't do it with PU or he might be offended.
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Top Gear Thread - by Dalglish Sun 23 Jul 06 17:57
Brewer? Talent? a man who can't pronounce mitsubushi or Ka properly?
' Mitsibushi' ?
touranman or is it tour(v)anman ? incorrabable independant maybe but deafinately not a looser.
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Top Gear Thread - by Imagos {P} Sun 23 Jul 06 18:53
All you need to know about the diamond geezer!
www.rdfmanagement.com/clients/mike_brewer.html
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Top Gear Thread 23.7.06 - by Pugugly {P} Sun 23 Jul 06 21:40
Well, I enjoyed it. Impressed by the S Max. Didn't think I would be. The "race" was different to say the least and quite funny. Steve Coogan is a true petrol head and was interesting. I want a Lambo more than I ever desired anyother Supercar. A very very pretty car with an engine note to die for. The Peugeot thing was bit silly on first glance, but proved a point. Why didn't May use SatNav to find the Liver Buildings ? or would have that spoilt winding the old Liverpudlian up scene ?
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Top Gear Thread 23.7.06 - by Stuartli Sun 23 Jul 06 22:13
>>they dont need doing very often then unless you have people rubbing them with their hands etc.>>
Those two lads were quite brilliant - presumably/possibly stuntmen as I've never heard of this activity in the city?
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What's for you won't pass you by
Reply to this message | Report message
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Top Gear Thread 23.7.06 - by Shaz {p} Sun 23 Jul 06 22:35
I've seen quite a few short movies / clips on the internet on this new jumping stunt stuff - looks very impressive - makes Jacjie Chan stunts look simple. Although I have to admit, I didn't know it originated from France - thought it was more Japan or Usa. Pretty good show though - although surprised at the 207 review - Pug normally make small cars (although seemed expensive at 15k. I was impreseed with the S max.
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Top Gear Thread 23.7.06 - by cheddar Mon 24 Jul 06 07:22
I am usually a great fan though I was annoyed by Clarkson's flippancy while building the Caterham, there was enough opportunity for a laugh without willful damage, chucking tools around etc.
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Top Gear Thread 23.7.06 - by Armitage Shanks {P} Mon 24 Jul 06 08:40
Clarkson is entertaining but I bet he is a nightmare in the real world ie reading instruction books, using microwaves, programming VHS recorders etc! Anybody who would consider building a kit car and start by throwing the instruction book on the floor in a hissy fit is an idiot - either as an act or for real!
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Top Gear Thread 23.7.06 - by oldman Mon 24 Jul 06 23:10
mmmmm i hate manuals and always try to build things without them,doesnt always work .takes longer but much more fun......
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Top Gear Thread 23.7.06 - teabelly Mon 24 Jul 06 08:06
Channel 4 did a whole programme about the subject last year I think. It was fascinating. They showed groups of kids and teenagers spending hours jumping around street furniture as practice. There were a few with plaster casts on which was worrying! Some had had nasty injuries and broken bones but it didn't put them off one bit. They're not stuntmen at all. It is almost a recognised sport in France - parcours I think it is called over there. I am not sure whether the 2 on TG were the on the C4 prog though as I remember C4 concentrated on a French pair and had them jumping all over London.
teabelly
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Top Gear Thread 23.7.06 - by sprice Mon 24 Jul 06 09:28
First saw these 'city surfers' on Richard and Judy, and had a French bloke featured who holds master classes in the UK.
If people liked the kit car feature, its worth checking out Mark Evans' ....is born series of DVDs.
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Top Gear Thread 23.7.06 - by Stuartli Mon 24 Jul 06 09:33
>>its worth checking out Mark Evans>>
Digressing slightly, about five years ago he did the equivalent of a kit car with an aeroplane kit, a series shown on Discovery Wings. A most pleasant and affable presenter.
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Top Gear Thread 23.7.06 - by Citroënian {P} Mon 24 Jul 06 10:29
Good shows, especially for the armchair nerd/spannerer
A Chopper/Plane/4x4/car/Harley/Bonneville/Custom Trike/MG/Racing Car is born
Especially liked the Chopper one, fascinating stuff.
He seems a good bloke, handy with a manual & spanner, decent presenter and a vet to boot.
www.markevans.co.uk/default.php
The car stuff is well worth watching for anyone with an interest in cars (and if you didn't have that interest, what are you doing here?!)
TG good, liked the silent Stig, found it verty funny but no idea why!
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Top Gear Thread 23.7.06 - by Stuartli Mon 24 Jul 06 23:38
>>and a vet to boot.>>
Now I think about it, that's when I first came across him.
People who come across on TV as being natural and articulate are very quickly snapped up, whatever field they are involved in at the time.
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Top Gear Thread 23.7.06 - DP Mon 24 Jul 06 09:36
Enjoyed last night's show as per usual.
Watching Parkour never ceases to amaze me - those guys are just incredible
The programme also featured the first ever car that SWMBO and I both agree we would really want to own. So I guess we'll be looking at an S-Max in the not too distant future.
Cheers
DP
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Top Gear Thread 23.7.06 - David Horn Mon 24 Jul 06 10:30
How do they do those jumps that would cripple anyone else?
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Top Gear Thread 23.7.06 - TVM Mon 24 Jul 06 11:02
Its all in the landing, bent knees, flexible and note the way momentum was converted into a roll every time?
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Top Gear Thread 23.7.06 - Pugugly {P} Mon 24 Jul 06 23:06
They were parachute type landings.
(I had an uncle who tested prachutes - he jumped to a conclusion !)
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Top Gear Thread 23.7.06 - oldman Mon 24 Jul 06 23:11
if 4 went before him would it be a fourgone conclusion then?
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Top Gear Thread 23.7.06 - v8man Mon 24 Jul 06 23:24
I don't bother with Top Gear any more as I find Clarkson borish and un-original.
--
"Nothing less than 8 cylinders will do"
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Top Gear Thread 23.7.06 - Oz Tue 25 Jul 06 07:37
The last 2 programmes (Top Gear 23/7/06) and Fifth Gear (yesterday) dramatically showed the huge gulf of quality between these two programmes.
OK, Top Gear might be a laugh, but it's a cheap and banale laugh and like the subject matter, is instantly forgettable.
Fifth Gear is no less entertaining but at the same time has a strong professional edge, and looks like they actually invested time and money making the programme. FG leaves me always with a feeling of regret that it's over. Unfortunately next week's is the last until the autumn
:o(
Oz (as was)
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Top Gear Thread 23.7.06 - massey Tue 25 Jul 06 08:02
Hear! Hear! Oz, couldn't agree more.
Fifth gear is 'miles ahead'
What's the BBC licence for............quality programming?.
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Top Gear Thread 23.7.06 - cheddar Tue 25 Jul 06 08:03
Is 5th gear repeated?
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Top Gear Thread 23.7.06 - Stuartli Tue 25 Jul 06 08:41
Is 5th gear repeated?>>
Yes. Last week's show was repeated on Saturday at 11-40am - got a TV programmes weekly guide that only goes up to Friday at the moment.
The previous series was repeated at midnight on the following night or Wednesday(?), the time I used to watch it.
Haven't seen any of the current series so far.
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Top Gear Thread 23.7.06 - y2k+4 Tue 25 Jul 06 11:18
I couldn't agree less! At the end of the day it is a matter of taste, but I have felt the last couple of FG series to be imitating Top Gear in an almost embarrassing fashion. While I never really enjoyed FG, I did respect that it was a more scientific, educational and informative program based on motoring, whilst Top Gear was an entertainment show constructed around motoring.
I thoroughly enjoy Top Gear and miss it when it's not on - and it's the only motoring show I know that many women watch (not just for Hammond, I'm told, they enjoy the banter)! I barely notice when Fifth Gear isn't. And Top Gear can't be that bad, as it is actually an award-winning show (albeit as an entertainment one).
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Top Gear Thread 23.7.06 - mfarrow {P} Tue 25 Jul 06 10:26
It is almost a recognised sport in France - parcours I think it is called over there.
Don't get confused between parkour and freerunning. Freerunning permits much more free movement and artistry, whereas parkour is all about getting from one place to another in the quickest and most direct route, and is what I imagine to be much more of a challenge.
The programme I saw (probably the C4 one?) showed how they make the film sequences, and they're basically recorded as a series of stunts and then edited together. So I'm afraid to say that for those who are disillusioned still, it was not a race.
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Mike Farrow
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How not to build a kit car - Sofa Spud Sun 30 Jul 06 21:49
Just seen Top Gear where the three presenters tried to assemle a Caterham 7 kit car in Knockhill, Scotland in quicker time than it took the Stig to drive from Caterham to Knockhill in a Caterham.
This showed the trio as more pantomime dame than petrolhead. The item really told us nothing about building a kit car, nothing about the Caterham.
In the end they managed to build the car, having decided to leave most of the washers off to save time. The Stig got arrested for speeding - either that or a simulated arrest was shown.
Top Gear gets more like 80's improv. comedy built around a motoring theme. It is now a progarmme not about cars but about motoring journalists.
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How not to build a kit car - BobbyG Sun 30 Jul 06 21:55
Been discussed many times, in the Top Gear thread of all places! {now moved there - DD}
You either like it as light entertainment, or hate it as a motoring program.
For the first time ever my wife watched it tonight and was laughing loudly at various points, especially in the Van section.
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How not to build a kit car - aaflyer Mon 31 Jul 06 18:59
Sofa - you actually typed the possibility that the Stig might have been arrested!!!
LOL!!!
Of course if was a stunt: how come the camera and sound crew were there?; notice how clean the traffic car was; yeah, and they wouldn't have asked him to remove his helmet....
Dear me!
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How not to build a kit car - Oz Mon 31 Jul 06 21:28
It is now a progarmme not about cars but about motoring journalists.
I think you hit the nail on the head there S.S.
Oz (as was)
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Who is Stig? - artful dodger {P} Mon 31 Jul 06 12:44
While watching Top Gear last night I thought the mysterious Stig should be identified. Who do think Stig is?
--
Roger
I read frequently, but only post when I have something useful to say.
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Who is Stig? - Bill Payer Mon 31 Jul 06 12:48
It's a secret.
Which Stig do you mean, anyway :-)
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Who is Stig? - cheddar Mon 31 Jul 06 12:48
I reckon I know though if I told you I would have to kill you ;-)
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Who is Stig? - TVM Mon 31 Jul 06 12:49
The current stig you mean?
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TourVanManTM < Ex RF >
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Who is Stig? - Dynamic Dave Mon 31 Jul 06 12:52
Was Perry McCarthy, now Ben Collins.
Moves question to current Top gear related thread - DD
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Top Gear 30-07-06 - mfarrow {P} Mon 31 Jul 06 13:04
Did anyone else notice Button's car changed registration plate half way round the track, and back again? He started in a 52, and swapped between that and an 03 in different shots! Not quite his flying lap then!
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Mike Farrow
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Top Gear 30-07-06 - Chicken Vindaloo Mon 31 Jul 06 13:14
Yes, I saw that too. Glad you did - thought I was seeing things!
ISTR the same thing happened when old Monobrow did his lap last series.
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Top Gear 30-07-06 - paulb {P} Mon 31 Jul 06 13:14
They were always doing that with that Suzuki whatever it was that was the last "reasonably priced car". To quote Mike Myers in Wayne's World: "Sheeha, as if we wouldn't notice!"
Either continuity is not a strength, or maybe it was deliberate to see how many sad people (myself included) noticed. Considering the beating that the cars took (and the repairs they would have needed after some of the more spectacular offs) it seemed improbable that they wouldn't have had at least two.
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Top Gear 30-07-06 - y2k+4 Mon 31 Jul 06 13:47
They always admitted they had two. It wouldn't surprise me that they did it to see simply whether anyone wrote in to complain, in order to make a joke of it...that said, maybe Jensen found one of the cars faulty, after all they hadn't actually done anything other than that track, and neither would've done anything in the last six months, having been replaced by that Daewoo thing...
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Top Gear 30-07-06 - drbe Mon 31 Jul 06 16:29
I wonder how much of what we are shown/told on Top Gear is actually the truth.
For exanple are the lap times contrived or falsified just for presentational effect? As lots of us have said we don't think we are meant to take it too seriously and so we don't.
Have they ever explained how they buy the vans (or cars) that they use in the various stunts?
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Top Gear 30-07-06 - TVM Mon 31 Jul 06 17:18
Have they ever explained how they buy the vans (or cars) that they use in the various stunts?
Does it matter? Its entertainment, 99.9% of entertainment is contrived.
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Top Gear 30-07-06 - Pugugly {P} Mon 31 Jul 06 19:50
Well that Noble was quite a car. I want one !
Anyway caught the tail end of a 2003 edition of this programme on Sat channel "whatever" - The programme has changed and become "entertainment" basically dumbed down. By the way cracking road test on the BMW M3 CSL on the isle of Man - that's what I call a motoring article. Brill.
Who was the celeb on it yesterday, apparantly he snogged another celeb - does that make him famous ? I fell asleep.
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Top Gear 30-07-06 - drbe Mon 31 Jul 06 20:20
>>>> Who was the celeb on it yesterday, apparantly he snogged another celeb - does that make him famous ? I fell asleep.
>>
Winstone Churchill or someone - I think.
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Top Gear 30-07-06 - Dynamic Dave Mon 31 Jul 06 20:52
Winstone Churchill or someone - I think.
Close. It was actually Ray Winstone.
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Top Gear 30-07-06 - Sofa Spud Mon 31 Jul 06 22:23
Top Gear: To sum up: Scapheap Challenge meets Last of the Summer Wine in a big shed.
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Top Gear 30-07-06 - Pugugly {P} Mon 31 Jul 06 22:45
Brilliant Sofa - Brilliant.
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Top Gear 30-07-06 - Stuartli Tue 1 Aug 06 00:09
>>Scapheap Challenge meets Last of the Summer Wine in a big shed.>>
But still hugely entertaining 80 per cent of the time - and that's what it's all about.
There's a simple remedy. If you don't like it, the TV has an on/off switch....:-)
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What's for you won't pass you by
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Who's the biggest Dope - Dynamic Dave Tue 1 Aug 06 13:18
James May for joking about smoking a joint whilst being a bus driver,
or the spokesperson for the busman's union for not understanding the humour level of TG?
www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds35460.html
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Who's the biggest Dope - Adam {P} Tue 1 Aug 06 13:25
Stuff like that makes me really embarrassed to live in this country.
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Who's the biggest Dope - TVM Tue 1 Aug 06 13:29
www.australia-migration.com/
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TourVanManTM < Ex RF >
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Who's the biggest Dope - Lud Tue 1 Aug 06 13:59
Are you trying to get rid of him TVM? Shouldn't you ask what embarrassed him first?
I once walked along talking to the driver of a double-decker bus. Not only was he smoking a joint, but he gave me a big squirt of rum from the leather porron he had handy. Of course this was in the middle of the Carnival and the bus was doing a stop-start 2 mph.
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Who's the biggest Dope - Sofa Spud Tue 1 Aug 06 14:05
What's gradually dawning on me is that Top Gear is an anti-car programme, since most cars are dismissed as rubbish.
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Who's the biggest Dope - Lud Tue 1 Aug 06 14:16
I think you may have a point there SS.
Journalism has a way of souring its practitioners. Not all have the right combination of optimism, enthusiasm and resilience to maintain their spirits through all the changes life brings.
So even journalists with apparently agreeable jobs, like the TG presenters, are most likely often a bit more miserable than they seem.
The other thing about motoring journalists is that they get spoilt and lose touch with the unsubsidised budget stuff most of us have to contend with. Off with the Porsche, on with the Maserati, latest Bentley thingy next week.... There are of course honourable exceptions (HJ springs to mind) but I bet even he sometimes feels a bit jaded.
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BBC response to Top Gear complaints. - Imagos {P} Tue 1 Aug 06 19:19
It seems the BBC are happy with the format despite complaints... for now
Thank goodness for that.
Complaint
We have received a variety of complaints about issues covered in BBC Two's Top Gear programme and the approach in which they are covered by the programme's presenters.
The BBC's response
We acknowledge some viewers do not appreciate the Top Gear team's sense of humour but their provocative comments are an integral part of the programme and are not intended to be taken seriously.
In addition to making fun of each other, Jeremy Clarkson and his co-presenters frequently make jibes at members of the audience and at individuals and organisations featured in the programme. This is part of the appeal of the show and no-one is immune from the team's acerbic comments and observations. We trust most viewers are familiar enough with the style and tone of the show not to take offence.
The BBC does not condone irresponsible or dangerous activities. Were the presenters' comments and pranks carried out with any degree of seriousness, rather than being clearly tongue-in-cheek or adopting the deliberate overstatement that is the programme's trademark, we would of course take issue with them. The programme is as much about entertainment as information and includes a variety of features designed to test the cars, and the presenters, to the limit. Although fun is part of Top Gear's remit, we pay proper attention to legal and safety requirements.
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BBC response to Top Gear complaints. - henry k Tue 1 Aug 06 22:29
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5235334.stm
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BBC response to Top Gear complaints. - dieselhead Wed 2 Aug 06 01:01
>>>The caravan piece was brilliant although I can see it could offend some people and them writing to the BBC etc. but why are we expected not to offend anybody anymore?
>>A BBC spokeswoman said there had also been "a number of calls" about a report on caravans broadcast on 16 July from "viewers who were taking issue with various aspects" of the feature.
Oh no my suspicion was correct.... there actually is people out there that can take sufficient offence by a light hearted piece on a motoring related tv programme that they telephone the BBC to complain. aargh!!
Your offended so what?..do they want anything that may cause offence banned by some mad soviet style plan and our traditional British values of free speech, good humour and tolerance eradicated (actually that's happening already so these types that take themselves far too seriously can take comfort from that)
Hope they don't cave into pressure and change the show.
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BBC response to Top Gear complaints. - DP Wed 2 Aug 06 10:49
It seems the BBC are happy with the format despite complaints... for now
The real reason I suspect is because it is the most successful BBC programme ever, with an estimated 300 million worldwide viewers. And rightly so - it's top entertainment.
I spend a fair bit of time in Holland, Belgium and Germany with work, and it's hugely popular in these countries. The Dutch particularly can't get enough of it.
Cheers
DP
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A slightly different Top Gear question - uk2usa Sun 13 Aug 06 18:01
When did they change to the current format show? When I left the UK in 2001, they were still on the old version, which was actually a car enthusiasts' show. Sometimes it did actually contain some useful analysis. That format had been in place for years, and it seemed to work (I didnt get bored with it anyway). .
I have been watching some of series 7 and series 8. Although it is entertaining, seems it is more about the banter between the presenters, or having a laugh, rather than actual cars. I can't help feeling that once they run out of jokes or supercars to drive across Europe, that it will spell the end of the show....
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A slightly different Top Gear question - Pugugly {P} Sun 13 Aug 06 18:17
There's been a subtle change in the current format as well.
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A slightly different Top Gear question - Lud Sun 13 Aug 06 18:23
Something subtle on TG? Pull the other one.
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A slightly different Top Gear question - Pugugly {P} Sun 13 Aug 06 18:26
You're right, i've since looked up the word subtle.
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A prediction re Top Gear made months ago - audiaudi Thu 21 Sep 06 23:36
I hope I don't offend anyone, Me and my family, including my wife and daughter are fans of TG. My wife and daughter have no real interest in cars as long as it is clean, reliable, newish and made in Germany, but they still loved TG
I'm sure most of you knew or thought about this and read my link below.
The day 'hamster' raced the motorised boat at a quary in a four wheel drive, just a slip over the edge by one foot at some stages and he would have gone into the water at 80mph - water that was 100 feet deep.
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=41759&...e
I hope i was wrong and do not just want 'hamster' recovering, but be fit enough to return to the show.
I also want the TG show to continue as usual.
I'm in my early 40's and passed my test at the age of 17 and got my first car, a 200E cortina and not looked back since. I've done wrong on the roads when I was younger and have broken the speed limit on motorways, conditons permitting - but never speed in built up areas and often stay below the speed limit. I consider myself a good judge of risk and was expecting one of their celeberties to get hurt in the cut price car timed race. The other thing i feared was when JC normally broke the speed limits on private roads, allegdly and would crash and kill some one. It had to happen and the first hint was when JC broke his thumb in the 3 car test when he cras tested his car into a wall without the speedo working.
Sorry if I've offended anyone.
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A prediction re Top Gear made months ago - Lud Thu 21 Sep 06 23:42
Not offended audiaudi. But you miss the point. oldman stated it: motor sport is dangerous. Those who engage in it know what they are doing.
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A prediction re Top Gear made months ago - Stuartli Thu 21 Sep 06 23:45
>>motor sport is dangerous.>>
Agree. But this was not a question of motor sport which has its own set of regulations, safety measures etc.
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What's for you won't pass you by
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A prediction re Top Gear made months ago - audiaudi Thu 21 Sep 06 23:49
>>motor sport is dangerous.>> Agree. But this was not a question of motor sport which has its own set of regulations, safety measures etc.
I just hope the TG programme continues!
Rmemember the 'Noel Edmonds' show?? A stunt they used to do with a member of the public? A public memeber died doing one of their stunts and it was the end of his tv programme.
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A prediction re Top Gear made months ago - audiaudi Thu 21 Sep 06 23:47
Thanks Lud.
Re motor sport, no more dangerous than horse racing and horse jumping because of the excellent safety equipment in cars.
However, re Top Gear and a tv host being killed, seriously injured, or a guest/memeber of the public dying/injured is a very rare event.
IMO, Richard was taking more and more risks and the public, including me thought wrongly that they (Top Gear team) were indestructable!!
Thanks
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A prediction re Top Gear made months ago - Aprilia Fri 22 Sep 06 00:15
Unfortunately the public have an appetite for programmes showing risky events. There are quite a few 'extreme XYZ' type programmes now, especially on the cable channels and I think Clarkson once put out a video showing race car crashes and so on, didn't he?
I hope this chap recovers and I also hope it makes the TG producers think twice about some of the idiotic stunts they pulled - the one with the car going under water looked very dangerous. I wouldn't mind if there was some point to these stunts but many of them are pointless and don't have much to do with motoring or motorsport - e.g. the one where they drove the 'boats' into the water and, again, Hammond was at risk of drowning. They've also done programmes with Suzukis and Toyotas 'playing football' which I thought was pretty stupid and not very entertaining (well, not IMHO anyway).
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A prediction re Top Gear made months ago - Stuartli Fri 22 Sep 06 00:54
Unfortunately the public have an appetite for programmes showing risky events.>>
Something which goes back hundreds of years - think Roman gladiators for example.
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A prediction re Top Gear made months ago - Aprilia Fri 22 Sep 06 01:08
>> Unfortunately the public have an appetite for programmes showing risky events.>> Something which goes back hundreds of years - think Roman gladiators for example.
Yes, very true. Lots of bloodthirsty characters about and always have been.
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A prediction re Top Gear made months ago - Lud Fri 22 Sep 06 11:55
I agree with Aprilia that some stunts on the programme have been very silly. I din't much like the football either, and it was obvious that without a hell of a lot of editing it wouldn't have looked anything like a game of football, just the ball going off in all directions and having to be put back.
However, driving a rocket sled at 300mph comes under the heading of motor sport as far as I can see. It was said that Richard Hammond became 'elated' as successive runs went faster and faster.
I must say I would have been ashamed of him if he hadn't become a bit elated. Wouldn't most people (if they had the bottle to get in the thing in the first place)?
Fingers crossed, it sounds as if he may be more or less OK. James May and JC were quoted in today's Terrorflag as being fairly rude about him, indicating optimism on their part.
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A prediction re Top Gear made months ago - TVM Fri 22 Sep 06 12:12
Yes, very true. Lots of bloodthirsty characters about and always have been.
Yes I bet 75% of people watch motor sport, hoping to see a spectacular shunt
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TourVanManTM < Ex RF >
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A prediction re Top Gear made months ago - Lud Fri 22 Sep 06 12:31
Yes, very true. Lots of bloodthirsty characters about and always have been.
As has been pointed out, most shunts in mainstream motor sport do not involve bloodshed, nothing more than a quick run past the doctor for the driver and a nice rest. I can't remember anyone ever being pleased or thrilled by an accident in which a driver was killed or seriously hurt. The suggestion that people watch any form of motor sport, with the possible exception of American oval racing which is unutterably boring and incomprehensible, therefore crying out for light relief, in the hope of seeing shunts is frankly absurd.
Paradoxically, the most dangerous form of motor sport is probably vintage hillclimbing. One or two drivers are perched terrifyingly high on ancient chassis with 24-litre aeroplane engines driving the rear wheels through chains, and of course there aren't any roll bars.
Does anyone think people go to Shelsley Walsh in the hope of seeing someone die? Pah.
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