Wot! No mention of the Exeter trial. I thought it was a good piece of reporting for the limited space it had.
I do declare an interest.
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Wot! No mention of the Exeter trial. I thought it was a good piece of reporting for the limited space it had.
Yes, you are quite right! A bit like "old skool" Top Gear with Tony Mason. Great to see all those old cars getting put to good use and ploughing through the mud. Those with concours aspirations obviously need not apply
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Have to say, the exeter trial was a good item. I quite fancy having a crack at that.
The idea of putting a big heavy 3.6litre 17 year old car against a brand new lighter 6litre around a race track was wrong. I am glad the big old Lotus put up such a good show.
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There's some video of it on the 5th gear website.
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"Have to say, the exeter trial was a good item. I quite fancy having a crack at that."
I'll do it with you next year. Double double dare you. What would you drive?
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"Have to say the exeter trial was a good item. I quite fancy having a crack at that." I'll do it with you next year. Double double dare you. What would you drive?
A skoda estelle.
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"A skoda estelle"
You're on your own
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I thought it was quite good. Loved the Lotus Carlton, put up a vey good fight, although looked like it changed direction well, but also appeared to be a softer setup).
I have a soft spot for the vxr too - I like the thought of a back to basics, oldish tech, cut price (compared to M5) super saloon.
Didn't know the Carlton was heavier then the VXr though?
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I really enjoyed it - everything a car programme should be, proper tests and what appeared to be a totally unstaged romp in the Exeter Time Trial by Tom Ford and the skinny bloke, no stupid antics, no "personalities" promoting their books in depth looks at proper cars including a critique of the new Maserati Grand Turisimo (a proper, proper car). I think they bring it off rather well, the skinny bloke knows his cars and likes old ones - nobody remembers his name, so he obviously not a puffed up egotist, I like Tom Ford's sort of left-field look at cars, Tiff - is well Tiff and adds a certain something to the programme.....VBH love her or hate her has petrol in her veins and a proper pedigree in motoring - dodgy cameras apart the setting in the ACE Cafe is about right, well its better than a farm shed with a dodgy looking audience looking lovingly on waiting to be insulted.
Oh whilst on the subject of the Exeter Time Trial, I was drawn to this as a youngster, glad to see its still alive and thriving.
Oh and Ty Croes - a lovely circuit used to its full advantage by those lovely Vauxhalls.
I watch it, I enjoy it more than most of the rubbish on the telly at the moment.
Edited by Pugugly {P} on 05/02/2008 at 20:13
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"so it must be just as bad as before"
Not at all.
Have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it. Loved the Lotus Carlton stuff and loved the Devon Trials thing. Wouldn't mind doing that in an old Jag or something utterly inappropriate like an early Lexus LS. I think it runs rings around Top Gear at the moment, none of that silly Hollywood 007 stunt driving nonsense that took up so much of last week's show. Interesting stuff about that "chip-fat" Mercedes. Well worth catching again on Saturday. The Maserati was gorgeous. Wasn't interested in the convertible Audi article but that was the only dreary item.
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Arranged to meet a friend at The Ace last week without knowing it was on a Fifth Gear filming day. Other than the car park being closed off everything else was as usual. All seats available, TV crew and presenters everywhere, seats set out on the 'veranda' so you could sit or stand and watch the filming.
Very relaxed, very friendly and very much an old skool real car show. More power to their elbow I say..................... ;)
Edited by R40 on 06/02/2008 at 09:02
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The Lotus Carlton remains very much in my lottery win garage. It still looks absolutely stunning 17 years on, and would still wipe the floor with pretty much anything you're likely to encounter in day to day motoring.
It's also one of those cars that makes me wonder how fast/economical today's cars would be with modern engine technology and the kerbweights that existed in the Carlton's day.
Cheers
DP
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>>I'll do it with you next year. Double double dare you. What would you drive?
I'd suggest you join a local club that does trials first. The wealth of experience could save an awful lot of frustration, and would give you an opportunity to enter a few club events first. I've found them a friendly lot who are only too willing to help.
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Err No.
you completely miss where BBD is coming from (apart from poland where he wont have the chance to join a local club and meet them)
Is a take a week off, pay your money, turn up in a shed that barely meets the minimum requirements, no experience, and have a crack.
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Polish roads are one big trials practise
So we're on then AE? You can drive.
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Polish roads are one big trials practise So we're on then AE? You can drive.
Dave - you get us a Trabant, and I will enter us and drive.
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"Trabant"
Good thinking. I'll bring the car and the vodka.
Don't let me down. Never got my WOTW tickets.
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I went production car trialling in my specially modified 875cc Hillman Imp for a couple of years in the mid-90's. We were on a tight budget and the car was always breaking (esp. rubber driveshaft doughnuts) or just breaking down. When it was running it was good fun but often ended miserably. I learnt to love mud.
With hindsight the events were just too difficult for the car which was underpowered and did not have enough ground clearance (small wheels). The 1303 Beetles were much more capable. It is amazing how far up a steep farm track you can get a car stuck in the pouring rain.
I was a member of Camel Vale Motor Club a.o. who organised events in beautiful settings. AFAIR, we only finished one major event, the Exmoor Clouds Classic. It was a rare privilege to drive along those long forgotten highways and byways.
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Yes, agree with most of the +ve comments here. I think 5thG must have taken on-board some of the comments on this site on the last series! It's now a neat amalgum of useful stuff on the mundane motors most of us are likely to drive in our bread'n'butter lives, with a smattering of exotica driven sideways (mostly) by the Glam Boys. VBH is better in the role of 'proper' road test driver (albeit on Trac Mon - my local) , rather than that giggly-girl persona she experimented with last series - and she has got quite a classically stunning profile. I find her lack of make-up & chuck-on-the-first-clothes-to-hand-to-keep-warm style quite engaging.
The Exeter trial was fantastic - it makes those rather stagey & grandiose 'projects' that TG engages in look turgid, unspontaneous & over-edited. The only weak spot for me is Tiff - I use his pieces as commercial breaks & put the kettle on - why does he think it's so interesting to always drive a car sideways or judge a car on track-only levels of roadholding...
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fifth gear is getting better and tg has had its day as too much falsity and staging.
id never heard of the Exeter trials before but now i really fancy having a go. maybe an sj410 would be a good idea. any idea how you sign up for it
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Having been rude about past episodes, I watche dthis one. I actually enjoyed it. Some real world stuff.
Far better than TopGrumps sorry I means Carp I mean Gear...
The Exeter trial was brilliant.
I'll watch again - (never thought I'd say that)
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I watch the beginining, see what's on then watch the parts which I might be interested in. The Exeter Trial provided a good insight, but filming at night, from inside a car with bad headlights lighting the way doesn't tell you much.
I also saw the Audi A3 cabrio report which didn't say much. I didn't see the the taxi crash as result was a given, Maserati test or Vauxhall race.
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filming at night from inside >> a car with bad headlights lighting the way doesn't tell you much.
Its tells you everything you need to know! That was tough driving.
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AT LAST, people are coming around to my view of this show. It's way ahead of that ghastly BBC offering, in that FG is about cars with a bit of glamour thrown in. If they'd only get rid of the pink fluffy dice camera work and silly tints then it would really be the ONLY motor programme worth watching - good luck to them.
I like Tom Ford and that 'skinny' bloke -seems a nice chap and humbly knowledgeable as well.
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 06/02/2008 at 12:50
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AT LAST people are coming around to my view of this show.
Nah sorry mate, we are sufferiung TG withdrawal symptoms
Stifff Needle (the failed racing driver) is an insufferable bore who's only claim to fame is that he can powerslide, so the whole show is normally about power slides.
VBH is trying to be girly and boyish at the same time. If she squeels one more time outside the bedroom I swear I will get her gagged.
Crash test a taxi? OH perleese what a waste of space.
They come up with two ideas in the last three years that was good, (and both happened in one show) and you think this is better than top gear? When was the last time you were crying and speechlsss with mirth while watching FG?
Hmmmm?
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Can't remember the last time I was crying speechless watching TG either, anyhow I'd rather be informed about cars and motoring rather than watch three grown up kids purporting to present a motoring, (sorry), light entertainment, show......
There's only one reason to watch TG now, and thats to see Hamilton stuff Stig's "lap record" down his throat, now that would be worth watching!
Edited by b308 on 06/02/2008 at 11:45
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>> AT LAST people are coming around to my view of this show. Nah sorry mate we are sufferiung TG withdrawal symptom>>
Well, I expect then, that you are watching all those interminable repeats on the Dave digital channel?
Each type I look at the list of programmes on my TV's EPG I see all the TG repeats listed but honestly can't be bothered wasting my ageing eyesight watching them any more.
TG is like the curate's egg, I suppose - good in parts although the latter are very, very few and far between.
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and what on earth has happened to VBH's complexion?!
Age, you can't beat it!
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