Australian Top Gear

Just heard that SBS have bought the rights to do a local version of Top gear for 2008.
The only thing that makes the original one worth watching is the massive budget they have and the fact that on the BBC they can be 100% objective about the cars.
The same will definately not be the case here.

i'll still watch it.

I think the hosts are also a big appeal of the british show, be interesting to see how an Australia crowd goes at replicating it

Please Not Grant Denyer

I reckon Mr Crompton, Mr McConvillie and Mr Seton with Mr Brad Jones as the tame racing driver will be good.

(BTW, with the Stig, what about these lines. "Some say he isn't the only person to be filled with obnoxious gas, and if he could be bothered, he could fix his back in 5 seconds. All we know is, he's called Bradley Stig ;) )

JB will have some spare time next year :) he's not afraid to speak his mind :)

JB will have some spare time next year :) he's not afraid to speak his mind :)

You have all clearly missed the point of the BBC version of the show.

None of the presenters are motor-sport identities/personalities (exception being [Shuey/Johnny Herbert/Alain Menu/Mansell] the multi personaltied STIG)



The fact that it isn't based on Motor-sport makes it so much more appealing,
I mean even Auntie Cranker loves it, and she wouldn't know Mark Skaife from a horses ass......don't even think it...



The good writing, the amazing scenery, as Brett mentioned, the incredibly large budget.(careful Brett, they might poach your La Porchetta sponsorship from you, and the crew would have buy their own Tuesday night dinner !):rofl:

Imagine the first challenge they do in the Aussie version.(with an SBS sized budget)

A $200 70's 4 cyl 'supercar' challenge, and what do they buy ?


A UC Torana: a TD Cortina and a Chrysler Centura, all with at least $100 left over, which will pay the towing bill to get the **** heaps back to the studio.:cool:

As for 'a star in a reasonably priced car', I'm seeing a Kia..... with Ben Cousins driving it; hang on he'll park it 5 corners in and do a runner on foot.......:rofl:

As much as I love the show, it will be like watching the American version of 'The Office': nothing but a cringe-worthy poor imitation.




All we can hope for is they use 'motoring' presenters at the end of their use- by; that way it will finish their career's.;)

Does anyone have phone numbers for Will Hagen, John Smailes, Mike & Andy Raymond, David Tapp, Darryl Eastlake, Wade Aunger,

Any others you'd care to add.....:cool:

As much as I love the show, it will be like watching the American version of 'The Office': nothing but a cringe-worthy poor imitation.
:

I cringed when i first read that sbs would be doing an Australian version.

I would prefer someone that knows something about cars (like Clarkson and co) instead of just random tv personalities.

Hopefully if it goes well enough they can bring Clarkson, May and Hammond down to do a crossover show, I'd love to hear their views on some of our 'pieces of kit'.

I've just thought of some more contenders for final job ever on OZ TV:

Dieter Kahsnitz.

Glen (Sue) Ridge

And if they want the female perspective Grace McLure or Peter Wherrett

If it's along the lines of 'Torque', it could be good (hell, just buy the rights to it from the ABC, providing the original film hasn't been buried, and air that instead)

It will more likely be along the lines of the stuff we've had lately like "The Car Show" (it had potential i guess) or 'Drive'.....

SBS would be better off putting the money into buying the rights to Tiff Needell's "5th Gear", and play that when they run out of Top Gears to show.

350 Million viewers buys you a lot of attention from car companies wanting to flaunt their wares... 800,000 not so much.

If they're going to make it successful they're either gong to have to piggy back on the back of some (or a lot) of the UK's cars or be very very very very smart about the way they operate.

You know they'll have a woman who knows bugger all about cars (it's SBS after all)

SBS would be better off putting the money into buying the rights to Tiff Needell's "5th Gear", and play that when they run out of Top Gears to show.

5th Gear is carob to Top Gear's chocolate

This is just scary - I hope we still get the UK version and they don't chop them up and re-edit them with Australian bits. Then again what do I care, like most Top Gear fans I download all the episodes and I'm currently a series and a half ahead of SBS.

The Car Show, Test Drive and I think Channel 10 even tried one have been absolute rubbish. Just compare them:
Top Gear: Today on Top Gear we're gonna drive a Lamborghini Gallardo Legerra, Porsche 911 GT3 RS and an Austin Martin accross Europe looking for the best driving roads.
The Car Show:Today, Glen Ridge drives the new Toyota Echo and we look at sunglasses or some B&B in country Victoria somewhere.

Instead of producing a local show SBS how about getting the real deal here before the episodes are over a year old.

None of the presenters are motor-sport identities/personalities (exception being [Shuey/Johnny Herbert/Alain Menu/Mansell] the multi personaltied STIG)

The Stig isn't any of these guys. The original 'Black' Stig was a former English F1 driver, can't remember his name at the moment, but when it got out who he was, well they took care of him and along came the 'White' Stig. If you want to know more, see if you can find Series 3 of the show.
The other Stig that they had, who happened to be The Stig's fat American cousin was Andretti Senior. That wasn't too hard to work out if you have seen Senior lately.




As for an Australian based show, I don't think it will ever take off unless they bring the boys out from the UK, film and package it up in a couple of weeks and send them back.

Unless SBS do a talent search, we don't have anyone in this country with balls like Clarkson to say what they really think about a car. Which probably has more to do with the fact that most of the car companies here prop the current batch of shows up. Not to mention, how the hell would the show get a car like the Lambo Gallardo Legerra when there's probably on one or two maybe even non in Aus at the moment. I don't see the owners throwing there keys over easily. And that's probably the highlight of most Top Gear episodes is when they drive these supercars.

This show is already happening it is shown on Austar on the Community TV Channel

Wasn't there a local show about 1-2 years ago that tried to replicate TG? I think on Ch9. I remember a BA XR6 doing a lap of, I think Oran Park. There was a studio audience standing and celebrity lap dashes and its own version of the stig. Can't remember the name of the show...

It's true that the people on Top Gear can't actually drive all that well and perhaps that's a positive, but on Fifth Gear they are all racing drivers and I can't see why you can't have a cast of three racing drivers provided that they can also be funny....

So JB, BJ, Cam McConville etc. could be good value.

If Glenn Ridge's show can get nice promotional examples seconded along I can't see why this show wouldn't. Sure there would be more HSV's and hot Veedubs than Ferraris and Lambos, but that's kinda more relevant anyway. :)

Unless SBS do a talent search,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7uPSotIhso

They did run a little video production challenge, the entrants ought to be quite pleased with a part-time television presenting job out of it...

even on a SBS salary ;) .

On a side note, the black stig is though to be Perry McCarthy and the white stig is thought to be Ben Collins.

On a side note, the black stig is though to be Perry McCarthy and the white stig is thought to be Ben Collins.

I heard Julian Bailey was the White Stig

The other Stig that they had, who happened to be The Stig's fat American cousin was Andretti Senior. That wasn't too hard to work out if you have seen Senior lately.

Not to mention Stig's African cousin as featured in one of the more recent editions in the UK which we should see here in about 12 months.

White Stig is several different people depending on what he is driving at the time.

I heard Julian Bailey was the White Stig

My old man says he "Knows" it's Fabrizio Giovanardi ...

SBS say they won't just copy the British show ... which should ensure it's an instant failure - and have lots of "local" content - YIPES.

I can see it now ... the hosts will be a monotone Asian woman, an Iraqi disabled refugee and a homosexual white man (because we have to cover all the cultural bases). The new Stig will actually be Ahmed, a Nigerian born Taxi driver.

The challenges will be interesting:

- can Ahmed find his way anywhere?
- interstate challenge Dandenong vs. Cabramatta to see which gang can completely dismantle a Commodore faster. Bonus points if they actually sell all the bits first.
- the local supercar challenge ... Week 1 HSV vs FPV, Week 2 FPV vs HSV, Week 3 well you get the picture
- the Greenie Challenge Bob Brown in his gas-guzzling, smoke belching 4WD vs Peter Garret in his gas guzzling stretch limo to see who can chain it to a tree first.
- the Pizza delivery challenge ... whose 1985 Camira is the fastest?
- the Japanese import "bling and extras" weigh-in test

Enough for at least 3 shows ...

If they're looking for a racing driver (or ex) who can commentate on the run and with a sense of humour, Dick Johnson would be a shoe in, Dick and Bazza would have been perfect but we'll have to wait for the next life for that one.

Heikki Kovalainen was even 'the Stig' once......


I'm one of the few who seems to prefer 5th Gear over Top Gear (and preferred the pre-2002 Top Gear, as opposed to it's 2002-present makeover), then again i've always thought Jeremy Clarkson was a w@nker ;)

Of course Top Gear is a good show to watch, but it's the hosts that make it. Any attempt to copy it is going to be shameful......

Can the ABC please release all the "Torque" episodes on DVD.......

Wasn't there a local show about 1-2 years ago that tried to replicate TG? I think on Ch9. I remember a BA XR6 doing a lap of, I think Oran Park. There was a studio audience standing and celebrity lap dashes and its own version of the stig. Can't remember the name of the show...
I remeber that, i think it was on Channel 10 and it was called Drive. I think Michael Stahl was on it, and the Stig was the Chip and it was Warren Luff.

I agree with everyone else on here. This idea is doomed to failure. The appeal of the BBC Top Gear is the repartee between the hosts and the amazing stories that are enabled by the enormous budget. Clarkson's candour is brilliant, no Aussie motoring journalist would have the balls, it's too small a world and loose lips can end careers.

Deeks, I love your synopsis, that's Gold!

well, no matter what happens, so long as i can find a torrent somewhere to make sure I get the "original and best" Top Gear with three middle aged blokes "cocking about with cars' I will be happy. Jeremy and his hatred of Porsche is most amusing - I went to a Porcshe Club meeting one night, and its fair to say they dont like him either.

One of the secrets to the show is the banter betweent the hosts, and there may be some car journos who might be able to make this work David Morley and Rowan Harmon used to have a faily good repartee year ago when they did something on the ABC, and on radio with RRR a lifetime ago. and Morleys hair is similar to James May.
Dieter Khasnitz of "C Word" fame would be another good possiblity, apparently he is back from his venture on the car show and preparing something that is suited to community TV, so you never know.

we should be grateful that its sbs that have the rights, imagine if one of the true commercial networks got hold of it, it would end up some sort of morphing of the "Car Show"'s advertorial style, mixed with a "footy show" type banter and no doubt a catriona rowntree type would be in there too.

Hang on, I think I have a pitch to write.

If Morley is involved there is no way I'll be watching it. Anyone who condones in writing in a widley distributed magazine the kicking in of car doors in a road rage situation should not be anywhere near motor journalism.

Whenever he is on the car show I skip through his segment.

white stig is Ben Collins
black stig was Perry McCarthy

Anyone who says otherwise is full of it ;)

Dieter Kashnitz...the c word was a top show

Brett Ramsey...but can he drive...has 83 Laser is past its use by date

Dave Morely...other than his writing sometime back about lane splitting on the bike I dont mind him

Toby Hagon....has been on TV before

Peter Maniatis (joking)

Also they should go the 5th gear and have a chick..Melinda Price

They could do a Chapel Street edition too

white stig is Ben Collins
black stig was Perry McCarthy

Anyone who says otherwise is full of it ;)
Indeed.
Perry's (virtual) death wasn't just because people "found out" he wrote a book!
(Although the Stig has been sub'd, such as for the Renault F1 drive, the owner of the Masarati MC12, very rare though.)


The hosts need to be funny, real funny, not try hard funny.

yep heikki for renault and someone else for toyota most likely montagny...

USA stig was the best tho!

denyer could be a hampster tho...

clarkson? hmmm....

greg rust is very very funny when given the chance ( i.e. not network seriously, but when he was on bigpond!)

Slamming Sammy Newman as host... he is as arrogant and annoying as Clarkson... and likes fast cars....

I was gunna say that but thought I'd be the only one that thought it'd be a good idea...

How would Paul Cockburn go on camera? I mean, he's probably got a better head for radio, but he and Stahly would be good for chemistry

Re. The Stig in UK Top Gear.

The black Stig was Perry McCarthy (ex-F1 driver, albeit for Andrea Moda - the team that never even finished a race.).

Re. The white Stig ... there is more than one. Frank Mountain (the guy who owned the car) donned the overalls for the Maserati MC Hammer and in the F1 car it's Heikki. In the HSE report for Richard Hammond's crash, it was revealed that Ben Collins has done some stuff as the Stig. Rather OTish, when the Stig went on a ski jump with a snowmobile, it was Swedish snowmobile cross driver Dan Lang according to a Swedish tabloid.

Apparently every time "The Stig" appears outside the UK it is a stand in as the BBC don't want to risk someone using travel documentation to identify Stiggy.

Yet they let the Stig race with Mr Clarkson and co at the Nurburgring 24h :Shrug:

Correction GTR... They let a Stig race at the Nurburgring 24h... ;)

Correction GTR... They let a Stig race at the Nurburgring 24h... ;)


Hmmm, pretty sure it was the Silverstone 24 hour race where the Stig was teamed up with Clarkson, May, Hammond in the BMW

http://www.finalgear.com/news/2007/08/23/are-you-going-to-be-near-silverstone-this-september-7th-to-9th/

sponsor was Larsens Biscuits, it makes sense when the door is opened

My apologies for not living in Europe... :rolleyes:

sponsor was Larsens Biscuits, it makes sense when the door is opened

Huh?

My apologies for not living in Europe... :rolleyes:

why apologise for that should be happy you don't live there, although you do live in SA.... :rotate:

As an aside, just finished reading Hamster's book 'Life on the Edge' written by Richard and his wife Mindy about the jetcar crash and the events after it, gotta say it's compelling, grab a copy if you can get it.

Ben Collins is also the test driver vroom vroom on the "how to Channel" on Austar, without the white suit & helmet....Keith

So that BMW is a diesel but it's some sort of Super Production (???) car or something fitted with the obligatory comically oversized rear wing.

Huh?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/ArosMike/Britcar%2024hrs%20Practice%20-%20Silverstone/Britcar-11.jpg

When the door is opened it makes sense dear oh dear.
Not quite the most sensible auto racing sponsor.....


The other door is worse
http://the365project.co.uk/Random/britcar/CRW_3662.jpg

Ben Collins is also the test driver vroom vroom on the "how to Channel" on Austar, without the white suit & helmet....Keith

Former Stig Perry McCarthy also features in "Vroom Vroom" (think the science show 'Brainiac', but for cars).....he drives the 'common cars' in the car swap challenge (or whatever its called, he gets to drive someone's taxi or van, while they drive a supercar, to see if it creates an equal race)

Presumebly he's also the ex-F1 driver who drives the "cat" in cat and mouse....

There is a thread on the Stig somewhere else, but he is a whole bunch of people, some regular, some occasional - that's why he's anonymous.

Former Stig Perry McCarthy also features in "Vroom Vroom" (think the science show 'Brainiac', but for cars).....he drives the 'common cars' in the car swap challenge (or whatever its called, he gets to drive someone's taxi or van, while they drive a supercar, to see if it creates an equal race)

Presumebly he's also the ex-F1 driver who drives the "cat" in cat and mouse....

Bruno Senna has also been a driver on Vroom Vroom....

although Emma Parker-Bowles is quite entertaining!

Hampster = Grant Denyer, is funny and currently racing in Australia's second best category of Tin Tops, would have to be him.

If not Denyer, Lowndes or someobe simular, if you asked the V8 drivers, they would know who the biggest clown is.

Captain Slow = Glen Ridge, knows his cars and is well spoken and borish like the captain himself.

Clarkson = ??? - no one springs to mind, should have been Barry Sheen RIP.

Sam Newman? theres comic arrogance and then just plain arrogance, Sam is the later and no one would care what he said about cars.

Russell Ingal? Appeals to the Reds and the Blues and therefore should fit well with all.

While thinking about Ingal, will an Oz Top Gear even work when our main motorsport is a 2 brand series??

although Emma Parker-Bowles is quite entertaining!

When she's a mobile chicane at a Belgium stock car race, or when she's trying her hand at Speedway GP??

Full marks for effort on her part though, she seems to at least know abit of her stuff, and is willing to have a crack at it all......why she would risk those looks by being a fire stuntwoman the other week though i'm not sure....

Dagenham Dave deserves a bigger part too ;)

While thinking about Ingal, will an Oz Top Gear even work when our main motorsport is a 2 brand series??

Considering its going to be a car show, not a motorsport show, it won't matter one bit.

Clarkson = ??? - no one springs to mind, should have been Barry Sheen RIP.


James Morrison, the Trumpet Player?

Doug Mulray

Hampster = Grant Denyer, is funny and currently racing in Australia's second best category of Tin Tops, would have to be him.

Funny? You're kidding right? :p

I like the sound of Sam Newman, I've always enjoyed him when I occasionally watched The Footy Show. I think Russel Ingall and Brad Jones would both do good as hosts too.

I'm sure that SBS can find some host from the show outside the current crop of personalities we're listing on here. I'd prefer some fresh faces, but one's who opinions will somewhat be credible.

Some who can drive with a dry sense of humour - Mark Larkham !

Surely more credible as a Clarkson than Sam Newman, and not attached to other networks as a bonus....

Wonder how high performance driving instructors like Warren Luff, Owen Kelly, Tomas Mezera etc. would go reviewing cars.

None the less, we may get some SBS cross-promotion and end up with Top Gear Australia presented by Sean Micallef, Julia Zemiro and Pauly from Fat Pizza............

Im wondering how some of the other segments of the show will come across, "star in a reasonably priced car" for example

can see it now, with a bit of shameless cross promotion Les Murray punting around the track in a Hyundai Getz......

would the "cool wall" use a local celebrity as a means of determining if its a cool car, im thinking Annaliese BackCrackandSack of Fat Pizza fame

Just downloaded the latest episode of Top Gear and watched it yesterday.

Came to the conclusion that we should not even attempt to make a local version of the show. They should just abort this right now as there is no way it is going to work or even be watchable.

i think the problem you guys will have with the rights been sold on is, one of the biggest draws to the programe are the presenters.
clarkson, an arrogant childish idiot who most people will tell you they hate him but because he says and does what he wants all people deep down have a soft spot for him. hammond, started out trying to be serious and is slowly turning more like a mild mannered clarkson but who everyone loves and of course james may, i dont think many people liked him when he joined but he has come out of his shell and now completes the trio as the supposadly sensible one but has his moments of eccentricity. add to the fact they are all best of friends and it is a tough act to follow.
if your guys get the presenting team right then your on to a winner!

by the way watch out for the silverstone 24hr episode in about 2 weeks, you may spot some fellow british ten-tenths marshals loitering!

in about 2 weeks,

So you mean April 2009 in Australia...? :p

yes thats right Chatters :0

lets not step over the line and get into copyright infringement here please :)

So you mean April 2009 in Australia...? :p

Maybe April 2008 if you have Foxtel :) (Though BBC World hacks it down to half an hour....maybe they chop the S24H out......)

Just downloaded the latest episode of Top Gear and watched it yesterday.

Came to the conclusion that we should not even attempt to make a local version of the show. They should just abort this right now as there is no way it is going to work or even be watchable.

That's the spirit that made this country great! :)

Damn double post!

That's the spirit that made this country great! :)
Just looking at The Car Show, Test Drive and Drive should be evidence enough.

The thing that makes Top Gear what it is is those 3 presenters and their dry British wit, it's like Black Adder on wheels.

Just looking at The Car Show, Test Drive and Drive should be evidence enough.

The thing that makes Top Gear what it is is those 3 presenters and their dry British wit, it's like Black Adder on wheels.

The common thread among these programmes is they are too afraid of the ramifications of speaking their mind, not something that seems to even enter the heads of the Top Gear guys. I've seen them give a car a real bagging if they believed it deserved one.
The real kiss of death for Oz Top Gear would be Morley as a presenter, has he ever done a good motoring story on the tele?

The best SBS could hope to do would be to use a set of relatively unknown presenters and somehow create a decent show out of it.

Unfortunately I think we'll find Barry Sheene added far more of what 'Top Gear' is about to 500cc/MotoGP commentary than SBS will do with their Top Gear.

I can't see how SBS will get BBC style funding to make the show as great as it is or how they will be able to do things differently on the Australian version without loosing audience. If anything, get Clarkson and Hammond in James's Cessena and do an Australian special.

IIRC There are some Australian Specials coming (original crew)

They just reviewed the Vauxhall version of the VE Clubsport R8 on the latest episode and liked it, a lot.

They just reviewed the Vauxhall version of the VE Clubsport R8 on the latest episode and liked it, a lot.
is that the one that dropped oil all round the test track LOLon subject, no car show will ever be as good as Top Gear. i dont know why they want to try.

Well here is the (late) news: Charlie Cox, Warren Brown and Steve Pizzati are the three presenters of the upcoming Aussie Top Gear.

No 'usual suspects' there which might actually make it worth watching.

Check the link below for more !


http://topgear.sbs.com.au/



P.S. a well informed source tells me that it will be produced in Melbourne, with the test track being a well known multi-disciplined motor racing facility, just a little way's out of town to the north/west.:cool:

Charlie Cox , hes the british journo that used to partner Chris Smerdon in the enduro's isnt he. He was fast and looked after the cars well.

That will be an intersting line up

Charlie Cox might be the 'BBC' link in the program, as he is a commentator on their coverage of MotoGP

warren luff as the stig, or cam mcconville?

The lineup to me is media types. Did they really all apply with thier 10min video???? if they wanted these sorts of guys i dont think they needed to go through all the melarki about "anyone can be a presenter" I guess it was good to build interest in the show.

Luffy jnr used to be the "unknown" driver in that abismal drive program that ran for a little while

Charlie Cox , hes the british journo that used to partner Chris Smerdon in the enduro's isnt he. He was fast and looked after the cars well.

That will be an intersting line up

He's a ripper commentator too! To be honest a few of his comments might rile up a few of the conservatives in Aus, but that'll be just like Clarkson.

Mark Skaife or John Bowe as the stig

Aussie Top Gear..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-tsKPlDn7U

they could use doug mulray - he and coxy would be a brilliant combo

warren luff as the stig, or cam mcconville?

Word has it nearly every pro-driver across Australia went for the position. The biggest problem would be keeping people's mouth's shut about who it is, even the bloke under the helmet.

I herd Youlden went for it, and wouldn't surprise me if he gets it.

Not sure of others, but I don't actually want to know who the stig is, someone told me the other day (with no warning btw) who The Stig was, and I nearly knocked him out. :mad:[/rant]

So my guess is the (british) Stig reproduced and has created a progeny to star in the Australian version. :D


Mick

There have been a couple of stig's, so it hasn't been totally spoilt for you Mick (unless they told you more than one name ;))

Mark Skaife or John Bowe as the stig
Mark Skaife as the Stig is laughable. John Bowe is a possiblity, I reckon young Steve Owen could be given a chance as the tamed racing driver.

I could go as the Stig but I could easily be reconised or be mistaken for Clarkson underneath the suit and helmet. We're both the same height and possible shoe size.

Mark Skaife or John Bowe as the stig
It can't be MS. They need someone who can get off the line well and keep it on the track.

Jack Perkins.

they could use doug mulray - he and coxy would be a brilliant combo

Mulray ? This Aussie version of Top Gear is going to be bad enough as it is and you want to go and add old lady voices and dick jokes ?

There have been a couple of stig's, so it hasn't been totally spoilt for you Mick (unless they told you more than one name ;))
I am not stupid (quiet you lot! :p), I can tell myself that there have been a few, and lucky enough for this person my facial expression had managed to persuade them to change the tack of the conversation before revealing them to me. I have been informed that this person wrote a half decent autobiography, so I might just read that to ease my hurt. :D

Mick

may be topgear uk change who is the stig
use the best driver for a car or who they can get

when you look at who they say the stig is

mark webber
damon hill
michael shumaker
nigel mansell
YouTube - Top Gear The stig talks (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VihIf1Fi-BM)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VihIf1Fi-BM

Fernando Alonso is the Stig
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gH_5NoX0z1I&feature=related

LALALALALALALALALALAALALALAALALALALALALALALA! CANT HEAR YOU!!!!!

;)

Mick

The stig is none of the above... From Memory his name is Perry Mcartney!
(Or something to that effect...)

:rant:See, now you've gone and ruined it for a whole new bunch of people. :mad:
Fair enough if you want to know, go and search the interweb for it. But don't post it on a forum where people are interested in reading about the Australian version of the show*.

[/rant]

Mick

*this doesn't give you license to figure out who the Aussie one is either ;)

Hahahahaha... sorry...

I could have been bull sh****g... you did not have to go ahead and say that!

I have no idea who the Australian Version is, so don't worry I cannot ruin that one.... yet!

You have given me a challenge though!
;)

The stig is none of the above... From Memory his name is Perry Mcartney!
(Or something to that effect...)

Was Perry McCarthy

Fernando Alonso is the Stig
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gH_5NoX0z1I&feature=related

oh noes, it was a secret but now the cat's out of the bag! quick delete this post immediately before the news gets out!!1111

Was Perry McCarthy

Was Perry McCarthy, now it's Ben Edwards.,and the Australian Stig is clearly David Thexton...:rotate:

There are plenty of threads on the net about who the Stig is but the best version is that there are several Stig's depending on what he is required to do at the time.

Was Perry McCarthy, now it's Ben Edwards.,and the Australian Stig is clearly David Thexton...:rotate:Ben Edwards? Do you mean Ben Collins?

Ben Edwards is a commentator, not a racer.

They let the cat out of the bag years ago in the UK with The Stig. Perry was the original black suited Stig, but after he put a book out and openly spoke about being The Stig, they killed him off in a tragic aircraft carrier accident. You might find the episode on You Tube or something similar.

As for the Australian Stig, I think they'll have to go through a couple of guys to pull it off, because if they use one of many circuits we have around this country as there test track, chances are the identify will be revealed very quickly with the amount of people that work at these circuits. That's why they have it so handy in the UK operating out of an airfield.

Ben Edwards? Do you mean Ben Collins?

Ben Edwards is a commentator, not a racer.

Shhh!

Ben Edwards is a commentator, not a racer.

He actually once was a racer, in England back in the mid-80s



Are they actually going to have an Australian stig?

Are they actually going to have an Australian stig?

One would assume they would but what are we going to call him/her??

My suggeston is something unique to Australia.

My suggestion is to dress the person in Red Overalls and a Red Helmet and name him/her "Bluey" :rofl:

He actually once was a racer, in England back in the mid-80s
Oh, really? What did he race in?

A pink tutu with roses on his toes?

One would assume they would but what are we going to call him/her??

My suggeston is something unique to Australia.

My suggestion is to dress the person in Red Overalls and a Red Helmet and name him/her "Bluey" :rofl:

Perhaps, i was just thinking they'll have Charlie Cox, they might as well use him :)


Oh, really? What did he race in?

As far as i know it was just the lower formula's of British Motorsport, i have a copy of Autosport from the mid-80s where he is crowned the Formula First Champion, i believe he pushed on to some other categories, but presumebly ran out of money and found his calling in motorsport commentary.

As far as i know it was just the lower formula's of British Motorsport, i have a copy of Autosport from the mid-80s where he is crowned the Formula First Champion, i believe he pushed on to some other categories, but presumebly ran out of money and found his calling in motorsport commentary.
Cox raced a Mondeo in the BTCC in the Super Touring days, he was top five or so but AFAIK never won a race, He had a big crash and pretty much retired from then on. If I recall correctly he was brought on board as the BTCC's special comments man replacing fellow Aussie Mark Fogerty possibly through an association with Alan Gow. Cox made his money out of owning radio stations and is very media savvy. He's clearly the Clarkson character in the local remake with the Cartoonist guy starring as James May and the younger guy as Hammond. As for the Stig I think they'll fill the role with a few different people but they need someone with a reputation good enough to convince manufacturers to let him thrash their cars about.
Also if they do the runs at Calder as has been suggested here then there's lots of concrete wall waiting for mistakes unlike the British airfield were there's heaps of run off.

Cox raced a Mondeo in the BTCC in the Super Touring days, he was top five or so but AFAIK never won a race, He had a big crash and pretty much retired from then on. If I recall correctly he was brought on board as the BTCC's special comments man replacing fellow Aussie Mark Fogerty possibly through an association with Alan Gow. Cox made his money out of owning radio stations and is very media savvy. He's clearly the Clarkson character in the local remake with the Cartoonist guy starring as James May and the younger guy as Hammond.

Your right about Charlie Cox......but i was talking about Ben Edwards ;)


Charlie Cox had his big crash at Thruxton (just a few weeks after finishing 5th at Brands Hatch in the previous BTCC meeting). He returned late in the year with a 5dr Mondeo hatch once he had recovered, but didn't have the budget for 1996. He pushed on in the British GT's for a while (alongside Win Percy?), and in 1996 commentated on a few rounds of the BTCC with Steve Slater (the rounds Murray Walker couldn't commentate), before permanently becoming Murray's sidekick in 1997, and taking over as the main commentator in 1998 (alongside John Watson) when Murray concentrated on F1. In 2002 the BBC stopped showing the BTCC, so Cox took Leigh Diffey's place alongside Steve Parrish commentating on the World Superbikes. In 2004 they switched their attention to MotoGP, and thats where he is today. I must admit i was quite suprised when his name popped up here.

We'll all find out how bad this Aussie version is next week as SBS tonight announced it was 7 days away during the old episode of the real Top Gear.

We'll all find out how bad this Aussie version is next week as SBS tonight announced it was 7 days away during the old episode of the real Top Gear.

Why so negative? Everybody in Australia seems to want it to fail already.

the UK stig is Ben collins... 100%

the aussie stig is rather stockier than him....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zV8rVLE120

Zac I think they are in a no-win situation... The press launch (Link (http://www.caradvice.com.au/16334/top-gear-australia-official-launch)) featured supercars heavily, they even scared up a Zonda somehow. So people are complaining about the lack of Australian cars, however if they went out with an SS Commodore and XR8 Falcon there would be complaints also... I think they are going to start of "big" to counter talk of the UK show's budget etc. One thing is for sure, there won't be any lack of audience!

They need to make sure they get there facts right, us Aussies have an eye for detail. Nothing against the guy but allready they have qouted that one of the team Steve Pizzati was a factory Porsce Race driver... mmm now i have been around the racing game for a while and I know he has done Porsche driver training at Mt Cotton and raced at some basic levels in a F Ford and shared a 1 hour race drive in a GT3 but certinally not any mainstream motorsport and definately not a " factory Porsche Driver" as qouted. Cox will be good value... dont know the other gut and the Stig.. well the mystery is half the fun..but im sure some one will drop the bundle sooner or later Certinally the tip from the UK that ties Ben Collins is very much correct..

I was lucky enough to be at the first taping last week. Seems to be ok, but they are in a no win situation. The test track seems to let it down a bit.

[quote=racerforracers]They need to make sure they get there facts right, us Aussies have an eye for detail. Nothing against the guy but allready they have qouted that one of the team Steve Pizzati was a factory Porsce Race driver... mmm now i have been around the racing game for a while and I know he has done Porsche driver training at Mt Cotton and raced at some basic levels in a F Ford and shared a 1 hour race drive in a GT3 but certinally not any mainstream motorsport and definately not a " factory Porsche Driver" as qouted.

Yep, that created a few belly laughs. Steve holds the record amongst the instructors for the most laps sideways on the figure 8 skidpan at Mt Cotton, so he can do tricks and has good car control. But if Pizzati is a factory Porsche race driver then I'm an F-111 pilot.

nothing wrong with being a PIG pilot I hope...

It's the Australian way to shoot them down before they're even up isn't it?

It's the Australian way to shoot them down before they're even up isn't it?

We will give them till about 7.45 pm, next monday night, then we'll carve them up. :)

As for the Stig I think they'll fill the role with a few different people but they need someone with a reputation good enough to convince manufacturers to let him thrash their cars about.


What i like about Top Gear is that they dont seem to care what the manufacturers think, if a car is crap they let it be known regardless of make or type or wether its brand new or not.

Hopefully that will continue downunder and we can see some realistic appraisals of the local hardware which arent biased thanks to some manufacturer leaning upon the publication or providing them significant benefits.

Bargs is the STIG, gotta be. :rotate:

How do you know, is he shorter than the GT40 they test.. ;)

They've ordered a high chair for 4 wheel drive test drives.

It's the Australian way to shoot them down before they're even up isn't it?


If it was a original concept, then most people would be right behind them; but it is a copy and, from what I have seen so far, a very poor one at that...


:rotate:

I hope it succeeds, but I'm not overly optomistic.

And someone like Warren Luff would make a good Stig.

What i like about Top Gear is that they dont seem to care what the manufacturers think, if a car is crap they let it be known regardless of make or type or wether its brand new or not.

Hopefully that will continue downunder and we can see some realistic appraisals of the local hardware which arent biased thanks to some manufacturer leaning upon the publication or providing them significant benefits.

Agreed...so long as it's objective criticism. Mindless crap like the quote in this months Top Gear magazine that was along the lines of..."white GT2, not quite all knob end, but close"...is just low-brow rubbish and not even funny.

Motor magazine went down this road for a while and found advertisers walking away in droves.

I hope it succeeds, but I'm not overly optomistic.

And someone like Warren Luff would make a good Stig.
Been done before. A few years ago tere was a show, i can't rember the name and it was a clone of Top Gear and Warren Luff was their version of the Stig, he was called the Chip.

Tourqe wasn't it?

Yes I believe it was torque and it was crap in my opinion, just a ripoff of top gear. I'm going to be watching on Monday night and I'll reserve my judgement until I've actually seen an episode.

there was another car show called 'torque'??

I presume you both aren't meaning the ABC series from the 70s hosted by Peter Wherett?

']We will give them till about 7.45 pm, next monday night, then we'll carve them up. :)


They'll be lucky if they get that long. I'll watch it, it'll be interesting to see how another mob attack the concept.

Before giving them a serve, remember that the pommy one hasn't always been as highly entertaining as desired, with the odd stinker, especially in the early days.

BTW, if the skidmarks are any guide, they've had fun on their test track....

there was another car show called 'torque'??

I presume you both aren't meaning the ABC series from the 70s hosted by Peter Wherett?
That's right it was called "Torque" and in no way related to the ABC programme of the same name.

But getting back to the ABC program...

http://www.abc.net.au/gnt/history/Transcripts/s1208054.htm

there was another car show called 'torque'??

I presume you both aren't meaning the ABC series from the 70s hosted by Peter Wherett?

No. I was referring to the show that was on Saturday afternoon a couple of years ago. One of the presenters was Alison Cratchley (??)- I remembered her from Water Rats that's why I recognised her. Yes and they had the hot lap, and the board and the studio audience......it was all too similar..

GRT Magic is The Stig.

I found the show mostly entertaining but still a bit raw, as would be expected for the first episode.

I'm not sure if its just me, but I laughed on only one occasion and that was for a comment made by the cartoonist. I don't know who the big bloke is, but in my opinion, ...............!! Was pretty poor I thought. Not funny and it looked like Bris31 had done the show, it reminded me of homemade TV!!

I have to say, I didn't expect what I watched tonight.

It seems they've stuck to the 'if-it-ain't-broke-don't-fix-it' policy first time out. The set looks remarkably similar to the BBC version, they have their own Stig (of course), the 'Star in a Bog Standard Car' segment, and it's clear they're trying to portray Charlie as Jeremy, Steve as Richard and Warren as James (aka Captain Slow). That's OK. I was able to look past that. I can see they're just trying to MAKE IT WORK. They don't want to be too different with their style of show, which is fair enough, because if the way the Brits did it was popular then if they copy it, it should be the same here.

I liked their first ever challenge, it's something we can relate to, going 4 wheel driving in sand and snow (and watching Charlie demolish the front end of his Toyota was pretty funny!), plus watching the calamaties of Warren hopelessly sliding towards the edge of a cliff in the Victorian/NSW alps was a pretty entertaining moment. The guys seem to work well with each other during the pre-filmed stories, although the studio stuff sounded a bit scripted.

Overall though, I'd give this a thumbs-up for a first try. There are areas that could be improved, but that's always expected of a new show. I'd like them to take on British Top Gear when it comes to outrageous challenges (anyone fancy seeing a Toyboata going down the Murray?)!

I thought it was a pretty good effort.

No doubt as it goes on it will get better... It was pretty well shot, although there weren't as many big establishing shots, and some of the edits were a bit quick, especially in the Porsche bit. Obliviously they are trying to portray the hosts as the pommy equivilents, but I think that Joe Punter will have to accept that they aren't perfect clones.

The Stig is Bargs??

:rant: :rant: :rant:

I was skeptical at first when they said they'll be making an Australian version, and i was right. I got as far as the first commercial break and then turned it off!!

I found it to be a complete rip off, each bloke attempting to play there role as either Clarkson (Cox) , May (Brown) or Hammond (Pizatti). Which was most evident in the first part of the challenge, where Cox thought he'd be like Clarkson and not give two s:censored:t's and jumped the car. Jeremy can get away with that sort of behavior, because that's Jeremy. It even became more evident whilst they introduced the new Lambo, with Pizatti ranting on about stats like Hammond normally does. Plus I'd like to slap the face of that Warren Brown for what he did to the Lambo, some respect for the machinery for goodness!!:mad:

The delivery of any jokes, one liners or anything else remotely funny was the worst bit of TV I have seen in a long time. At which time I was also thinking that root canal treatment probably would have been more fun. Maybe the nerves where too much, but you'd think they would have rehearsed it a couple times and had a test studio audience to try and work those things out. It might be SBS, but they have a good team of people work behind the scene's who know what it takes, except maybe the bloke who puts Big Brother in his list of credits.

If that's the Australian version of TG, then what next?? They going to start taking some of the books and other spin off paraphernalia that the boys in the UK have and print there names over the top and attempt to flog it off?!?!?!

I might give them the benefit of the doubt and try and maybe watch again next week or in a couple weeks time, see if maybe after a couple of shows under the belt does them any good and lets there true SELF characters come out rather than the attempted characters they're trying to play.

At the end of it, I was so traumatized by the five minutes I saw, I had to pull out some of the DVD's I have of the show, just to restore my sanity!!!:rotate:

I thought they did a reasonable job first time out
remember if you have a franchise you have to follow the script
wheel of fortune, Big Bro, biggest Looser, Idol

I had a few laughs and i will give them a bit of time
I thought the show was carried a bit by Cox (but the other guys will shine later)

I was a bit skeptical about how it would be. And like most it's easy to see that they've tried to copy Jeremy, Hammond and James with 3 clones, But I did have a few laughs and I'm hoping that the 3 hosts will start to develop thier own character a bit more as the show goes on. I didn't mind it at all, I'll be watching again. The Stig is a very short person, so yeah I'm going with the Stig being Bargs.

The 3 softroaders in the sand and snow was interesting as well as the mini-moke with the sharks......big bloody sharks too!

Any truth to the rumour that the real Top Gear trio are due in Oz in early 2009?

and I'd agree.


I thought it was quite OK, a couple of things didn't really gel right and I wish Charlie would look at the camera rather than swing from one side to the other - we're watching from home you know!

I thought the track was a bit of a let down, but knowing the site they were working from, it wasn't too bad. They could always spice it up with a cardboard cutout of a lion or something emerging over one of the bollards as the car approaches....or maybe something really scary, like a cardboard cutout Clarkson.....

I did like the sense of the absurd with the stretch hummer and the moke.

I suspect they may have selected their presenters on the basis of their resemblance to the UK crew, in personality terms. They'll develop from there.

As a first time effort, quite good. The stig has to be Bargs. I also liked the way they touched on whether they should add some "Oz" to him, but didn't, though "Stiggo" might have done well if he'd been dressed in white sluggos.

I also noticed that the credits refer to the program being a "BBC Worldwide" product, which shows the reason for the facsimile element.

GRT Magic is The Stig.

If I was half the height I am currently I may still be too tall :)

Any truth to the rumour that the real Top Gear trio are due in Oz in early 2009?

You'd think they would since they've been most other places in the world. However I don't think Clarkson likes Australians anymore than Americans.

You'd think they would since they've been most other places in the world. However I don't think Clarkson likes Australians anymore than Americans.
Jeremy doesn't like any country for the exception of Clarksonia.

I agree with most of the above, the presenters were trying too hard to copy the UK originals and not relaxing and being themseleves. All the jokes and "humour" seem forced and strained. I'll stick with it for a couple more weeks and give them a chance to settle in and relax.

Jeremy doesn't like any country for the exception of Clarksonia.
And in case you haven't seen it. http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=DMuO-8S_0Wg

I thought it was alright, something to build from in any case.

It was probably safest to start with the 'Top Gear' model, and gradually Australianise it abit more and do our own things as time goes on, rather than start with a show that is something completely different....



JDI - Apparently Clarkson & Hammond are coming down here in February to host a stage show called "Top Gear Live"

Any truth to the rumour that the real Top Gear trio are due in Oz in early 2009?

http://live.topgear.com/world_tour/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

4 shows from February 5-8 in Sydney next year.

For me the show was too much a copy of the original and to me seemed way to amateur, the poms are good at the one liners and the jokes , just doesn't work with the Aussie presenters (perhaps they tried too hard) - even my wife commented that the original show is much better - for me there is better stuff to watch on the other free to air stations.

I have to admit it didn't suck as hard as I thought it would and I'll go with the general feeling in the thread and give it a couple more goes but, they really need to stop copying the original personalities.

I think when I went to the Holden VZ Commodore launch at Oran Park the guy playing the Hammond character was one of the driving instructors there and it's a shame he's just copying Hammond to a tee because from what I can remember he was already a pretty funny and well presenting host for that occasion when he was just being himself.

Absolute garbage first effort, bunch of try too hard wannabe's.
But, they can only get better. It's a pity if they are under some sort of production influence, to be clones of the poms, because if each of the Aussie blokes was allowed to be themselves, then the show might stand a chance. Anyhow we have got 7[?] more shows to get thru till the real deal is on again.

Sure it follows the Pom Top Gear format.
It's not the end of the world if you don't like it - but if you tune in next week then that's what it is all about.

']Anyhow we have got 7[?] more shows to get thru till the real deal is on again.

Just download the UK episodes like the rest of us do.

Isn't there a South African version in the works as well ? Will be interesting to see if those hosts just impersonate the originals as well.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24425336-12377,00.html

One episode is good enough to warrant another season!

Yeah I didnt mind it. Things did seem a little forced but definitely an interesting show that will get better.

Mike Carlton (who is a friend of Charlie Cox) said this morning on his show on 2UE this morning Cox was a sick as a dog during shooting of the first show in the studio-had a bad case of Gastric-but he soldiered on regardless!!!

My mate who was in the audience said Cox was drinking water all through the show!
Cant wait for next week!

Any truth to the rumour that the real Top Gear trio are due in Oz in early 2009?

Maybe they'll do an Aussie versus British race like with the Germans last year

How did/is Charlie Cox fitting all the Top Gear filming (how far ahead do they film the studio bits?) around his BBC MotoGP commentary role? Was he at Motegi last Sunday?

Oh yeah, and the rod up Vince Colosimo's ass must have a rod up its ass... Vince is the best, just ask him!

I just watched it and thought it was quite good, but the hosts need to relax a bit but I don't blame them with the pressure on them. The worst thing is the Aussie accents!

To those comparing Australian Top Gear with the original version: How 'bout we compare the first Australian show with the first British show. Not necessarily the first one in 1977, you can make it the first after the relaunch in 2002 if you like. Then factor in that the li'l SBS version has a budget (if you can call it that) which wouldn't be within driving distance of the UK show.

Yes, the first show wasn't great, but IMHO it has plenty of promise. I thought the Moke segment, and the Maybach segment were a waste of time, but they'll learn as they go. I was at the taping (and yes, Charlie didn't seem too well), and the two guys with nil previous TV experience (Pizzati and Brown) are extremely easy going and pleasant guys off-camera. They need some time to settle in. If you saw the number of retakes they did, you'd understand why that first episode appeared that way. It'll be onwards and upwards from here.

I enjoyed the first show, it could've been better but for a first attempt-not bad. I most enjoyed Charlie's input but the Steve and Warren should find their feet. They need to relax more and be themselves, I think the audience would appreciate them if they did that. Part of the appeal of the British show is that. Can't wait for next week, Holden v Ford and just before Bathurst!!:laugh: I laughed when I heard that TGA had kicked Idol in the ratings, hopefully that show will do a Big Brother soon and disappear..

How 'bout we compare the first Australian show with the first British show. Not necessarily the first one in 1977, you can make it the first after the relaunch in 2002 if you like.

That is a good point. Compare the first 2002-relaunched episode with a current episode of British Top Gear, and the first Aussie episode stacks up quite well, it was never going to be as polished first time out as the British one with 6 years experience (& Clarkson had been on Top Gear since the late 80s anyway)

I didn't understand the Moke segment at first but after seeing they kept the car, I see they're trying to turn it into one of those iconic show cars that has been thrashed to all buggery but still keeps turning up (a bit like the Hilux). So over the next few weeks I guess they'll push it over a cliff, set it on fire, etc etc :)

And about 900,000 watched it - which must be a record for an Australian produced tv motoring programme ?

I most enjoyed Charlie's input but Steve and Warren should find their feet. They need to relax more and be themselves, I think the audience would appreciate them if they did that. Part of the appeal of the British show is that.
I agree. Steveie and Waz seemed a bit wooden. Like you said rich, they need to relax a bit more.

And about 900,000 watched it - which must be a record for an Australian produced tv motoring programme ?

Be interesting to see the numbers after the second episode.

Be interesting to see the numbers after the second episode.
Good point! Ratings for the second episode will tell you how good the show is. Ratings for the first episode only tell you how good the marketing is.

Good point! Ratings for the second episode will tell you how good the show is. Ratings for the first episode only tell you how good the marketing is.

Agreed!! Second and Third shows should reflect more accurately who is still watching it.

Would be interesting to know if they did a breakdown across the hour of the ratings. I think they can break it down to 15min blocks. Can then also gauge who stayed watching and how many, like myself turned off at what times.

Plus the figures don't include the viewers on Foxtel/Austar/Optus cable and satelite, I don't think either.

Those figures only include the 5,000 ratings boxes which are spread across the whole of Australia. So they don't know for sure that 900,000 people watched only that that's what the 5,000 boxes out there suggest.

I got offered a ratings box earlier this year and I turned them down. I was shocked to find out only 5,000 people decides what the rest of the country gets to watch.

To those comparing Australian Top Gear with the original version: How 'bout we compare the first Australian show with the first British show. Not necessarily the first one in 1977, you can make it the first after the relaunch in 2002 if you like. Then factor in that the li'l SBS version has a budget (if you can call it that) which wouldn't be within driving distance of the UK show.

.

Hmmm, I see your point, but in reality the 2002 relaunch show was basically paving its own way, whereas this Aussie version has the guiding light of Top Gear UK to draw from an obviously all it's successes.

But for all of that, and despite some friends bagging it mercilessly (Hi Nathan!), I didnt think it was as bad as a few made it out to be. The hosts have to not try as hard and just let the humour happen. But I thought the stories weren't too bad although i agree the Maybach and Moke stories were a WOT. Still they have a fair base to work from, and maybe it's just cause I am a car-head, but i just enjoy watching anything to do with cars. I'd have given it a 6 out of ten with ehough potential to get to an 8 or 9.

Toorak tractors on Top Gear (http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,26278,24439728-5016681,00.html)

Turned off 25 mins in! that's why I'm posting. What a crock!

No helmets, one hand on the wheel, where do these ******s (I know its not their fault, its the "creative directors" (and the so called producers), let go of it with both hands!!!!! Please.

I would have buried the smart car that would befitting the uk version.

Another episode down, hey.

There's not much else I can say apart from what I said last week. Charlie looks to have settled in fine, Warren is getting there but Steve still just needs to relax on camera.

The challenges were good, although I can't wait for next week when it seems the boys are going to be given something like $2000 to buy a car for a challenge of some sort (and if it's not next week, I hope they have one soon!).

The only thing that slightly annoyed me was Charlie's 'jokes' as he threw to a commercial. Perhaps it shows just how much the hosts relied on the BBC version to show them what to do, as the BBC show doesn't need to throw to a commercial during the show...

The only thing that slightly annoyed me was Charlie's 'jokes' as he threw to a commercial. Perhaps it shows just how much the hosts relied on the BBC version to show them what to do, as the BBC show doesn't need to throw to a commercial during the show...

BBC don't have commercial breaks like we do. If SBS was like what it once was, no commercial during programs it might be another story. But as SBS said, they need the commercials to pay for the wonderful other programming they provide us with.

With two eps showed, my view is this. I have really enjoyed the new TG. The first one got a bit drawn out and boring but ep #2 really entertained me. The boys are slowly comming out of the Union Jack shadow and the show is finally becoming theirs, not a cheaply and cheesey made ripoff.

Producers had hoped to crack the one million viewer mark last night, but instead only 674,000 tuned in, down more than 250,000 viewers from its premiere the week before.

Top Gear Australia finished last in its timeslot behind Border Security, The 7.30 Report and Australian Idol. It was the 26th most watched show of the night. From Here (http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24459608-5006022,00.html)

From Here (http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24459608-5006022,00.html)

Well, well, well, look at how the general public and probably die hard fans of the show are showing there support (insert Clarkson pause), by turning off with there remotes!!!

The SBS version has a distinct Australian flavour compared to the British version fronted by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May.

Of course it has a distinct flavour, two try-hards and cartoonist!! I'm glad I turned off when I did in the first episode and spared myself the pain of having to endure there attempt.

I've watched the BBC show from Season 1, and James didn't come into the seen until Season 2, but it didn't take him long to fit in, bond and become part of the show as it is now. They may have time up there sleeve and 12 seasons under the belt, but the SBS and the production company should have sent these three blokes eat, sleep and all the rest for at least 6 months together so they could gel, or start hating each other. Then start putting the show together.

I'm driving home tonight flicking through the radio stations when I stopped at Jula Ramirez and Johnathon Coleman talking about Julia doing her "star in a bog standard car" thing yesterday. While she's explaining what went on she mentioned that her driving instructor was "Rick". If we follow the UK version then doesn't the STIG do the driving instruction?

is Rick the stig?

and before we all go hot and assume that the ex - Crash Bandicoot is the stig are there any other ideas for who this Rick might be.

My immediate second choice was Ric Shaw who would certainly have the pace to do the job and would be low key enough to not raise suspicions if seen about the place at Camden.

Over to you all for the further speculation.

I loved the tset drive of the new Ford GT RHD, what a car.

neal and rick bates .... they share stig duties...

I think the Top Gear Australia series deserves everyones support. Although it's a bit rough, the fact that we get to see some local vehicles makes it a hell of a lot more interesting to me. There's obviously work to be done, but the potential is obvious.

It seems funny to me that a lot of motoring fans who might whinge about there being a lack of motorsport related content on TV, would turn their nose up at this show! I for one, would be happy to see my television saturated with motorsport, rather than bloody AFL, which is still filling "news" segments, even after the season is OVER! Go Top Gear! Some of you slackers need to get on board, it's time to talk it up!

valet_dave good to see your 4th post in more than 3 years is probably one of the best of this thread.

I agree the armchair critics need to give it due credit.

TGA isn't Top Gear 'the original', it is based on it.

If it were a stand alone show, what would we think of it then?


It is still far better quality than some of the first two series of top gear, hell one of the presenters only lasted one series !


I hope it gets the support it deserves, because if it doesn’t rate, we might not see a second series, and that would be a shame, because it deserves the chance to develop.

Imagine the potential fill-in's, more Iron Chef; please no !:rofl:

Thing is, that if you are not one of the 5000 people with a meter box in Australia then what you think of a TV program does not matter, This is why shows like BB, Aust Idol, home and away and neighbours remain on the screens, where as others with real talent/good writing/etc. don't last.

I really hope Top Gear Australia does stay on after the first series is all done and dusted. I bagged out on the first show big time, the second one was marginally better [ the gt40 was good], but they sure have a way to go yet. Just be yourselves boys, don't try and be a crappy copy of the BBC version.

I have to say it- I loved tonight's episode.

Steve seemed a lot more relaxed this time around, which is good. I think he tries to casually point out a bunch of facts and figures about a car and that makes sound too scripted; if he just casually mentions the odd statistic while talking about what he likes and dislikes about a certain car (such as the Merc he tested), he will do better.

The first Top Gear Australia challenge! Finally a good classic challenge that allows the boys to go nuts with whatever car they choose! I absolutely loved it.

Looking forward to whatever a bunch of Astras on a big field are doing next week... Hope it's just as good!

i meet the stig at bathurt, well it looked like him :)

Question, does the Aussie Stig wear a slouch helmet? ( I know, it was a poor attempt at humour)

I missed episode two, but I must say that last nights episode was better than the first episode.

The guys were a little more relaxed but the they still seemd a bit forced and the jokes lacked the impeccable timing of the UK crew.

The segments were definitely an improvement, really enjoyed the $500 car challenge.

Still haven't burst into a fit of laughter yet, as I generally do when watching the UK version, but it's ceratinly better than 90% of the other "reality" shows and sh!* they show on tv.

Paul.

I missed episode two, but I must say that last nights episode was better than the first episode.

The guys were a little more relaxed but the they still seemd a bit forced and the jokes lacked the impeccable timing of the UK crew.

The segments were definitely an improvement, really enjoyed the $500 car challenge.

Still haven't burst into a fit of laughter yet, as I generally do when watching the UK version, but it's ceratinly better than 90% of the other "reality" shows and sh!* they show on tv.

Paul.


Paul, a good and reasonable post; a pity so many of the "I turned off after 10 minutes" brigade haven't spent the time to watch any more than 10 minutes.

I will state right here, I am a huge Top Gear fan, all 10 English series.

I wasn't impressed with the first episode of TGA, it was pretty awful (compared to Top Gear) , but I watched it all, and all of episode's two and three.

It is evolving, the presenters ARE finding their feet, and it is good local entertainment.

To those of you that are comparing it to the original, have another look next Monday, and keep an open mind, it should evolve into a good light entertainment show, based around three blokes cocking about in cars.:cool:


Sound like a familiar theme ?


At its worst, it is still far better than 12 year old episodes of Iron Chef. :rofl:

I agree with a lot of what has been said. These guys are very slowly finding their feet, but they need to relax and be themselves and hold back on the forced humour. The best jokes come naturally.

As said above, it's still far better than nearly every other reality show.

It's getting better each episode. Maybe they needed to do about half a dozen pilots before they aired a show.

I'll keep watching (when I remember, that is, Monday nights are not a good time to remember anything for me once I get home from work).

I don't know what anyone else thinks, but that episode last night was a pretty good one... I know I had a fair few laughs- that lawn bowls could really take off!

Bugger, I forgot yesterday was Monday and missed it, why can't SBS or Foxtel do the encore screening bit each week. I'm starting to like it and I think as long as you don't expect it to be as good as the UK version you start to see it as good local entertainment with a car theme.

I thought it was a good episode, improving massively every episode.

The stars in cars have been a bit boring. It's usually one of my favourite parts of the UK show. But maybe it will be a few more episodes before they can get highly entertaining stars and Cox hones his interviewing style.

The stars in cars have been a bit boring. It's usually one of my favourite parts of the UK show.

As soon as anyone in this country gets so much as a sniff of stardom they hoof it to Hollywood leaving us with the usual Aussie drama actors who got stuck here, I look forward to seeing Dieter Brummer in the Proton soon.

I'm kinda enjoying the show but I have major beef with last night's episode. You're at Lang Lang, boasting about what a great facility it is and rabbiting on about the miles and miles of varying test track in the most powerful and expensive vehicle Holden have ever made available to the public and you do donuts in it ? Are you kidding me ? Don't tell us about the handling or how it drives, don't even mention how it compares to equivalent foreign cars it will be competing against in the market place; just take it out on a wet skid pan and like some backwards baseball cap wearing retarded P Plater in a VP Commodore in a Maccas carpark on a Friday night and do donuts in it.

I'll ask again, You are kidding me right ?

Dieter Brummer :laugh: :laugh:

My wife actually took photos of the expression on my face while watching that bit.... we had been out to HSV @ Clayton earlier in the day and drooled on the W427 in the foyer - seeing him treat it like THAT - well.... I just wanted a go!

I thought it was a great episode, and a really good way to spend an hour of my Monday night!

I'm liking the show the only thing I hate about it is the

" what where they thinking " just put the cool wall on please

My wife actually took photos of the expression on my face while watching that bit.... we had been out to HSV @ Clayton earlier in the day and drooled on the W427 in the foyer - seeing him treat it like THAT - well.... I just wanted a go!

I thought it was a great episode, and a really good way to spend an hour of my Monday night!

If there's anything we all like about the UK version, its that they don't do what we expect them to do when they roadtest a car.
If you want road tests watch Glen Ridge.
Did you happen to notice (Rombles) that the W427 was 6 secounds slower than the GT.
What a "Super" car, Holden must be stoked.

I'm liking the show the only thing I hate about it is the

" what where they thinking " just put the cool wall on please

Actually I quite like the "what were they thinking", though I wish they used a magnetic board with pre-stuck magnets or velcro or something.


Did you happen to notice (Rombles) that the W427 was 6 secounds slower than the GT.
What a "Super" car, Holden must be stoked.


In fairness, the W427 is a hotted up commodore, while the GT is a pukka sports car. (with added pukker factor on the example tested)

If Holden ever get to finish the ecotec based V12 they were allegedly building, they might have to find a suitable chassis to put it in, THEN the GT would be at risk.

As soon as anyone in this country gets so much as a sniff of stardom they hoof it to Hollywood leaving us with the usual Aussie drama actors who got stuck here, I look forward to seeing Dieter Brummer in the Proton soon..........



:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
cant help but think that Dieter could in fact be the dark horse in the pack, dont they use Protons to deliver pizzas????? He was the original "Dougie" after all.
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

why can I remember stuff like that, yet still forget to pay bills ...........

If there's anything we all like about the UK version, its that they don't do what we expect them to do when they roadtest a car.
If you want road tests watch Glen Ridge.
Did you happen to notice (Rombles) that the W427 was 6 secounds slower than the GT.
What a "Super" car, Holden must be stoked.

I agree about the road tests.

But (FalconXRated) how many W427's could you buy for a GT? (And lets not even get into what GT did TO the W427!)

In fairness, the W427 is a hotted up commodore, while the GT is a pukka sports car. (with added pukker factor on the example tested)


In fairness I didn't pay much attention to the cars credentials, only that the Top Gear boys were calling it the best Oz Super car ever made or something simular? The Drive article calls it Australias fastest car, obviously not around a track but in a straight line, So i did some research, the specs are not that "Of a hotted up Commodore", although the price is a bit hot.

http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=49259

Quotes / Storys:
HSV W427 to cost $150,000
HSV names the price for its upcoming W427. At $150,000 it will be the fastest and most expensive Australian car ever produced.


HSV W427 - Cars1 Mar 2008 ... HSV W427 revealed - ZCars. ... The HSV W427 will go on sale towards the middle of 2008 priced somewhere between $140000 and $170000. ... Thats a shedload mopre than a GT Rombles !!

Guys and Gals, just a heads up before you all complain at me. I know this is Aussie, but it's not Touring Cars. When you come looking for the thread tomorrow, you'll find it in Armchair Enthusiast where it should be.

There are other parts of this forum, you know :bag:

FalconXRated I think you are getting your GTs mixed up... TGA have not driven the Falcon GT

lol certainly not the GT you are thinking of FalconXRated!!! You would be looking much further down the board for that... Rather the GT Top Gear Aus had was the RHD version of the one released in Europe a few years ago, at $500000 plus... go the W427!

Finally we get the Australian track map!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v507/TCR/TGcircuitmap.jpg

Paul.

3-4's ok (though a larger curve radius would have been nice - like Bahrain 9-10), 1 shouldnt be as sharp...

there isn't a single corner you can go flat out in (a la TGUK)... reckon they should squeeze in a Becketts-style section on the straight instead of another bloody chicane

did Tilke get his hands on this?...

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Camden+Airport&sll=-25.335448,135.745076&sspn=56.971931,114.257813&ie=UTF8&cd=1&geocode=FTGd-P0dsFf7CA&ll=-34.039743,150.685591&spn=0.006597,0.013947&t=k&z=17

could have used more of the airport too, made use of a crossover like the TGUK track...

Monday's episode - yet again trying to fit too much into an episode, or at least too much time waffling to the celebrity. Surely there was more they could have got out of the Toorak tractor segment?

I was watching Bathurst the other night and in an interview with Larry there was a white racing suit hanging up behind him.

Is he the Australian Stig?

no, its the Bate's.

Larry couldn't keep his yap shut for that long.

I reckon The Stig is Michael Guest.

There is only one Stig you muppets! Aussie TopGear sucks dogs balls

There is only one Stig you muppets! Aussie TopGear sucks dogs balls


and you were witness to this act??? :p

Participant - first hand <cough> knowledge!

There is only one Stig you muppets! Aussie TopGear sucks dogs balls

No there are actually 3

Ben Porter.

The Bates bros are both a bit chunkier that our Stig. There was some talk it was John Boston (and he refused to deny it) but this bloke's not as big in the shoulders.

Ben Porter is the name I've heard. Top Formula Vee driver.



Kramer

What the hell is going on with Charlie Cox's hair?! And do they have to be exactly the same as the real Top Gear? They are allowed some differences...!

Oh but they do... the "What were they thinking?" board instead of the Cool Wall, and we have a "Bog Standard" car instead of a "Reasonably Priced" one!

Hang on....

Ah, that's better - managed to get my tongue out of my cheek. I think the show is slowly improving (mostly anyway). They still need to stop packing too many segments in so they can structure the remaining ones more coherently, and also keep the length of the Star... interviews under control.

To be fair I only saw the first two or maybe three episodes. It was very well done but I did find it irritating that the three presenters were Clarkson, May & Hammond with slightly worse haircuts and different accents. Everything else about them was exactly the same. They just need to loosen up on the scripting and let them be themselves a little more.

It has improved noticeably since then - still has room for more of course. After all even after how many years of "old" Top Gear, your lot were still telling us about cheap secondhand cars for sale when they started. For some reason they leave that in the "export" version that was screened here!

Hearing from a couple of people who have been to the filming, Charlie pays a lot of attention to his hair...

Well, it looks like it needs the attention of a good hair doctor...

I haven't been here since the start of this series.

The program is absolutely diabolical.

That feels better...

is greg murphy the stig ?

http://forum.tasmanmotorsport.com/viewthread.aspx?t=282

Motoring show Top Gear is bringing its live stage production to New Zealand in February next year.

The 75 minute spectacular includes a variety of stunts and driving sequences and will be hosted by Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond.

The other regular host, James May isn't coming leaving four-times Bathurst winner Greg Murphy, to complete the trio.

He says being one of only seven countries to host the showcase is a tribute to our status as a petrol-head paradise.

Murphy says he is a huge fan of Clarkson and says he's a little nervous about sharing a stage with him.

Tickets go on sale 9am Monday morning, ranging form $70 to $150.

The Australian Stig looks like a midget - my gut says Barton Mawer...

season 2 of Australian Top gear will have a new presenter as Charlie cox is leaving the show.

the new presenter is Trumpet legend James Morrison , an awesome choice and a very funny and very likeable man who just loves cars :):):)

thanks Charlie see ya later :)

http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,28383,24824184-10388,00.html

The question is: Did Charlie see the writing on the wall?

Their last episode was a little cryptic as to if/when they would return.

Finally, why would SBS fund this show knowing they had x million viewers already tuned into the existing BBC show?

The question is: Did Charlie see the writing on the wall?


Perhaps he did.

A shame, Charlie Cox was the one who gave it some credibility as far as cars and driving experience were concerned. Back to his MotoGP commentary for the BBC one would guess.

Will James be able to drive ( fling ) a car like Charlie, pretty big shoes to fill.

Didn't James drive a Neal Bates Motorsport prepared Celica GT4 in a national dirt rally once?

If my memory serves, he certainly flung it... over and over and over again - if you get my drift...

Their last episode was a little cryptic as to if/when they would return.

I thought a second season was confirmed after the first episode premiered so well...?

It's a shame that Charlie's leaving. While the other two blokes were good, Charlie was the only one who had any passion for what he was talking about...

And I'm not entirely keen on seeing a bloke who made a living playing a trumpet being the host of a car show...!

I havent been through the whole post so this is probably a repeat but those guys aparently did quite a bit of damage to the cars and the manufacturers werent happy. Also putting a proper car journo into it would help or even a race car driver that can be neutral like neil crompton

Cromley is very knowledgeable about driving race cars fast, but is this the total aim of the show? Haviong said that, I'd like to see how he would go on the show.
Damage happens, if the cars were built properly the guys shouldn't be able to inflict too much damage to them, except for jumping them over sand dunes and any other impact type of stunt. The hard driving stuff shouldn't damage a car in the short space of time they've got them, don't you agree?

I thought of cromley more as a race car driver that can give an honest opinion

here is the article about the damaged cars

http://carsguide.news.com.au/site/news-and-reviews/story/top_gear_filming_turns_into_demolition_derby/

Top Gears reply
http://carsguide.news.com.au/site/news-and-reviews/story/top_gear_slams_demolition_claim/

his reply doesn't make sense tho. how does rolling 6 cars in to each other relate to anything in real life that the manufacturer would like to advertise? other than "look, its got a really good handbrake" its a totally irrelevant piece of car destroying for the fun of it. I'm not saying the UK version is any different, but usually wanton destruction is dished out to old and going to be scrapped motors rather than brand new models.

Also putting a proper car journo into it would help or even a race car driver that can be neutral like neil crompton

Charlie Cox is/was a racing driver. He raced in the BTCC, and raced a V8Supercar in the 1000 at Bathurst a few times.

I'm with Holden on this one, I'd be reluctant to lend them any more cars as well. It was a fun story and mildly entertaining, but did it make me want to rush out and buy an Astra? Nope. Benefit to Holden in my case....nought.

I'm with Holden on this one, I'd be reluctant to lend them any more cars as well. It was a fun story and mildly entertaining, but did it make me want to rush out and buy an Astra? Nope. Benefit to Holden in my case....nought.

Yea i think they should hire hosts that can actually drive, they are kind of funny but they aint that talented behind the wheel. This may save more cars.