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Login to post Forums » Off-topic discussion » and sometimes Top Gear gets it right.

Jan. 1, 2012 3:01 p.m. FlightService Dork

I know Jeremy, May, and Hammond can be complete tools (well ok mostly Jeremy) but this time they did something really really right.

I watching Season 17 episode 6 downloaded from Final Gear and they were doing a special on the troops in the UK that have formed an off-road race team. These soldiers are back from Afghanistan and want to compete in the next Dakar Rally.

They crazy thing is they have all men seriously and permanently injured. The driver and co-driver both are amputees as is the head mechanic.

I don't know the involvement in them getting the new equipment but the TG crew did get the sacked Stig to come and give them some driving lessons.

Good Job Top Gear!
Jan. 1, 2012 3:40 p.m. Lesley SuperDork

I'm reading the sacked Stig's bio, it's really good! He went through some really hard core military training before landing the full-time Stig gig – so he's got a lot of empathy for soldiers.
Jan. 1, 2012 4:12 p.m. Streetwiseguy Dork

I saw that one a little while ago. I thought it was one of the nicest things I'd seen on that show. A bit of humor, but there was real honesty and heart behind it.

I think maybe those guys have a pretty close relationship with the military. Its not uncommon for them to get shot at during tests. My favorite was the beach landing with the new Fiesta. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7e7R3y-qwZ0
Jan. 1, 2012 4:31 p.m. Knurled Dork

Sacked Stig sounds wrong.

Stig Emeritus?
Jan. 1, 2012 5:30 p.m. JoeyM SuperDork

How about calling him "Ben Collins (former white stig)" to distinguish him from "Perry MacCarthy (former black stig)". After all, they both violated their contracts, revealed their identity, and wrote tell all books.
Jan. 2, 2012 10:14 a.m. Maroon92 SuperDork

Lesley wrote:

I'm reading the sacked Stig's bio, it's really good! He went through some really hard core military training before landing the full-time Stig gig – so he's got a lot of empathy for soldiers.

I pre-ordered it, and had it read the day it showed up. It's an excellent read.
Jan. 2, 2012 10:22 a.m. dyintorace SuperDork

Presumably there is a new Stig now, right? Was there ever a "kill off" of the white Stig? Was there ever an introduction of the new Stig? Is he in white as well? Has speculation started as to his identity?
Jan. 2, 2012 10:23 a.m. FlightService Dork

dyintorace wrote:

Presumably there is a new Stig now, right? Was there ever a "kill off" of the white Stig? Was there ever an introduction of the new Stig? Is he in white as well? Has speculation started as to his identity?

Yes No not really Yes Yes
Jan. 2, 2012 10:33 a.m. SkinnyG HalfDork

dyintorace wrote:

Presumably there is a new Stig now, right? Was there ever a "kill off" of the white Stig? Was there ever an introduction of the new Stig? Is he in white as well? Has speculation started as to his identity?

THAT (the stig introduction) episode was AWESOME:

http://www.sidereel.com/Top_Gear/season-15/episode-101/search
Jan. 2, 2012 10:48 a.m. JoeyM SuperDork

dyintorace wrote:

Presumably there is a new Stig now, right? Was there ever a "kill off" of the white Stig? Was there ever an introduction of the new Stig? Is he in white as well? Has speculation started as to his identity?

I think the closest thing to a "kill off" was a challenge that involved a drive by shooting of a stig target after James said something about Judas
Jan. 2, 2012 11:12 a.m. neon4891 SuperDork

JoeyM wrote:

dyintorace wrote:

Presumably there is a new Stig now, right? Was there ever a "kill off" of the white Stig? Was there ever an introduction of the new Stig? Is he in white as well? Has speculation started as to his identity?

I think the closest thing to a "kill off" was a challenge that involved a drive by shooting of a stig target after James said something about Judas

And Hammond shot him in the BACK. As for the introduction of the new Stig, they found him in the manger in Bethlehem.
Jan. 2, 2012 12:27 p.m. Appleseed SuperDork

Baby Jeebus Stig.
Jan. 2, 2012 12:51 p.m. BoostedBrandon HalfDork

^ I laughed so hard at that.
Jan. 2, 2012 1:35 p.m. Javelin SuperDork

JoeyM wrote:

How about calling him "Ben Collins (former white stig)" to distinguish him from "Perry MacCarthy (former black stig)". After all, they both violated their contracts, revealed their identity, and wrote tell all books.

Except Ben didn't violate his contract or reveal his identity. A UK tabloid ousted him and over a year later he left TG to persue other interests. There was never any breach with him (unlike Perry).

Ben's book is also excellent and IMO further's the TG brand...
Jan. 2, 2012 3:20 p.m. Lesley SuperDork

Agreed. He talks about his departure with class, which is more than I can say for TG.
Jan. 2, 2012 8:23 p.m. JoeyM SuperDork

BBC America just showed the black stig/white stig conversion where they had the Jag go off the HMS Invincible.

They definitely were nicer in writing Perry out than in writing Ben out (Of course, I've said for quite some time that I liked older TG than the new stuff.....The more recent mean spirited tone is just another reason.)
Jan. 2, 2012 8:42 p.m. BoneYard_Racing Reader

Javelin wrote:

JoeyM wrote:

How about calling him "Ben Collins (former white stig)" to distinguish him from "Perry MacCarthy (former black stig)". After all, they both violated their contracts, revealed their identity, and wrote tell all books.

Except Ben didn't violate his contract or reveal his identity. A UK tabloid ousted him and over a year later he left TG to persue other interests. There was never any breach with him (unlike Perry).

Ben's book is also excellent and IMO further's the TG brand...

If you read Perry's book he was "found out" right around when he started driving with Audi UK. Walking back from the broken car during the night he encountered a group of fans were cheering for the stig and the tabloids printed it. BTW if you havent read Flat Out: Flat Broke its really good.
Jan. 2, 2012 8:54 p.m. pinchvalve SuperDork

JoeyM wrote:

How about calling him "Ben Collins (former white stig)" to distinguish him from "Perry MacCarthy (former black stig)". After all, they both violated their contracts, revealed their identity, and wrote tell all books.

All a pack of lies because I am The Stig.
Jan. 2, 2012 9:21 p.m. BoostedBrandon HalfDork

What's Ben Collins' book called?
Jan. 2, 2012 9:55 p.m. Javelin SuperDork

BoostedBrandon wrote:

What's Ben Collins' book called?

The Man in the White Suit. It is exceptionally good.
Jan. 2, 2012 9:58 p.m. Lesley SuperDork

Sure is. He's got a great sense of humour. Nice to know that Stig was rather hot too.
Jan. 2, 2012 10:03 p.m. neon4891 SuperDork

Some say New Stig has ovaries. IIRC, Sabine stopped driving the Ring taxi, maybe she is regularly driving around a British air field now.
Jan. 2, 2012 10:47 p.m. Appleseed SuperDork

Toll! Das ist net!
Jan. 3, 2012 4:47 a.m. JoeyM SuperDork

neon4891 wrote:

Some say New Stig has ovaries. IIRC, Sabine stopped driving the Ring taxi, maybe she is regularly driving around a British air field now.

I don't doubt that she has worn the suit (remember the "mullet" jokes about the blond hair hanging out of the helmet) but think she is too bust doing TG Germany to be their regular driver.

That said, I would not be surprised if she is normally the German Stig and Tanner is normally the American Stig

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