[Closed] Top Gear '21

Absolutely cracking episode. Agree that McClaren was obscenely impressive, the tribute at the end was just marvellous.

Looking forward to next week, although it was filmed somewhere shit.

There was definitely something in my eye after the Eddie Kidd bit.

As if proof were needed, Harris’ time against Norris shows how good a driver he still is. Shame they didn’t give us the other times.

PMG leaving the handbrake on was classic – what a pillock.

Believe me, it’s dead easy if you haven’t driven a particular car before, or aren’t too familiar with it. Even now, after nearly five years of driving hundreds of different cars, many of them numerous times, I still have problems with those sodding electronic parking brakes!
The fact that my current car was chosen partly because it has an analogue dash and a proper handbrake!
Great programme, really enjoyed it, the Eddie Kidd piece was brilliant, a wonderful tribute to him. <

blockquote> As if proof were needed, Harris’ time against Norris shows how good a driver he still is. Shame they didn’t give us the other times.

Yeah, Lando’s a superb driver, he’s certainly got the skill and talent to be world champion in the not too distant future, but he seemed to find the McLaren a bit of a handful; even so, I was surprised that Harris’ time was that close. Can you imagine if Chris Evans was still doing the show, and attempted that… 🤣

Not watched TG for a long time, but thought tonight's show was fantastic. Will definitely tune in again.

Believe me, it’s dead easy if you haven’t driven a particular car before,

I imagine it’s even easier when you are looking for a cheap gag…

Very good episode that.

I imagine it’s even easier when you are looking for a cheap gag…

Well, probably a bit of that too, but most of the guys I work with hate those bloody things. My Ford, being a semi-auto, has a hill-start hold, so I don’t have to use the handbrake at traffic lights, but I just struggle with some of the others with a silly little button, which is often plonked in a daft place, like down at the bottom of the dash near the door. Also some you push, others you pull, there’s no consistency.
We’ve got a number of Alfas at work, Giulliettas and Stelvias mostly, but I’ve not had an opportunity to drive any, so I don’t know how the cockpit ergonomics are set out. When I go back to work, if I remember I’ll check a couple out, to see how they’re set out.

Superb episode, the Eddie Kidd piece was just right.

The McClaren was too much for my liking. The Aston, hmmmm, only £150k.....

Great episode. The Eddie Kidd tribute was really good and respect to Paddy for doing the bike jump.

but he seemed to find the McLaren a bit of a handful; even so, I was surprised that Harris’ time was that close.

Remember that Harris is a properly experienced sports car racer, way more experience pedalling cars like that than Norris. OTOH if you stuck them both in an F1 car over a race distance it wouldn’t be pretty

Agreed, that episode was one of the best for a long time, especially the Eddie Kidd piece, but the track cars were excellent too. Great start to the series!

Dusty in here.

The various electronic handbrake vehicles I’ve driven all have one thing in common. They’re automatic once you’ve selected a gear.

It made me laugh when lando comments he has never driven the car before as he catching the slide

The Eddie Kidd tribute... Wow! Chapeau Paddy McGuinness, staggeringly well done, he's earnt some serious petrolhead brownie points and his predictably boring clowning around can be forgiven for features like that. As someone who watched the Eddie Kidd vs Robbie Knievel battles as a kid myself, brilliant to see a real British hero being honoured so well.

That Alfa though... Dear lord that's tidy! Just wish they'd put a decent manual box in the (almost as crazy but only 1/3rd the price) Quadrifoglio for the UK rather than the 8spd ZF box only...

Outstanding - the Eddie Kidd piece was the icing on a very tasty cake. For Harris to be just a second off Norris on a +2 minute lap was the perfect demonstration as to just how good a pedaller he is.

But Eddie Kidd. He was a legend when I was into MX but not terribly interested in leather-clad goons jumping distance. I once had the chance to meet him at the VMXdN and, to my eternal shame and damnation, walked on by. Legend.

Enjoyed that, but an obvious Eddie Kidd question - with all the tech available today surely he could get a voice back? Maybe he's happy with his carer speaking for him, but the thought kept popping into my head.

I'm not a big fan of Top gear but it happened to be on when I walked into the room and I kept watching. I really enjoyed it, the Eddie tribute was great.

The jump that got him... why did he do it?

Something that probably haunts him forever.

Really enjoyed last nights, it flew by, I was surprised when it ended tbh. That 765LT was almost as crazy as the price, I know it's a press car and they tick every box, but it was nearly double the already night basic price! Also, if I want to split hairs when Chris Harris reviewed it last year, he didn't like it much. I think it was probably chosen for him.

The jump that got him… why did he do it?

Something that probably haunts him forever.

I was chatting to my mate last night about it, "A jump without a landing". I got the impression he was asked/paid to go along to the event, saw it was sketchy AF, but didn't want to let anyone down, coupled with incredible courage / confidence thought he could do it somehow.

“ The jump that got him… why did he do it?

Something that probably haunts him forever.”

Nowadays you could pop on the internet and look at hundreds of pictures of most venues that people have taken. You can check Google maps or street view if near a road. You can get a site owner to send you some pictures or a video in seconds. You can do all that quickly and cheaply or free before you agree to a job. Even after that you’ll visit the venue and plan the jump location and measure up etc and if you don’t think it’s safe not many people will hold it against you.

Back then, even though it wasn’t long ago, you didn’t have that and I can imagine gentlemens agreements were something you stuck to as they were part and parcel of how you did work, and how you got more of it. I can well imagine in the “daft bike stunt” business this was very very strong and he probably felt like he had to do it to maintain his reputation. He had never been seriously injured so that would have added to the “it’ll be ok” attitude before he twisted the throttle.

Seems like it didn’t haunt him too much, I was chuffed to see he had all his pictures and memorabilia around him, and the bike that he rode when he crashed.

Fantastic bloke, loved how Paddy got him in stitches then them all in tears at the end. One of the best TG pieces in many many years.

We do need to do more tributes like this when these iconic figures are still alive, so they know how much they have influenced people.

Enjoyed that, in fairness, I enjoyed last season as well.
I wasn't sure of the Eddie Kidd bit was just a bit cringe, but I think they got away with it.

Believe me, it’s dead easy if you haven’t driven a particular car before, or aren’t too familiar with it

That's a very good point.
I have a friend who's a serial car collector and I got to have a little play in his newly acquired MP4-12C the other day - I couldn't figure out how to make it go until I noticed three little buttons with D,N and R on!!
😬

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Something that probably haunts him forever.

The fact he had the bike in question sitting there in his house, complete with dented fuel tank from his head, suggests he's come to terms with it.

I couldn’t figure out how to make it go until I noticed three little buttons with D,N and R on!!I couldn’t figure out how to make it go until I noticed three little buttons with D,N and R on!!

😂

My thinking on the handbrake, if it works the same way as my Passat, it won't release automatically if you don't have the seatbelt on. As he was wearing the harness and not the seatbelt, it might not have released when Paddy expected it. Then simply got flustered working out how it works.

I was a bit bored last night so had a bit Google, it seems this is a bit of an issue with Alfas. Who knew they’d have faults with their electrics.

Loved it. Eddie bit was great and didn't realise he still has the bike that he had the accident on. Massive respect for not just crushing it!

I never heard of Eddie but Paddy did a great job of warming us to him and making us invested. Great show at the end too. Fair play.

I've just watched the Eddie Kidd segment and I'm in ****ing bits.

I never really liked Paddy, in this or anything that he's been in but fair play, the passion and respect that he showed Eddie during that piece was outstanding. Beats anything from top gear that has gone before and I seriously doubt Flintoff or Harris could have pulled it off so fittingly.

I was in bits, the Mrs who had never heard of Eddie before then stopped what she was doing and was in bits as well.

A friend did the pyrotechnics for the stunt display- he’s said it was very emotionally charged there.

Wow just wow I remember Eddie Kidd well !! I’d forgotten just how great/big he was.

Excellent tribute

Anyone watched tonight’s episode? The EV/caravan bit was interesting.

It was a good episode tonight, the Lambo was mental and parts of the caravan thing had me in stitches, but I do wonder if they peaked too soon this series with the Eddie Kidd tribute

Yeah absolutely daft entertainment, I shudder to think what Flintoff suffering. Shame the wether wasn’t kind of them so the views weren’t great, luckily they were up the valley for a few days so it did come out in the end.

Lambo stuff was interesting, but caravans? Weak.

1st episode good, 2nd episode back to the same tired old shit. And still had to end with EVs running out. ICE cars do that too if you don't put petrol in them.
3rd episode will no doubt be them converting some old cars into something else.

i have enjoyed TG since these three were at the helm. Its an hour of entertainment that contains cars... gets my vote. And on the odd occasion they cover subjects so well (IE Eddie Kidd).

Last night had me in stitches with the chilli eating. Absolutely brilliant!

Take it at face value and it’s good.

The bit about caravans was a dog at EV’s just not being fit for purpose

That Merc is know for being unrealistic with claimed range.

Stick a tiny caravan on any EV and the range just disappears, let alone a ‘normal’ size caravan.

So for me was highlighting EV’s are not great and caravans are not eco friendly

The rendition of the Max and Paddy theme tune rather tickled me.

The caravan thing was really stupid last night. Especially the concept of racing electric cars round a short moorland grass track while eating chillis. WTF was the concept behind that?

We all knew the milk incident was coming, didnt stop it being funny when PMG spat it all over Flintoff, that and Flintoff remarking how he'd fill the portaloo in one sitting had me genuinely laughing out loud.
No the best episode ever, by no means the worst.