I can't stop staring at Al's pic...
This from the country that gave us Leonard Setright, George Bishop, Russell Bulgin, Phil Llewellyn...
I grew up reading their columns (and still re-read them - much to my wife's disappointment at how anyone can need so many old magazines - with my regular pronouncement "they're all dead now..."), continue to hunt out LJK's various books and still usually enjoy Top Gear. It reached a low point a few series back but there's more content now, more intelligence and less silliness (this is all relative - it's not Setright (who I disagreed with in equal measure to Clarkson's buffoonery) at his most highbrow by any means!)
Clarkson himself has referred to being a product of CAR magazine, growing up reading it in the '70s, as is May (who was a columnist in his post-Autocar days). Around 1990 CAR was doing similar challenges to those pioneered on TV with new TG, with May himself being involved, though I think Goodwin and Bremner were the originators.
Last night's finale will be seen globally and, by putting British vehicle manufacturing in such a positive light, probably contribute even more to the British economy than Top Gear's own vast net profit from overseas revenue.
Al, which one is you?
Like it or loathe it- 6 pages proves it works. It don't matter what they are saying as long as they're talking about it.....
I've always liked May's print journalism (as long as he keeps his political views to himself), but can't remember reading one single decent piece by JC - his articles were always about him, not about the car.
If he did grow up with the CAR of the 70's, he seems to have forgotten most of it now.
Around 1990 CAR was doing similar challenges to those pioneered on TV with new TG, with May himself being involved, though I think Goodwin and Bremner were the originators.
I liked those - they were done with intelligence and humour - BIKE still does them now and they are excellent.
I often disagreed with LJK too, especially about automatic transmissions, but I was always challenged, intrigued and delighted by his intelligence and passion.
Clarkson is the exact opposite - a celebration of ignorance and mindlesness - a triumph of base emotion over intellect.
Which makes me sad.
On another subject, has anyone else noticed that the third man from series one never made it to Dave?
I suppose if you disliked Clarkson enough (easily done!) you could manage to ignore anything he does with passion, feeling or (dare I say it?) intelligence and not appreciate the humour or self-deprecation. The only time I've observed Clarkson being a "celebration of ignorance and mindlessness" is when reading his column in The Sun whilst at the counter in my local chippy. That is an absolute travesty but completely in sync with everything written by Murdoch's ministry of truth for the proletariat...
Motorworld was rather good. I'd still like to drive a Bristol. LJKS would approve of my car's engine but not of its centre of gravity (though it's lower than it used to be...) Drive On is good reading btw. Long Lane With Turnings is painfully short... 🙁
Funny thread 😆
I'm one of those imbeciles who watch TG and follow JC on twitter.
I'm also certain he would be highly amused at some of the 'intellectuals' on this thread as he laughs all the way to the bank!
