A serviceable episode from the lads tonight. I’m yet to be convinced we can expect greatness from the locals, but episode 2 did provide solid entertainment.
The show opened with a piece on the HSV Clubsport R8, which quickly, and thankfully, took a turn for something that sounds truly mad. The brutes from Walkinshaw Performance have strapped a supercharger on the already well powered V8. The symphony of V8 grunt and supercharged torque was music to the ears of anyone who has enjoyed the delights of supercharger whine. The car is good for a mammoth 470kW apparently. Yikes! They ran the car twice on Top Gear Australia test track, first with bling 22 inch wheels, second with moderate bling 20 inch wheels. We all know the theory—lighter wheels are best for performance—but according to Stiggo the smaller 20 inch wheels with more forgiving rubber were over three seconds a lap quicker.
According to the sales data Australians bought more V8s than ever before in 2008. So much for the fuel crisis. This inspired Warren and Steve to build a couple of electric cars on a $3000 budget. Steve took charge of a lightweight Suzuki Mighty Boy, while Warren loaded up an HZ Kingswood wagon with a bunch of regular old car batteries. Steve’s nutball idea to power his car with four cordless drills sounded kind of fun, but it just didn’t work. There were some good laughs here, though.
In the middle of the episode, and from nowhere, it seemed, they fired up a Model T Ford. Fifteen million of Henry’s finest were sold back in the day, a figure that, amazingly, still sees the T in the top 10 selling cars of all time. They look like a bitch to drive, however!
One final challenge for James and Warren was a reverse race around Oran Park raceway. James was at the wheel of a Ford Territory, Warren in a Commodore. All mirrors and windows were covered over, with James relying solely on the Territory’s reverse camera and in-dash screen. While Warren had just the rear window to guide him through the course, littered with obstacles. Okay, so it wasn’t great viewing, but, again, it was good harmless fun.
Ian Moss picked up a (not so) fast car to burn his name in the road as tonight’s guest. He’s a pretty good subject, with some great tales to tell no doubt. But, he’s always been a shy bloke and Warren still has a way to go to put his subjects at ease. Even with his elbow resting on the window sill leading into the main straight, ‘Mossy’ was able to set the second quickest time around the track.
Another nod in the direction of the film and production crews who, so far in Series 2, continue to get the ‘Top Gear look’ just right.
6 replies on “Top Gear Australia – Series 2, Episode 2”
I didn’t see all the episode but some of the camera work in the first piece was up there with TGUK’s latest work.
Did you see the Stig in the back ground during the Model T’s lap? Just as Steve said “modern planes in the back ground” the Model T drove past a hanger and I swear I saw someone in a white race suit standing there.
I agree, kudos to the film crew, they do a great job with the cinematography.
I reckon there are two issues that still need to be ironed out with the Aussie version. The first is that the episodes seem a bit thin and as a result, the guys need to pad them up with fillers that seem too contrived and forced and take too long to get to the point. The Model T bit was interesting but you got the distinct impression that it was making up for the fact that they didn’t have enough other stuff to show – like the dummy bit last week.
If last night’s episode was done by the UK mob, there’s no way that they would have not got the mighty toy running and in the process, made a sceptical of it. They would also have probably got the wires in the Kingswood to melt and catch on fire – even if it required external ‘help’.
The second problem is that Steve needs to relax. Compare his studio efforts with Hammond and the big difference you notice is that Steve speaks about 6 octaves higher and it’s like he’s shouting to people in the back row rather than being more interment with the camera (for want of a better description).
There’s still hope but they really need to start sorting this stuff out.
Yep, agreed Andrew.
I agree too Andrew, I enjoyed the show but found it a little “thin” too. I thought the tyre comparison was excellent, but the electric cars were pretty pointless and not even that funny/interesting.
The reversing thing too, was unrealistic and totally pointless, it basically showed that the camera was crap – but in the words of James “you’d be mad not to buy one”???? what for???
The first bit on the Walkinshaw clubbie with the various track tests etc was excellent.
Part of the problem I think is the way the production team works in the hangar – when I went to the filming the crew was always trying to gee-up the crowd – asking us to laugh in an exagerated manner at anything that even tried to be humourous.
This forced over-enthusiasm is also how I believe the presenters have been instructed to act as well – and it all comes across as fake.
I thought the show was very light on, all three of the blokes struggled for their piece of the action… I think Andrew was 100% correct with his thoughts on Steve… chill out a bit mate!
I tuned out around the time he realised his car wasn’t going to be powered by a bunch of cordless drills…
Steve picked the Walkie to bits as well… given that James Morrison is an anchor as well, what did he actually do in the show? Obviously he was a late signing to the equation?