Top & Jerry

News today from Autoguide that Top gear USA is back for a third series.They've still only shown one-and-a-half series of it over here - they interrupted the run of series two to show repeats of Doctor Who.

Now I like Doctor Who - a lot - but not enough to watch repeats of it.

Anyway, today's story, on the back of the one about Top Gear (as featured on my Facebook Page yesterday) means that there will be plenty of Top Gear Action around in 2013.

The Autoguide story also covers a story in "The Daily" about a proposed new show which will be a vehicle (excuse the pun) for Jerry Seinfeld (big Porsche fan judging by the pictures of him in Google Images) to spend time with other comics discussing cars.
I hope it gets picked up here - I love cars and I love comedy...

...which is probably why I love Top Gear...

...and writing daft car-blog posts.

Madam, I'm Adam

Another stupid car-name story. This spy-shot has been released today by Vauxhall of their new baby car along with the announcement of its name:

The VAUXHALL ADAM!

Some sections of the motoring press have been having some fun with the name. Car Magazine covered it thus while Top Gear have been comparing it to other cars with people's names although some of their examples are a bit tenuous - like Cressida and Silvia - they didn't even think of Marina.

So who is the Adam named after? 1980s pop icon Adam Ant?or perhaps soap heartthrob Adam Woodyatt?or, perhaps more likely, Top Gear USA presenter Adam Ferrara?Vauxhall won't say that it is named after Adam Opel, founder of Opel but it is named after Adam Opel, founder of Opel.

Vicki's Take on Top Gear vs Fifth Gear

Back in June 2010, I posed the question "What's best, Top Gear or Fifth Gear?"Well, I found an article written by the lovely Vicki Butler-Henderson that appeared at the end of last month on the MSN cars website where she debates the same thing.

I was beginning to think that this was a moot argument because the Fifth Gear website had not been touched since February 1st with a car news item on the Ford B-Max. Now I know things motoring newsy have happened since then so I was worried that Fifth Gear might have been no more - it was threatened with extinction a few years back so I guess there is always a chance of decomissioning.

But today, the Fifth Gear News site points at a picture of Tiff and Jason and states that a new series is coming. There's nothing in the Radio Times about it but I guess we're not having to wait too long because Vicki in her article says that they are filming it. Still a bit of doubt as to whether or not Jason will actually be part of it - he must be quite busy now with his BTCC commitments.

Whether he is present or not, Vicki's conclusion is one I have to go with - and not a million miles from what I came up with back in 2010 - both shows are good - both shows are different - and long may both continue.

Now, what's best, Top Gear or Top Gear USA?

Top Gear USA

"It's like being aroused with a gun pointing at you."

BBC Three showed the first edition of Top Gear USA this weekend - or, as it's called over there, Top Gear. I knew there had to be a good reason for BBC Three existing.

It has the same basic format as the orginal (and best!) version with 3 middling aged blokes and a Stig. Their Stig seems less of a mythical creature though.

They still have "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car" but they call it "Big Star, Small Car". Their big star was Buzz Aldrin but the interview was very poor - it just seemed to be them listing previous cars he had owned then showing his lap. He seemed to have some trouble finding fifth which implies they are using a manual - this flies on the face of my earlier posting, Automatic For The (American) People. I suppose that they may do what the British version does and have a second, automatic car that can be used with guests who can't use a stick-shift.

Their presenters have much stranger names than ours:

Tanner Foust seems to be their equivalent of Richard Hammond.








Rutledge Wood must be the James May equivalent because he isn't the Richard Hammondy one and he isn't the front man. Also, if you type "Rutledge Wood" into Google Images, on the third row of the results, you get a picture of James.




This leaves the one that concerns me a bit:

Adam Ferrara. He is described as a "renowned petrolhead" which always rings alarm bells for me. When it comes to presenters of car shows, I have always believed that the best ones need to have a racing or motoring journalism background - Adam is a stand-up and a comedy actor. He does have a relatively normal name though.

It's still early days yet and the banter seemed quite forced. The jury is still out. They will need time to gel and establish a pecking order. I'm guessing this must have happened because they are on Season 2 over The Pond. I'll certainly keep watching with interest.