Top Gear wigs out in convertible test
Perhaps Jeremy Clarkson is feeling the pinch of reaching 'middle age' status. Arguably fearing for the fate of his own curly locks, the host of the UK's wacky and wonderful Top Gear set out to determine the aerodynamic properties (or lack thereof) of three types of wigs, as realized in a convertible environment. Dubbed the "Top Gear Toupee Test," the show straps a bald man ("Barry") into a top-down TVR Tamora next to the Stig. Unusually, perhaps, the show takes the high road, passing over convertibles like the Mazda MX-5 or Citroen Pluriel and Mini Cooper Convertible, convertibles that have been pigeonholed by many as "hairdresser's cars." Regardless, the helmeted mystery driver drops the straight-line hammer in order to see what velocity will see the hapless Barry drop his top. They then trade in the British sportscar for a more sedate Mercedes-Benz CLK fitted with a wind deflector to see how much better/worse the poor man makes out.
Deeply unscientific and all in good fun, it's worth a quick watch.
[Source: Top Gear via YouTube]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Michael Cicconi 6:34PM (4/27/2006)
This is from an old episode, from a few seasons back. They have been calling for other middle-aged men with comb-overs to perform a similar experiment: air-lifted comb-overs in convertibles.
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Paul Spehar 7:10PM (4/27/2006)
10 day countdown until season 8 begins!!!
http://www.finalgear.com/news/2006/04/20/top-gear-is-back-may-7th/
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Vinny 8:19PM (4/27/2006)
I've seen Richard Hammond on Braniac here in the states on G4. Does anyone know if this show from the clip is also aired here in the U.S.?
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jmulls 9:16AM (4/28/2006)
in re: 3, no! The show in the clip is Top Gear which is arguably one of the best shows currently in production, anywhere. In the US the Discovery channel picked up portions of it it, had them redo the studio bits to be more american and chopped together different segments making for an awful result. The Discovery channel dropped the edited version and are now producing a US version in parrallel to the UK version with new hosts, new studio, same stig. Few have high expectations for the US version without Clarkson, Hammond, and May
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DRFS Rich 11:41AM (4/28/2006)
"Helmeted Mystery Driver?" The British have a word for that... Stig!
- R
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ZoomZoomin' 1:32PM (4/28/2006)
I'm still hoping that BBCAmerica eventually secures the rights to air the orginals. That would be incredibly awesome.
BTW, this reminds me...when is the neutered, "Americanized" version of "Top Gear" supposed to appear on Discovery?
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fizzandpop 2:58PM (4/28/2006)
Can someone add to my list of recent Top Gear stunts, I don't think I've seen them all. Here's what I can remember:
Making the three most intelligent men in Britain do burnouts.
Sitting in a car and having it struck by lightning.
Destroying a 911
Dunking a car in a tank of water to test how long it takes to escape.
My memory sucks.
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