Filed under: Euro
Top Gear burns! Props destroyed
by John Neff on Aug 15th 2007 at 12:38PM 
Yesterday a fire destroyed a barn at Hill End Farm in High Street, Sandridge in which props were stored for our favorite auto show from the UK, Top Gear. The free standing structure stored grain on one side, but the other was rented out by the BBC to house various props and equipment for Top Gear. There has been no word on Top Gear's website as to what items were destroyed, but we're nervous now that the Stig's list of Power Laps now exists only in our heads (and online). Police have already concluded the fire is a case of arson and was set deliberately, though no suspects appear to be in custody. The barn itself is in a secluded area, so much so that firefighters had to wait for a long enough hose to arrive that would reach the nearest fire hydrant. There was also two acetylene cylinders and one oxygen cylinder reportedly housed in the barn, though they did not ignite.
[Source: St. Albans Observer]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
paul34 12:43PM (8/15/2007)
Sounds like a good excuse to blame it on eco-terrorist... or just jealous Fifth Gear fans.
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Don 3:35PM (8/15/2007)
Did Clarkson's ego burn, too?
Rence 12:52PM (8/15/2007)
stop trolling man.. what are you, 12?
anyways, hope this won't delay the new season, although I doubt there's any props they use in the studio that can't be rebuild or replaced.
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paul34 1:42PM (8/15/2007)
I don't see how the article is trolling? Seems like a pretty straightforward news piece to me.
lintsniffer 1:11PM (8/15/2007)
knowing them, they'd host a show out in a field with no props as a joke.
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Mike 1:34PM (8/15/2007)
Or use the partially burned and/or melted props. Maybe even use a smoke machine and wear fire helmets.
vectorbug 1:20PM (8/15/2007)
tiff needell strikes again!
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DaveTehWave 1:42PM (8/15/2007)
Jeez!
These guys have not had the best run of luck lately...
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FThorn 2:05PM (8/15/2007)
Between this and the Wallace and Grommit fire, seems eerily suspicious. If I were them, I'd post guards at the Benny Hill studios.
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KMan 2:53PM (8/15/2007)
Biff, it's gas over here, not petrol.
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rygar 3:18PM (8/15/2007)
Maybe they went "camping" again and "accidentally" started a fire.
Just kidding. I love these geezers.
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Barry 3:20PM (8/15/2007)
...And yet the Toyota Hilux pickup remains as the only prop still standing and running! (cue Mexican trumpet soundtrack)
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Rence 3:20PM (8/15/2007)
@ paul34
"I don't see how the article is trolling? Seems like a pretty straightforward news piece to me."
Yeah sorry about that, I was replying to a comment from someone trashing TG and its hosts, but it appears the comment was removed while my reply wasn't..
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Biff Baxter All American 3:30PM (8/15/2007)
I'll suggest a few arson suspects:
- Earth First
- PETA (TG doesn't involve critters, but what the Hell, they do use petrol)
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Randall Bennett 4:37PM (8/15/2007)
I'm going with Tiff Nedell from Fifth gear lighting the fire. He's crazy enough, and always faux drunk.
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Trevor Bommersbach 5:35PM (8/15/2007)
I'm going out on a limb and assuming this is the work of eco-terrorists like ELF (earth liberation front). Like most eco-freaks, whoever did this doesn't realize the total sum of impact their actions have.
First, environmental. Think of all greenhouse gases and other enviromentally damaging wastes were produced as the result of this fire. I for one hope that they find out who is responsible. Your typical campfire puts out more bad stuff than running your your car for...(someone do the environ-math for me please).
Second, like any good eco-freak this group has proven that they are in fact, nothing more than are intolerant facists. They want their cause to be heard, but will stop at nothing to squelch those who aren't in lock-step with your beliefs. A REAL environmentalist would argue their beliefs scientifically (but will still loose the arguement :D), yet will AND welcome the Clarksons opinions as free-speech as part of the debate. These folks have done nothing except they are no better than your average run of the mill terrorist.
Third, these eco-mentalists have given Clarkson and staff a legitimate reason to go after them legally and hopefull expose them for the uneducated childish idiots they are. 1) The Top Gear staff have been physically threatened. This is no different from a death threat. If these guys are found, their actions carry the same weight as death threat. Top Gear staff should demand Federal (or whatever the UKs equavalent to the level is) attention to the issue as well as round the clock protection (At tax payer expense) from these punks until they are found. 2) These guys have brought on a form financial hardship and therefore a created the grounds that Clarkson and crew can go after them for every penny these kids (or their indirect sponsors) are worth.
I really hope this get Clarkson to stop dicking around with newpaper columns and challenges (both of which I enjoy emmensely) and create a massive documentary series (something at least a long as the "Speed" series), that counteracts the eco-mentalists points (like those in an Inconvinient Truth) but larger and with actual science backing it (something the Inconvinient Truth lacks entirely).
You always had the ammo Clarkson, now you got the reason, go get those punks and shut their mouth once and for all. We're counting on you!
Oh....any by the way...the UK needs some common sense and alot of it! Clarkson for Prime Minister!
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Bryan 9:07PM (8/15/2007)
Even though I think this show if ran and hosted by some of this worlds biggest morons, arson is not cool.
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Bryan 9:07PM (8/15/2007)
is*
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Den in IN 9:33PM (8/15/2007)
OR...it could be the southern rednecks again...
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Taras 9:47AM (8/16/2007)
It was hamster burning down the COOL WALL so he wouldn't chew on the cards anymore.
Sad thou for what it is its a great show something we don't have here in the states.
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