It's incredible that there can be so many goings on around a little car show. There was a spot of turmoil in the last shortened season of Top Gear, a few grumblings of unhappy presenters, and then the hallowed BBC couldn't figure out when the next season was going to begin. But here we are, the date has arrived: Top Gear version 12 will commence on November 2nd, 2008, A.D. I guess then we'll start to find out what they're doing in Vietnam...
[Source: Top Gear]
Posts with tag hamster
Top Gear Series 12 officially starts November 2nd
Clarkson and crew attempt to cross English Channel. Emphasis on attempt
The blokes at Top Gear are in the process of planning their summer return, and last week viewers abroad got a rare glimpse into how the sausage is made.
You might recall Clarkson, Hammond and May taking on the challenge of creating their own aquatic vehicles a few seasons back (if not, the video is posted after the jump), and the results were somewhat predictable, with Clarkson capsizing, Hamster taking on more water than the laws of physics would allow, and Captain Slow rolling into the docks triumphant in his Triumph Herald.
Well, the three motoring presenters decided to pull their aqua-whips out of retirement to cross the English Channel, and again, two of the three vehicles met their demise at the bottom of the sea. According to various reports, May's Herald and Hammond's VW van went under within the first few minutes, while Jezza was able to stay afloat long enough to stroke his ever-expanding ego.
The Daily Mail article has several photos of the event, and a few choice quotes from understandably peeved Coast Guard officers.
On a related side note, Hammond reportedly ditched his 911 Carrera in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire at 3 AM yesterday, after he was stuck in traffic caused by a flood for 12 hours. Our man wasn't going to miss his daughter's birthday party, so he decided to run the 16 miles back to his home, equipped with a waterproof jacket, some running shoes and an iPod. "There was no way I was going to miss it – I'm away from home enough as it is," said Hammond, after recounting his two-and-a-half hour-long jog. Kudos to Hamster for knowing what really matters.
[Sources: Autotrader.co.uk, Daily Mail]
Continue reading Clarkson and crew attempt to cross English Channel. Emphasis on attempt
Top Gear's back, with Hammond, airing Jan28
The Hamster's back! We're pleased to report that after a miraculously brief recovery period following his mishap with a 300-mph jet-powered dragster, Richard Hammond is back in action, and so is Top Gear.
Richard was on hand today for the filming of the program's annual awards ceremony. While we never did get the point of awarding more than one Man or Car of the Year prize, Richard's colleagues presented him with one of their Man of the Year awards for his epic recovery and to welcome him back. And he sure deserves it. The folks at Lego, the skill-building toy to which Hammond previously attributed his rapid recovery, also presented him with a toy-block replica of the jet car that sent him plowing the field, as well as a replica of the Top Gear set, complete with little Hammond, little Clarkson, little May and little Stig.
And now with Richard back in action and with no further ado, the news you've all been waiting for: the new season of Top Gear is confirmed to air on January 28, only a month and a half away. Of course that's only if you get BBC2, but we won't be surprised to find the episodes popping up online at the BBC's website and intermittently on YouTube et al.
Welcome back, Richard, and welcome back, Top Gear. We've all missed you terribly.
For those coming late to the story, check out these...
Related posts:
- Richard Hammond, released from hospital, describes crash and recovery
- VIDEO: Hamster dragster crash footage!
- Set the TiVo: Hammond crash will be made into show
- BBC won't sTop Gear: show resumes filming
- Hammond Watch: the grueling road ahead
- Hammond to BBC: show the crash and me in the hospital
- Top Gear fights for survival as BBC postpones show indefinitely
- Hammond Update: "Was I driving like a tw*t?"
[Source: Top Gear]
VIDEO: Hamster dragster crash footage!
As we reported earlier, Richard Hammond was volunteering, if not lobbying from his bedside, for the BBC to show the footage of his 300-mph dragster crash that put him in the hospital and Top Gear on hiatus.
Meanwhile, here at Autoblog we've been happy to report that the Hamster is on the fast road to recovery and that the BBC has resumed filming of the show in anticipation of Richard's immanent return, and may show the crash footage. But we wouldn't want to keep our dedicated readers waiting.
Now anyone who's ever seen the show knows that Richard has a brilliant sense of humor. So with all this in mind, we bring you this video. Enjoy!
Related posts:
Thanks for the tip, Yosef!
[Source: DragsterCrash.com]
BBC won't sTop Gear: show resumes filming
Some feared that anti-motoring opportunists would use Richard Hammond's crash as a pretext to have the show shut down, but the BBC is making good on its pledge not to cancel Top Gear.
While Richard recovers from his injuries at a hospital in Bristol, England, fellow host Jeremy Clarkson test drove the latest Lotus Europa on camera, as filming resumes for the new series only on segments that don't require Hammond's presence. They don't yet know when the new series will air, because that depends on when Richard is recovered and able to return to the set.
We can speculate that the positive news will help Richard recover faster, knowing that he's got a show to return to when he's up to it. And we just can't wait.
Related posts:
- Hammond Watch: the grueling road ahead
- Hammond to BBC: show the crash and me in the hospital
- Top Gear fights for survival as BBC postpones show indefinitely
- Hammond Update: "Was I driving like a tw*t?"
Thanks to all the vigilant tipsters who've been sending us news on Hammond and Top Gear; stay tuned for more news as it emerges.
[Source: BBC News]
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