Who watches (watched) Top gear and Grand Tour? Anyone see the Grand Tour finale yet?

[pentode]

Rather than hijack the other thread where this came up, I just thought I'd ask how many fans of those three guys there are out there?
I had already moved away from the USA when the "new" Top Gear started so I never really had a sense of how much traction those shows got in the US. And amongst my core group of old USA friends, none are car guys for some reason.

 

[Blmpkn]

My life is summed up with the Simpsons 'meme'

Those three and their antics have had an incredibly positive effect on my life.. especially during my worst years. Whenever I didn't have someone to talk to.. or didn't want to talk.. introverted and depressed.. whatever it was..TopGear was always there to make me smile.

It being over is a real loss for me. I feel like such a fkng sissy being as sad as I am about it.. but it seriously feels like I've just lost 3 friends in a way. No longer do I get to look forward to new adventures with them.. I'm stuck with memories now.


This is incredibly bad for my wallet too. It's been 2 days and im already diving down the TopGear memorabilia/collectibles rabbit hole... got some goodies coming from the UK .. if I can't look forward to new shows I can at least look forward to the dopamine rush of hitting 'buy now' on some bitchin assed trinkets.

I'll upload pictures once it/they arrive in the mail

 

[pentode]

To quote the young... O. M. G. Believe it or not I don't spend much time on the internet but maybe I should because those two memes crushed it. I watched last night, and I was all choked up and I freakin hate to cry because it hurts my membranes. I fought it off but went to sleep in a medium sized panic attack about getting old and sh*t ending.

It was on my mind so much that I made my (soon to be ex) wife watch the last 30 minutes today (I'd say she's generally a fan of them although not a car person per se) and she cursed me out for making her cry before she had to go to pub quiz night.

I discovered them on the BBC in about 2003, maybe a year after the reboot. I've watched every episode multiple times, just because. Honestly, I could talk for a good long while about those series and each of those guys and their other projects and the impact they've had on the world. Very seriously, to anyone who comes across this post and cares remotely about farming or food or animals or comedy, watch Clarkson's Farm. It's peak TV.

Anyone who has no idea what we're on about, just ask and we'll curate a list of episodes to get you onboard, but rest assured Top Gear/Grand Tour are about cars, almost totally not about crying at all.

 

[Blmpkn]

To quote the young... O. M. G. Believe it or not I don't spend much time on the internet but maybe I should because those two memes crushed it. I watched last night, and I was all choked up and I freakin hate to cry because it hurts my membranes. I fought it off but went to sleep in a medium sized panic attack about getting old and sh*t ending.

It was on my mind so much that I made my (soon to be ex) wife watch the last 30 minutes today (I'd say she's generally a fan of them although not a car person per se) and she cursed me out for making her cry before she had to go to pub quiz night.

I discovered them on the BBC in about 2003, maybe a year after the reboot. I've watched every episode multiple times, just because. Honestly, I could talk for a good long while about those series and each of those guys and their other projects and the impact they've had on the world. Very seriously, to anyone who comes across this post and cares remotely about farming or food or animals or comedy, watch Clarkson's Farm. It's peak TV.

Anyone who has no idea what we're on about, just ask and we'll curate a list of episodes to get you onboard, but rest assured Top Gear/Grand Tour are about cars, almost totally not about crying at all.

I could talk about those three and their various shows just about as much as whoever wrote the Bible could ramble on about Jesus lol.


I can't contain my excitement anymore though.. I know you'll love these...

Licensed die-cast replicas from one of the amphi-car specials managed to win these two on eBay yesterday and today. 1/43 scale, made by a UK company (Oxford) back in 2011 or 2012.. never sold here.

Same company also made clarksons Nissan pickup from the same episode (next on the list!) and the indestructible hilux. They were supposed to do 12 models In total.. but sadly only ended up making the 4.. booooo.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Very seriously, to anyone who comes across this post and cares remotely about farming or food or animals or comedy, watch Clarkson's Farm. It's peak TV.

+1

I never really got into Top Gear/Grand Tour but Clarkson's Farm is awesome.

 

[Blmpkn]

Ordered myself one of these last night lol. I'll buy the whole line of gin at some point too, even though it's gross

 

[pentode]

I could talk about those three and their various shows just about as much as whoever wrote the Bible could ramble on about Jesus lol.


I can't contain my excitement anymore though.. I know you'll love these...


View attachment 117647View attachment 117648

Licensed die-cast replicas from one of the amphi-car specials managed to win these two on eBay yesterday and today. 1/43 scale, made by a UK company (Oxford) back in 2011 or 2012.. never sold here.

Same company also made clarksons Nissan pickup from the same episode (next on the list!) and the indestructible hilux. They were supposed to do 12 models In total.. but sadly only ended up making the 4.. booooo.

Sweet! The first and second turn-a-truck-into-a-boat episodes were definitely in my top 10 all time.

Clarkson: How's your engine?

Hammond: Ruined.

 

[pentode]

+1

I never really got into Top Gear/Grand Tour but Clarkson's Farm is awesome.

I wouldn't twist anyone's arm, but I can tell you that the regular shows and the specials are really two different breeds. I think the specials are the thing that gave them the idea that Clarkson's Farm might work. I have more non-car-guy friends and family than not and they enjoy the specials too even with zero interest in cars.

I used to recommend people who had never seen any of those shows to start with the Polar special. Since then though there are several that are equally good. All the Africa specials, Vietnam, Cambodia (boats), Beach Buggy Boys, Survival of the Fattest. Any of the Amazon specials really. All great fun.

 

[Blmpkn]

The specials are absolute gold, on many different levels.

Each one delves into the countries culture & history enough where the average person would honestly learn something worthwhile.. the camera crew knows how to get some killer shots of scenery and stuff.. and Clarkson is an extremely good story-teller.. the man is definitely a quality wordsmith.

Heaps of hilarious (but still friendly) stereotyping too everywhere they go.. which is always a good time.

Example.. the Bolivia special..

" I my septum"

A jab at 'the vile and reprehensible drug trade that brings untold misery to so many millions'

Lol.

 

[pentode]

People are WAY too sensitive these days. It does take balls though to drive through Bolivia with anti-cocaine messaging on your car though. Or drive through Alabama with pro-Hillary messaging.

 

[Blmpkn]

People are WAY too sensitive these days. It does take balls though to drive through Bolivia with anti-cocaine messaging on your car though. Or drive through Alabama with pro-Hillary messaging.

Oooh how could i forget lol

Pretty sure one of them said 'nascar sucks!' On the reverse side too hahaha

 

[pentode]

Pretty sure one of them said 'nascar sucks!' On the reverse side too hahaha

Indeed it did. Plus "Country and Western is rubbish" which is probably the most British way you could try to say that. Along with the other ones which are easy enough to read. They really had no idea what they were getting themselves into!

Edit: British people trying to make Americans angry is hilarious. Great comedy potential.

Edit2: sorry, just sitting here looking at those screen caps laughing

Edit3: I forget, is that a D100? I must admit I do want that truck. Especially if it's a slant 6 (I think it was a 318)

 

[MaicoDoug]

bonjour misure.....

The new version sucks bad

Clarkson's farm is a riot Blasted All....

Grandtour is also not bad.

James may, Our Man in Japan Bim, Guess What?

 

[Blmpkn]

Yeap d100, I forget what 'moter' out had in it but pretty sure it's a 318.

I love all their knocks at America/ns lol.

 

[pentode]

@Blmpkn and anyone else who might be interested, this just popped up in my YouTube feed... It's one of the best Q&A sessions with Clarkson I've ever seen. I think he's becoming sincere in his old age.