Top Gear Live

The three stooges of British TV made their way back to the shores of Durban this year to bring us more burning rubber, outrageous stunts and of course the lots of sexy cars! Top Gear Live now in its second year running was held in the Moses Mabhida Stadium in what Mr Clarkson says is the best stadium....in the world and who's to argue with him? The precinct around the stadium was also used for exhibits by the various motor manufacturers as well as other car related product companies and the street track was rebuilt to provide the spectators with high speed thrills.

Having attended last years show, I wasn't sure what to expect this year and obviously was the same for many who attended last years show. After receiving much praise for the event before, the organizers had their work cut out for them to come up with new ideas for the show. This years special guest was former F1 champion, Mika Hakkinen who partook in many of the street racing, which included a tuck tuck race against radio personality Sasha Martinengo. Like last year the main draw card to the street track was undoubtedly the F1 car, hearing the high pitched shriek of that V8 engine as it went around the streets of Durban just sent shivers down ones spine. This year Red Bull F1 brought down their championship winning RB8 2012 car, along with their test driver Anthony Felix da Costa to entertain the masses.

The exhibition area was nothing to write home about as most of it was the same from last year apart from one or two tents. The ones that grabbed most of the attention was the Lamborghini and Bentley display in the Imperial Collection marquee as well as the IBV Supercar Club tent which had machines from the Daytona Group on display. For me though the Jaguar and AMG tents were the ones I enjoyed the most, firstly anyone could gain entry, sit in the cars on display and with the case of Mercedes Benz, hear what the cars engines sound like as their revved all that was on display. The crowd attraction was the newly launched A45 AMG, a complete redesign to the A-Class of old which has transformed itself into a sporty hatch back to compete with the likes of BMWs 1 Series and Audi's A3. The price for the Merc A Class is a bit steep but so far sales figures are saying otherwise. 

On to the show itself, having blown the crowds away last year it was always going to be a tough act to follow. The corny jokes filled the show but if you're a fan of the series you would know that its one of the main aspects that set this show apart from other car documentary programs and being them they pulled off some crazy things as well. Firstly Jeremy apparently motorized their stage from the set, fitted it with a V8 engine and was able to do donuts with it! The Top Gear precision driving team stole the show once again with their breath taking skills but a surprise and highlight for me was seeing the Stig drive in with the Red Bull Racing F1 car and go balls to the wall spinning that car round and round, engulfing the area in smoke for the burning rubber.

Of course the madness didnt end there, apart from the insane bicycle stunt ride and the drifters with the flame throwers, there was the usual sporting contest that was to be played. This time it was car football but rather motorbike polo. Typically it was England vs South Africa and to please the home crowd, the rainbow nation won. The show ended off with Sasha Martinengo making another appearance, this time by bungee jumping in a car off a crane! I did see the stunt performed before at the Top Gear Live event in Kyalami but it was fun seeing it again.

Overall the show was enjoyable but I have been hearing mixed reviews from many that did visit it over the weekend. They have one more year left on their contract so here's hoping they really make a big change to next years event as the fans are counting on them!

Top Gear Festival 2011



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Im a week late in posting this but as they say "better late than never" right? I flew up to Joburg to see the 3 morons that get paid to do what every boy or grown man dream of doing, no not staring at hot girls the next best thing, man handling supercars around a race track or road. Its hard to believe what they actually do constitutes as a "job" for them, they dream up the most insane idea's for the show such as road trips across various continents with the most outlandish supercars or at times they race other modes of transport like trains, planes and boats. The 3 were down to present to us petrol head South Africans the greatest show they've ever done which is Top Gear Festival 2011. The show was held at the world famous Kyalami race track outside Joburg and they used the entire facility! So you know there was a shit load of walking to do!

Thunder Dome

After walking half the race track in sweltering heat, almost dying of heat stroke we eventually made it to the entrance of the 'Thunder Dome'. An area inside the track which was piratically an outdoor arena but of course Thunder Dome made it sound a lot cooler. It was here where we got to see the BBC's finest export since Mr Bean. The show itself I must say disappointed me a bit with it being too short, obviously I didnt expect them to re-create the ridiculous stuff they did on their TV show there but maybe an extra 20 minutes would have been nice. They spoke about their upcoming series 16 which already aired on British TV's and which we'll only see in 10 years time, they also show cased the cars they used. Jeremy opting for the Merc SLS AMG, Richard the 911 GT3 RS and Captain Slow the Ferrari 458 Italia. Each of them drove into the arena with their respective cars and in true Top Gear fashion promptly did hand brake turns to park them.



Jeremy, Richard & James

Seeing them was abit surreal but funny enough I wasnt star struck, I suppose its the way they make the show as if you were them, one of the guys so when you actually see them its like a long lost friend ... one that you cant just go up and speak to. The show was presented by none other than SA's F1 guru, Sasha Martinengo who at the end was one of the main highlights of the show with him bungee jumping in a car from a tower crane. Brave is not the word to use for him since he completed the act 10 times over the weekend.



Sasha Martinengo in car bungee

We were allowed a back stage tour once the show was complete and it was fun to see how things went down in the back ground and to learn of what they actually go through setting up an event like this and of course getting up, close and personal to the toys was quite nice as well.



Ferrari 458 Italia

The ticket being priced at R365 was a bit steep but I wasnt sure what to expect, it entitled me to an entire day experience at the track, from see the Ferrari owners club race their prized possessions around the track to Sabine Schmitz racing David Coulthard in the RB6! Even all the Shecktors were present to give us a blast from the past in the old F1 cars.

RB6 F1 Car

It truly was worth every cent if you're a petrol head like myself. The pit garages were stocked up with guys either presenting their product to the main importers of Ferrari & Maserati. Even the Franshoek Motor Museum had most of their cars on display, including the likes of the Enzo, F40 & original Bugatti Formula One car which was the first ever to win a race in Monaco.

Ferrari Enzo

The were stalls a plenty for you to buy Top Gear branded merchandise but the quality was terrible as I found out after purchasing a T-Shirt for R250, but I suppose its part of the fun? What wasnt very fun at all was the massive cloud burst that forced many undercover for a good few hours. The rain was relentless as I had to take cover in one of the tents show casing some motor manufacturers. Worked out well for me as I made good friends with the guys from Lexus Midrand who let me sit inside and play around with the Lexus ISF.

SL65 AMG Black Series

After waiting 3 hours for the rain to subside, which it didnt, one just had to brave it and luckily I did as I bumped into a good mate from twitter Dirk Vale. He was there with his mom, the famous Wesbank V8 race driver Clare Vale along with their transporter and goodies, being the Porsche 914 and a car built and designed by Bailey Cars for the LMP2 race at next years Le Mans.

Perana Z One

The bottom end of the pits was where the "Stigs garage" was, here you could find many beauties from the likes of RGM Motorsports M3 conversion to South Africa's very own supercar, the Perana Z! The Perana Z one as its known is the brain child of Jimmy Price of Hi-Tech Automotive in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The design of the car which is rather eye catching was done by the world famous Zagato designs in Milan but the car is manufactured 100% in High Tech's factory in South Africa.



Red Bull Racing Pit Garage

To end off, like I said earlier, the show was worth it if you love you cars and racing. If you just went to see the 3 of them, there is no doubt you left disappointed. If there is another one next year, I wouldnt mind making the trip again.