Ken joins the boys

As we edge ever so close to June for the first ever Clarkson, Hammond and May Live tour, another bombshell has just dropped! Ken Block, the YouTube sensation with his Gymkhana videos is set to join the 3 stoodges on stage during the event which takes placec from the 12th-14th of June later this year. 

Ken needs no introduction to South African fans as many were left with their jaws gaping after watching one or all of his seven YouTube Gymkhana videos. Ken has mastered the extreme art of burning rubber in an extravagent form known as gymkhana, which requires the driver to skillfully manoevure their cars around a series of cones, slaloms, 180 degree turns, 360 degree turns, figure 8 turns and other obstacles. Ken adds his unique creativity in each video as he uses standing and moving objects to drift around. 

Ken's prefered manufacturer is Ford as he started off with the Focus, then a Fiesta but as you have seen in his latest video, he has acquired an iconic 845bhp, all wheel drive modified 1965 'notchback' Ford Mustang Hoonicorn and he is bringing it with him for the tour, it's the first time he will be performing in a closed arena and the first time he will be performing in Africa as a whole, so be sure to see history in the making by getting your tickets now! 

                     

Heres what Ken had to say about his inclusion to this event: "I'm stoked to have been invited by Clarkson, Hammond and May to this massie motoring event. I've had the pleasure of working with these guys before and it's always been a lot of fun, I think bringing what I do to an arena format is going to be awesome, and I can't wait to meet the fans in South Africa. It'll be my first tie visiting the country and I've heard they're passionate about all things automotive, so I think they're going to enjoy what I'm goignt to be doing with my Hoonicorn from Gymkhana 7"

I'm not sure about you but I'm pretty amped to see this guy live! For more information on Clarkson, Hammond and May Live, visit the website, Facebook page or follow them on twitter @clarkhammaysa

Top Gear 2014: Build up to the weekend!

After months of waiting, the weekend of Top Gear Festival is finally here! This is just to recap what you can expect this weekend, so you can make notes and make you don't miss out on any of the action!

To start off with, there is a brand new and improved street circuit that is going to provide the fans with a faster and more exhilarating experience, be sure to catch all the action that's going down there by visiting the website to see the times for the various events taking place on the circuit. 

Mercedes Benz will have a Demo Theater showcasing their AMG Master Class Driving Performance. They will have the world's most powerful 4 cylinder engines, pushing the limits with the A45 AMG and CLA45 AMG, driven by their professional drivers. This is what the guys from Mercedes Benz had to say:

“The focus of Mercedes-AMG on "driving performance" will be one of the main highlights at the 2014 TopGear Festival.

Experience the high performance technology of this iconic brand for yourself at the AMG Marquee.

Don’t miss the exhilarating S63 AMG Coupe - making its South African debut at the Festival.

Delivering a thrilling 430kw and 900nm of power this dynamic V8 is the epitome of "driving performance" in the luxury segment.

Also for the first time in 2014, Mercedes-AMG will demonstrate the power and agility of the fastest 4-cylinder production engines in the world, as professional race drivers take the A45AMG and CLA45AMG through their paces in the AMG Demo Theatre.”

Also don't forget about the big reveal from Merc of their beast S63 Coupe which will be making its SA debut at the show! Judging from the pictures its sure to be a show stopper.

For more info, check out our last post on the show highlights and look to the sky as their might be a Lotus F1 car falling from the skies!

Top Gear Festival Durban: 2014

It's the final year that the BBC's most watched series brings its live show to the shores of KZN and according to the organises, it is going to be the biggest and best one yet. Tens of thosands of fans are expected to make their way down to Durban's iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium to witness what is on offer this year.

There is a revised street track with added striaghts to make the racing more exciting with more grand stand seating. The action zone is filled with events for the entire day, there's a demo strip where the manufacturers will be showcasing some of their products. Motoring in motion will offer visitors the chance to test drive some of the new models from Mercedes Benz, Infiniti and Ford.The motoring expo is always a hit with the various exbhitors always drawing a crowd.

Though the main reason for people visiting would be to see the legendary trio of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May, not forgetting the "tame racing driver" only known as "the Stig". They've come a long way since the series first aired in 2002, they've travelled the world and test driven some of the most exotic cars in the most breath taking locations and of course done some utterly stupid things in between.

Fans can expect to see some of that stupidity and creativity at the show as the trio attempt to build an electric car and perform challenges set to them by the Top Gear men in white coats. Local Afrikaans rapper Jack Parrow will be making an appearance during the show, no one knows why yet, some say it's to perform a track especially written for the festival but Richard Hammond is hoping it doesn't involve them rapping! They wil also be screening a short video which could be the prequel to the upcoming season 22 of the series and South African fans will be the first to see it!

Other stuff one can see in the show will be the ever popular Top Gear Stunt driving team who wow the crowds every year with some of the most insnane driving skills seen but the biggest news is that the Stig has accquired an F1 car from the Lotus F1 team! Theres CCTV footage of him breaking into the teams headquarters and redirecting the shipping to Durban for the show! Want to know what he has planned with the car? Well you better head down on either the Saturday or Sunday to find out because its sure to be epic, rumour has it, he may bungee jump with the car!

Tickets from as little as R260 and they're selling out fast, so don't miss out on your last chance to see the greatest live festival ...in the world in Durban!

For more info:

website: http://www.topgearfestivaldurban.co.za/
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TopGearFest
twitter: @TopGearFestSA

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 2012

Its possibly the most watched TV series about cars in the world which features 3 men that are permanently in a midlife crisis with what seems to be an endless budget. That sort of sums up Top Gear in a nut shell. Now take all of that and turn it into a live show. Its got the making of being the best live show....in the world!

After hosting shows in Jhb for the past few years, the host city changed to Durbs after a bidding process. The venue, Durbans iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium. The multipurpose stadium played host to the actual show whilst the Peoples Park had many brands exhibiting their products and the old A1 street circuit was reassembled for the track events.

Having attended last years show at Kyalami, I was aware of what was to be expected but then again, this is Top Gear, nothing can be predicted with these lot! So it was proved as most of their creations were flown down to be displayed as well as the actual stage used on the show! The street track had numerous events such as a parade with the various formula one cars of the different decades as well as races between the 3 presenters in Supercars and the Stig joined in for a few but the main attraction was by far the Mercedes Benz Silver Arrows Formula One car. Hearing the roar of that V8 engine as it blasted around the streets of Durban by Sam Bird was not only a sight to be hold but it also left one with tingles in their spine. It did a few laps around the narrow and windy street circuit before taking on challenges by some production model Mercs as well as a Superbike. I cannot put into words the sensations your body experiences as it shrieks past you at high speed, its something every motor enthusiast has to experience in their life time.
 

Where ever you looked there was something taking place, from the Stunt school where the drifting stole the show, to the Monster FMX display where bikers pulled off the most insane stunts to wow the crowds. Even if you had some spare change in your back pocket, there was a supercar auction! Where the likes of a limited edition 599 GTO got sold! I tried bidding on an SLS but they didn't accept monopoly money.Making my way back to Peoples Park to view what was on offer there, I was arrested by the AXE SA police and locked up temporarily. Fortunately I escaped charges and was set free, love your work guys!

Unlike the other years, this year the Festival has a proper programme so visitors to the show knew what time the various events were taking place and the map made it easy to find your way around. Eventually I got back to the Top Gear Exhibition and Manufacturers tent area in Peoples Park. There was tons of things on display, from car audio accessories, to custom wraps from your car.

Then as strolling past the IBV tent, a certain orange super car caught my eye. There it was, the Lamborghini Aventador! One of the best looking supercars on the market today and what is rumoured to be the last Lambo with a V12 engine (due to carbon emission laws, damn hippies!). Not everyone was allowed in the IBV but we made a plan to get in, there I met Zantelle van der Linde, marketing coordinator for Lamborghini South Africa. She let us drool over the Aventador all we liked. Pity it was a customers car so no one was allowed to sit in it.

Other manufacturers had displays as well,  Mercedes Benz had all their AMG's on show and the BMW stand pulled a crowd since it had the new M6 cabriolet on show as well as the M5, M3, 1M and the new 3 series with the performance kit on it. The Franschhoek Motor Museum were also kind enough to bring some of their vintage models to display at the show, the pick from the bunch was definitely the original Merc SLS gull wing. The men from Maranello also had a display, with Ferrari and Maserati both sharing a stand. The 458 and FF were on display at the prancing horse end whilst the Quattroporte and GT convertible were on the other end. Time flew by quickly as you visited each stand and soon enough, the sun was down and it was time for the main event.

I had tickets to the final show of the weekend, as you entered the stadium, you could just feel the excitement from everyone. Taking up about a 3rd of the stadium, this venue was much better than last years and everyone had a good view of the action. The show began with a small feature from on of the sponsors Shell, then the 3 men of the hour drove in with their supercars, James May in the new Mclaren MP4-12C, Richard Hammond in the new Porsche GT3 RS (VW Beetle) and Jeremy Clarkson in the Aston Martin DBS. Seeing that London was hosting the Olympics this year, they decided to have that as a theme for their show. Kicking off with an opening ceremony which saw the Queen bungee swing from the arch.

Now this is Top Gear we're talking about so everything was done with in style and also with loads of explosions, daring stunts and everything else that wowed the crowd. Even though the team had done the show 3 times before the one I saw, everything was done to perfection and it went off with out a hitch. Certain acts could have spelt disaster if one thing went wrong but item after item they just got better. From the Top Gear precision driving team having people gasping for breath to guy jumping over a moving Dodge Viper! The 3 presenters them selves took part in many of the events as they adapted the some sports played at the Olympics into the motoring world. Richard Hammond facing the most daunting one, human ten pin bowling! Whilst he sat in a shopping trolley, Jeremy supposed to propel him to the pins with a golf cart but instead he opted for his much more powerful DBS!

 
The Stig made an appearance too, as they raced around the stadium track in their motorised chariots which comprised of a bunch of scooters joined together. After the Stig claimed victory we were asked by the presenters to sing the popular Beatles songs "Hey Jude" to send him off as it isn't a favourite of his. The daring acts continued as we saw drifting with a difference where by 2 Porsche 911's were set on fire as they drive around also the famous car soccer which is a popular event by them was played at a venue that suited it! It was SA vs England, with the home team captained by "Captain Slow" James May winning it 5-4. Being them, they had to end the show off on a big note, a record breaking 720 "death loop". Two 360 loops which were driven through in succession with a modified buggy. It happened so fast but was surreal seeing it happen.

After the show was concluded, I was lucky enough to head back stage to see all the cars and props that were used in the show. Pity I didn't get to meet any of the presenters.

Many people prior to the show complained at the high ticket prices but to be honest, it was worth every cent. Its a whole day outing that if you're a motoring enthusiast will love every minute off. If I had to compare it to last years event that Joburg hosted, this was at least 5 times better. I'm not being biased to my city but it was just organised better and there was loads more to see and do. We're fortunate enough to have them here for the next 2 years so if you missed out this year, make sure you get here for at least one of the next 2 annual events...and on that bombshell, its good bye till next year for the Top Gear Festival!