(Kill?) Jeremy Clarkson - Retro-Renault

5-Mission · 8th December 2007, 08:56 AM

Did anyone see Tonight With Jonathan Ross last night? Clarkson was guesting on there and they showed a clip from his new DVD 'Supercar Showdown'.
Now, I don't mind the bloke, he's fairly humourous at times and presents in his own style etc but he's gone too far this time. There he was in the clip merrily hurtling along on a test strip in a mint Renault GTA. He was running down the handling a bit, saying the power wasn't all that - fair enough, the GTA is a heavy old motor but what the fuck was the point in the next section of the clip to them smash the thing into a low concrete barrier at about 40mph?
The barrier was angled and the car jumped over it obliterating the front end and twisting all the chassis to fuck.

Obviously done to surprise the audience (and piss them off), they then show you this shit about 4 further times as they had loads of cameras on it from all angles. It all just seemed like a fucking stupid waste of time and a beautiful car to me.
Obviously Clarkson wasn't driving it, some stuntman was - unless they rigged the car up remotely, but in the last bit it shows him getting out of the
wreck totally unscathed and in true KNOBHEAD style then says "Ooooh that hurt!"

**Wicked Neo** · 8th December 2007, 11:27 AM

The Renault Alpine Owners Club are quite pissed off over that as well mainly due to the fact the car Clarkson wrecked was a mint condition example which won best of show at the first World Series by Renault.
The owner of the car sold it to a TV Production company not knowing what the cars fate was going to be or else he would never have sold it to them.
I agree it is a total waste of a lovely example of an Alpine but what else is to be expected from Clarkson?
If it's not the latest greatest fastest italian supercar, Clarkson won't like it (Note that a few years ago, the Alpine in question was in Clarkson's Top 100 of fav supercars)

Having said that, just cos Clarkson smashed up an Alpine won't stop me from watching Top Gear, I love most of the stuff they get up to on that show!

**bidderman1969** · 8th December 2007, 01:19 PM

he could smash up any mint condition car, and someone would be pissed off about tbh, shame the chap sold it to a TV production company in the first place, but probably made him an offer to good to be true, but i agree, it is a shame

**The T.I.B.** · 8th December 2007, 01:26 PM

YouTube - Jeremy drives Renault Alpine A610 and crashes

**Chet T16** · 8th December 2007, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bidderman1969

he could smash up any mint condition car, and someone would be pissed off about tbh, shame the chap sold it to a TV production company in the first place, but probably made him an offer to good to be true, but i agree, it is a shame

Yeah exactly, he smashed up a 911 before

He did say on the telly how it was quick etc back in the day so its not like he's being a hypocrite

Nice crash

5-Mission · 8th December 2007, 10:38 PM

Don't get me wrong, I love Top Gear as well it's just I don't see why he has to smash decent motors up?! I've seen some of his old DVDs where he launches old Ford Sierras and Astras etc. into quarries with cannons, which is fine - the standard models were 2 a penny.
I think they should give the cars away as competition prizes instead of destroying them.
Someone should steal his Lambo Gallardo and smash that up!

srmunden · 8th December 2007, 11:24 PM

Well, you've got to understand the 'way of the Clarkson' on this one:

If he just drives the cars around and comments objectively on how they perform and handle, then people will watch his program and think or talk about the cars.

If, however he smashes or mutilates the cars, then slags them off profusely, then everyone will forget all about the cars and be talking about HIM instead.

R1916S · 10th December 2007, 01:59 PM

He,s saying the handling of the car, (grip), can be offset by the turbo loading the rears with power when it kicks in.

Then loses it into a wall on a track.

Muppet should run one up the side of an Alpine Coll, bet he would keep it on the black stuff with a 200 meter drop on the side of the road. LOL

Top Gear must be big money now, they get to test new super cars and all. To get them the car companys need to sell them. So saying that an older car is imposible to keep on the road is good publicity.

Sad.

**mals** · 10th December 2007, 05:03 PM

Would'nt have liked to be in it though

**Neal** · 10th December 2007, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R1916S

He,s saying the handling of the car, (grip), can be offset by the turbo loading the rears with power when it kicks in.

Then loses it into a wall on a track.

He does it on purpose mate, no 'losing it' involved.

The car was rigged with remote control equipment for the purpose of driving it into that wall. It was in fact that RC equipment that was causing the steering to jam, which he complians about in the video, blaming it on the car itself.

**Chet T16** · 10th December 2007, 05:18 PM

Top Gear stopped being factual around 1986, the spin offs DVDs are worse. Its nothing other than visual entertainment and should be seen as such

The 24hr race in the BMW was fantastic tho, best episode in the long time

**bidderman1969** · 10th December 2007, 05:44 PM

yep, but still entertainment value only

**Neal** · 10th December 2007, 06:14 PM

James May is the only one on Top Gear who I dont find irritating