Top Gear comes to NBC

[Kartman]

What does Stig refer to over in the UK??? Does it mean anything, can it be translated to a common term here or is it just the name they thought of?

The Stig's name derives from presenter Jeremy Clarkson's days at Repton School; where, according to Clarkson, new students were always called "Stig".[1] A proposed name for the Stig was originally "The Gimp" until protests from Perry McCarthy nixed the idea.[2] There have been two official Stigs on the show, while various other Stigs have made cameo appearances for particular episodes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Stig

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[Kartman]

I think the right way to do it would be to claim its the same Stig but just use a local driver with the same suit and helmet and everything.

[Kartman]

Just found this

22 February 2008
by Stuart Milne

This is the first glimpse of the man behind The Stig's trademark white crash helmet.

View the face behind the mask now

The Stig's identity has been a closely guarded secret, and only a few Top Gear insiders know the 'tame racing driver's' real identity.

This sensational photograph was taken in London yesterday and gives a clear view of his eyes through his crash helmet's black visor, but has left experts mystified as to his true identity.

Many skilled racing drivers, past and present, have been mentioned in connection to The Stig, including current F1 star Lewis Hamilton.

Ex-F1 driver Perry McCarthy exposed himself as the original Stig after two seasons on the hit BBC2 show, and revealed to Auto Trader in 2006 that “There’s a few of them [Stigs], I think…”

A spokeswoman for the BBC refused to comment on the new photos.

[Mike @ pit b]

Lest we forget, Tanner can handle a car. So they'll probably use him for the first couple episodes. Then they'll get some guest 'Stigs'. Maybe Dale jr, RG, Jeff Gordon, Tommy Kendal, Boris Said, Montoya etc. Someone who can throw a car around a road course is my bet.

Mike

[randy s]

will the british show still be on bbc america?

[Mike @ pit b]

will the british show still be on bbc america?

Oh, I'm pretty sure it will be.

[D4D]

WOW, I thought "The Stig" was short for Stig Bloomquist (sp?) who is a pretty famous driver who has raced rally, road racing in Europe. The guy has to be older now, he was 40ish in the 90s when he was REALLY fast. I don't think he ever raced Group in the WRC but he has raced Group B cars like the Ford RS200 and the famous Audis at Pikes peak.

I watch the UK version every week, wife loves it too. I am a little worried that the US version will fall a little short because to appeal to the mass market it is going to have to feature a lot of NASCAR stuff which just bores me.

On a side note, I was in the LA a few weeks ago on the 405 I think, where the Goodyear blimp docks. Stuck in traffic I noticed a group out setting a temp road course on the pavement by the blimp, cars I noticed were a Lambo Muirra, a BRE looking Datsun 510 and a wide body, ALMS looking BMW. I knew Adam had a BRE clone 510 but after reading he has Lambos and Tanner has a BMW maybe they were testing their new test track?

Also I was an instructor 4 years ago at a driving school that Adam took part in at Buttonwillow, he is not a bad driver, he takes it all very serious and ran quick.

[jeff]

I fully expect this US version to suck. Top Gear is what it is because of Clarkson, Hammond and May. My theory behind the total suck that will be US Top Gear is this... if you take the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition and replace the attractive young women in a swimsuit with fat hairy men in a swimsuit you end up with total crap. It's still a body in a swimsuit right?

At least we still have the regular full octane version available courtesy of the internet. Finalgear.com for those that don't already know is the one-stop-shop for all things Top Gear (and Fifth Gear).

Aloha

[Mike @ pit b]

I expect the U.S. version will have TONS of product placement and very little bad mouthing of the cars they test.

Mike

[steveG]

I expect the U.S. version will have TONS of product placement and very little bad mouthing of the cars they test.

Mike

That's exactly what I'm picturing. Hopefully I'm wrong.