Thank you Top Gear

[Mike Nassour]

You obviously know of this Andy Wilman to say he is so great, I personally have never heard of him until now!
looking on line however shows he is a Clarkson shadow as he only seems to work with him! Is it because he is the only person who can work with him or is it all he knows how to do?

Well, I didn't say "great" . Andy Wilman and Jeremy Clarkson restarted Top Gear in, oh I think, 2002. Jeremy was the main one in front of the camera, Andy was the producer behind the scenes. Richard Hammond and James May were brought on board to complete the team. While I have a lot of respect for Wilman's work (just look at the gorgeous photography and editing in the show), I have never had the pleasure of meeting him.

The reason I am very sensitive to this is I have just spent 2.5 years of my blood, sweat and tears restoring a rare MK1 1973 TC Jubilee with hard earned money. And yes not every ones choice of car even in the small Marina world but I have my reasons for doing it and no other opinions are required, and to now be worried about driving it and parking it anywhere because of this rubbish is very frustrating.
This is why the big people of the BBC should be responsible in what is broadcast etc. Fair enough to have one or two cars but the joke is over and it has got personal certainly with some members.

Fair enough. I know how you feel every time I polish my Miata!

And the BBC does indeed take responsibility for what is broadcast. But my point remains...I really think what happened here was a random act. Now, had two, three or more cars been attacked immediately after the show, then yes, you could argue for a connection. If there have been others that have so far been unreported, the same is true. But at the moment we're talking about a single rock through a window months after the fact. So once again, I just don't see the connection unless further similar incidents are reported.

And yes, the joke is tired and over...and I have said as much on the Finalgear.net board.

Where has all the respect for others property gone

Beats the hell out of me. Sometimes people are just stupid....on either side of the pond.

Say.....I know, why don't we ship ya'll some of our guns? Around here they say...."An armed society is a polite society! No? Well, ok!

mn

[Mike Nassour]

Well, thank you Uncle Frank! I really appreciate the welcome.

I gather from you that there have indeed been more than one instance of vandalism against the cars. If indeed that is the case, I would certainly continue to inform the BBC of the ongoing issue. Regardless of how one feels about the Marina, its owners do not deserve ridicule. For better or worse, it is one of a number of cars that make up a large part of British motoring history and those of you who are preserving them should indeed be congratulated. I'm not exactly sure Jeremy would agree!

As to Clarkson....arrogant? Yes. Self-centered? Well, his on-camera persona certainly is. Not to make excuses for him, but you have to remember where he's coming from.

Clarkson doesn't like cars that have, well, no personality. In one of the older TG bits, he went into a new car showroom, purchased a brand new Perodua Kelisa, drove it precisely one block, then got out and beat the car with sledgehammer, subjected it to being drawn and quartered, then for good measure blew it up. The resulting carnage (if you care) can be seen at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wI2MpcIiO6A

The reason? He said the car "offended" him, that there was no reason to make a car so boring, so soulless, when for the same amount of money you could make something interesting. I know what he feels, that's why I drive a Miata (and suffer with its limitations) rather than a much more practical Toyota. And I'm sure it's how you feel about your Marinas as well. Where I part company with "the boys" is that they have no bloody right to deny you or ridicule the pleasure you get out of your cars. I'm sure their dislike of the Marina comes from what it represents to them, namely the decline of the British Motor Industry. Frankly, there are some other vehicles that I'd say demonstrate that better. Can you say TR7? All I know is that MINE was......oh, never mind.

Of course, we Americans have little room to talk, what with the recent bailout of American Leyland, uh, Government Motors, uh I mean General Motors.

All I know is that if Clarkson drops a piano on one of my few remaining and beloved 1973 Ford Mavericks, I'm gonna have to come over there and give that boy a giant, economy-sized whuppin!

[Number 63]

Welcome along Mike, appreciate your balanced views on this as there have been far too many extreme positions taken on this debacle. I completely understand Paul's fear for taking his immaculately restored TC anywhere once it's complete though, as with all the other owners out there running Marinas on a daily basis.

On another note, I travel to Fort Worth quite often on business and have a liking for 60's and 70's american muscle cars but appreciate a lot of the less obvious stuff that's not regarded as cool over there too.

And Frank - El camino pick-ups 8) 8)

[ado28]

Right folks. How about stop talking about Top Gear and the likes and move on. The more you lot cry into hanky's and run with the convo the more Top Gear will have to go on. Stop giving them ammo and MOVE ON. No wonder we constantly get the P155 ripped out of us. Are we really that bothered that Top Gear wreak Marinas? I'm not...

Sean

Beckett Bros "Flat lemon"

[locost_bryan]

Mike, how dear you say the RX2 was rubbish! :shock: Ha ha, just kidding!

Have a certain fondness for those old rotisseries. Probably because us Kiwis were amongst the first to turn them into decent rally cars.

A school mate had one, that he wrote off. Fitted the front seats into my Mini Cooper (a real one, not that bloated thing from the Germans).

Sadly, antisocial behaviour seems to be widespread, whether it's the chavs and lager-louts in the UK or gangstas in the US or taggers down here in NZ.

Probably the same easily-led simpletons who are into footbal hooliganism etc.

Agree, the best way to stop the TG obsession is to ignore it and let it die a natural death.

[JoshWard]

Right folks. How about stop talking about Top Gear and the likes and move on. The more you lot cry into hanky's and run with the convo the more Top Gear will have to go on. Stop giving them ammo and MOVE ON. No wonder we constantly get the P155 ripped out of us. Are we really that bothered that Top Gear wreak Marinas? I'm not...

Sean

Beckett Bros "Flat lemon"

+1

I'm fed up of these cars being destroyed. If we all just keep our mouths shut and let it lie it will go away.

[Mike Nassour]

I was kind of wondering if there was any word...or chance...of catching the so-and-so's that threw the rock that touched off this thread?

[JubileeNut]

I would think that was never going to happen unless a stroke of luck like they were on film doing the act and someone knew where they live! :roll:
As the Police are stretched you normally will just get a crime number to enable you to claim on your car insurance.
That is no good if the part/s damaged you can't get any more or may have to wait a while before you can get replacements

Now that there are few what I call local police, the local knowledge on the persons who do these crimes seems not to be available! The officers who come to the rescue come from a central office miles away and due to the resources probably turn up the next day unless a gun is part of the crime :shock:

My late father was a local village Police officer and held a lot of respect and did all he could to help the local community stay out of trouble.
They would always come and see him before going anywhere else and 24 hours a day! I lost count of how many times the door bell went early hours of the morning with some person in need of help and he never turned them away!

When he passed away the police house was sold off and no one filled the position and this has happened every where.

Bring back the good old days