[TV] Top Gear vs Fifth Gear

[rotorboy]

Thought I'd start this up as a bit of fun as I saw somewhere the suggestion that next year's BritCar 24hr should have teams entered from both Top Gear and Fifth Gear. Driver lineups would then be as follows:

Top Gear: Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, James May, The Stig

Fifth Gear: Tiff Needell, Vicky Butler-Henderson, Jason Plato, Tom Ford

Think I know who'd win...!

Come on guys, make this happen - the Battle of British Motoring Journalists starts here!!

[Mark Mitchell]

Originally Posted by rotorboy

the Battle of British Motoring Journalists starts here!!

In the Marshals Forum?

[ensign14]

I think Needell and Plato would have the edge in touring car races, but in the driving-across-Northampton-in-a-self-built-aerocar races TG might sneak it.

[Robin_D]

5th Gear guys easily! 3 of them have racing license's whereas 3 of team TG would still count as novice's??

[White flag man]

I think if you take out Tiff Neddell and James May, things may even themselves out a bit.

[numbersix]

Mark's right. Good question, wrong forum.

[BSA Susie]

If I was marshalling Top Gear would win as Fifth Gear would not finish;
I have marshalled when Tiff has been driving many times over the years, Thruxton & Goodwood, usually more than one race at each event and I have NEVER witnessed Tuff Noodle finish a race let alone win one!

Crash following his own error, crash involving someone else, mechanical breakdown, questionable lack of performance and retiring (GW Revivial this year), I've seen it all.

I met him a couple of years ago and held back from telling him this!

[Shelagh]

We always refer to him as "Stiff Needle".

Remember quite a few years back when he was racing at Le Mans - team consisted of: Dad Derek Bell, Son Justin Bell and "daughter" Tiffany Bell!

Don't care who races or who wins - if it gets publicity and ultimately more marshals for the event then coverage can only be a good thing.

[gachjoel]

For me it would have to be Top Gear.
They just seem to have more fun and being complete idiots at the same time.

don`t get me wrong,i enjoy 5th Gear.
but it ain`t got the fun factor..

maybe the Mods could start a poll on this thread aswell

[numbersix]

Originally Posted by BSA Susie

If I was marshalling Top Gear would win as Fifth Gear would not finish;
I have marshalled when Tiff has been driving many times over the years, Thruxton & Goodwood, usually more than one race at each event and I have NEVER witnessed Tuff Noodle finish a race let alone win one!

Crash following his own error, crash involving someone else, mechanical breakdown, questionable lack of performance and retiring (GW Revivial this year), I've seen it all.

I met him a couple of years ago and held back from telling him this!

[mattt]

top gear and 5th gear are different types of programs really

top gear is a laugh

5th gear is a fairy serious car review program

[The STIG]

Wasn't Tiff Needell once described as a "failed racing driver" Due to his apparent inability to finish, let alone finish well in races?

[Justin Moran]

Originally Posted by The STIG

Wasn't Tiff Needell once described as a "failed racing driver" Due to his apparent inability to finish, let alone finish well in races?

No bottle, at least its what I heard so of course thats gospel truth??????

[Splendid Cat]

Originally Posted by The STIG

Wasn't Tiff Needell once described as a "failed racing driver" Due to his apparent inability to finish, let alone finish well in races?

3rd at Le Mans 1990 (first privateer and first Porsche) is a superb achievement.

[surrealillusion]

top gear for me

Purely because its fun and a laugh. Not too many programmes around nowadays that do what they want, ignoring the political correctness brigade..well..actually telling them f-off which is even better

[garcon]

Despite the apparent advantage in experienced racers, I'm not so sure the 5th Gear team would win.

As already pointed out, Tiffany hasn't finished a race since about 1973 (and wouldn't finish this one either after being "accidentally" shunted by Clarkson).

Obviously Plato is top class, but so's The Stig.

I bet Hammond's quicker than VBH (certainly on the straights...).

Which leaves Tom Ford and James May ... both of whom are likely to offer little more than being a mobile chicane for everyone else (including the safety car).

[blueoval]

Can you see seat letting plato take part at that point of the season. If so topgear should take on matt neal and make it evan more interesting.

[Chatters]

Just a question... Is James May really that slow?

Does someone have the Fastest Lap times for the four of them after the BritCar 24hrs at Silverstone to compare?

[garcon]

I should think James May is a perfectly competent driver when he needs to be. I doubt his laps were much (if any) slower than Hammond and Clarkson.

[redshoes]

The results and lap chart are on MST if you are interested - http://www.msttiming.com/eerc/2007/73663.pdf

Best time was 2m 16.298s on lap 2. The rest of Stig's stint was in the 2:18-2:19 range. I forget who went out for the second stint but times were a good 10 secs a lap slower.

[terence]

I think James got down to 2.24s,really not that bad,first ever race-first time at Sliverstone etc.In fact I think all three of them were within a second or so of that time.

[Razor]

Originally Posted by garcon

I should think James May is a perfectly competent driver when he needs to be. I doubt his laps were much (if any) slower than Hammond and Clarkson.

To quote the man himself "I don't drive fast unless it is absolutly nesscary because I'm a gentleman."

[PTRACER]

Fifth Gear was more enjoyable when they weren't trying to be Top Gear.

[terence]

Originally Posted by Razor

To quote the man himself "I don't drive fast unless it is absolutly nesscary because I'm a gentleman."

In front of the cameras,may-be.

[strider]

I know someone who was in the audience when Lewis Hamilton was on Top Gear and he reckoned James May was the only one of the three who came across as not being too full of his own importance. He's a good judge of that sort of thing.