Opening night is a terrifying experience, made even more so in a far away land. The presenter rehearsals went smoothly, with hardly a script thrown, but the show was still a little loose. Cars were a little slow to get out on stage, Hammond destroyed his Madonna style headset microphone in one swift jump and one of our 600bhp Monaro’s decided its differential would look better in lots of little pieces all over the floor.
This is the typical carnage of a car show, but it always gets the heart racing. South Africa were keen to get a Chevrolet Lacetti in the show, even fleetingly, as a nod to our test track, and a group of men worked tirelessly for over three hours vinyl wrapping a white Lacetti (and the only one in the country) a similar blue to the Top Gear TV car.
Sadly it wasn’t similar enough, as the Mole watched the producer wander over with a colour chart and inform the crest fallen faces that they’d chosen the wrong shade of blue
15minutes before the show started, and with the glue still drying, it made its entrance successfully and the Mole certainly couldn’t tell the difference.
With our hearts in our mouths the lights went down to shouts and whoops from the excited Gala night audience. Menacingly the Top Gear Live logo faded up on the giant twin screens and before you knew it, the arena was awash with pyrotechnics and the three presenters were on stage in a cloud of smoke.
The Mole can’t attest to how deliberate the near crash between Jeremy and Hammond was when they entered (Lamborghini Superleggera and Porsche 911 GT3 RS respectively) but it certainly pleased the crowd.
Fast forward 90minutes and we’d delivered a seamless show – the crowd were amazing, and clearly enjoyed themselves. Jeremy was on fine cutting form wandering around the audience during the interactive Cool Wall, and all of the loose ends which had dangled so precariously over the past few days have been forgotten.
Open Car Bar
What do you think?
Icy J commented on this article
Sunday February 1, 2009 at 2:19 am
@Kadette
I live here.
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Dans069 commented on this article
Sunday February 1, 2009 at 10:05 am
Hey guys,
Saw the show yesterday (31 Jan). Absolutely amazing, with that funny dragon thing and the trial bikes jumping up and down over the “Stig”. WOW! All I kept saying was, I just saw these guys on T.V. and now they are standing infront of me. Unbelievable. I had a blast. Big up to the TG team. Keep up the fantastic work.
Regards
German fan from SA
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J.A.C commented on this article
Sunday February 1, 2009 at 5:21 pm
Is The Stig really Ben Collins,I doubt it He’s an F1 driver if you ask me.
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screen hog commented on this article
Sunday February 1, 2009 at 5:25 pm
I know what ya mean on this open car night our 2003 vauxhall zafira 1.6 broke down 1/4 way there terrible car i tell ya but the new version we bought was just outstanding
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landrovers r supreme commented on this article
Sunday February 1, 2009 at 7:27 pm
ive got a sneaking suspision that the stig is ben elton(dont ask me why?)
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Penny commented on this article
Sunday February 1, 2009 at 9:09 pm
Dear Jeremy and Richard and whom ever else made a car show into an event.
We had the pleasure of being able to see the Top Gear Live show here in South Africa and it was an amazing and spectacular show. I would like to thank you as my son Damien 8 so enjoyed the show that I would gladly have spent 10 times the amount of money on the tickets.
Parenting is not the easiest thing in the world but thanks for letting me do something right for a change.
I wish you much success on the rest of your world tour.
Penny
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Sio commented on this article
Sunday February 1, 2009 at 9:14 pm
I Bet the stig is a person! stop trying to figure it out who cares really? … its a tv show!
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Jeremy commented on this article
Monday February 2, 2009 at 5:01 am
Dear Jeremy, Richard, Captain Slow, Stig, can you please visit us in canada? It’s not that cold, I promise, and the snow is a lot of fun as long as you bring a Range Rover or two…
Thanks
Jeremy
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Ed commented on this article
Monday February 2, 2009 at 9:17 am
Went to the show yesterday at the dome in Joburg and must say that it was even better than last year. Loved the fact that you guys now go up into the crowds and get the crowds involvement. Excellent show and I hope we will see you again next year.
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turonimo commented on this article
Friday February 13, 2009 at 5:58 pm
i saw the show mph show in 2008 in london i thought it was a bit wired at the end (the stig and dragon.) my favorite bit was the crowed doing a power lap or the cool wall or the challenge!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it was a great laugh ha ha ha he he he
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TG madman ed commented on this article
Wednesday February 18, 2009 at 6:49 pm
have u seen those Ferraris made me wet my pants and Iam not 2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Tigs commented on this article
Sunday March 15, 2009 at 10:44 am
WHEN DOES THIS WORLD TOUR END PLEASE?
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