Another pass mark for TGA this week. The main challenge, making an armoured car, did have as many holes in it as the cars by segment end. But it was what it was—a harmless bit of fun. The hosts are interacting better and the show continues to improve.
Steve’s piece on the two Elfins was pretty good value, although he does scream a bit doesn’t he. The production crew deserve yet another mention here, their camera angles and post-production techniques hit the mark perfectly once more. To the cars themselves, there’s no doubt the aural V8 symphony from the Streamliner MS8 is the better sound, but I’d be taking the turbo four powered T5 package every time. It just looks like a proper club racer. Mike Simcoe got the looks of the Monaro right in the late 90s, but his Elfin Streamliner isn’t such a success. Both cars set reasonable times on the track, too, with the T5 being the quickest.
HG Nelson was this week’s guest and he made sure his time on Top Gear Australia was memorable by being the first celeb to barf up while putting the Bog Standard Car through its paces. Fortunately we didn’t see any vision of the HG heave.
TOP GEAR AUSTRALIA – SERIES 2, EPISODE 5
Monday 8 June at 7:30pm
Top Gear Australia puts itself on the map with VIP protection excellence when Warren Brown, James Morrison and Steve Pizzati each create an armoured vehicle for visiting dignitaries. Top Gear Australia Series Two, Monday nights at 7:30pm.
Channelling Jason Bourne from the Bourne Identity series, Steve selects something light and fast for the challenge.
“The best way to avoid a terrorist attack is to not be there when the terrorists attack,†said Steve.
He enlists the aid of UNSW’s redback racing team to convert his mini into an impenetrable VIP transport vehicle.
After a few verbal attacks from Warren about his first choice of car, James decides to trade his Mercedes for a car that is guaranteed never to have carried a dictator. He’s gone from horse power to flower power and puts in place a foolproof plan to keep his VIP safe.
Once the transformation from regular car to armoured vehicle is complete, the boys set off to test the protective quality of their vehicles. After encountering a group of angry protesters, facing a potentially serious ambush and using their cars as live arms target practice, have the lads kept their VIPs safe in their armoured vehicle?
Legendary sports broadcaster and motor historian, HG Nelson, is the Star in a Bog Standard Car. While relentlessly pushing himself to be first on the leader board, HG manages to become the first … to succumb to motion sickness in the Proton that is.
Steve gets behind the wheel of world class Australian sportscars and takes the wild and spirited Elfin Streamliner MS8 through its paces before he settles in for something a little tamer.
“So if you are not into sumo wrestling a big hairy V8 and you are a more nimble kind of guy, this may very well be your go – the new elfin T5,†said Steve.
To decide the better of the two, Steve invites V8 Supercar driver, Andrew Jones, along for a race.
Catch Warren Brown, Steve Pizzati and James Morrison for your weekly dose of motoring entertainment, Mondays at 7:30pm on SBS.
One reply on “Top Gear Australia – Series 2, Episode 5”
Much more cohesive, It was nice to catch myself periodically laughing. Although, I still dont get why James was so precious about the Kombi. Its a cool car, but it would have made this segment even funnier. The SIABSC segment needs better camera work to make it look faster/ better still. TGUK pan the camera more frequently.