Jay Leno on Hammond's crash

[vexor]

Jay Leno on Richard Hammond's crash Famous comedian and car enthusiast Jay Leno wrote an interesting column for Britain's Sunday Times on Top Gear and Richard Hammond's near-fatal dragster crash. Leno discusses calls for the popular TV series to be "toned down" as a result of the accident. "I am sure Richard would be the first to admit life is a risk. But he was doing what he loved most. Soccer doesn’t get banned because someone gets hurt," writes Leno. "It’s much the same with Steve Irwin. Steve was a good friend of mine; he did my show many times, and was exactly the same on-stage as off-stage. He was genuinely an excitable guy who loved animals the way the Top Gear guys love cars." Leno also comments how such a TV program probably wouldn't work in America. "Americans only seem to like car crashes or celebrity cars," writes Leno. "Car shows in America are dull."

- LeftLaneNews.com

Not sure how old this news is but if anyone has the original article, feel free to post.

[TNT]

^^^ i think he is right, they should punish the hosts/fans that is just part of the business.

[BADMIHAI]

Link to article: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article...5-2436052.html

[vexor]

thx BADMIHAI for the article

[Erez]

thanks for the link..

[chest3r]

I totally agree with him... they're just doing what they like.

And I would love to be one of them

[Everlasting]

just read the article. Jay Leno is a cool guy.

[graywolf624]

Leno also comments how such a TV program probably wouldn't work in America. "Americans only seem to like car crashes or celebrity cars," writes Leno. "Car shows in America are dull."

I have to disagree with him only because of how successful top gear and fifth gear were on speed. Its a niche, but it does exist.

[BADMIHAI]

He's still right about American car shows being as dull as a hospital floor though.

[TopGearNL]

Originally Posted by BADMIHAI He's still right about American car shows being as dull as a hospital floor though.

Absolutely agree. Its not the problem with what they show/test in the american shows but the full package, so presenting it nice action and some humour. Only TG can deliver the full package 8)

[graywolf624]

^Well I agree with that.. Then again Id dare say its the aspect of brit humour.. our cars shows tend to be more technical.. if youll notice those type of shows dont go over to well there either.

[TopGearNL]

Originally Posted by dani_d_mas Originally Posted by BADMIHAI He's still right about American car shows being as dull as a hospital floor though. It's not only America - but the rest of the world... including Fifth Gear Clarkson, May and Hammond and the only ones that make me laugh, and the only ones with an entertaining show! the key is that not only car enthusiasts watch it, but also other people with different interests just for the fun of it!

Exactly Dani! Your last point says it all! 8)

[BADMIHAI]

Gop Gear is my porn.

[obdr]

I disagree with only one thing Leno said. I think Top Gear would very much work in America. I mean, look how many freakin Americans go through all this trouble to actually watch Top Gear despite it not being available on any of the mainstream networks in the USA. That right there proves that a significant American fanbase exists for Top Gear already exists. Its just waiting to be tapped by somebody is all.

The USA is the # 1 market for almost every make and model of sports car out there. The reason is because there are alot of Americans but there are also alot of Americans who appreciate sports cars. There are also alot of amazing roads in America that all the Euro-tourists miss because they dont know how to properly travel America when they come here. They just use our freeways to move accross the country and think all our roads must be straight.

I can drive up to the Blue Ridge Parkway any weekend I want and see 911's, Boxters, Ferraris of all kinds, Corvettes, Aston Martins, Jaguars, Lotuses, Miatas, 350 z's, Rx-8's, Integras, M-3's, Z-3's, Z-4's, all kinds of Audis, Supra's, Mustangs, 240's, Evo's, Sti's etc....... All of them driven by sports car lovers who take them to thier local mountain roads every weekend for car meets and such.

Heck, just the other day I went up to the Dragon (a very special bit of raod that stradles the NC Tennessee border) and saw everything from tuned S-2000's to a new Cayman-S's to about 5 million GSX-R's and CBR's. About the only sports car I havnt witnessed in the area is a Caterham.

Whats my point?? This is just one little slice of sports car heaven in America. Its my own local driving road. And I see thousands of sports car enthusiasts out there EVERY weekend driving thier cars as they are meant to be driven. There are thousands of special places like this all over America. What links them all together are the drivers that come to them by the thousands and thousands every weekend for the same ritual: experiencing the thrill of driving.


Anyone who thinks Americans cant appreciate a great show dedicated to great cars obviously hasnt thought it through. We are out there people. We might be spread about the country but we are all over the place. If you know the special roads you can find us there on the weekend doing what we love best. We are called petrol heads. And we want a great car show in America. Its about time!!