Top Car Video Picks: Monday, October 6

Top Gear Down Under! Lambo vs. Koenigsegg! ZR1 Autobahn Shakedown! Remembering Paul Newman!

By Captain Video, Contributor Email

Date posted: 10-05-2008

I grew up in an America that's long gone. You know, the country where we only had three TV channels — and we liked it. The country where we had the bomb, the Russkies had the bomb and everyone else was scared. The country where moms drove station wagons, dads drove sedans and Raquel Welch drove us all crazy. You know, the country that mattered. But today it's an international world and what happens any place is soon every place.

Case in point is Top Gear. It started in England, it's a worldwide hit because of the Internet and the infinite bootlegging potential of YouTube. In fact, it's better to watch the show on YouTube than in its butchered, filleted and totally hinkified version on BBC America.

And now there are two versions of Top Gear in production. And no, I'm not talking about a version produced here in the America that's still around today.

Top Gear Goes Aussie — in Six Parts
Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

So it's Australia that wins the sweepstakes in getting the world's second version of Top Gear. But really it's not just that the Australians get their own version of Top Gear down there, but that everyone gets Top Gear Australia in addition to the original British Top Gear.

So here's the first episode of Top Gear Australia whacked apart into six pieces in order to fit within YouTube's 10-minute clip restriction. It's not the slick, well-oiled joke machine the original is, but most of the production quality carries over Down Under, and the presenters are less than heinous. In fact, for a first effort it's mighty impressive.

So does this mean that Top Gear America is inevitable? Well, NBC is sitting on the pilot episode and only it knows if the research is saying it's still a great idea or not. And of course, as long as it's still trying to foist crap like the new Knight Rider on the public, there are no apparent holes in the schedule for it to fill. But come on, we need a U.S. version of Top Gear to go alongside the existing two. And we need it now.

Then we'll sit back and wait for Top Gear Canada, Top Gear Mexico, Top Gear Guyana, Top Gear Liechtenstein, Top Gear Antarctica, Top Gear Slovenia, Top Gear Guam, Top Gear Swaziland, Top Gear Belize...

IndyCar's Tribute to Paul Newman

The whole world will miss Paul Newman. After all, besides being an international movie star, world-class entrepreneur and incredibly generous philanthropist, the guy had a set of blue eyes that drove women nuts. But we car freaks always had a special place in our hearts for Newman because he shared our passion for speed. In short, he's one of the best guys of our times. Period.

This tribute was prepared by the Indy Racing league (IRL) and naturally honors Newman most for his work as a team owner. But it also does a good job of scanning the rest of his indelible career.

I'm going to go buy a case of Newman's Own Creamy Caesar salad dressing tonight. Besides the fact that it will honor Newman and all the profits go to charity, it's tasty salad dressing.

Lambo LP640 Takes on Koenigsegg CCX in Korea

In my continuing quest to feature every clandestine supercar race held on the face of the planet, here's this video featuring a Lamborghini Murciélago LP640 and a Koenigsegg CCX along the byways of South Korea (I think). Apparently the only truly universal language is supercar street racing.

Anyhow, there are some sweet sounds here leading up to an almost anticlimactic race. You can determine the winner yourself.

They're not having anywhere near this much fun in North Korea.

ZR1 Autobahn Shakedown

Over in the Netherlands they have a site called Autoblog.nl. It's sort of like the Autoblog we have over here, except not quite as evil. Anyhow, the Dutch Autobloggers rode along as the first production Corvette ZR1 in Europe went through its shakedown cruise on Germany's autobahn.

Not a bad way to spend the afternoon. Even if it's weird hearing guys with German and Dutch accents gush over a car built in Kentucky.