About this episode
Richard Porter takes solo charge answering listener questions about classic Top Gear moments and behind-the-scenes stories. He reveals the origins of the iconic red car parade in the intro, the creative process behind the poetic Aston Martin V12 Vantage film, and the humorous door-sign gags he designed. Richard also shares insights on the Top Gear Winter Olympics, the fate of forfeit cars, and the making of the Top Gear annuals, including anecdotes about tight deadlines and presenter reactions. The episode offers a nostalgic and candid look at the show's early production quirks and creative decisions.
In a Top Gear special, Richard answers listener’s questions about the red cars in the TG titles, yellow snow, the Aston V12 Vantage film, door opening rude words gags, forfeit cars and the old Top Gear annuals.
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Dodge Charger
"Johnny is very busy filming for the late break show or forming a plan to leave his Dodge Charger on Mallorca or something, so I'm afraid it's just me."
The Dodge Charger is a big car from America that is known for being fast and strong, often used in movies and car shows.
The Dodge Charger is a full-size sedan known for its powerful engine options and muscle car heritage, often associated with American performance cars.
The Grand Tour
"And since we get a few questions in about Top Gear or the Grand Tour, I thought I'll just take a little whiz through some of those since that's sort of my department."
The Grand Tour is a TV show where people who used to be on Top Gear talk about cars and go on trips with them.
The Grand Tour is a British motoring television series created by former Top Gear presenters, featuring car reviews, challenges, and travel adventures.
Top Gear
"And since we get a few questions in about Top Gear or the Grand Tour, I thought I'll just take a little whiz through some of those since that's sort of my department."
Top Gear is a TV show from Britain where people talk about and test cars in fun and interesting ways.
Top Gear is a popular British television show focused on cars, known for its entertaining reviews, challenges, and automotive culture content.
press offices
"And so from memory, the cars came from car companies, from press offices, and including the Ferrari, I think the Ferrari don't just normally like hand out cars or things like that."
Press offices are parts of car companies that give cars to reporters and TV shows so they can talk about them and show them to people.
Press offices are departments within car companies responsible for managing media relations and providing vehicles for journalists and TV shows for reviews and promotional purposes.
Audi Q7
"And they did a sort of triathlon, biathlon, one of those things with shooting and driving SUVs. And I think we had like a pre-prod Audi Q7 and it got damaged."
The Audi Q7 is a big, fancy SUV made by Audi. It has lots of space inside and can drive well on different road conditions.
The Audi Q7 is a full-size luxury SUV produced by the German automaker Audi. It is known for its spacious interior, advanced technology, and quattro all-wheel-drive system, making it popular for both family and performance-oriented driving.
Aston Martin V12 Vantage
"So Nigel did that V12 vantage film. And that's one of the reasons it looks so incredible. Alex goes on to say, I remember watching this episode back in 2009 at the tender age of 13..."
The Aston Martin V12 Vantage is a fast sports car with a big V12 engine packed into a small body. It's special because it combines power and style from a famous British car maker called Aston Martin.
The Aston Martin V12 Vantage is a high-performance variant of the Vantage model, featuring a powerful V12 engine. It is known for its compact design that tightly fits the large V12 engine, making it a notable 'hot rod' with impressive performance and distinctive styling from the British luxury sports car manufacturer Aston Martin.
V12 engine
"...V12 noises and very few words from Jeremy, along with one of the prettiest cars ever made...cars like that, particularly that little V12 vantage was such a hot rod, massive V12 wedged into this shell..."
A V12 engine is a type of car engine that has 12 cylinders arranged in two rows. It helps the car run very smoothly and fast, and is usually found in fancy sports cars.
A V12 engine is a twelve-cylinder piston engine where the cylinders are arranged in two banks of six, forming a 'V' shape. This configuration is known for smooth power delivery and high performance, often used in luxury and sports cars like the Aston Martin V12 Vantage.
hot rod
"cars like that, particularly that little V12 vantage was such a hot rod, massive V12 wedged into this shell that could barely accommodate it."
A 'hot rod' is a car that is made to go really fast, usually by putting a big engine into a small car. It means the car is built for speed and power.
A 'hot rod' is a term used to describe a car that has been modified or designed for high performance and speed, often with a powerful engine in a lightweight or compact body. In this context, it refers to the Aston Martin V12 Vantage's powerful V12 engine packed into a small chassis, emphasizing its performance-oriented nature.
motion control rig
"they had to take the passenger seat out of the Aston in order to install this motion control rig. So that that shot where the camera is sort of looking through the windscreen, then it sort of slowly panned around to find Jeremy."
A motion control rig is a special camera setup that moves very smoothly and exactly the same way every time. This helps make cool videos of cars by showing them from different angles without shaking.
A motion control rig is a specialized camera system that allows precise, repeatable movements for filming. It is often used in automotive shoots to create smooth, dynamic shots around or inside a vehicle.
forfeit cars
"I'm never sure about the forfeit cars. It felt like we got to such a point where we never used them, so we should probably just not bother."
'Forfeit cars' are cars that get taken out of a race or show because they stop working or aren't needed anymore.
In automotive shows or competitions, 'forfeit cars' refer to vehicles that are given up or removed from the competition, often because they are no longer useful or have failed. They may be sidelined and not featured prominently.
Rover SD1
"talking about ones not making it, the SD1 in the very last Grand Tour Special was doing well right up until near the end, and then it gave out. So it's not at the end of that film because it wasn't anywhere near where they were filming it because it had finally conked out."
The Rover SD1 is an old British car that was made in the 1970s and 80s. It looks different from many cars because it has a hatchback style, which means the back opens up like a big door. Some people like it because it looks cool, but it can have some problems with its parts.
The Rover SD1 is a large executive car produced by British manufacturer Rover from 1976 to 1986. It was known for its distinctive hatchback design and was popular in the UK and some export markets. The SD1 has a reputation for both style and some mechanical issues, making it a notable classic car.
conked out
"and then it gave out. So it's not at the end of that film because it wasn't anywhere near where they were filming it because it had finally conked out."
'Conked out' means the car stopped working or broke down suddenly.
'Conked out' is a colloquial term meaning that a vehicle stopped working or broke down, often unexpectedly. It usually refers to engine or mechanical failure.
fixer
"Like, you know, we'd have a fixer or something who would just sell it locally because they're not like the star cars where they're a bit sort of identifiable and recognizable."
A 'fixer' is someone who repairs cars to get them working again or ready to sell.
A 'fixer' in automotive contexts is a person who repairs, restores, or prepares cars, often for resale or use. They can help make non-running or damaged vehicles usable again.
star cars
"because they're not like the star cars where they're a bit sort of identifiable and recognizable. But most of them are just, you know, going way back to like a beetle from the original Botswana Special."
'Star cars' are the important or famous cars that people really notice in shows or movies.
'Star cars' refers to vehicles that are the main focus or highlight in automotive shows or films. These cars are usually rare, iconic, or have special significance, making them more recognizable and valuable.
Volkswagen Beetle
"But most of them are just, you know, going way back to like a beetle from the original Botswana Special, just a beetle. So just flog it, someone who can get some use out of it."
The Volkswagen Beetle is a small, round car that lots of people know because it was made for a very long time. It has a special engine in the back and is easy to fix, which made it very popular.
The Volkswagen Beetle is an iconic compact car originally produced from the 1930s through 2003. Known for its distinctive rounded shape and rear-engine layout, it became one of the best-selling cars worldwide. The Beetle is often associated with simplicity and durability.
Vanos solenoids
"Thomas Off of Kent. He says, Hello, you pair of Vanos Solenoids, hope you're well. Richard, recently you mentioned something about being involved in the writing of the Top Gear annuals."
Vanos solenoids are parts in some BMW engines that help control when the engine's valves open and close to make the car run better.
Vanos solenoids are components in BMW engines that control the variable valve timing system called Vanos. They regulate oil flow to adjust camshaft timing, improving engine performance and efficiency.
Dacia Sandero
"there's just a blank white page with just a picture of a Dacia Sandero on it, and it says, good news, the Dacia Sandero is in this book. And that was a last minute panic,"
The Dacia Sandero is a small, inexpensive car that many people in Europe buy because it doesn't cost much and is easy to use. It's like a simple, reliable car for everyday driving.
The Dacia Sandero is a compact hatchback produced by the Romanian manufacturer Dacia, known for its affordability and practicality. It gained attention in the 2010s as a budget-friendly car popular in Europe.
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