clarkson's comments about ginetta last night on top gear

[jamesG20V6]

I've been thinking about clarkson's slight ridicule of ginetta last night and his suprise the company still exists.
I now think it was a stupid thing to say especially as it was scripted and therefore intended to be said.
Maybe we should contact them and tell them we are bringing a selection down to guildford to set the record straight....

[chr15b]

i think maybe you should look at the comment in context

[jamesG20V6]

In what way? Ripping the piss out of someone efforts to make a sportscar and then saying there is hope for it if ginetta are still going? That's how I saw it?

[nicktowe]

I didnt see it as taking the piss, it was clearly scripted and you have to admit that most british sports car companies have died.

Mybe he needs to get the G50 road car on the top gear track. Top mgear road tested the G33 in 1992 ish. Tiff Needell liked it.

[jamesG20V6]

Maybe I took it the wrong way.
When I watched it I thought it was a bit of a put down. I've subsequently been contacted by 5 people who know I've got one saying they thought it was not on and had I seen it. Calling the factory with the zytek engined weapon to shut them up!

[Justin-W]

(Around 18minutes in on BBC I-Player)
May "Are you saying that all British Sports Car Manufacture's who optomistically setup in a shed and think that they can do better then Porsche go bust?"
(Clarkson and Hamster role out names)
Clarkson "Ginetta"?
May "No"
Clarkson "Are Ginetta still going?"(surprised with squeeky voice)
May "They are"
Clarkson "Well theres hope for it yet"

Personally I took that on the car shown on their screen I guess it was a sort of Sylva Mojo copy, but nowhere near as nice. So not intentionally aimed at Ginetta maybe they took that angle as most havent even heard of the brand.
Also with scripted programes, like "Top Gear" where they discuss things you've got to allow it to take that more casual conversation. Not always being PC about everything as then it dulls the program.
Just shake it out your system and think "its good to be different and not have a mass produced car like everyone else".

Edited by Justin-W on Tuesday 4th November 11:31

[dandarez]

I missed that, must have gone to make a cuppa!

Perhaps they (TG) have made an approach to Ginetta (or even Dare) for a car to test and got...

with your track record? FO!

[geeeman]

i think it was very positive
His ref to 'hope for it yet' was referring to the crappy looking car they initially referred to. No bad reference made to Ginetta....
Remember that in 1998 or so VBH tested a Dare and an original G4 on Top Gear!!

[911hillclimber]

It struck me a bit negative, but Top Gear is a bit of a comic/magazine and is a bit sensationalist in several ways to add the entertainment factor.

Stig in a Dare G12 v G50 would be entertaining, but a bit too focused for Top Gear and certainly not sideways enough for the audience, though it is very rare you see him drive that way as it's not fast.

I would think Ginetta is a well known Name, Dare might be lost as a Kit Car?

Graham.

[jamesG20V6]

In 2001 they featured the g20 road car too, back in the days of vbh. It will be intresting to see how ginetta launch the g50 road car. To be taken seriously surely it needs to be on the programme, which means it will need to be good to avoid the usual criticisms.

[Darkspeed]

Gets my vote as positive -

Two people have said to me today "Did you hear Clarkson mention that car you've got on Top Gear? I didn't know they were still going. Oh and don't you live in Shropshire? he mentioned there as well" !!!! LOL

If it makes people wonder who and what Ginetta are about because of that comment it must be good.

Andrew

Edited by Darkspeed on Tuesday 4th November 17:16

[chr15b]

jamesG20V6 said:

In what way? Ripping the piss out of someone efforts to make a sportscar and then saying there is hope for it if ginetta are still going? That's how I saw it?

well the way i took it (and i could be wrong) was they had in front of them a british made vehicle that would possibly have a limited market appeal - i think they were trying to point out that as is the case with a lot of smaller british manufacturers that they build cars of limited appeal.

I've no idea with the Ginetta (not a car i'm familure with) - but i didnt see it as an insult

[ccharlie6]

personally i see a mention of ginetta on top gear as positive, yes it was in a slight dig.....however i believe that if that been a few years ago they wouldn't have even thought of ginetta to write into the script, mr tomlinson has done an amazing job bringing up the brand you can't open a motorsport, automotive mag these days without a mention of ginetta. when the road going G50 (V6 or zytek) is released i think it would be right up mr clarkson and the stigs alley.

plus hopefully the more people hear about ginetta the less people think my G15 is a lotus and then get disappointed when they find out its not....(its far better than one!!!)

[dandarez]

geeeman said:

i think it was very positive
His ref to 'hope for it yet' was referring to the crappy looking car they initially referred to. No bad reference made to Ginetta....
Remember that in 1998 or so VBH tested a Dare and an original G4 on Top Gear!!

Remember it? Who could forget it! VBH was absolutely beside herself in the DARE G4 - she ended the test by saying she wanted to take it home! Her grin had to be seen to be believed.

Then it all went wrong.

Along came the DZ and she tested that and you could see it was a put up - as it came to the end of the test she was troubled forcing out those last stupid words placed in her mouth - 'hmm, I'd rather have a Lotus'.

Then as everyone was enjoying watching the retake on YouTube of the Top Gear Dare G4 and VBH's banana grin at the end, it was pulled (Beeb, Autocar -ie Lotus Weekly ?) and never to be seen again to this day(oddly, plenty of other choices though with VBH/Top Gear on YouTube).

Anyone out there got a copy of it, PLEASE post it up on YT so we can all enjoy it again for a while before it's pulled.

Edited by dandarez on Tuesday 4th November 20:11

[geeeman]

wasnt aware she tested the DZ, was that on top gear also?

[dandarez]

Yes. The ending made my blood boil! VERY unfair.

Wonder if Ivor or Mark have a video copy (and the VBH G4 one)?

[Broomsticklady]

I think Top Gear is more scripted than you know - I think the apparently off the cuff remark was scripted as a lead in to the Stig taking the road-going G50 out in a later episode....

[911hillclimber]

Hope you are right.

[jamesG20V6]

john, I have the g4 top gear on VHS. Any young kids care to enlighten me as to how I get it on YouTube?? I've got the g20 too, but not the dz.

Edited by jamesG20V6 on Wednesday 5th November 09:30

[dandarez]

That would be great to see the TG G4 again on YT. I thought the G20 one was on YT but just did a search and looks like that's gone as well.

My son tells me to get a VHS vid uploaded you need a video card...
then it got too technical for me! Sorry.

Come on some one must be able to help James upload them...