Top Gear

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Triaguar

Original Poster:

876 posts

219 months

Sunday 14th November 2021
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If you think you can pop a wheelie..watch the Eddie Kidd tribute on Top Gear..very moving especially to us of a certain age.

anonymous-user

60 months

Sunday 14th November 2021
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All a bit “Weekend at Bernie’s” though, no?

Biker's Nemesis

39,582 posts

214 months

Monday 15th November 2021
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Crossflow Kid said:
All a bit “Weekend at Bernie’s” though, no?
If you say so...

... it was nice for him to get a bit more recognition for hos chosen path.

Lets hope you can get some exposure for your contribution in life

Poc854

12 posts

35 months

Monday 15th November 2021
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One of the best segments of the new top gear to date, I never heard of him before tonight but was a absolute legand.

anonymous-user

60 months

Monday 15th November 2021
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Biker's Nemesis said:
Crossflow Kid said:
All a bit “Weekend at Bernie’s” though, no?
Lets hope you can get some exposure for your contribution in life
If that means being literally wheeled in front of people who are hysterically screaming “It’s all for you! You legend! It’s for you!” as they wheelie past on a motorbike I think I’ll give it a miss thanks.

Castrol for a knave

5,204 posts

97 months

Monday 15th November 2021
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Crossflow Kid said:
Biker's Nemesis said:
Crossflow Kid said:
All a bit “Weekend at Bernie’s” though, no?
Lets hope you can get some exposure for your contribution in life
If that means being literally wheeled in front of people who are hysterically screaming “It’s all for you! You legend! It’s for you!” as they wheelie past on a motorbike I think I’ll give it a miss thanks.
I suspect the conversation went something like


BBC Researcher: Eddie, we want to do a tribute to you, drive you around in a drop top Roller, have a bike past and then do some stuff with stunt drivers and riders with flames and st

Eddie: Alright then, beats sitting in me bungalow in St Margaret's Cliff. Ta very much.

STR160

8,006 posts

244 months

Monday 15th November 2021
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CheesecakeRunner said:
I was a bit torn on the tribute. The story and interviews were great, but I did feel that putting on the show in front of him a little cruel. Must have been an upsetting reminder of what he can’t do any more.
Or... he understands that he paved the way for such things in this country, and they were all there performing because of him, some directly in that they have posters of him on their walls or watched on TV etc.

I think he came to terms with his condition quite some time ago. If he was to be so upset about the fact he can't do it anymore, his home wouldn't be filled to the brim with his bike stuff.

black-k1

12,138 posts

235 months

Monday 15th November 2021
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STR160 said:
CheesecakeRunner said:
I was a bit torn on the tribute. The story and interviews were great, but I did feel that putting on the show in front of him a little cruel. Must have been an upsetting reminder of what he can’t do any more.
Or... he understands that he paved the way for such things in this country, and they were all there performing because of him, some directly in that they have posters of him on their walls or watched on TV etc.

I think he came to terms with his condition quite some time ago. If he was to be so upset about the fact he can't do it anymore, his home wouldn't be filled to the brim with his bike stuff.
Indeed. Having seen the documentary a while ago of Eddie doing the London Marathon, I get the impression he has completely accepted where he is and is proud of all he has done.

A great man who is under appreciated and deserved the tribute.

Krikkit

26,925 posts

187 months

Monday 15th November 2021
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My wife said exactly the same thing when we watched it - that it was a bit tone-deaf to have a bunch of stunt riders and drivers taking risks in front of someone who gambled and lost more than most of us would be able to cope with...

But they must have checked with him first, surely?

Anyway, enjoyed it, ashamed to say I'd never heard of him. And how amazing is his carer at interpreting him? Unbelievable.

airsafari87

2,817 posts

188 months

Monday 15th November 2021
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I haven't seen TG yet but I assume that this is about Eddie Kidd??

I remember idolising him as a lad so I'm looking forward to seeing this. I assume it was doing in a similar way to the Colin McRae tribute a while ago? ... yes I know Eddie is still alive, but you know what I mean.

graham22

3,299 posts

211 months

Monday 15th November 2021
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airsafari87 said:
I haven't seen TG yet but I assume that this is about Eddie Kidd??

I remember idolising him as a lad so I'm looking forward to seeing this. I assume it was doing in a similar way to the Colin McRae tribute a while ago? ... yes I know Eddie is still alive, but you know what I mean.
Wasn't quite the same, unfortunately Padfy squealed his way through it rather than Harris doing it.

Not sure if Paddy is old enough to be playing Evel Kenivel toys but I bet he didn't know CCMs otherwise he would have mentioned Bolton, alot.

Definitely a deserved tribute.

airsafari87

2,817 posts

188 months

Monday 15th November 2021
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graham22 said:
Not sure if Paddy is old enough to be playing Evel Kenivel toys
The skin on my knuckles still hasn't grown back from playing with mine.

nunpuncher

3,452 posts

131 months

Monday 15th November 2021
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airsafari87 said:
I haven't seen TG yet but I assume that this is about Eddie Kidd??

I remember idolising him as a lad so I'm looking forward to seeing this. I assume it was doing in a similar way to the Colin McRae tribute a while ago? ... yes I know Eddie is still alive, but you know what I mean.
Watch it alone unless you are comfortable with other people seeing you cry.

LosingGrip

7,935 posts

165 months

Monday 15th November 2021
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I can’t believe that I hadn’t heard of him before!

You can tell from watching him he loves it all still!

trickywoo

12,218 posts

236 months

Monday 15th November 2021
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graham22 said:
Not sure if Paddy is old enough to be playing Evel Kenivel toys.
He’s a year older than me and I remember mates having a flywheel powered Evel Kenivel bike we used to send over jumps etc.

graham22

3,299 posts

211 months

Monday 15th November 2021
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trickywoo said:
graham22 said:
Not sure if Paddy is old enough to be playing Evel Kenivel toys.
He’s a year older than me and I remember mates having a flywheel powered Evel Kenivel bike we used to send over jumps etc.
He's 5 years younger than me so yes, still around then.

nunpuncher

3,452 posts

131 months

Monday 15th November 2021
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3 years older than me and I'm old enough to have owned that Evel Knievel toy. But my old man was motorcycle daft so he probably searched high and low for one from a charity shop.

airsafari87

2,817 posts

188 months

Monday 15th November 2021
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nunpuncher said:
Watch it alone unless you are comfortable with other people seeing you cry.
Watched it with my Mrs and son tonight and I am not ashamed to say that I shed a tear or 2 throughout the piece. It brought back a lot of memories for me and I thought it pretty well done too.
You just know he will have been absolutely buzzing sat there watching the bike display at the end.

kestral

1,822 posts

213 months

Monday 15th November 2021
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For those who are interested in Eddie.

He stared in the film 'Riding High' where he jumps the Blackwater River for real. It's a daft sort of comedy film but the jump at the end is good. The music is also good. If you can find the film, made 1979 IIRC.

He did a book titled 'crawling From The Wreckage'

He beat all Evel Knievels records, he also beat Evel's son's records, including jumping the fountains at Caeser's Palace.

Mr Tidy

23,993 posts

133 months

Tuesday 16th November 2021
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nunpuncher said:
Watch it alone unless you are comfortable with other people seeing you cry.
Sound advice. thumbup

I was in tears at the end - what a great tribute!

Eddie is just a year younger than me and I have vivid memories of his exploits in the 80s when I was still riding bikes like I had stolen them. The main difference is he had talent whereas I was just lucky.

Well done Paddy - he even managed a jump on a bike!