Top Gear send Beaulieu its P45

For the first instalment of the 19th series, Jeremy returned to our screens in possibly the strangest mode of motoring transport viewers have yet seen. Following the mass popularity of his video demonstrating the many benefits of the world’s smallest car, the Peel P50, the big man was set a new challenge. His mission? To create and drive a car even smaller than the Peel P50. The result? The brilliant yet bonkers P45 micro car.

A team of talented students from Coventry University’s Automotive Design course were commissioned to work on styling, whilst the aluminium bodywork was hand crafted by the people who make the fabulous Petersen Bentley. Showing extraordinary attention to detail, the P45 was painted with blue twin stripes, paying homage to legendary AC Cobra creator, Carroll Shelby. Fortunately for Shelby, that was where the similarities between the two cars ended.

Ever the professional, Jeremy embarked on an extensive road test of the vehicle, which saw him driving at top speeds of around 30mph on the A3, taking the vehicle onboard a coach to London... to demonstrate how easy it is to get onboard a train, and then driving it through Westfield Shopping Centre and the British Library. Despite its many, many shortcomings, including a microscopic fuel tank, high risk of nose-smashing and inability to get through a car wash without jamming the machinery and soaking the driver’s suit, Jeremy then entered the Dragon’s Den, seeking investment from the dragons for mass production – their verdict was a unanimous and resounding “I’m out”.

Throughout the test drive, Jeremy was singing its praises, describing the car simply as “completely excellent”. Richard and James, however, were a little less enthusiastic, preferring to call it “utterly ridiculous” and “a complete death trap”. The P45 is now on display at Beaulieu’s World of Top Gear exhibition, where visitors can make a thorough inspection of the car and decide for themselves whether it is ingenious... or just plain insane.

The unique motor joins a whole host of cars at Beaulieu created by the Top Gear presenters for some of their most ambitious challenges. Another recent addition is the budget Bond Lotus Excel submarine car from the 50 Years of Bond Cars special and the collection is awaiting the arrival of another new creation from Series 19, due to be unveiled shortly.

The ‘Enormodrome’ recreates the feel of the Top Gear studio with regular features from the programme, including the Cool Wall and the Celebrity ‘Lap Times’ board, kept up to date in line with the show. Visitors can also watch behind-the-scenes footage of the Top Gear production zone and clips of some of the best Top Gear moments.

World of Top Gear can be seen as part of a visit to the whole Beaulieu attraction which also includes the National Motor Museum, BOND IN MOTION, Palace House and Beaulieu Abbey.

Beaulieu is open every day, except Christmas Day, from 10am. For more information telephone 01590 612345 or visit www.beaulieu.co.uk

Delight Dad With A Day At Beaulieu

Father’s Day - Sunday 17th June 2012

Treat Dad, this Father’s Day, to a day at Beaulieu with lots for Dad and the whole family to enjoy, including the National Motor Museum’s latest exhibition, BOND IN MOTION. The largest of its kind staged anywhere in the world, it showcases 50 of the best loved and most iconic Bond vehicles - some never before seen in public - in celebration of the 50th year of James Bond films.

The motor vehicle collection in the National Motor Museum remains one of Beaulieu’s most famous attractions with more than 250 on show from the earliest examples of motoring to modern classics plus World Land Speed Record Breakers including Donald Campbell’s ‘Bluebird’.  Don’t miss Wheels - a space-age pod ride taking you on a fascinating journey through 100 years of motoring.

In the Top Gear Enormodrome you can watch an exclusive video presentation from behind-the-scenes at the Top Gear HQ with Jeremy, Richard and James plus the actual vehicles from some of their most ambitious challenges on the TV show over the years.
 
On Screen Cars has a display of TV and film favourites including Del Boy’s Reliant Regal, Mr Bean’s lime green Mini and the flying Ford Anglia, used during the filming of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

Another Father’s Day favourite is the Custom & Hot Rod Drive-In with hundreds of stunning Hot Rods and Customs, Classic Americans, Chops and Bobbers sunning themselves in the picturesque grounds of the Beaulieu attraction. You can rock to live music from Carmen Ghia & the Hot Rods and Beach Boys Smile, plus strolling players, Mariachi El Mexicano.  As well as free Dodgem rides, Wow Toys will have a range of toys for children to play with.

If you own a custom car or bike, why not bring it along and join the display. There will be prizes for the best custom vehicle in a number of categories including Best in Show and the People’s Choice Award. Drive-In Day entry, in a Hot-Rod, Custom or American vehicle, is £10 per adult, with free entry for an accompanying child and £5 for any additional children, less if purchased in advance online at www.beaulieushop.co.uk. or by telephone to 01590 612888.

All other visitors to the Sunday show will be charged the standard Beaulieu admission charges.

MOBILITY SCOOTERS RACE TO BEAULIEU TO JOIN WORLD OF TOP GEAR EXHIBITION

Hot on the heels of the India Christmas Special cars, the mobility scooters from the 18th series of Top Gear have (just) survived the presenters’ challenge to become the latest addition to Beaulieu’s World of Top Gear exhibition.

These unique machines were created by the three presenters when Top Gear decided that more could be done to help disabled people get out into the great British countryside for a spot of rambling. Whilst there are ramps leading into public buildings, pedestrian crossings that beep, buses that kneel, and so on, Top Gear felt that off-road mobility scooters just aren’t rugged enough and they are expensive too.  And so it was decided......  The presenters’ challenge was to design and build true off-road mobility machines at an affordable price and then race them against some wounded servicemen driving off-the-shelf scooters. It didn’t end well.

Jeremy Clarkson’s machine is constructed from two normal scooters, thereby giving it four-wheel drive (which didn’t work) and four wheel-steering (which wasn’t much use). When viewing the scooter, note the damage to the sides, caused by an oaf letting it fall over, and the damage to the rear, caused by that same oaf deliberately pushing it down a hill so he could make Fenton jokes about it.

The off-road scooter created by Richard Hammond combines the front of a normal mobility trike with the motor and tracks from a powered wheelbarrow used to move heavy objects around building sites. Astonishingly, Hammond managed to make a machine that actually worked well off road and was, uniquely amongst the presenters’ efforts, able to make it to the top of a mountain. Unfortunately, it was also rather noisy, and a bit smelly.

Bringing up the rear, Captain Slow, aka James May, opted to create a wheelchair with thoughtful design touches, such as the adjustable seat angle, built-in grit dispenser, and the mounting for a tablet computer device. However, all of these things were rendered irrelevant once May drove towards a slightly muddy meadow and his machine rather embarrassingly ground to a halt. He was eventually forced to abandon his off-road journey and head directly to the pub - which he couldn’t get into either - useless.

All three of these creations can now be seen at Beaulieu’s World of Top Gear, which features a collection of vehicles, created by the presenters, for some of their most ambitious challenges on the show over the years. Exhibition highlights include the Top Gear ‘Enormodrome’ which recreates the feel of the Top Gear studio, where the TV show is filmed in front of a live audience, and regular features from the programme, including the Cool Wall and the Celebrity ‘Lap Times’ board which is kept up to date in line with the show.  Visitors can also watch behind-the-scenes footage of the Top Gear production zone and clips of some of the best Top Gear moments.

World of Top Gear can be viewed as part of a visit to the whole Beaulieu attraction, which includes the National Motor Museum with its collection of over 250 vehicles, the brand new BOND IN MOTION exhibition which showcases 50 original vehicles from the James Bond films, On Screen Cars featuring TV and film favourites, Palace House, home of the Montagu family since 1538 and the 13th century Beaulieu Abbey.

Beaulieu is open every day, except Christmas Day, from 10am – 5pm.

For more information telephone 01590 612345 or visit www.beaulieu.co.uk

'Sports Train' pulls into World Of Top Gear

The actual TGV12 ‘sports train’ from the latest series of the popular TV motoring programme has just pulled into the World of Top Gear Exhibition at Beaulieu. The ‘sports train’ was driven by Jeremy during Top Gear’s valiant attempt to reduce the cost of railway travel using innovative car-based rolling stock. The ‘locomotive’ is really little more than an old jag convertible with some different wheels and the ‘carriage’ is actually an old caravan with the top sawn off, some racing seats bolted to the floor and a massive spoiler on the back!

Yet, this simplicity is also the very genius of Clarkson’s creation and might explain why the TGV12 successfully completed a journey from very near Leicester all the way to the outskirts of Loughborough and, unlike the train created by Hammond and May, did so without catching fire or getting clobbered by a real train along the way. Strangely, none of the major rail networks have shown any interest in this innovative design which is why it’s at Beaulieu instead.

The World of Top Gear features a collection of cars, created by the presenters, for some of their most ambitious challenges on the TV show over the years. Exhibition highlights include the Top Gear ‘Enormodrome’ which recreates the feel of the Top Gear studio, where the TV show is filmed in front of a live audience.

Regular features from the programme including the Cool Wall and the Celebrity ‘Lap Times’ boards are kept up to date in line with the show. Visitors can also watch behind-the-scenes footage of the Top Gear production zone and clips of some of the best Top Gear moments.

World of Top Gear can be viewed as part of a visit to the whole Beaulieu attraction including the National Motor Museum with its collection of over 250 vehicles, the James Bond exhibition with genuine vehicles and memorabilia from the films, Palace House, home of the Montagu family since 1538 and the 13^th century Beaulieu Abbey.

Beaulieu is open every day, except Christmas Day, from 10am. For more information telephone 01590 612345 or visit Treasure Houses of England