12 replies to this topic

[Witt]

If you've seen this show before, you'll know that they do all sorts of reviews on top-notch cars. I was watching a segment where Tiff Needle was giving the Diesel BMW's (can't remember what model) a spanking on the roads. It all looked pretty straight foward until the next segment which involved Jenson Button, the man who single handedly raised the profile of BMW's diesel cars earlier this year when he was clocked at 230kmh or some rediculous speed like that.

The first question Tiff asked him was about the speeding incident. Jenson immediately replied "that was a mistake" in the most "Mr PR man told me he'd kick my butt if i brag about it on tv" tone. As quick as he could he changed the topic. It was pretty funny because you could just tell Jenson really wanted to talk about his "acheivement", but you could tell that he'd been told off quite harshly by Frank or someone high up in the BMW-Williams team for the incident.

Then they raced the Diesel v's Petrol car, Jenson was in the Petrol car and kicked Tiff's butt! Jenson did have an "off" but he held the lead. It was a pretty cool segment, i really love that show, does anyone else here watch TopGear?

[LeD]

Yes, I watch it regularly - it is a really neat programme, and the presenters, not least Tiff Needham, are a bunch of characters. I just love to watch Tiff hurling expensive cars around bends, burning rubber in the longest and most accurate power slides I have ever seen

I saw Jenson Button on the programme you mentioned, for the first time outside a F1 car. He seemed a very normal decent young lad, long may he remain that way

[Clatter]

He was on TV again last night being interviewed by Clarkson. He came over very well.

[karlth]

Originally posted by Witt
Then they raced the Diesel v's Petrol car, Jenson was in the Petrol car and kicked Tiff's butt! Jenson did have an "off" but he held the lead. It was a pretty cool segment, i really love that show, does anyone else here watch TopGear?

Anyone got a tape of this?

[Boston Killer]

I've been told by the Swerve that TopGear isn't on BBC World anymore.
It seems it is on BBC2 now but I don't have it in Latvia

[Indian Chief]

I saw the program, too. Tiff Needell is easily my favourite on the show. If you had Tiff in the petrol car and JB in the diesel, Tiff would have won.

His car control is amazing. Have you seen anyone being able to powerslide a car for more than 15 seconds??? Apparently, Tiff can - for 18 seconds!

[DJS]

Ahh Tiff, the 'failed racing driver'... Imagine if he had made it to F1...

The epidose I like the most was when he drove the E55 and the M5... What beautiful powerslides!!

Favourite moment was when he was driving the McLaren F1 and he floored the throttle for the first time... I'll never forget that facial expression.

[ehiwario]

Tiff actually made it to F1, he was more highly rated than Mansell, but the car Tiff drove was such a dog, it killed his career. years later, he tested the 1991 Williams-Renault FW14

[JayWay]

I was curious who this guy was, so searched the net and found this cool pic.

[DJS]

HA HA!! Tiff in full flight!!

[aRTi]

Sometimes I watch TopGear on the BBC. It's always amusing two see Tiff playing with cars.

Tiff made two GP attempts with the Ensign-Ford in 1980. DNF in Belgium and DNQ in Monaco. I think he replaced Clay Regazzoni. Clay suffered spinal injury after his Long Beach crash were his brake pedal snapped.
It was a "drama" car. Geoff Lees and Jan Lammers also try to drive that car that year.

[david_martin]

Boston Killer,

It is still on BBC world - I am getting a European satellite feed in Nothern Finland, so I guess you can get in in Latvia too. They took it off over the summer but it has come back in the last few weeks. I watched the Button versus Tiff Needell sprint at Thruxton last week.

[Witt]

Yep, it's definitely on BBC World, because that's the channel i saw it on here in Oz.