Was Clarkson the Top Gear Nostradamus in 2009?

[shaun]

Feeling a bit down today and for some reason searched out an old Top Gear episode that had stuck in my mind. Series 13 Episode 7.
The closing sequence when JC takes an Aston Martin V12 for a ride.
Listen to the words and the music and the scenery,

I will say no more but brought tears to my eyes.

[felixkk]

https://fb.watch/3J0iP3VmHH/

starting at 57:45

who knows...

[shaun]

Thanks Felix,

Perhaps you felt the sentiment that he portrayed. Whilst I find him an "interesting" character I cannot fault what he wrote for the Sunday Times (I think) on the demise of Concorde.

I grew up with things being bigger better faster and was inspired for the future. Now I am not so sadly. Enough. Happy face on!!!!!!!

[Keith]

Good post Shaun,

This is just the track when you're feeling in that mood:

https://youtu.be/tC_9MZl6dm8

[colin7673]

I remember watching that episode and thinking the same. Never driven an Aston Martin and maybe never well but saying that Aston Martin has reached " Concorde moment" I though was the best thing to be said..
Concorde was built at a time before accounts and health and safely the " we can do this" attitude, but then we had the fuel crisis which kind of put the nail in the coffin for sales, yet British Airways managed, after time, returned a profit, Not many people fly the super sonic bird ( I was lucky ) and maybe not many will drive the said Aston Martin. But with health and safety, accounts running business and the " climent change " forcing everybody to go electric then the car, has reached it pinnacle.
Despite what has been said about electric cars and I know that they're fans here . our generation will not get excited about the next generation toys

[shaun]

Thanks Colin, I think a few people are understanding what i wrote felt and appreciated in my growing up years.

I wont mention the TSR2 except to say i heard it go supersonic. Once.

[colin7673]

Thanks Colin, I think a few people are understanding what i wrote felt and appreciated in my growing up years.

I wont mention the TSR2 except to say i heard it go supersonic. Once.

That's OK Shaun, there have been some that have gone supersonic

[Martin R]

It's very moving although, I think he was a few years ahead, as Aston Martin and V12's were still being built 3 years later at least.
The writing is on the wall though...
I wonder what we'll actually be driving as our daily drivers in 20 years time...

[colin7673]

before accountants got involved

https://youtu.be/v9bVFkDhGPE

[David Devine]

Hi Shaun

One for you to borrow. You must have been very young when you saw the TSR2.

DSC06072.JPG (106.85 KiB) Viewed 3663 times

[Martin R]

before accountants got involved

https://youtu.be/v9bVFkDhGPE

and before health and safety and the CAA realised just how dangerous Concorde actually was...

[colin7673]

before accountants got involved

https://youtu.be/v9bVFkDhGPE

and before health and safety and the CAA realised just how dangerous Concorde actually was...

Please explai. If it was dangerous it wouldn't have flown for thirty years plus

[RAP72]

before accountants got involved

https://youtu.be/v9bVFkDhGPE

and before health and safety and the CAA realised just how dangerous Concorde actually was...

Please explai. If it was dangerous it wouldn't have flown for thirty years plus

I was surprised at that comment Martin a quick google gets " Concorde Has Good Safety Record July 25, 2000 / 1:22 PM / CBS/AP Until Tuesday's crash of an Air France jet outside of Paris, the Concorde SST had been considered among the world's safest planes. The supersonic jet flies above turbulence at nearly 60,000 feet and at a speed of more than 1,300 miles per hour." There are numerous similar comments. If the French had swept the runway it might still be flying.

[Martin R]

before accountants got involved

https://youtu.be/v9bVFkDhGPE

and before health and safety and the CAA realised just how dangerous Concorde actually was...

Please explai. If it was dangerous it wouldn't have flown for thirty years plus

In terms of hours flown, take off and landings, that one fatal crash in Paris, immediately made it the most dangerous aircraft in our skies.

[Chris_R]

and before health and safety and the CAA realised just how dangerous Concorde actually was...

Please explai. If it was dangerous it wouldn't have flown for thirty years plus

In terms of hours flown, take off and landings, that one fatal crash in Paris, immediately made it the most dangerous aircraft in our skies.

I think that is a very spurious use of statistics. The Space Shuttle did just 135 flights and had 2 catastrophic failures. I haven't done the maths but that probably makes it more dangerous than Concorde. And there was no other aircraft involved in those disasters.