Thank you Top Gear

[Marinanut]

I see Practical Classics have inserted their collective tongues up Clarkson's arse again over the Healey Midget. At least we still have Ian Seabrook & co at Classic Car Weekly on side....

[locost_bryan]

My son stumbled across a '60s music joke book, and found this clanger :-

What do you get if you drop a piano on a car? A flat Minor.

Now we know where they get there ideas (and jokes) from! :shock:

[Ado 16]

Top Gear's latest "Blog":

http://transmission.blogs.topgear.com/2 ... -it-again/

I know we're not suppose to draw attention to it - but I really do despair.

[JubileeNut]

What a waste of another good piano :roll:
And a waste of a blank DVD :|
Come to think of it, there is a lot of waste being generated with this, the air JC uses to inflate his lungs is another
Plus the waste of Denim.

[JubileeNut]

Just would like to share with you all the reply I had back from the BBC!!! :shock: Yes got a reply! Was a bit amazed they bothered :roll:

Here it is word for word -
Dear Mr Viney

Thank you for your email regarding Top Gear on 26 July.

I'm sorry but I disagree that we are bullying your club. If you step back and look at the facts, the presenters are making fun of a car they dislike.
As I'm sure you are aware, part of being a car enthusiast is having strong feelings, good or bad, about many cars. This has fuelled pub chat since the car was invented. The presenters are entitled to dislike the Marina, as they dislike the Beetle, or the 2CV, or whatever. Then we have the issue of how their dislike manifests itself. What happens is they drive around with a Marina and then, in the most ludicrous locations and situations, a piano falls on it. This is end-of-the-pier pantomime, especially when coupled with all the "Oh God I hope nothing happens this time" comments. It's a Fast Show sketch, and that is simply not victimisation. I am not a regular visitor to the forum you mention but I will look at it because I would like to see the comments relating to alleged vandalism.

Yours truly

Andy Wilman
Executive Producer
BBC Top Gear

Well I hope he does look at the alleged vandalism as it is real and now a problem to all Marian Owners! As I hold the BBC and Top Gear responsible, Oh hang on, that means they have to be responsible and accountable for actions that happen as a result of their broadcast! :roll:

The world is turning in to a nasty place if this is now classed as fun

[Ado 16]

I'm presuming "Andy Wilman" (Isn't that the name of Ricky Gervaise's fictional character in "Extras"?) Must have a Degree to have got to the position of Executive Producer at the BBC. I think that confirms how much Universities are dumbing down these days!

[JubileeNut]

That response from Andy Wilman was complete rubbish and not how I would expect any complaint to be handled. After all I am the customer and the customer is always right!

It's a Fast Show sketch, and that is simply not victimisation

If it was a fast show sketch it was a crap one.

This Andy Wilman, (Not Producer but only an executive, probably not talented enough to be a producer so gave him a paper pushing job perhaps!) seems to think that it is not victimisation! :?
I would think crushing one car and not keep going on about the club would be not victimisation, but to destroy 4 or more cars and miss quote the club etc to be victimisation :? :? :?

If I got punched by a guy once, then I would say I was in the wrong place at the wrong time or I was unlucky, but to be punched 4 times on different occasions by the same person I would say it is victimisation :shock:

That's how I see it.

Maybe next time JC brings an expensive car within 2 mile of me I will modify it for him! And yes a few months back he had his Mercedes Diplomat just round the corner :twisted:

That car was bought for him by his wife so modifying that would hurt! But I would not stoop as low as TG.

Paul.

[Alan The Exocet]

TAKEN FROM BL CLASSICS

A observation mine is before the Top Gear crap, i got the usual comments of i had/dad had etc and the young pre 20's cool/retro etc, the rest was silence. NOW the silence has been replaced with ridicule, insensitive comments. Most annoying is the threats of violence
half a house brick was thrown at WJO today, car had only been out of the works 5 mins when it happend.Thankfully it missed, but it hit one of the hire cars, a top spec 59 plate Vectra.the idiots were caught,that's how we found out it was intended for the Marina.
I wonder if Clarkson realises the repercussions the show is having.The lads will ended up with a record, and who foolishly support him!!!!!!!
This is the second attack i have now received makes me really wonder if it's is worth the hassle for a car???????

Alan

[7322]

Well I hope Andy Wilman does pay us a visit and realises what has started. I have replaced my rear screen now but will not be parking at home overnight anymore - quite inconvenient but I would rather keep my car intact until the Top Gear ridicule is forgotten about and we get back to the status we were at before it started. Thank you all for your comments, I didn't think I would be the only one experiencing this. Matt.

[Ado 16]

I'd take it higher, (In the BBC.) Difficult to prove of course, but too much of a coincidence to prove otherwise. It is beginning to smack a little of the old offence of "incitement". Now known as "Encouraging or Assisting Crime". Fancy that - Honourable old BBC encouraging people to break the law!

[Gee tc]

HI,
If it helps....I was listening to the news on BBC Radio5 last week and some
climate change activists had dumped a truck full of horse manure on Jezzas front lawn
citing the fact they thought he wasnt taking climate change 'seriously enough'.!
Loved to have seen it!
T

[Mike Nassour]

Well I hope Andy Wilman does pay us a visit and realises what has started. I have replaced my rear screen now but will not be parking at home overnight anymore - quite inconvenient but I would rather keep my car intact until the Top Gear ridicule is forgotten about and we get back to the status we were at before it started. Thank you all for your comments, I didn't think I would be the only one experiencing this. Matt.

First of all, being that this is my first post here, let me say how terribly unfortunate for you, and your car, to have suffered from this idiotic act.

Secondly, please allow me to introduce myself by saying that I am 1) an American, 2) a video producer (though not nearly as successful as Mr. Wilman and 3) a fan of Top Gear.

Now, I am betting that some of you are considering those three strikes against me! However, I would request you not hit that "ignore" button quite yet. There are some...characteristics...that all television shows like Top Gear have in common. More than anything, they are always scratching for new material. In reading back over the old posts here, it seems that this entire fiasco began when some of the members here reacted quite strongly (and appropriately, I might add) to the destruction of a Marina. Folks, I have to tell you, that's like waving a bloody red flag in front of a bull. And don't forget...the bull isn't Clarkson, he's just the horns. It's the entire process by which a television program is produced. You gave them more material to work with and guess what....more Marinas were attacked by pianos.

Given Top Gear's attitude toward the entire British motor industry during the era when the Marina was being produced (an attitude which, let's face it, is not completely undeserved), nothing less could be expected.

It's clear that given their disrespect of BL products from that era, they are somewhat amazed that groups like yours even exist. As you know by now, you have just about zero respect on that side of the aisle. I myself have found myself in a similar position, being a fan of American and Japanese cars from the early 70s, most of which (Ford Maverick, Mazda RX-2, for instance) are complete and absolute rubbish. No, no, no, I'm NOT saying the Marina is rubbish, I'm saying I feel your pain. Quite frankly, it's just as valid to be a fan of a Marina as it is an Aston. If you love something that much, go forth and support it, let the rest of the world be d***ed.

The bottom line ... this too shall pass. If another Marina bites the dust, let it lie. When "the boys" can't get any more mileage from the joke, it will be gone.

However, none of this addresses what happened to Matt's car. I have to admit I'm skeptical that Clarkson-inspired Marina haters did this. After all, it's been weeks since the last Marina segment was shown on Top Gear. Unless it's been rerun recently, such an act is more likely to have happened immediately after the program first aired.

It is important to keep track of any future instances such as this. If you can indeed show that vandalism against Marinas has increased due to any real, or perceived, urgings by Clarkson and company, this information needs to go to Mr. Wilman immediately. Regardless of what JubileeNut said up above, I can assure you that he is a very important person on the program and has a great deal of influence over what is broadcast and what gets left on the cutting room floor. And yes, take it to the higher ups at the BBC as well. But do it quietly, and professionally...making a public stink over it simply gets you laughed at.

Once again, Matt, what happened to your car was idiotic and inexcusable. That shouldn't happen to anyone's car, regardless of what they drive.

Mike Nassour / Austin TX

[Mike Nassour]

HI,
If it helps....I was listening to the news on BBC Radio5 last week and some
climate change activists had dumped a truck full of horse manure on Jezzas front lawn
citing the fact they thought he wasnt taking climate change 'seriously enough'.!
Loved to have seen it!
T

No you wouldn't have.

I saw a photo of six stupidly-dressed people standing in front of five pounds of horse manure in a pathetic little pile near Clarkson's front gate.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2 ... re-protest

1) Visually, it's completely ineffective and they looked like fools.

2) Clarkson uses horse manure in his garden and was able to put it to good use.

That's the kind of "protest" that makes folks who dislike Top Gear look idiotic.

[JubileeNut]

Secondly, please allow me to introduce myself by saying that I am 1) an American, 2) a video producer (though not nearly as successful as Mr. Wilman and 3) a fan of Top Gear.

Hello there Mike Nassour!
I think you talk a lot of sense in your post and wish it was you who replied to the complaint!

At least your words were written with some thought.

You obviously know of this Andy Wilman to say he is so great, I personally have never heard of him until now!
looking on line however shows he is a Clarkson shadow as he only seems to work with him! Is it because he is the only person who can work with him or is it all he knows how to do?

Yes being quite about things will mean it may fade away but when cars get damaged it hurts people personally and that is not going to stay quite.
Plus the reason for a late vandalism of the Marina Estate above was probably the brainless soles couldn't find one to wreck! If you look around the streets here it could be 5 years before you see one!

The reason I am very sensitive to this is I have just spent 2.5 years of my blood, sweat and tears restoring a rare MK1 1973 TC Jubilee with hard earned money. And yes not every ones choice of car even in the small Marina world but I have my reasons for doing it and no other opinions are required, and to now be worried about driving it and parking it anywhere because of this rubbish is very frustrating.

This is why the big people of the BBC should be responsible in what is broadcast etc. Fair enough to have one or two cars but the joke is over and it has got personal certainly with some members.

Your are correct that no car should get damaged when someone has cared for it etc and if Top Gear for example had destroyed a number of Fiat's or whatever make, I do not then feel the need to go out and damage a similar model! :roll:
It just shows you what numb skulls are let out and free in today's world :|
Where has all the respect for others property gone

PS. nice to see another fan from the USA on here by the way
Paul.

[Uncle Frank]

:shock: First off...hello Mike and welcome to the forum!, and what a breath of fresh air you bring to these proceedings!, you have well and truly hit the nail on the head with your comments and observations.
The vandalism which has recently befallen some members cars is probably a result of re-runs on TV Channels such as "Dave" etc, and will probably go on for some time yet unfortunately.
What really irritates most of us is the way the owners club has been dragged into a conflict in which it played no part!, this has always been an open forum and a large majority of the `posters` are just ordinary individuals or members of other Marina clubs, such as Ecosse.
As you rightly point out, the best way for this to end is for everything to just stop now, no more letter writing to TG directly, (if you must complain, go over their heads, as i did, and fill in a formal complaint to the BBC) I`m hoping they will now be bored with Marina killing, and will go on to other more interesting subjects like the much better classic car auction challenge they did at the end of the last series.
Trying to get back at Clarkson is rather futile in my opinion as he has more money, more clout, more supporters, the BBC behind him because he makes them a lot of money, and he quite frankly doesn`t give a t*ss what anyone thinks of him, believe me, he is the most arrogant spoilt bully boy i have ever had the misfortune to meet, he knows he can do exactly what he likes and will always get away with it (ask Gordon Brown!).
Must admit i too like 70`s American cars, but i`m a sucker for the Muscle cars such as the Plymouth Roadrunner, GTX, Camaro`s, and especially El Camino pick ups!