Top Gear Grinds Into Reverse: Nissan GTR Vs. Shinkansen 700
Neil Duckett uploaded two fun episodes of Top Gear, the car program that BBC broadcasts without any care for peak oil, CO2 emissions or other environmental issues that interest us here at Kurashi. As it were, Jeremy Clarkson got to race across Japan in a Nissan GT-R (that he clearly loved, breaking a lot of local speed laws, and as far as I know, got no ticket). His fellow BBC companions took public transit including the 700 Shinkansen.
Isn't it rather absurd that in the event of the current energy crisis, BBC airs such a show, without a single reference to (cough) reality. More over at Treehugger: Top Gear: Fast, Sexy Car Vs. Shinkansen, A-Bike And Public TransportationAs a good friend of mine kindly noted in an email earlier today:
...we have no time to convert one person at a time ("one light bulb at a time" as it is sometimes stated) in order to save the planet. Making fossil fuels cost a lot automatically causes people to change their behaviors. Perhaps organized political pressure to put taxes on fuels and on carbon would be more effective.
Comments
Typical BBC too, a law unto itself that is financed by the compulsory licence fees that must be paid if you have a tv. One guy drives round Japan, in the usual petrol-head style of the chap himself and the show, the others jaunt around by Bullet train - nice work if you can get it.
To be a fair race it must be noted that a single 700 series train can carry 989 passengers and there are about 6 trains per hour, so how fast would a car be able to go if all those people were sharing the roadway? Not to mention dropping people off at all the stops along the way.
Of course it is, as Tom points to, a self indulgent adolescent fantasy show. Too bad. The fact is that walking, riding a bicycle, using local public transport, and the Shinkansen is actually more fun!
I respect your concerns about environment and carbon foot print but i totally disagree with your comments about top gear as a "show". i advise you to see their "fuel economy" races/challenges as well.
here is a comparison between so called "green" toyota prius and a bmw. for same distance and same speed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RkfYCbKpt8
it looks pointless at first, or maybe just funny, but please dont be mistaken, its just because of their show is based on humor.
for more of a "sensible" test was this years "Basel to Blackpool Race" you can search for it and see for yourself.