Idris Elba - King of Speed
Discussion
I didn't know who Idris Elba was. I've watched both shows back to back and thought it was a good program. He came across well to me, seemed comfortable and personable with all the people he met and it was a wide spectrum, from American street racers to Paddy Hopkirk. He just seemed like a nice guy who was into cars. I was surprised to see criticism of him but I suppose this is Pistonheads and it's to be expected.
Well, I really enjoyed it and particularly the 2nd programme because I was very much into rallying in the 80's, especially the Group B cars, so seeing the 6R4, Dai Llewellyn and Ari Vatenen brought a little tear to my eye.
I thought Idris Elba came across well, showed enthusiasm for the subject matter, it was extremely well filmed with some lovely cinematography, and overall was one of the better things that was on telly over Christmas.
I really don't know what some members of PH expect out of a car programme on a mainstream channel, to be honest.
I thought Idris Elba came across well, showed enthusiasm for the subject matter, it was extremely well filmed with some lovely cinematography, and overall was one of the better things that was on telly over Christmas.
I really don't know what some members of PH expect out of a car programme on a mainstream channel, to be honest.
The programme was actually pretty good overall, especially the 2nd one.
But...
I think the difference between something done by, say, Guy Martin and something like "King of Speed" is that Guy Martin is a bit of a character and making a living from it, but he is also a very capable chap who will try his hand at some interesting things, and make a good stab at it. I'm also interested in what he thinks about bikes, cars, boats, machines etc.
Prof Brian Cox is another, more academic, example of this.
I'm less interested in seeing somebody having a go at something, such as driving a rally car at a fairly basic level, just because they are a "celebrity". I've no issue with Idris Elba and he's a very good actor, but it appears that his main interest outside of acting is probably music.
But...
I think the difference between something done by, say, Guy Martin and something like "King of Speed" is that Guy Martin is a bit of a character and making a living from it, but he is also a very capable chap who will try his hand at some interesting things, and make a good stab at it. I'm also interested in what he thinks about bikes, cars, boats, machines etc.
Prof Brian Cox is another, more academic, example of this.
I'm less interested in seeing somebody having a go at something, such as driving a rally car at a fairly basic level, just because they are a "celebrity". I've no issue with Idris Elba and he's a very good actor, but it appears that his main interest outside of acting is probably music.
Edited by MC Bodge on Monday 6th January 22:45
Am I the only one that thought that idris came across as a bit of a cock with rather too high an opinion of his talent? Didn't seem to listen to a thing said to him on the rally training. Flipped the car and it's not his fault?
There was no need whatsoever for the crap in the veyron or jumping cars. The bit in the xr2 would have been much better if he didn't just keep banging on about it being a rude boy car and cruising around laaandan in his yoof.
Saved by hopkirk, dai, and vatanen, as well as the nascar on the streets and 6r4 etc
There was no need whatsoever for the crap in the veyron or jumping cars. The bit in the xr2 would have been much better if he didn't just keep banging on about it being a rude boy car and cruising around laaandan in his yoof.
Saved by hopkirk, dai, and vatanen, as well as the nascar on the streets and 6r4 etc
Am I the only one that thought that idris came across as a bit of a cock with rather too high an opinion of his talent? Didn't seem to listen to a thing said to him on the rally training. Flipped the car and it's not his fault?
There was no need whatsoever for the crap in the veyron or jumping cars. The bit in the xr2 would have been much better if he didn't just keep banging on about it being a rude boy car and cruising around laaandan in his yoof.
Saved by hopkirk, dai, and vatanen, as well as the nascar on the streets and 6r4 etc
There was no need whatsoever for the crap in the veyron or jumping cars. The bit in the xr2 would have been much better if he didn't just keep banging on about it being a rude boy car and cruising around laaandan in his yoof.
Saved by hopkirk, dai, and vatanen, as well as the nascar on the streets and 6r4 etc
The program was a big let-down for me.
hartge bob said:
Max doesn't look impressed
ash73 said:
Not surprised Idris had an off, he was pushing himself too far too soon because the cameras were there.
The reason he had an off was that he was a cocky tw@t. I thought it was incredibly rude when Max suggested he go back to the 'training' circuit and he just said 'No'. Who does he think he is?skinny said:
Am I the only one that thought that idris came across as a bit of a cock with rather too high an opinion of his talent? Didn't seem to listen to a thing said to him on the rally training. Flipped the car and it's not his fault?
Agree with the above.
I think the cause could potentialy be his job as an actor - they don a costume and 'play' a part. He thinks that by putting on a race suit and helmet he looks the part, so he can obviously play the part and is bestowed with Vatanen's talents...
Or he could just be a big knob.
I think the cause could potentialy be his job as an actor - they don a costume and 'play' a part. He thinks that by putting on a race suit and helmet he looks the part, so he can obviously play the part and is bestowed with Vatanen's talents...
Or he could just be a big knob.
monthefish said:
The program was a big let-down for me.
Just caught up with this and agree with most of the above.hartge bob said:
Max doesn't look impressed
ash73 said:
Not surprised Idris had an off, he was pushing himself too far too soon because the cameras were there.
The reason he had an off was that he was a cocky tw@t. I thought it was incredibly rude when Max suggested he go back to the 'training' circuit and he just said 'No'. Who does he think he is?skinny said:
Am I the only one that thought that idris came across as a bit of a cock with rather too high an opinion of his talent? Didn't seem to listen to a thing said to him on the rally training. Flipped the car and it's not his fault?
A good idea spoiled somewhat by TV's endless obsession with celebrities going on a 'journey' to discover something they have a mild interest in and/or no talent for.
He came across as arrogant and dismissive of people he could have learned from. But in that he's not dissimilar to quite a few (mostly male) drivers I've sat in with on track, so I suppose he's representative of a type.
BaronVonVaderham said:
Agree with the above.
I think the cause could potentialy be his job as an actor - they don a costume and 'play' a part. He thinks that by putting on a race suit and helmet he looks the part, so he can obviously play the part and is bestowed with Vatanen's talents...
Or he could just be a big knob.
That's actually a very good assessment. I thought he was incredibly rude to Vatanen Senior and junior. I think the cause could potentialy be his job as an actor - they don a costume and 'play' a part. He thinks that by putting on a race suit and helmet he looks the part, so he can obviously play the part and is bestowed with Vatanen's talents...
Or he could just be a big knob.
Maybe that's what f
ks me off most with these shows is sometimes the presenters fail to show that they appreciate any of the effort that the professionals are putting in.Dear oh dear what a naive bunch so many of us seem to be....It wasn't a documentary, it wasn't how to be a racing driver in three easy lessons, it was just light entertainment which would hook some of the Top Gear audience.The key to all programmes like this is in the editing- shoot lots , edit down to make some sort of story, inject a bit of drama and jeopardy and job done. But it's all a construct and relies on careful work to keep it watchable . As for the ultimate sin on PH - 'being arrogant' I neither know nor care if Idris is guilty of that - but FFS so what if he is? He's a good looking and gifted actor (not some saddo like me looking at web forum on a wednesday morning)and he should be judged by his acting or in this case the watchability of the programme. I enjoyed it and so did many if 20 odd pages of comment are anything to go by.
But the real subtext here seems to be a Self Righteous Brothers riff- 'It's all so unfair; I go on PH all the time , have a V8, know my 964 from my 993 , I do trackdays and I read EVO. I know more about car anorak stuff than that guy off the telly - the wker- why him? So unfair..arrogant tosser anyway- I'd tell him if he came into my local I would . Idris....NO '
But the real subtext here seems to be a Self Righteous Brothers riff- 'It's all so unfair; I go on PH all the time , have a V8, know my 964 from my 993 , I do trackdays and I read EVO. I know more about car anorak stuff than that guy off the telly - the w
ker- why him? So unfair..arrogant tosser anyway- I'd tell him if he came into my local I would . Idris....NO ' coppice said:
Dear oh dear what a naive bunch so many of us seem to be....It wasn't a documentary, it wasn't how to be a racing driver in three easy lessons, it was just light entertainment which would hook some of the Top Gear audience.The key to all programmes like this is in the editing- shoot lots , edit down to make some sort of story, inject a bit of drama and jeopardy and job done. But it's all a construct and relies on careful work to keep it watchable . As for the ultimate sin on PH - 'being arrogant' I neither know nor care if Idris is guilty of that - but FFS so what if he is? He's a good looking and gifted actor (not some saddo like me looking at web forum on a wednesday morning)and he should be judged by his acting or in this case the watchability of the programme. I enjoyed it and so did many if 20 odd pages of comment are anything to go by.
But the real subtext here seems to be a Self Righteous Brothers riff- 'It's all so unfair; I go on PH all the time , have a V8, know my 964 from my 993 , I do trackdays and I read EVO. I know more about car anorak stuff than that guy off the telly - the wker- why him? So unfair..arrogant tosser anyway- I'd tell him if he came into my local I would . Idris....NO '
Calm down poppet, I think most of us are sensible enough to see it for what it was, heavily edited light entertainment.But the real subtext here seems to be a Self Righteous Brothers riff- 'It's all so unfair; I go on PH all the time , have a V8, know my 964 from my 993 , I do trackdays and I read EVO. I know more about car anorak stuff than that guy off the telly - the w
ker- why him? So unfair..arrogant tosser anyway- I'd tell him if he came into my local I would . Idris....NO ' It's just that it also appeared to be a missed opportunity - the makers could have used someone whose appreciation of the cars went deeper than 'Me and me bruvs used to tool abaht sarf Lahndah in one of these' and the presenter who, if he could park his own (misplaced) self-confidence would have learned a lot more and maybe not trashed someone else's car (then blamed the car).
I'm neither jealous of the presenter nor surprised by the 'sleb on a journey' content - just a little disappointed at how the 'sleb in question approached the subject. Given the ubiquity of the format and the 'unique way the BBC is funded', I'm simply disappointed that the BBC yet again went down the same tired old route.
coppice said:
Dear oh dear what a naive bunch so many of us seem to be....It wasn't a documentary, it wasn't how to be a racing driver in three easy lessons, it was just light entertainment which would hook some of the Top Gear audience.The key to all programmes like this is in the editing- shoot lots , edit down to make some sort of story, inject a bit of drama and jeopardy and job done. But it's all a construct and relies on careful work to keep it watchable . As for the ultimate sin on PH - 'being arrogant' I neither know nor care if Idris is guilty of that - but FFS so what if he is? He's a good looking and gifted actor (not some saddo like me looking at web forum on a wednesday morning)and he should be judged by his acting or in this case the watchability of the programme. I enjoyed it and so did many if 20 odd pages of comment are anything to go by.
But the real subtext here seems to be a Self Righteous Brothers riff- 'It's all so unfair; I go on PH all the time , have a V8, know my 964 from my 993 , I do trackdays and I read EVO. I know more about car anorak stuff than that guy off the telly - the wker- why him? So unfair..arrogant tosser anyway- I'd tell him if he came into my local I would . Idris....NO '
My thoughts too.But the real subtext here seems to be a Self Righteous Brothers riff- 'It's all so unfair; I go on PH all the time , have a V8, know my 964 from my 993 , I do trackdays and I read EVO. I know more about car anorak stuff than that guy off the telly - the w
ker- why him? So unfair..arrogant tosser anyway- I'd tell him if he came into my local I would . Idris....NO ' MissB and I both enjoyed the program and thought Idris came across as a likable and very watchable guy, I do find it odd the level of negativity towards this on an "enthusiasts" site!
If the BBC are reading this and they're looking for someone to spend a week with the Vatanens (minus the wierd naked stuff) and drive rally cars, then PM me. I haven't driven on the UK public roads without the appropriate licence, I respect my betters and I actually know quite a bit about driving and rallying so therefore I could talk to others on the programme knowledgeably.
Many thanks.
Many thanks.
drakart said:
If the BBC are reading this and they're looking for someone to spend a week with the Vatanens (minus the wierd naked stuff) and drive rally cars, then PM me. I haven't driven on the UK public roads without the appropriate licence, I respect my betters and I actually know quite a bit about driving and rallying so therefore I could talk to others on the programme knowledgeably.
Many thanks.
No BBC pick me! I've done all the above but i'm better looking and funnier.....! Many thanks.
zeb said:
drakart said:
If the BBC are reading this and they're looking for someone to spend a week with the Vatanens (minus the wierd naked stuff) and drive rally cars, then PM me. I haven't driven on the UK public roads without the appropriate licence, I respect my betters and I actually know quite a bit about driving and rallying so therefore I could talk to others on the programme knowledgeably.
Many thanks.
No BBC pick me! I've done all the above but i'm better looking and funnier.....! Many thanks.
- that makes it sound like we play naked....which of course we do
hmmm......whilst you are emminently more qualified than me on the naked man stuff, I have rallied a MK2 escort which makes me more down with my home boy vatanen 
I am also a yorkshireman which makes me naturally superior and hilarious from birth.....I know....its a gift son......now jog on
I am also a yorkshireman which makes me naturally superior and hilarious from birth.....I know....its a gift son......now jog on
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