The UK does car shows correctly.

In general, car shows are boring. Car and Driver Television, Fifth Gear, and Motor Trend Television are scarcely more than theatrical advertisements that sound as though their segments were actually written by Ford, GM or Honda's marketing departments themselves. Luckily not all vehicle-related programs are made in the States.

I've read every issue of Car and Driver since our mid-summer vacation to Manitoulin Island of 2000. To be proper, it was almost purely out of convenience as my brother was the one renewing the subscription. Obviously I like their magazine a lot and have enjoyed learning my share about the rich history that is the automobile. It's writers are clearly bound together by an obsession with the controlled combustion of vapours. That an years of experience bind them to their work, along with a strangely persistent obsession with the CannonBall run.

What Car and Driver does in print, Top Gear does in film. The distinguishing factor for me is their abundance of character. The fact it's filmed at on old RAF airfield makes it even better. You connect with the hosts quickly, and to a large extent you experience what they experience. Their seemingly limitless resources, charisma and humour have created quite the faithful following. A search for "Top Gear" on Google Video produces hours of enjoyable content. Further evidence is in the outpouring of sympathy that Hammond received after his horrific crash earlier this year.

Second to the hosts is the music and camera work, it's simply beautiful. So, next time you're anywhere near BBC Canada, or even regular BBC, check it out. Even if you're not car-obsessed you may just enjoy it.

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