Sounds quite routine for an international television production: Leave the UK for Vancouver, film series about cars, have a good time. What wasn’t on the agenda for “Top Gear” stars Jeremy Clarkson, James May, and Richard Hammond was getting stranded in a small B.C. town.
The rumours turned out to be true: BBC2’s “Top Gear” paid a visit to Vancouver, and it was an adventure-filled excursion.
The popular show about cars and driving “had been filming in the South Okanagan and the West Kootenay over the weekend, and for the most part kept their location a secret, in order to film undisturbed,” elaborates the CBC.
On Sunday, however, the production found themselves, as Clarkson put it, “marooned,” in the small town of Trail, thanks to bad weather.
Clarkson’s Twitter account wryly took on their plight Sunday:
Quick question. What can 3 chaps do to kill time in Trail BC on a Sunday afternoon?
— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) November 23, 2014
I should make it plain, we are marooned in Trail. This is full Planes Trains stuff. Even the temperature is correct: 1
— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) November 23, 2014
We were going to waxed but the shop’s shut
— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) November 23, 2014
Bad news. They don’t do tours of the lead and zinc smelting plant on a Sunday.
— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) November 23, 2014
Canadian airport people. What are the chances of a plane getting into Trail today?
— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) November 23, 2014
This is Trail. pic.twitter.com/AGxfYHUVUo
— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) November 23, 2014
There were plenty of suggestions for what to do from locals, including some intriguing glimpses into local colour.
Someone has suggested we go to their demonstration on how to cut up a goat. Not sure.
— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) November 23, 2014
Hammond shared another Tweeted idea of how the trio could kill time:
“@LeclercReynard: you could all go moose sexing” Er, wouldn’t know what to wear
— Richard Hammond (@RichardHammond) November 23, 2014
May didn’t have too much to say:
Weather still poor in Trail. But that could change. It could get a lot worse. @JeremyClarkson @RichardHammond
— James May (@MrJamesMay) November 23, 2014
But, fear not, the trio made it out of Trail, and, luckily for them, without getting pulled over by the police. A Daily Mail UK story reports that the show’s stars were photographed driving in Vancouver in vehicles missing licence plates.
Specifically, one of the cars that was being filmed on the varied terrain offered by the Okanagan was “a Hennessey VelociRaptor, a Ford F-150 converted into a high-performance-SUV,” notes the CBC.
That Raptor was spotted on Granville Street in downtown, and outside the Sutton Place Hotel, says the Daily Mail, who also have photos of the “Top Gear” stars having a smoke outside at YVR.
Speaking of airports, the “Top Gear” guys ended up taking off from the small airport in Trail Sunday.
Here are some parting thoughts and images from Hammond:
Uh oh, I think we might make it pic.twitter.com/4zv8pPqvMt
— Richard Hammond (@RichardHammond) November 23, 2014
Checked in. It’s looking good. Well, ish. pic.twitter.com/8vtuRCRLQz
— Richard Hammond (@RichardHammond) November 23, 2014
Featured image: The hosts of “Top Gear”/BBC2
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