Car Punk

Maptales is a new website which was the result of a week-long hacking retreat organised by Clearleft, a UX consultancy based in Brighton. The site allows you to add context and narrative to journeys past and present.

Here’s my first attempt at a Tale, recounting the route of the famous 1955 Mille Miglia won by Sir Stirling Moss at the wheel of the #722 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR.

Touching photograph of Graham Hill, alongside his son and future World Champion Damon (via @motormorph).

Yesterday, comedian and Guardian columnist Steve Coogan published an honest and cutting appraisal of the BBC’s Top Gear, following the most recent upset caused by Clarkson, May and Hammond’s misguided comments about Mexicans. As a fan of Coogan’s comedy turns and appreciation of his petrolhead sensibilities, this account of the world’s most popular motoring programme rings loud and true in my ears. He sums up the current dynamic between the three perfectly..

Richard has his tongue so far down the back of Jeremy’s trousers he could forge a career as the back end of a pantomime horse. His attempt to foster some Clarkson-like maverick status with his “edgy” humour is truly tragic…meanwhile, James May stands at the back holding their coats as they beat up the boy with the stutter.

Watching last Sunday night, I wasn’t offended by the boys’ latest attempt at comedy – I was embarrassed. Why? Because Top Gear represents motoring fanatics to the non-petrolhead in the street. Although motoring is an integral part of most people’s lives, unlike cookery or DIY it’s place in popular culture is heavily defined by a single slot on terrestrial television. Not only is the keen motorist under-represented in the mainstream media, Top Gear fails to quench our thirst for quality car-based entertainment any more. Despite my gripes, I still tune in religiously for the occasional well executed film such as the Senna or Lancia pieces from the last couple of series, but on the whole I reach the credits underwhelmed.

Alas, the slow decline of Top Gear as a car show is a different matter. The problem with Clarkson and co being the face of car enthusiasts perpetuates beyond the ruffling of conservative feathers with their – usually tongue firmly in cheek – jokes. The programme’s consistent negativity towards green motoring and road safety mean I’m often found defending my interest. Cars are an obsession for me (I hope they still are for Coogan), but I get my kicks responsibly and understand that to continue enjoying driving over the coming years will mean a shift in expectation. The Top Gear presenters however, seem stubbornly stuck in the past.

The world of cars and motorsport alone clearly have the potential to provide comic relief even to those outside our geeky world, so why resort to lazy cultural stereotypes instead?

More irritating than the presenters’ latest cringe-worthy efforts at being funny is the fact the team behind the programme are more intelligent than their presenters’ occassional brand of casual racism. Script writer Richard Porter is the man behind the superbly satirical Sniff Petrol website, an excellent Evo magazine column and some hilarious ranting on Gareth Jones on Speed. The world of cars and motorsport clearly have the potential to provide comic relief even to those outside our geeky world, so why resort to lazy cultural stereotypes instead? I’m not shy to controversial comments and would never advocate censorship (I regularly enjoy the type of content that makes Daily Mail readers’ heads explode), but can we at least stay on topic?

Following this latest embarrassing turn, I’m sure Clarkson, Hammond and May must be considering throwing in the towel on the current, tired format; surely it’s now time for some new blood in front of the camera? In the meantime, I’ll sign off with another talented funny-man making his feelings on the subject known.