The stig/legal row hmm ? - Page 2

AussieAV · 20-08-2010, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GasOLane

Or a number of 'nobodies'. Humphrey Bear and Fat Cat had multiple inner personalties.

I'd hope that they kept the same driver so that the Power Board Lap Times actually have some meaning. Then again they don't really make any allowance for different weather/track conditions so you could be right.

321Go · 20-08-2010, 11:59 PM

Ben Collins is the current widely "suspected" Stig. Has been for some time now. Was here last year to drive for Kelly Racing in the V8's. Came for a tour of my workplace. Met the guy and said to him "Nice to meet you Mr Collins, or should that be.. Mr Stig?" He smiled and winked then replied "I don't know what you talkin' 'bout." As he hasn't heard that before, lol.

Seems like a publicity stunt by the BBC.

Feathers · 21-08-2010, 12:02 AM

It's me. I have the t-shirt to prove it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AussieAV

That was a joke. Schumacher was there to take that Ferrari around the track because they weren't handing it over to anyone else.

The FXX is Shumi's car. Only one in black without a stripe.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mechan1k

Awww ... dunno.
They have used the German driver with the Ford Transit Van ... damn she can peddle a vehicle around hard.

Sabine Schmitz.

Personally I couldn't care less who the Stig is. It actually annoys me that I know it is Ben Collins.

Thing is, it's not about him, it's about the cars on the track.
If he wasn't anonymous, then there'd inevitably be rants about how much faster <insert name here> could have gone in that car, because of course they're a much better/braver driver than the Stig.

I have no doubt that for the silly extra things they film the Stig doing, it's other people though.
I'd think the keen viewers would notice inconsistancies in the Stig's driving if it was different people.

geckoGT · 21-08-2010, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AussieAV

While I can understand his frustration at not being able to tell anyone who he is (who wouldn't want to bask in that glory), he's been smokin somethin funny if he thinks anyone really cares who he is. It would be like the person who played "Humphrey Bear" writing a book about their real life - who the hell would care!

"The Stig" is basically a ficticious character played by a probably talented racing driver. None of that person's personality plays any part in the popularity of the Stig character.

It is the mystery of The Stig that makes him so much fun. He is an enigma, defined only by the audience's imagination.

He's a driving superhero purely because our imaginations (fuelled by Clarkson, Hammond and May's outrageous descriptions) let him be so.

Give him a name, and we all learn about the real person's racing career, and not even Mansell, Senna or Schumacher could hope to live up to mythical, almost supernatural abilities of "The Stig".

If we can google him/her and find out they didn't win every race they ever took part in, then the bubble is burst.

Very well said.

I think if this turns out that it is not a BBC publicity stunt and the Stig is truly upset and considering legal action on the grounds he is missing out on income because he cannot do an autobiography, he is a fool and biting the hand that feeds him.

Look at what he is, a figure in the white race suit with no face who drives a car fast and that is it. He has not verbal part, no personality and does not have to rely on any acting ability or even have to have the confidence to deal with a crowd or cameras. An autobiography based on his character as the stig would not exactly be awesome reading and really would only sell small volumes to absolute TG fans through novelty value, not a good income earner.

If the BBC does have a signed confidentiality agreement with him and he breaks that, then they will just end his contract, find a new stig (maybe a pink one with Sabine at the wheel) and start the lap board all over again. On top of that they will reap the benefits of the publicity created, experience an increase in the ratings and be no worse off for it. Yes the Stig can drive but to be honest there is no shortage of other class drivers that could do the same job and be happy to be anonymous for the sort of cash that he gets paid. Its not like they have to sit there for hours rehearsing lines etc, $20,000 for spending the day at a track, not a bad little sideline income.

The only thing that would really occur is that he would lose the contract and further income, for the sake of a book that written as the Stig, that would not be a top seller. If he really is a top level race driver, he would be better off writing it as his true identity and leave the Stig out of it.

cargenie · 21-08-2010, 12:42 AM

hmmm, what the hell would 'the stig' have in a biography anyway?
Obviously they can't write about his past or it will give him away.

sleeper393 · 21-08-2010, 12:52 AM

[IMG]

Uploaded with ImageShack.us[/IMG]
BEN COLLINS

mrbaxr6t · 21-08-2010, 01:09 AM

"the stig" is almost a mythical character he shows up at random drives cars really fast then goes away what makes him great is his ability to appear wooden and emotionless remember when they put him on the train he was funny as all hell all the while didn't say a word, when the beemer broke in the 24 hr he just got out and went and sat in the corner showing absolutely zero body language, he is an integral part of the show and knowing his identity will break the mystique of the character.

wrongwaynorris · 21-08-2010, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GasOLane

Ratings must be down and the Beeb need to generate a bit more publicity....or am I being too cynical ?

I think you're right on the money M8 . I thought everyone knew it was Ben Collins anyway .

Wardo · 21-08-2010, 09:02 AM

As said previously most people agree it's Ben Collins.

My theory is that it's whoever the factory says can drive their car. If Ferrari insist on Schumi, Bugatti, Lamborghini etc probably will only lend their cars if their test drivers drive. I can imagine that the insurance company underwriting million dollar cars would have some say on who drives as well.

NudgE^SIKBRO · 21-08-2010, 03:06 PM

My question reguarding the stig, when the stars in the reasonably priced cars are sitting on the couch, Clarkson talks to them and they quite often say the stig said this or that, he cant be too highprofile because im sure his voice would be recognised if he was, somebody must know the truth. I personally dont think its Ben Collins, simply because I like to belive The Stig is a man without a face. I like it that way

Mickxr8 · 21-08-2010, 08:09 PM

anybody got any friends,rellies over there ? (i have but there either elderly or not interested in motorsport) . stake out there `test track`

. imagine what a scoop that would be

.

**DJM83** · 21-08-2010, 09:18 PM

And look what has been created on our very forum publicity about the Stig

I for one dont care who the stig is i enjoy the stigmata surrounding him/her

Bud Bud · 21-08-2010, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JC

So, by and large, women cannot (or perhaps it is simply do not) drive fast.

Ok what about straight and skinny women then?

Bud Bud

Mickxr8 · 22-08-2010, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJM83

And look what has been created on our very forum publicity about the Stig

I for one dont care who the stig is i enjoy the stigmata surrounding him/her

please dont shoot the messanger

wor57 · 22-08-2010, 10:00 AM

Is the stig really that good of a driver though?

**DJM83** · 22-08-2010, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mickxr8

please dont shoot the messanger

Nah mate wasnt a dig at you

**Bundy** · 22-08-2010, 02:46 PM

I have it on good authority that there has been a number (4 or more) of different "Stigs" to this day.........

flappist · 22-08-2010, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bundy

I have it on good authority that there has been a number (4 or more) of different "Stigs" to this day.........

It would very much appeal to my sense of humour if the current one was actually Rubens Barrichello......

LimeGlaze · 22-08-2010, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bundy

I have it on good authority that there has been a number (4 or more) of different "Stigs" to this day.........

I have it on good authority, the Stig has genuine XB GT Falcon Guards in his shed

castellan · 22-08-2010, 04:33 PM

I think the popularity of the show is because they are all toss pots and nothing is really serious. they get to flog any car around and make halfwit comments about the car.
And it's all just mainly about foolish rubbish that amuses simpletons.
The stig

I don't mind watching the show for what it is. a joke.
I hate them all because that should be me fanging them cars around.

flappist · 22-08-2010, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by castellan

And it's all just mainly about foolish rubbish that amuses simpletons.

Quote:

Originally Posted by castellan

I don't mind watching the show for what it is.

I don't think you will find many who will disagree.......

Supercharged · 22-08-2010, 08:31 PM

I think it is a publicity stunt, fact is the Stig is faceless and can be switched at any time.

**Revolver** · 22-08-2010, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JC

I thought i was the stig? What's that helmet doing in my cupboard?

Bugger!!! With all this court battle, I forgot thats where I left my helmet!

Mickxr8 · 22-08-2010, 10:29 PM

just a quick question .. how many people on here dont like top gear (uk) ?.

Mickxr8 · 23-08-2010, 08:18 AM

just checked the news.
http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news...-1225908440291

**Bundy** · 23-08-2010, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mickxr8

just checked the news.
http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news...-1225908440291

Ahh thats just a beat up. Unlike the dude I saw yesterday that was a deadset ringer for Elvis, even sounded like him, must have been him for sure.

Jason[98.EL] · 23-08-2010, 08:55 AM

Taken from http://news.ninemsn.com.au/entertain...s-out-the-stig

Financial documents out The Stig

Quote:

A 35-year-old former racing driver from Bristol in England has been named by the British media as possibly being Top Gear star The Stig.

New documents have emerged which appear to identify former Formula Three driver Ben Collins as the masked BBC stunt driver, the Telegraph newspaper reports.

The news comes just days after it was revealed the BBC is taking legal action against the mystery Top Gear star to prevent him from revealing his identity in an autobiography.

Records show earnings rose sharply for Collins' company, Collins Autosports, when the driver took on work to provide "driving services for the BBC, mainly in the Top Gear program" in December 2003.

The timing of the increased revenue coincided with the first appearance of The Stig in a white racing suit, at least one of which Collins is known to own.

Previously The Stig had appeared on the popular motoring show in black.

In the documents, Collins Autosports said the business had a "cornerstone year" and that the BBC work had good long-term prospects.

Collins' name had previously being mentioned by UK media in connection with The Stig but he has so far refused to say whether the TV stunt driver is him.

Last week lawyers acting for The Stig said the BBC's move to prevent him from revealing his identity was a human rights issue.

The driver is reportedly upset that he has not been able to profit from his association with the show as its other stars have.

Den76 · 23-08-2010, 11:28 AM

In today Mail Online

[URL=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1305162/Top-Gear-star-The-Stig-unmasked-company-accounts.html[/URL]

flappist · 23-08-2010, 11:52 AM

So I grab my crystal ball from its shelf and gaze into the future.....

I see an episode of top gear where the Stig races against Ben Collins and wins (of course no one has seen Rubens Barachello anywhere that day).

This proves outright that Ben Collins can't be the Stig or he would have tied, obviously......

RedHotGT · 23-08-2010, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flappist

So I grab my crystal ball from its shelf and gaze into the future.....

I see an episode of top gear where the Stig races against Ben Collins and wins (of course no one has seen Rubens Barachello anywhere that day).

This proves outright that Ben Collins can't be the Stig or he would have tied, obviously......

Of course?!??!

Because its quite possible that Ben and the Stig will lap the exact same time - because they are the same people ?? Right??