230:'s American cousin, whom they nicknamed "Big Stig" owing to his obese appearance. Clarkson's Camaro proved the fastest with its time, while May's, which was found to have an electrical problem before it began that required it to be jump-started, was the second fastest. Hammond's pick-up was sluggish around the track and was the slowest, but quickly revealed that it had poor brakes after it came off the track. Following the challenge, the trio were then tasked with seeing how quickly they could reach 50 mph before seeing how quickly their cars stopped from that speed, and discovered that the challenge would take place at the drag strip portion of the raceway's track, where at the bottom of it was a river filled with
241:, stopping for the first night at a hotel, whereupon May suffered another electrical fault that required him to get another jump-start, much to the annoyance of the other presenters, while Clarkson bought fans to help both himself and Hammond deal with the heat, although Hammond discovered his had been sabotaged as a practical joke. Eventually, the trio were given $ 100 in cash to buy something for their car that would "make the journey more comfortable", with Hammond buying a grill, Clarkson buying a shower to replace his broken air conditioning and May buying a clothes rack, before learning that they would be camping for the second night and that their dinner would be whatever they could find
307:
segment of the film had been done, a lawyer had approached the group representing the mission and threatened to sue them for misrepresentation after it transpired that
Clarkson's Camaro wasn't a 1991 model as promised but a 1989 model, further stating that they were told the lawsuit would be dropped on a settlement payment of US$ 20,000, before May added that after the lawyer had seen them, a group of "burly" men arrived and told them to "get off their street". Clarkson concluded that it was viable to buy, rather than rent, a car but summed up the trip by ending with "Don't go to America!".
222:. Along the way, each revealed that their car had other issues to deal with - Clarkson had a radio that could only pick up a gospel preaching radio station, while most of his dials didn't work properly; May's Cadillac had poor acceleration and struggled to achieve a fast speed, yet was the only vehicle with working air-con, which he appreciated in the Florida heat; Hammond had a radio that was broken and not connected, while his pick-up chassis appeared to be bent, veering to the right under acceleration, and to the left when braking.
294:" on May's car. However, the challenge had to be aborted when the three stopped at a filling station and offended the owner so much that, in one of Top Gear's most famous moments, the film crew's vans were pelted with rocks by friends of the owner, while May had to get another jump-start before he and Hammond could join Clarkson and the film crew in fleeing from the angered locals. Once the group had lost sight of them, they hastily removed the slogans on their cars and beat a retreat for the state border with
331:. The DVD release of the special cuts roughly eight minutes of footage from the original broadcast, including a segment featuring a drive through a rainstorm, when the Camaro's wipers failed, and footage from the first scene in which the trio purchase cars. Some music cues were also changed for copyright reasons.
301:
Once back on their way to New
Orleans, the trio looked back to the journey they had with their cars and remarked that all had been enjoyable to use. Upon nearing their final destination, the presenters planned to sell their cars to see how much of the money they spent on them they could get back, but
306:
the previous year, they abandoned the challenge and instead decided to give away their cars to a
Christian mission. While Clarkson and Hammond managed to do so, May failed to find someone to take it. In the studio, May was declared the loser, while Clarkson revealed that after filming of the last
201:
and were each given US$ 1,000 to see what they could buy. Over the course of several hours, they discovered that there were very few cars available at a price within their budget, with all three having to venture into parts of the city where the risk of danger was great; Hammond found a dealer,
353:
received 91 complaints in regards to the scene where
Clarkson brought in a dead cow on the roof of his Camaro. In response to the criticism of the scene, the BBC defended the programme by stating that the cow had died several days previously and had not been harmed or injured by the presenter.
253:
which
Clarkson refused to kill and instead set back towards a nearby swamp. Hammond eventually found a squirrel which was collected, and whilst preparing the camp with May and considering how to cook it, Clarkson went off for one more search, returning with an enormous dead
218:, which had considerable wear and tear to it, and was quite bouncy as Clarkson and Hammond found when they pushed against it. Despite the initial faults, all three were delighted with their purchases and soon found themselves tasked with travelling to the
31:
310:
As a reference to the
American redneck stereotype, the four main presenters were credited as Cletus Clarkson, Earl Hammond Jr., Ellie May May, and Roscoe P. Stig, while each crew member's first name was replaced with the words "Billy Bob".
225:
Upon reaching the
Motorsports Park, the trio learned that their cars would be sent around the Park's circuit and achieve as quick a time that it could make. All three learned that for this challenge, the cars would be driven by
258:
on the roof of his Camaro, which May refused to eat. Later that night, Clarkson and
Hammond, feeling that he should suffer like them, successfully sabotaged the Cadillac's air-con, much to May's annoyance in the morning.
234:. Both Clarkson and May managed to reach the speed and brake before reaching the end of the strip, but Hammond failed to achieve the speed and only narrowly avoided driving into the river.
197:
Attempting to see if it is cheaper to buy a car for exploring the southern part of the United States for 2 weeks rather than renting one, Clarkson, Hammond and May travelled to
206:
rifle for personal protection. Eventually, all three met up outside a stadium with the cars that they had managed to find within budget - Clarkson had bought a 1991
202:
during his search, that specialised in decommissioned law enforcement and government cars, while
Clarkson encountered a dealer who owned both a small pistol and a
880:
210:
RS, which he claimed had a murky past to it with the discovery of a mysteriously stained shirt in a compartment next to the spare tyre; Hammond had bought a 1991
671:
283:
485:
460:
371:
270:
and were instructed to paint each other's cars with slogans that could lead to them getting shot by the locals. While May gave
Hammond's pickup a
189:
website describes the creation and production of this episode as "...damn near finishing off several members of the crew through exhaustion."
780:
1031:
838:
207:
1036:
1026:
802:
433:
1041:
986:
397:
219:
980:
185:
in three used cars to find if it's more economical to buy a vehicle rather than rent one. The Production Notes section of the
874:
735:
279:
763:
714:
853:
848:
728:
721:
470:
452:
443:
145:
126:
214:
D150 pickup truck, which despite dents and a loose tailgate, was in quite good condition; May had bought a 1989
749:
693:
756:
742:
707:
785:
426:
340:
375:
960:
918:
967:
813:
1004:
997:
793:
666:
154:
946:
833:
650:
645:
640:
635:
630:
625:
620:
615:
610:
605:
600:
595:
590:
585:
580:
575:
570:
565:
560:
555:
550:
545:
540:
535:
530:
525:
520:
515:
510:
505:
500:
495:
490:
419:
303:
237:
Following their time at the raceway, the trio were told that they would be heading onwards to
215:
162:
888:
203:
953:
901:
865:
860:
267:
170:
166:
45:
41:
974:
896:
676:
1020:
275:
939:
295:
291:
238:
182:
30:
932:
925:
271:
231:
211:
174:
49:
808:
250:
242:
227:
53:
263:
246:
150:
99:
287:
350:
198:
178:
158:
415:
302:
upon witnessing the damage that had been caused to the city by
346:
255:
140:
411:
16:
Feature length episode of British television show Top Gear
398:"Top Gear dead cow stunt garners 91 public complaints"
157:, with the special repeated in an edited version for
910:
826:
773:
685:
659:
478:
469:
451:
245:. Switching to the side roads, they first found an
153:on 11 February 2007, as part of the 3rd episode of
120:
105:
95:
90:
80:
72:
67:
59:
37:
21:
282:is Rubbish" on Clarkson's, and Clarkson painted "
139:is a full-length, special edition episode for
427:
345:Following broadcast of the special, both the
8:
249:which May accidentally ran over, and then a
266:, the presenters stopped at the village of
475:
434:
420:
412:
29:
18:
323:was released on DVD as part of the first
274:appearance and slogans, Hammond painted "
363:
7:
803:BBC v HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
14:
327:box-set, which also contains the
396:McCathie, Charlie (2007-02-13).
1:
177:travelling on a journey from
149:, and was first broadcast on
243:dead at the side of the road
349:and the UK media regulator
1058:
1032:2007 in British television
338:
165:. The special sees hosts,
109:11 February 2007
1037:2007 in the United States
1027:Top Gear special episodes
125:
28:
1042:2007 television specials
220:Moroso Motorsports Park
827:International versions
374:. BBC2. Archived from
372:"US fly-drive special"
341:Top Gear controversies
961:Top Ground Gear Force
911:Spin-offs and related
284:Hillary for President
968:Top Gear of the Pops
814:2007 Britcar 24 Hour
136:Top Gear: US Special
86:52 minutes (DVD Cut)
84:60 minutes (TV Cut)
23:Top Gear: US Special
1005:Top Gear Motorsport
781:Home video releases
736:Middle East Special
143:motoring programme
947:Stars in Fast Cars
262:Prior to entering
1014:
1013:
998:Top Gear Magazine
822:
821:
764:Patagonia Special
304:Hurricane Katrina
216:Cadillac Brougham
132:
131:
60:Country of origin
1049:
987:The Holy Trinity
889:Top Gear America
715:Botswana Special
486:List of episodes
476:
471:2002–2022 format
461:List of episodes
453:1977–2001 format
436:
429:
422:
413:
406:
405:
393:
387:
386:
384:
383:
368:
325:Great Adventures
290:sucks" and "I'm
208:Chevrolet Camaro
116:
114:
91:Original release
33:
19:
1057:
1056:
1052:
1051:
1050:
1048:
1047:
1046:
1017:
1016:
1015:
1010:
954:The Getaway Car
906:
818:
769:
729:Bolivia Special
722:Vietnam Special
694:Winter Olympics
681:
672:Power Lap Times
655:
465:
447:
440:
410:
409:
395:
394:
390:
381:
379:
370:
369:
365:
360:
343:
337:
317:
195:
171:Richard Hammond
167:Jeremy Clarkson
112:
110:
85:
52:
48:
46:Richard Hammond
44:
42:Jeremy Clarkson
17:
12:
11:
5:
1055:
1053:
1045:
1044:
1039:
1034:
1029:
1019:
1018:
1012:
1011:
1009:
1008:
1001:
994:
993:
992:
991:
990:
975:The Grand Tour
971:
964:
957:
950:
943:
936:
929:
922:
914:
912:
908:
907:
905:
904:
899:
894:
893:
892:
885:
884:
883:
870:United States
868:
863:
858:
857:
856:
851:
843:
842:
841:
830:
828:
824:
823:
820:
819:
817:
816:
811:
806:
799:
791:
783:
777:
775:
771:
770:
768:
767:
760:
753:
750:Africa Special
746:
739:
732:
725:
718:
711:
704:
697:
689:
687:
683:
682:
680:
679:
674:
669:
663:
661:
657:
656:
654:
653:
648:
643:
638:
633:
628:
623:
618:
613:
608:
603:
598:
593:
588:
583:
578:
573:
568:
563:
558:
553:
548:
543:
538:
533:
528:
523:
518:
513:
508:
503:
498:
493:
488:
482:
480:
473:
467:
466:
464:
463:
457:
455:
449:
448:
441:
439:
438:
431:
424:
416:
408:
407:
402:Brand Republic
388:
362:
361:
359:
356:
339:Main article:
336:
333:
316:
313:
194:
191:
130:
129:
123:
122:
118:
117:
107:
103:
102:
97:
93:
92:
88:
87:
82:
78:
77:
74:
70:
69:
65:
64:
63:United Kingdom
61:
57:
56:
39:
35:
34:
26:
25:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1054:
1043:
1040:
1038:
1035:
1033:
1030:
1028:
1025:
1024:
1022:
1007:
1006:
1002:
1000:
999:
995:
988:
984:
983:
982:
979:
978:
977:
976:
972:
970:
969:
965:
963:
962:
958:
956:
955:
951:
949:
948:
944:
942:
941:
937:
935:
934:
930:
928:
927:
923:
921:
920:
916:
915:
913:
909:
903:
900:
898:
895:
891:
890:
886:
882:
879:
878:
877:
876:
872:
871:
869:
867:
864:
862:
859:
855:
852:
850:
847:
846:
844:
840:
837:
836:
835:
832:
831:
829:
825:
815:
812:
810:
807:
805:
804:
800:
798:
796:
792:
790:
789:controversies
788:
784:
782:
779:
778:
776:
772:
766:
765:
761:
759:
758:
757:Burma Special
754:
752:
751:
747:
745:
744:
743:India Special
740:
738:
737:
733:
731:
730:
726:
724:
723:
719:
717:
716:
712:
710:
709:
708:Polar Special
705:
703:
702:
698:
696:
695:
691:
690:
688:
684:
678:
675:
673:
670:
668:
665:
664:
662:
658:
652:
649:
647:
644:
642:
639:
637:
634:
632:
629:
627:
624:
622:
619:
617:
614:
612:
609:
607:
604:
602:
599:
597:
594:
592:
589:
587:
584:
582:
579:
577:
574:
572:
569:
567:
564:
562:
559:
557:
554:
552:
549:
547:
544:
542:
539:
537:
534:
532:
529:
527:
524:
522:
519:
517:
514:
512:
509:
507:
504:
502:
499:
497:
494:
492:
489:
487:
484:
483:
481:
477:
474:
472:
468:
462:
459:
458:
456:
454:
450:
446:
445:
437:
432:
430:
425:
423:
418:
417:
414:
403:
399:
392:
389:
378:on 2009-02-12
377:
373:
367:
364:
357:
355:
352:
348:
342:
334:
332:
330:
329:Polar Special
326:
322:
314:
312:
308:
305:
299:
297:
293:
289:
285:
281:
277:
273:
269:
265:
260:
257:
252:
248:
244:
240:
235:
233:
229:
223:
221:
217:
213:
209:
205:
200:
192:
190:
188:
184:
180:
176:
172:
168:
164:
160:
156:
152:
148:
147:
142:
138:
137:
128:
124:
119:
108:
104:
101:
98:
94:
89:
83:
79:
75:
71:
66:
62:
58:
55:
51:
47:
43:
40:
36:
32:
27:
24:
20:
1003:
996:
973:
966:
959:
952:
945:
940:Rally Report
938:
931:
924:
917:
887:
873:
801:
794:
786:
762:
755:
748:
741:
734:
727:
720:
713:
706:
700:
699:
692:
442:
401:
391:
380:. Retrieved
376:the original
366:
344:
328:
324:
320:
318:
309:
300:
261:
236:
224:
196:
186:
144:
135:
134:
133:
81:Running time
38:Presented by
22:
897:South Korea
315:DVD release
296:Mississippi
239:New Orleans
183:New Orleans
76:Andy Wilman
1021:Categories
933:Fifth Gear
926:Extra Gear
797:Test Track
701:US Special
667:Challenges
382:2009-04-26
358:References
321:US Special
272:homosexual
232:alligators
113:2007-02-11
68:Production
919:Wheelbase
834:Australia
335:Criticism
212:Dodge Ram
175:James May
50:James May
981:episodes
881:episodes
875:Top Gear
839:episodes
809:The Stig
795:Top Gear
787:Top Gear
686:Specials
660:Segments
444:Top Gear
251:tortoise
228:the Stig
187:Top Gear
161:channel
155:Series 9
146:Top Gear
127:Top Gear
73:Producer
54:The Stig
280:Western
276:Country
264:Alabama
247:opossum
193:Summary
151:BBC Two
121:Related
111: (
106:Release
100:BBC Two
96:Network
866:Russia
861:France
845:China
479:Series
288:NASCAR
268:Bagdad
204:scoped
173:, and
902:Italy
774:Other
677:Races
351:Ofcom
199:Miami
179:Miami
854:2014
849:2011
319:The
286:", "
278:and
163:Dave
159:UKTV
347:BBC
256:cow
181:to
141:BBC
1023::
651:33
646:32
641:31
636:30
631:29
626:28
621:27
616:26
611:25
606:24
601:23
596:22
591:21
586:20
581:19
576:18
571:17
566:16
561:15
556:14
551:13
546:12
541:11
536:10
400:.
298:.
292:bi
169:,
989:"
985:"
531:9
526:8
521:7
516:6
511:5
506:4
501:3
496:2
491:1
435:e
428:t
421:v
404:.
385:.
115:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.