Some say that he is flown over from England to the United States whenever the President needs to be transported by motorcade.... or that he urinates motor oil... but all of the British automotive show Top Gear's audience know him as The Stig.
The Stig's job is to wring out some of the world's finest sports cars on Top Gear's test track. The Stig performs his test driving duty quite well on Top Gear while listening to anything from Emerson, Lake and Palmer to various self help and motivational CD's.
It's really quite funny in that "cheeky" British humour sort of way that makes shows like "Monty Python's Flying Circus", "As Time Goes By", and "Coupling" so funny and entertaining. Of course the real reason to have a driver like The Stig is that it is important to have the same consistent, professional driver in each different car so that the lap times will depend on the car's performance and handling, rather than the driver's ability. The results of each car's lap time are posted and displayed on a pole in the Top Gear studio for comparison's sake.
The identity of the original Stig who was dressed in an all black racing suit with a black helmet was proven to be Formula 1 driver Perry McCarthy. Once his identity was revealed, he was subsequently killed off when he drove a Jaguar XJ-S right off of the flight deck of The HMS Invincible. He was taken off of Top Gear because, after all the whole point of The Stig's appeal and mystique is that you don't, can't and won't ever know who he is. So Top Gear replaced him with a new Stig who now wears all white. There is much speculation as to his real identity, but the mystery remains intact.
Some people think that the current Stig is actually one of several professional drivers depending on whomever is available at the time of taping. Others say that The Stig is probably Formula 1 driver Julian Baily or Damon Hill. There is a lot of speculation and many videos on the topic on youtube where many believe that he is Ben Collins or Lewis Hamilton because he apparently sounds like The Stig in an interview clip.
Perhaps all of these theories are correct or at least half right if The Stig is actually many different drivers. But all I really know is that the controversy certainly brings in viewers to the already entertaining show that you can't help but to love if you love cars... and Top Gear calls him The Stig.
Comments
Oh yes I love this show even though it gets a bit garish at times. I never quite liked the idea of the Stig but you are right, they need someone to do consistent lap times. Have you tried UK's Fifth Gear? It's like Top Gear without the silly boyishness
Hi Marc, thanks for your comment! I have seen 5th Gear as well. They have about 5% of the British Humour of Top Gear. Basically if it is about sports cars and cars in general I enjoy watching it!
Do you know what has happened to the American version of Top Gear? Would love to know. It was suppose to premiere this fall(I was and extra for the first taping!!) but I heard they passed on it and it was bought by someone else and now?? Starred Adam Corolla... Was very funny. And an American Stig!!
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