Monster Snowbine Ploughs Its Way Into World Of Top Gear

BEAULIEU, UNITED KINGDOM – May 20, 2011: Two exciting new exhibits have joined the World of Top Gear Exhibition at Beaulieu. The Snowbine, created by the show’s presenters, has ploughed its way into the exhibition, along with one of the Double Decker cars used in Top Gear’s version of an Australian Ashes tournament.

The Snowbine is the actual combine harvester that Jeremy, Richard, and James took it upon themselves to modify in a quest to prove that a fortune could be saved if combine harvesters did something other than gathering crops in the summer. This monster of a machine has a cunning snow plough attachment on the front, which proved to be highly successful in clearing many tons of snow. Jeremy also insisted on having a flame thrower installed on the roof with an operating seat taken from the Ford Sierra Cosworth that he bought for the German sports saloon challenge in Series 15. Surprisingly, this beastly machine allowed the boys to clear an entire Norwegian road of snow, making it one of their most successful challenges yet!

Also arriving at the exhibition is one of the gravity defying Double Decker cars used by the Australian team in Top Gear’s car-based version of the Ashes. In the summer of 2010, the presenters of Top Gear UK invited the presenters from Top Gear Australia – Bruce, Bruce and Bruce – over to Britain for their very own motoring version of the tournament. They tested disciplines such as drag racing (which our plucky British boys slightly cheated at), and rallying (ditto), and finally they participated in a spot of double-decker racing, which unfortunately for the Australians, meant using cars designed by the British team. Their creations were the Double Decker cars, and one of them is now on display at Beaulieu. It consists of a red Toyota attached upside down to the roof of a white Toyota - the thought behind the ‘unusual’ design being that since the drivers were from Down Under, this would have been ‘the right way up’ for them.

The World of Top Gear features a collection of cars, created by the presenters, for some of their most ambitious challenges on the TV show over the years. Exhibition highlights include the Top Gear ‘Enormodrome’ which recreates the feel of the Top Gear studio, where the TV show is filmed in front of a live audience.

Regular features from the programme including the Cool Wall and the Celebrity ‘Lap Times’ boards are kept up to date in line with the show. Visitors can also watch behind-the-scenes footage of the Top Gear production zone and clips of some of the best Top Gear moments.

World of Top Gear can be viewed as part of a visit to the whole Beaulieu attraction including the National Motor Museum with its collection of over 250 vehicles, the James Bond exhibition with genuine vehicles and memorabilia from the films, Palace House, home of the Montagu family since 1538 and the 13th century Beaulieu Abbey.

Beaulieu is open every day, except Christmas Day, from 10am. For more information telephone 01590 612345 or visit www.beaulieu.co.uk