If you're no longer enthralled by the frivolous antics of geriatric Jeremy
Clarkson and co. on their show, then there are alternatives like Discovery Channels' 5
th Gear. While the title might sound similar to that of the BBC programme, it contains none of the nonsense we've grown used to seeing on Top Gear and features pragmatic advice motorists can actually use. We spoke to presenter Johnny Smith, to hear what he had to say about the reasons behind some of the quirky vehicles in his garage and his time on-set with the rest of the 5
th Gear team:
Q: On what attempt did you get your driver's license?:
A: I passed first time. Massive pressure to get it-my brother had passed on the first attempt, as had many of my friends. I had already purchased my first car already too. I remember vividly, the day on which I was tested. It was sweltering hot and stressful.
Q: You have quite an array of vehicles, from the brash American Dodge Charger to the dainty, effeminate Nissan Figaro. What do you use for your daily commute?
A: At the moment I use my 1993 Mercedes 230TE, it's the estate version. And I have a Hyundai i10, which happens to be the cheapest new car in Britain. I do use my wife's Nissan Figaro occasionally. I like something strong, simple and reliable for my daily drive.
Q: We understand the Dodge and the Chevrolet Impala SS. But really, what's up with the Nissan Figaro and AMC Pacer?
A: I have actually sold the Pacer now. When I was a kid, I had a model of it. It seemed futuristic and cool at the time-little did I know that it was one of the most hated cars on the planet. I still have plenty of affection for that Pacer.
Q: Any route that you love driving?
A: Where I grew up, in the South-West of England, there's a road called the A39. It goes along the coast and through idyllic meanders. It was the first road on which I really took control of a car, experimented and learned about a vehicles limits. Not many speed restrictions then, so one was able to drive much faster than they are able to now. It means
a lot to me, since it's near my hometown.
Q: What's playing through your stereo at the moment?
A: Some Kings Of Leon, always have a bit of Stevie Wonder. Last CD I bought was the new album from
Metallica. You have to have a variety of music, I think. I enjoy listening to
Podcasts. Love
Depeche Mode.
Q: Ever used one of your rides to arouse the interest of an appealing female?
A: I never really found that having cars impressed girls. Even if I had a flash car or something quirky, girls never really seem to care about wheels. I once went on a date in a Proton Gen-2, awful car-the date went well though.
Q: Sampling various new cars as an automotive journalist is comparable to that chocolate-taster dream job many of us had as children. How did you enter the industry?
A: I was always bad at Maths, but good at English. I knew I wanted to use my English skills as a tool to help me do something I liked. In University, I offered my services free of charge to car magazines, writing short pieces to get my name out there. Eventually, I was offered a job as a junior writer. The pay was meagre, but it was quite rewarding despite. That was 13 years ago and I have moved up the
hierachy since then. It's a satisfying job. None of that 9 to 5 associated stress.
Q: Tell us about life on-set with the 5th Gear team?:
A: I'm always trying to learn tips from Tiff and Jason. Racing drivers are very competitive. Even when we order pizza, they try to be the first to pick-up the phone!. Then you get Vicki, who gives a feminine perspective to things and brings down testosterone levels-she's a good laugh. Tom is a very good friend of mine, I've known him for 10 years now. He's like a dad to me. Tim is a thin version of Tom, who likes the sound of his own voice. We all have a common interest-we just go about it from different angles.
Q: Use hand gestures and profanities to express your anger at fellow road users mistakes, or remain calm and let it go?:
A: A bit of both. I have been known to swear behind the wheel. I hate it when people fail to indicate and just swerve from lane to lane.
Q: Ever set tread on South African roads?
A: I have only visited South Africa once. I was doing a feature on Whale conservation in Cape Town and we went out to sea in a dinghy. I drove back from the harbour in a
Citi Golf. It's a fun car to drive, would love to import one up to the UK.
Q: What were some of your memorable moments behind the wheel thus far, in 2010?
A: Driving in England on a beautiful winter morning in the new Ford Focus ST. It was a fantastic drive with clear skies. I also drove the Rolls Royce Phantom through the Swiss Alps and stopped for the night to camp in a tent alongside it. Tent, 8 Pounds.
Phantom, 250 000 Pounds.
Q: What can we expect from you in the near future? Any book on your motoring experiences in the pipeline? Will the 5th Gear team be visiting beautiful South Africa, to compete with Top Gear live perhaps?
A: We would love to come over. Tiff has been to South Africa for the launch of the Jaguar
XK before. There is talk of another season of Industrial Junkie, South Africa has many interesting industries and I would like to
investigate them. As for a book-I don't think I'm famous enough yet. I'm
focusing more on web-publishing now.
Catch 5th Gear on DStv's Discovery Channel, as part of their Turbo Fridays programme line-up. Discovery is moving to a new channel,121, from its previous home at channel 250.
Posts
