Top Gear Challenge/Westfield Challenge - bring it up again
Posted: 04 Jun 2015, 20:22
Several times in the past, the idea of a Top Gear style Challenge done by forum members has come up. Such as here, here and here, although that last one is Andi racing the sun in a car as opposed to a cross London race.
Top Gear style challenges across London that actually got the public transport correct have also been attempted, but none has been filmed particularly well - this one between Wimbledon and Stratford is probably the best. Decent video producing, however, is not a problem with members of the forum.
Since Clarkson's firing from the BBC, the discussion was once more brought up, but it was Leam's comments about how Sydney does a Westfield Challenge that gave me the perfect route for a possible challenge - Stratford Westfield to Shepherd's Bush Westfield.
Main Competing routes
- Central Line
- London Overground
- H&C + HS1
- Bicycle
- Car
Other possible routes (would definitely be slower though)
- Run (it's about 10 and a half miles, so looking at parkrun and London Marathon times 1 and a half hours looks about right - although one would have to compensate for traffic lights and pedestrians!)
- Buses (probably slower than the runner, assuming a 25+94 combination - Tangy do you know of a faster way?)
What else? You could take a boat from Hackney Wick to Willesden Junction and walk from there, but if you thought a 9mph speed limit on Top Gear was slow between Kew Bridge and Wandsworth Bridge, most canals have a speed limit of 4mph, and you have 11 locks to go through, and then you have to park, so leave it at not recommended. That's pretty much it for ways across London, I think. You could add other cars, or a van, I suppose, but they'd have little time difference with the car.
Anyone for this?
Also, District Line from Gunnersbury to Monument? If the Stig had gone to Richmond, then used SWT + JLE + DLR it would have got him to London City long before the others!
Top Gear style challenges across London that actually got the public transport correct have also been attempted, but none has been filmed particularly well - this one between Wimbledon and Stratford is probably the best. Decent video producing, however, is not a problem with members of the forum.
Since Clarkson's firing from the BBC, the discussion was once more brought up, but it was Leam's comments about how Sydney does a Westfield Challenge that gave me the perfect route for a possible challenge - Stratford Westfield to Shepherd's Bush Westfield.
Main Competing routes
- Central Line
- London Overground
- H&C + HS1
- Bicycle
- Car
Other possible routes (would definitely be slower though)
- Run (it's about 10 and a half miles, so looking at parkrun and London Marathon times 1 and a half hours looks about right - although one would have to compensate for traffic lights and pedestrians!)
- Buses (probably slower than the runner, assuming a 25+94 combination - Tangy do you know of a faster way?)
What else? You could take a boat from Hackney Wick to Willesden Junction and walk from there, but if you thought a 9mph speed limit on Top Gear was slow between Kew Bridge and Wandsworth Bridge, most canals have a speed limit of 4mph, and you have 11 locks to go through, and then you have to park, so leave it at not recommended. That's pretty much it for ways across London, I think. You could add other cars, or a van, I suppose, but they'd have little time difference with the car.
Anyone for this?
Also, District Line from Gunnersbury to Monument? If the Stig had gone to Richmond, then used SWT + JLE + DLR it would have got him to London City long before the others!