Patagonia Special TONITE!

[brucemillar]

Well, the DVLA records show that plate being on a 928 long before the show was filmed. It is rather incredulous to believe that the TG team would be so subtle - well documented past experience proves they go for the obvious gag. If they've tweaked one plate to generate controversy, why not all 3? Unfortunately it's far from as simple as you make out - changing the numberplate on a vehicle that is travelling through another country and has to be signed in and out is logistically problematic. If the country in question requires a carnet de passage for the vehicle, it is more or less impossible.

Agreed.

I suspect they bought car & plate knowing exactly what the connotations would be. Nothing subtle or complex in that.

Sent from my iPhone using MBClub UK

 

[Doodle]

On some level I wonder if that endows elaborate planning and action on their part that is far in excess of that required.

If they wanted to have plates read something, it would be far easier to register a relevant plate or just fit cosmetic plates for filming - the latter being a very frequent occurrence in automotive media. In comparison, tracking down a v8-engined car that has 982 in its VRM seems excessively complicated, even with a pack of researchers to do the donkey work.

However, their guilt is always going to get more headline inches than their innocence, regardless of the reality of the situation.

 

[brucemillar]

On some level I wonder if that endows elaborate planning and action on their part that is far in excess of that required. If they wanted to have plates read something, it would be far easier to register a relevant plate or just fit cosmetic plates for filming - the latter being a very frequent occurrence in automotive media. In comparison, tracking down a v8-engined car that has 982 in its VRM seems excessively complicated, even with a pack of researchers to do the donkey work. However, their guilt is always going to get more headline inches than their innocence, regardless of the reality of the situation.

Well it begs the question why neither the producers, researchers, Clarkson and co did not spot the link that the rest of the western world did.

I think they knew and once again figured it would be a jolly jape in what would otherwise be a boring show.

Sent from my iPhone using MBClub UK

 

[dozypillock]

On some level I wonder if that endows elaborate planning and action on their part that is far in excess of that required.

If they wanted to have plates read something, it would be far easier to register a relevant plate or just fit cosmetic plates for filming - the latter being a very frequent occurrence in automotive media. In comparison, tracking down a v8-engined car that has 982 in its VRM seems excessively complicated, even with a pack of researchers to do the donkey work.

However, their guilt is always going to get more headline inches than their innocence, regardless of the reality of the situation.

Personally, the significance of any plates would have passed me by, if it was not for the media coverage. I watch these shows for the scenery, roads, and reliability of the vehicles'.
I know, like most, that parts are obviously setup/staged, but I have learnt a lot. There are a few roads I would like to drive as part of my "bucket list".
I would like them to take a modern Merc through some of those adventures, and see how it behaves when errors start cropping up on dash etc.
I suspect they would not get far at all?
Maybe that is why they pick older cars?

Neil

 

[Doodle]

Whether or not the staff spotted the "link" beforehand, we will probably never know.

The presence (and pictures) of the TG team in the country was originally announced by an Argentinian motoring journo in Autoblog.com.ar in the middle of September, with no mention at all of the number plate. 3 days later the same journo then comes up with the 1982 angle on his twitter feed, only at that point does it all kick off, with the twitter followers posting up pics of the Belgrano etc. It was then subsequently published by the Argentinian national press on Oct 1st (some 2 weeks later), and on the back of this the UK press ran it the following day.

It's not like the Argentinian Govt hasn't used the Falklands matter to deflect attention from their own deficiencies in the past...a little nationalistic outrage does wonders to bolster flagging opinion. Given this, if TG had made the connection beforehand to continue on was perhaps not the best idea, but equally if you're not looking to make that connection it's possible for it to pass under the radar.

Even without the number plate, how long would it have taken for someone to "connect" that rearranging 928 gives (1)982, or that the number plate of one of the other cars matched some random record regarding the Falklands War if you multiply it by 2.746?

 

[Dryce]

Well it begs the question why neither the producers, researchers, Clarkson and co did not spot the link that the rest of the western world did.

To be fair it wasn't obvious to me (OK I'm thick) - primarily because 982 is just a number - and the FKL was the wrong way round.

So my guess is a lot of the western world wouldn't spot it until *it was pointed out to them* either.

 

[boxbrownie]

Had they found that plate on a Mini then the programme would have been about taking three city cars across the wilds of South America......no need to switch the plate, although I do think it backfired on them far more than the BEEB had ever thought possible.

Might have been better on a Mini, they could have had the roof painted with the Union flag as well

 

[dan-mb]

such a waste of a nice lotus!

 

[DSB SL AMG]

IMHO Worst Christmas TG special for sure...and maybe as already stated should be there last.

A 30 car TG suport team, i would think circa 100 staff, kinda breaks the dream for anyone thinking the 3 amigos are alone on these events....
IMHO they were not in the 'star cars' when they traveled through the riot areas, i noted no filming of them driving, they were probably in an helicopter on route to the Chile border point....either way they were very lucky not to incur a severe beating as the local plod seemed pretty powerless....stupid stunt really which could have ended up pretty badly, i dont think it did anything for the global 'TG' brand.

 

[grober]

Having watched the second half I am struck by the way the "protests" spontaneously arose as if they were a reflection of general public opinion. Far more likely they were in fact organised by shadowy ex military types at a fairly high political level. Rent a Mob is a tactic often employed by the far right to suppress any form of free expression. Think all those "concerned citizens" just appeared on that road? More likely bused in, fuelled by free alcohol, and stirred up by "patriots" methinks. I think the film crew got a taste of what life was like under the military junta in the 80's. Jorge Rafael Videla - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
And what of our three heroes----- well they were obviously shaken by the experience despite the attempt to lighten things up with the Butch and Sundance ending.
The moral of the story- don't antagonise powerful political forces you don't understand in foreign countries otherwise ----- sh*t will happen.

 

[Spin_bowler]

IMHO Worst Christmas TG special for sure...and maybe as already stated should be there last.

A 30 car TG suport team, i would think circa 100 staff, kinda breaks the dream for anyone thinking the 3 amigos are alone on these events....
IMHO they were not in the 'star cars' when they traveled through the riot areas, i noted no filming of them driving, they were probably in an helicopter on route to the Chile border point....either way they were very lucky not to incur a severe beating as the local plod seemed pretty powerless....stupid stunt really which could have ended up pretty badly, i dont think it did anything for the global 'TG' brand.

Having watched the second half I am struck by the way the "protests" spontaneously arose as if they were a reflection of general public opinion. Far more likely they were in fact organised by shadowy ex military types at a fairly high political level. Rent a Mob is a tactic often employed by the far right to suppress any form of free expression. Think all those "concerned citizens" just appeared on that road? More likely bused in, fuelled by free alcohol, and stirred up by "patriots" methinks. I think the film crew got a taste of what life was like under the military junta in the 80's. Jorge Rafael Videla - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
And what of our three heroes----- well they were obviously shaken by the experience despite the attempt to lighten things up with the Butch and Sundance ending.
The moral of the story- don't antagonise powerful political forces you don't understand in foreign countries otherwise ----- sh*t will happen.

I think DSB has called this right, the three stars were nowhere near that convoy when it was under attack. They were holed up in a hotel with close protection somewhere. Hence all the footage from car cams, YouTube etc and no sign of them.

 

[grober]

I think DSB has called this right, the three stars were nowhere near that convoy when it was under attack. They were holed up in a hotel with close protection somewhere. Hence all the footage from car cams, YouTube etc and no sign of them.

Sorry didn't mean to imply they were in the convoy . I think their concern was for their crews and backup team who they saw as having to "run the gauntlet" to leave the country. The fact they as high profile media personalities were left well alone is another indication to me that the whole thing was pretty much tightly orchestrated from start to finish by a few Argentinians ?

 

[bpsorrel]

To be fair it wasn't obvious to me (OK I'm thick) - primarily because 982 is just a number - and the FKL was the wrong way round.

So my guess is a lot of the western world wouldn't spot it until *it was pointed out to them* either.

Agreed. Plus Argentinians know the Falklands as the Malvinas, so the "FKL" would be meaningless to most.

Silly stunt, but I bet it boosted the ratings a LOT, which was the point I guess.

As for the rest of the program; I thought it had some funny moments (SWMBO liked it) and was a serious advert for Lotus reliability! LOL! But, a well worn format, just hanging on by a thread...

 

[Richiebuoy]

I enjoyed it, yes it got a bit silly but then it got a bit serious too, a good balance - entertaining I would say.

 

[Dryce]

Agreed. Plus Argentinians know the Falklands as the Malvinas, so the "FKL" would be meaningless to most.

Or a cynic (moi? really?) would perhaps think that the reaction to the number plate is a tacit admission as to the real name of the islands.

 

[Dryce]

I enjoyed it, yes it got a bit silly but then it got a bit serious too, a good balance - entertaining I would say.

The TG formula.

So cars get messed up.

They make idiots of themselves as required by the script.

We get some glimpses of how many crew they have with them.

The scenery in the background is at times glorious.
​

 

[Deleted member 65149]

...
IMHO they were not in the 'star cars' when they traveled through the riot areas, ...

Doesn't need to be an opinion, the programme was totally open about them being in a hotel room (or wherever they really were) while the crew took the cars out of Argentina.

I find it amusing to read all the speculation on how political the attacks were, and how intentional the number plate was. All we do know for certain is that it was good publicity for the programme, which will no doubt have a gone a long way to recouping the vast cost of its production through sales around the world. But I doubt it will make as much as Sony's "The Interview", reported to have already made $15 million in online sales in just four days following the alleged cyber attacks from North Korea.

 

[Scott_F]

The same nearly happened many moons ago when they drove through a southern state in the USA in a pink car advertising homosexuals???? They knew it would cause a stir and they very nearly lost it there too. When will the media tire of Clarkson and his OTT tactics. He should have been removed 10 years ago.

Whilst the extent to which the stunts in Argentina were staged is open to some debate, the events in the USA special to which you refer were very obviously staged from start to finish.

 

[brucemillar]

Agreed. Plus Argentinians know the Falklands as the Malvinas, so the "FKL" would be meaningless to most.

Silly stunt, but I bet it boosted the ratings a LOT, which was the point I guess.

As for the rest of the program; I thought it had some funny moments (SWMBO liked it) and was a serious advert for Lotus reliability! LOL! But, a well worn format, just hanging on by a thread...

Well it was obvious to somebody on the TG team. Otherwise why did they have a "spare" set of plates all ready in the boot of the 928?


It is hardy worthy of any debate. But what does not make me think that it was all a big mistake is Clarkson's atrocious record with these kind of stunts, all of which follow the same format and end with him and the team issuing all sorts of denials that usually spell out "innocent mistake". Take the plate story out of it and what were we left with? Some nice scenery and three blokes trashing three nice cars for their amusement.

They could have filmed it all in five minutes in a field in the UK and just edited in some nice scenery.

I suspect it may well be the last "Special" that is filmed. Word is the Auntie is getting tired of the constant round of filming, apology, filming apology.

 

[wemorgan]

Aunty owns TG production company, so they'll be milking it for a while yet.