0:00:02 > 0:00:03Now on Top Gear.
0:00:03 > 0:00:04Woah!
0:00:04 > 0:00:06We've all heard about vehicle recalls
0:00:06 > 0:00:09but what makes a car truly dangerous?
0:00:09 > 0:00:13We're about to find out when we take three of America's most dangerous cars on a road trip
0:00:13 > 0:00:16and put them to the ultimate safety test.
0:00:16 > 0:00:17HE SHOUTS
0:00:39 > 0:00:42These are the most notorious cars in the country.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48Each has a design flaw that could turn a simple drive to the mall
0:00:48 > 0:00:51into a game of automotive Russian roulette.
0:00:53 > 0:00:54The Ford Pinto,
0:00:54 > 0:01:00whose hideous styling concealed a tendency to explode when rear-ended.
0:01:00 > 0:01:01The Suzuki Samurai,
0:01:01 > 0:01:05which disliked cornering so much that it was prone to roll over
0:01:05 > 0:01:08at anything more than 40mph.
0:01:08 > 0:01:10And the Chevy Corvair -
0:01:10 > 0:01:14so lethal that it played a major role in the creation of a government department
0:01:14 > 0:01:17dedicated to improving car safety.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21But are they really that dangerous?
0:01:21 > 0:01:23We decided to find out.
0:01:32 > 0:01:36Feast your eyes on one of the most revolutionary cars ever made -
0:01:36 > 0:01:38the Chevrolet Corvair.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41The engine is in the back. It's an all-alloy, six-cylinder -
0:01:41 > 0:01:43there was even a turbo-charged option.
0:01:43 > 0:01:47This was our big jump into the sports car world.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50This was really the American Porsche.
0:01:50 > 0:01:56The Corvair was fine until a busybody lawyer named Ralph Nader
0:01:56 > 0:01:58decided to go after it
0:01:58 > 0:01:59in a book called Unsafe At Any Speed.
0:01:59 > 0:02:04The first chapter was called The Sporty Corvair - The One-Car Accident.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07That's not entirely untrue.
0:02:07 > 0:02:09But there's a lot of things out there that are unsafe -
0:02:09 > 0:02:15hang-gliding, motorcycle riding, eating at a buffet at the airport.
0:02:19 > 0:02:21Oh, wow!
0:02:23 > 0:02:25A Pinto!
0:02:31 > 0:02:32Ah?!
0:02:32 > 0:02:371974 Ford Pinto, the most misunderstood car in history.
0:02:37 > 0:02:39People would sometimes put on a bumper sticker
0:02:39 > 0:02:41and just...pow!
0:02:41 > 0:02:45What about this? I'm gonna go to the store to get... "Wait a minute! I've got to get some groceries.
0:02:45 > 0:02:46"Tree!"
0:02:46 > 0:02:50The Corvair is a car that rewards good driving.
0:02:50 > 0:02:55This one, you have to hope everyone behind you uses good brakes.
0:02:55 > 0:03:00I head that sometimes, when it would blow, it was so strong, it would buckle the car
0:03:00 > 0:03:05- and people couldn't get out and they're screaming, "Oh, God, this piece of- BLEEP- is on fire!"
0:03:05 > 0:03:10- Would you want to tailgate a car like that?- No-one wants to say, "D'you hear about Pete? Died in a Pinto."
0:03:10 > 0:03:12"What happened?" "Shopping cart rolled into him."
0:03:17 > 0:03:19Duh-duh-dah!
0:03:23 > 0:03:25He almost hit it! You almost died!
0:03:25 > 0:03:26BLEEP died!
0:03:28 > 0:03:32- Behold!- Behold!- The '88 Suzuki Samurai.
0:03:32 > 0:03:37- You know you're jealous.- The most dangerous SUV ever to be produced.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40Consumer reports did the whole rollover thing at 54mph.
0:03:40 > 0:03:46- Suzuki sued their asses off. - Consumer reports didn't do it. Suzuki did it.
0:03:46 > 0:03:50- They rolled over. - It's a driver thing - you don't give in to that scenario.
0:03:50 > 0:03:54- This is something...- When you said they told people, "Don't do that."
0:03:54 > 0:03:56Are you talking about turning? Left or right?
0:03:56 > 0:03:59- You've got to be kidding me. - What are we going to do with these?
0:03:59 > 0:04:01- I don't know.- Glad you asked.
0:04:01 > 0:04:05"In two days' time, you and your cars will compete in a demolition derby.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08Oh, my gosh!
0:04:08 > 0:04:11"The ultimate test of vehicle safety."
0:04:11 > 0:04:12- You're a dead man!- I am not!
0:04:12 > 0:04:16"Before the demolition derby, you will learn your car's strengths and weaknesses
0:04:16 > 0:04:19"when you compete in a race at Willow Springs Raceway."
0:04:19 > 0:04:21We need to turn.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24I've got it in the bag since I'm in the American Porsche.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27- Oh, God!- Say it again.
0:04:27 > 0:04:28American Porsche.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31It's not a Porsche!
0:04:42 > 0:04:45Our journey to discover just how dangerous our cars really were,
0:04:45 > 0:04:50would take us to a town 60 miles outside of Los Angeles.
0:04:50 > 0:04:54The desert heat was clearly getting to Rutledge.
0:04:54 > 0:05:01The Corvair feels very sporty. I'm getting a lot of looks.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04People are checking it out. What was up with that girl?
0:05:04 > 0:05:06She's waiting to see it hit a tree.
0:05:06 > 0:05:08That's not what she's doing.
0:05:08 > 0:05:12It would have been cool to have been around when this car was new
0:05:12 > 0:05:14and see what people thought.
0:05:14 > 0:05:16It DOES stand out.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19I don't feel like there's a huge amount of danger in the car.
0:05:19 > 0:05:23It's not like driving a Pinto.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26OK, it tended to occasionally burst into flames.
0:05:26 > 0:05:30The reason for the explosions was the design.
0:05:30 > 0:05:33The gas tank sits between the rear axle and the bumper.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36On impact, the bolts from the differential
0:05:36 > 0:05:39would rupture the tank and gas would leak out that way,
0:05:39 > 0:05:41finding an ignition source and...BOOM.
0:05:41 > 0:05:45There's good and bad in everything in life.
0:05:45 > 0:05:47It got great gas mileage.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53I feel so comfortable tailgating Adam.
0:05:53 > 0:05:57- TYRES SCREECH - Jeez! Be careful!
0:05:57 > 0:05:59You don't scare me.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03You know what's a good slogan for the Suzuki Samurai?
0:06:03 > 0:06:07"Suzuki Samurai. Who wants to live forever?"
0:06:07 > 0:06:10- You know they shortened the name of that, right?- What was it?
0:06:10 > 0:06:15"Suzuki Samur-I'm falling over. The truck is rolling. We're all gonna die!"
0:06:15 > 0:06:18HE LAUGHS
0:06:18 > 0:06:19Ha-ha. Ha.
0:06:20 > 0:06:22This is an off-road machine.
0:06:22 > 0:06:27Lots of off-road vehicles have some propensity to roll over,
0:06:27 > 0:06:29especially when you put road tyres on them.
0:06:29 > 0:06:33I think it was given a bad rap.
0:06:34 > 0:06:42If you stay away from slalom courses, in this machine, I think you're all right.
0:06:42 > 0:06:47Unfortunately for Tanner, our first challenge was a race around a track,
0:06:47 > 0:06:49with a lot of turns.
0:06:49 > 0:06:51TYRES SCREECH
0:06:51 > 0:06:54This is unfortunate. I do not need this.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57All right. Lap belt is tight.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00Not that I'm going to need any of this,
0:07:00 > 0:07:04with the very stable Samurai.
0:07:04 > 0:07:07I don't need a helmet in a Pinto.
0:07:07 > 0:07:10Might need a fire extinguisher, not a helmet.
0:07:10 > 0:07:15The race was two laps of a 1.5-mile track.
0:07:15 > 0:07:19Whoever crossed the finishing line first, still living and breathing, would win.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21Ready?
0:07:23 > 0:07:28Three, two, one, go!
0:07:31 > 0:07:34The Samurai swings its sword out into the lead!
0:07:36 > 0:07:39Whoa! Might just spin after all! Wow!
0:07:39 > 0:07:43Now I'm behind the Pinto, totally going to hit him.
0:07:43 > 0:07:45Ralph Nader's trying to blow me up!
0:07:45 > 0:07:48You're not going to blow me up!
0:07:49 > 0:07:51It's kind of fun to try and balance it a little bit.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57No grip whatsoever.
0:07:57 > 0:07:59Come on, Corvair. Get it together.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02Oh, jeez!
0:08:02 > 0:08:04Louise! Come on!
0:08:04 > 0:08:07This thing is dangerous!
0:08:07 > 0:08:11With one lap down, Rutledge was struggling to control his spinning teacup.
0:08:11 > 0:08:15The Pinto and my Suzuki were way out front but Adam was catching up.
0:08:17 > 0:08:18Where are you, Samurai?
0:08:18 > 0:08:21You know I've got more horsepower than you.
0:08:21 > 0:08:23It's only a matter of time.
0:08:23 > 0:08:25TYRES SCREECH
0:08:27 > 0:08:30It wants to go over a little. That's a little scary.
0:08:30 > 0:08:34- We're starting to catch up. - TYRES SCREECH
0:08:35 > 0:08:37HE LAUGHS
0:08:37 > 0:08:38He's got more power!
0:08:38 > 0:08:42Driving on two wheels was fun but this was a race.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44There was no way I was getting beaten by a Pinto.
0:08:44 > 0:08:46Woah!
0:08:46 > 0:08:49Kind of fun to try to balance it at the limit.
0:08:52 > 0:08:54Woah!
0:09:01 > 0:09:03Holy BLEEP! Tanner flipped!
0:09:03 > 0:09:07Oh! I got him, I got him, I got him!
0:09:07 > 0:09:08You sneaky...
0:09:10 > 0:09:12Oh, great! Oh, come on!
0:09:13 > 0:09:16- Yes!- Crap! Crap!
0:09:16 > 0:09:18I win! And I didn't blow up!
0:09:18 > 0:09:23With a victory for my Pinto complete, it was time to check on Race Boy.
0:09:23 > 0:09:31- Let's try to get it right.- Wait. I want to make sure I'm hearing this. Tanner, best guy behind the wheel,
0:09:31 > 0:09:33did something wrong?
0:09:33 > 0:09:36- It certainly wasn't the Suzuki Samurai's fault.- What?!
0:09:36 > 0:09:38I can tell you that because it's not dangerous.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41No, it's not dangerous. We should get these for the kids!
0:09:41 > 0:09:43Whatever. Let's push this thing over.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46- Ready?- Rock it.
0:09:46 > 0:09:51One, two, three! Go, go, go!
0:09:54 > 0:09:56Good as new. Let's go.
0:09:56 > 0:09:58What's next? This is awesome!
0:10:02 > 0:10:03Yes!
0:10:03 > 0:10:05It lives!
0:10:12 > 0:10:16- Will you knock it off?- Sorry.- I know what you're trying to do!- Sorry.
0:10:16 > 0:10:19You're trying to blow me up. And it didn't happen.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24Adam, you seem to be smoking there. You've got a bit of a problem.
0:10:24 > 0:10:30It's not a fire. I played a fireman on TV. I know what fire is.
0:10:30 > 0:10:36- I'll be fine.- I'm going to be a stickler. I'm pretty sure your car is on fire.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:10:39 > 0:10:43Today, we're looking at cars that have been called the most dangerous ones in America.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46Clearly, the Pinto does not deserve that title.
0:10:46 > 0:10:48- Really?- Really.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51You flipped the Samurai. They said it would happen and it did.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54What did they say about the Corvair? It was going to spin out and it did.
0:10:54 > 0:10:56I won the challenge.
0:10:56 > 0:10:58Your car caught on fire.
0:10:58 > 0:10:59LAUGHTER
0:11:00 > 0:11:02Not a lot of fire.
0:11:02 > 0:11:04But it did.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07The Pinto is dangerous even without you behind the wheel.
0:11:07 > 0:11:12- Let's just admit all these cars are a bit dangerous.- A little bit.
0:11:12 > 0:11:16Overnight, we made modifications to try to make them safer.
0:11:20 > 0:11:22Gentlemen, do you see what I've done?
0:11:22 > 0:11:25Is that guard rail from a highway?
0:11:25 > 0:11:29- Yeah, I'm a taxpayer.- This is just a precaution. Just in case.
0:11:29 > 0:11:31- For what?- In case there's a fire.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34Rumour has it these MAY burst into flames.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37Is it the bubbling paint and the black soot?
0:11:37 > 0:11:39This was just an exhaust leak.
0:11:39 > 0:11:41An exhaust leak for a jet fighter, maybe.
0:11:41 > 0:11:43You haven't pulled the pins. That's not very...
0:11:43 > 0:11:46I'm not out on the road yet. We pull the pins and here is my activation switch.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49T-handle. Just in case.
0:11:49 > 0:11:51- Wow.- Perfect.
0:11:51 > 0:11:57Where you have been trying to protect yourself from the natural danger of the Pinto,
0:11:57 > 0:12:00I have made my Suzuki even more fun.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03- Go, go! - It's on the wheel.- Wait, wait.
0:12:03 > 0:12:04Gently pull it back.
0:12:04 > 0:12:06Right there.
0:12:06 > 0:12:07A thing of beauty!
0:12:07 > 0:12:09This is a thing of beauty?
0:12:09 > 0:12:12This is terrible.
0:12:12 > 0:12:16Give me my helmet. Walk away, people. Get out of there.
0:12:16 > 0:12:18OK. He's in.
0:12:18 > 0:12:21- Are you ready?- You got it, dude.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28Look at that! He's driving on two wheels!
0:12:28 > 0:12:32Tanner's Samurai resembled an amusement park ride from a Third World country,
0:12:32 > 0:12:35whereas my design was genius.
0:12:35 > 0:12:39Now here's the thing. I'm a man that can admit when he is wrong.
0:12:39 > 0:12:41And you know what? I was wrong. Ralph Nader is right.
0:12:41 > 0:12:44This car WAS unsafe at any speed.
0:12:44 > 0:12:46So I had to make some changes.
0:12:46 > 0:12:50You've heard of dualies? This has triples.
0:12:50 > 0:12:52- What is that called?- A truly.
0:12:52 > 0:12:54It's "truly" awful.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57- Triples.- I know you're the expert but this might rub a little.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00I just need to bend that in a touch.
0:13:00 > 0:13:04These six tyres back here are going to help keep it planted.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07But that's not all. I needed a little weight in the front,
0:13:07 > 0:13:10which is why I went straight to the horse's mouth.
0:13:10 > 0:13:11LAUGHTER
0:13:11 > 0:13:16I have 200 copies of Ralph Nader's Unsafe At Any Speed.
0:13:16 > 0:13:20They weigh about a pound - 200 pounds up front to keep it planted.
0:13:20 > 0:13:22This is poetically beautiful.
0:13:22 > 0:13:26I've made the safety modifications. Now what are we going to do?
0:13:29 > 0:13:32To find out if our new safety modifications worked,
0:13:32 > 0:13:34we each had to complete an obstacle course.
0:13:34 > 0:13:38This meant slaloming to avoid hitting the boxes on a one-mile course,
0:13:38 > 0:13:42all while having everything from yoga balls to eggs pelted at us.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45Whoever knocked down the fewest boxes would win.
0:13:45 > 0:13:46Adam was up first.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49No firing until the game starts.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52- When does it start? Right now? - Feels like now.
0:13:52 > 0:13:54- When does it start?- Feels like now.
0:13:54 > 0:13:58Those two are like chimps in the space programme.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01Three, two, one, go!
0:14:07 > 0:14:09Oh! Oh!
0:14:09 > 0:14:15Take out his visibility. He can't see at all.
0:14:15 > 0:14:19I can't see. OK, fine.
0:14:22 > 0:14:26- This is the best thing ever. - Return fire.
0:14:26 > 0:14:31Oh no, he just threw one back.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34I can't see anything.
0:14:35 > 0:14:40- We're up here. - What the hell was on your hands?
0:14:40 > 0:14:45My new and improved Pinto only knocked over eight boxes.
0:14:45 > 0:14:51Rut was up next. Are you ready, Rut? Go.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56Oh, wow! That is so loud.
0:14:58 > 0:15:01I realised that in solving the Corvair's love of spinning out,
0:15:01 > 0:15:04I created another problem. I think I might have hit them.
0:15:04 > 0:15:10Now that I had six rear wheels, it wasn't quite as easy to fit through the narrow gaps.
0:15:10 > 0:15:14- Come on, really? - Right, one last try.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17I can't see anything.
0:15:17 > 0:15:19Oh no, it is a big one.
0:15:26 > 0:15:29- Ready, pal? - Yes, I'm ready.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32Adam knocked over 8 boxes and Rutledge took out 14.
0:15:32 > 0:15:36This was a challenge made for my modified Samurai.
0:15:36 > 0:15:40It was light, manoeuvrable. The narrow gaps would be no problem.
0:15:40 > 0:15:44- I'd just go up on two wheels. - Three, two, one, go.
0:15:47 > 0:15:52- Adam is down. Come on. - The tyres are too big.
0:15:56 > 0:16:00This isn't working.
0:16:02 > 0:16:07Maybe about the fourth box I realised my design sucked.
0:16:11 > 0:16:14- BLEEP- me! I am just going to go two wheels now.
0:16:16 > 0:16:19Oh, slime, completely slime.
0:16:29 > 0:16:34Oh, Jesus! There is actual egg in my ear.
0:16:34 > 0:16:36There are chunks of egg.
0:16:36 > 0:16:38You can kiss my ass.
0:16:38 > 0:16:405, 6.
0:16:40 > 0:16:4511, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.
0:16:45 > 0:16:4820 boxes.
0:16:48 > 0:16:53- What? No way.- Yeah! What happened to you?
0:16:56 > 0:16:58It is all the paper roll in my ear.
0:16:58 > 0:17:01What the hell was on that thing? It's green!
0:17:01 > 0:17:07- I am so sorry. Don't slip on the eggs.- I will try not to.
0:17:07 > 0:17:09There were eggs everywhere.
0:17:09 > 0:17:14The Suzuki samuraied almost every box giving my Pinto its second win.
0:17:14 > 0:17:19But it would all come down to the final challenge.
0:17:19 > 0:17:21So we headed out on the open road.
0:17:21 > 0:17:28But had any of us made our cars safe enough to survive a demolition derby?
0:17:28 > 0:17:32This is great. We're going on a demolition derby where you back into everybody.
0:17:32 > 0:17:37I have a guardrail to use as a battering ram. I am going to kill these idiots.
0:17:39 > 0:17:43Hit it all you want, Tanner, nothing is going to happen.
0:17:46 > 0:17:52- Handle like a dream. - What is Adam doing?
0:17:52 > 0:17:57If Tanner did this, he would flip over. Ah! BLEEP!
0:18:00 > 0:18:05This is starting to get sketchy.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13How long are we going to keep doing this?
0:18:16 > 0:18:18CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:18:18 > 0:18:22Do you two realise you've made these cars even more dangerous?
0:18:22 > 0:18:27- And you would know as you're Mr Dangerous behind the wheel, right? - What are you talking about?
0:18:27 > 0:18:31You wreck a lot of cars. Yes, that's it.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34You cut the Cadillac in half, you killed the Bronco
0:18:34 > 0:18:36and then you set the Maverick on fire.
0:18:36 > 0:18:38That was a wiring harness, not my fault.
0:18:38 > 0:18:43I don't think it's the car, you are either really brave or just ignorant.
0:18:43 > 0:18:45That's brignorant!
0:18:45 > 0:18:51- A walk is as good as a hit, I will take it.- See, and that's dangerous!
0:18:51 > 0:18:55To help teach Adam some fear, we set up a challenge out in the desert.
0:18:55 > 0:19:02I put a lot of thought into finding the vehicle that would be a good fit for someone to learn in.
0:19:03 > 0:19:08- Holy- BLEEP!- Something slow. Holy - BLEEP- fast!
0:19:08 > 0:19:11Something easy to control.
0:19:12 > 0:19:15Something that any driver would feel right at home in.
0:19:15 > 0:19:17An Ariel Atom.
0:19:17 > 0:19:23It is capable of going 0 to 1,600 in 3 seconds.
0:19:23 > 0:19:29It has a 475 horsepower engine and only weighs 1,300 pounds.
0:19:29 > 0:19:34It makes it about as easy to handle as a jet pack, mounted to an erector set on wheels.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40What the hell is this?
0:19:40 > 0:19:45- It's a car.- It's car-like. - This my friend, is the Arial Atom.
0:19:45 > 0:19:51- Where is the rest of it?- This is it. It is truly back to basics.
0:19:51 > 0:19:56- The fundamentals of driving I'll learn in this?- Two seats, a steering wheel, a motor.
0:19:56 > 0:20:02It's the perfect car for you to really get in touch with car control.
0:20:02 > 0:20:08You've wrecked a lot of stuff so I thought that this is the perfect thing
0:20:08 > 0:20:10because if you wreck this, you'll die.
0:20:10 > 0:20:13Why don't you try it? Getting there and run some laps.
0:20:13 > 0:20:18This thing's amazing. You have got insurance, right?
0:20:18 > 0:20:21Yes. Life insurance.
0:20:21 > 0:20:26That's your helmet on the floor. How does that fit? It is nice.
0:20:26 > 0:20:30You looked really good in that.
0:20:30 > 0:20:34- Remember, don't die.- I got it.
0:20:43 > 0:20:47Damn, this is the perfect car for this.
0:20:47 > 0:20:52As I expected, Adam was having a difficult time figuring out the atom.
0:20:52 > 0:20:59- My fault.- This wasn't just an opportunity for me to laugh at Adam.
0:20:59 > 0:21:04I wanted him to learn his limits behind the wheel, so he wouldn't keep wrecking cars.
0:21:04 > 0:21:10So, I invited a racing buddy of mine to help him refine his driving technique.
0:21:11 > 0:21:16Boris Said. He is one of the best road racers in the business.
0:21:16 > 0:21:20He has over 20 years of driving experience.
0:21:20 > 0:21:24- How would you say his lap times are? - They told me a good lap time is in the 155s.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27He is at six minutes now.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35I timed your laps, you looked consistent
0:21:35 > 0:21:37but I think we have to go back to the basics.
0:21:37 > 0:21:41Put it in neutral and get out.
0:21:41 > 0:21:46Apparently, a Genesis Coupe was the best way to learn some fundamentals.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49Not the rocket-powered paperclip Rut chose for me.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54- What was my time? - You did a two minute 43 second lap.
0:21:54 > 0:21:57What should I be doing to get a better timing?
0:21:57 > 0:21:59This is a Huyndai Genesis.
0:21:59 > 0:22:03With a streetcar, we can learn the limits of the car because it is not a racecar,
0:22:03 > 0:22:07and it's going to roll over and the tyres will squeal
0:22:07 > 0:22:10and we can get it loose and get it tight.
0:22:10 > 0:22:13- Hopefully we will shave some time off.- That is great.
0:22:13 > 0:22:20- Adam's crazy to think he can shave 20 seconds off his track time. - Turn, turn, gas.
0:22:20 > 0:22:24Boris is good but he's no miracle worker.
0:22:24 > 0:22:28- Tight, tight, tight.- That is a spin!
0:22:28 > 0:22:30That is a spin right there.
0:22:30 > 0:22:33If you get into a skid, correct, wait for the pause.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36Recover and you can get out of any skid.
0:22:38 > 0:22:42Keep it tight and set up on your left hand side. Good.
0:22:42 > 0:22:44Again, it is not that Adam can't drive,
0:22:44 > 0:22:47it's that he can't seem to drive without hurting something.
0:22:47 > 0:22:51It is your best one yet.
0:22:51 > 0:22:56He is getting a lot faster, though, that's for sure.
0:22:59 > 0:23:05- The real question is, Boris, do you think he knocked 20 seconds off? - No doubt.
0:23:05 > 0:23:07Let's find out.
0:23:07 > 0:23:10Thanks to Boris, I went from car crasher to car controller.
0:23:10 > 0:23:13Now I was going to prove it to Rut.
0:23:13 > 0:23:15Smoother is better, slower is faster
0:23:15 > 0:23:17when you need to be slower, it's perfectly fine.
0:23:17 > 0:23:22I'm not going to wreck cars any more. I don't know if I'm going to wreck any cars,
0:23:22 > 0:23:25I'm not going to reckon the cars today.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28My original lap time in the Atom was 2 minutes 43 seconds.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31I was ready to shave 20 seconds off.
0:23:31 > 0:23:36- He's ready.- Ready? Three, two, one.
0:23:44 > 0:23:49- It started off bad. - That's my Adam all right.
0:23:52 > 0:23:55Look how smooth he is.
0:23:55 > 0:23:58Now, you taught him to go fast, you have to go slower, right?
0:23:58 > 0:24:02- In some spots.- It seems he's going slower to go slower.
0:24:02 > 0:24:04No, this is fast.
0:24:06 > 0:24:08- Now, he's on it.- Come on!
0:24:08 > 0:24:12After two laps, he shaved ten seconds off his original time.
0:24:12 > 0:24:14But I attributed that to his instructor.
0:24:14 > 0:24:18Boris was so good he could help a monkey take ten seconds off.
0:24:18 > 0:24:20- I'm feeling good about it.- OK.
0:24:22 > 0:24:26- Smooth.- He is on it.
0:24:26 > 0:24:31- Don't you spin! - He has got to hit it, come on.
0:24:32 > 0:24:37- 2.24.8.- Shut up!
0:24:37 > 0:24:39- Come on.- Adam took 19 seconds off his time.
0:24:39 > 0:24:45- Maybe there was still hope for him. - Come on!
0:24:45 > 0:24:47Oh, he's going fast.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55BLEEP! BLEEP!
0:24:55 > 0:24:59- No way!- I know, I know!
0:25:02 > 0:25:05I was so close but I was losing daylight.
0:25:05 > 0:25:09Boris gave me a few tips to help shave one more second off my time
0:25:09 > 0:25:13and shut Rutledge up!
0:25:16 > 0:25:18- Think he can do it?- I hope so.
0:25:20 > 0:25:26- I gave him a little extra there, at half-time.- What was that? - I can't tell you.
0:25:26 > 0:25:28Come one! Come on!
0:25:28 > 0:25:33- Wow, that is the first time he's pegged a reveller that hard.- Yes.
0:25:33 > 0:25:39- Get off the road!- Gas, gas, gas. A little tentative.- Hang on, hang on hang on.
0:25:40 > 0:25:45- He is going to make it through this lap.- There you go.
0:25:49 > 0:25:53- He did it!- Shut up!- He did it.
0:25:53 > 0:25:55CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:25:55 > 0:26:00Yes, 23 seconds off my time. Victory.
0:26:00 > 0:26:02CHEERING
0:26:02 > 0:26:07Now you are just encouraging him or that really matters is how Adam stacks up on our leaderboard
0:26:07 > 0:26:09and that's is a job for the Stig.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11Victory.
0:26:14 > 0:26:16Good gosh, he is quick off the line.
0:26:16 > 0:26:18Only about 1,400 pounds
0:26:18 > 0:26:23and already up into the triple digits before turn one.
0:26:23 > 0:26:27With the grip of this little Atom, the acceleration is just incredible.
0:26:27 > 0:26:32A G of acceleration is 575 horsepower goes to the ground.
0:26:32 > 0:26:36A rare opportunity to see Stig's footwork there
0:26:36 > 0:26:39putting Fred Astaire to shame as he taps away on those pedals.
0:26:39 > 0:26:42Into the Teardrop, the lowest part of the track.
0:26:42 > 0:26:48Will he get a wheelspin? Not at all. This is going to be fast.
0:26:48 > 0:26:53While our highest speed on the back, going 160 miles an hour
0:26:53 > 0:26:55like strapping yourself to a plane.
0:26:55 > 0:27:00There's that footwork, dancers getting judges jealous.
0:27:00 > 0:27:04He is making his way into the final corner.
0:27:04 > 0:27:06Will he keep it together for one more time?
0:27:06 > 0:27:09Yes, and he is across the line.
0:27:09 > 0:27:11CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:27:11 > 0:27:13That was insane. That looked like a lot of fun.
0:27:13 > 0:27:16The question is where does it end up on the board?
0:27:16 > 0:27:22The Ferrari 458 - 123. The Lexus LFA - 122.
0:27:22 > 0:27:25Are you guys ready to see where the Atom falls?
0:27:25 > 0:27:27AUDIENCE: Yes.
0:27:27 > 0:27:31- The Ariel Atom comes in at 1:18.6. - No way!
0:27:31 > 0:27:35- A new leader on the board.- Wow!
0:27:35 > 0:27:37That's faster than your rally cross car.
0:27:37 > 0:27:42The rallycross weighs twice as much so it's not really.
0:27:42 > 0:27:44Shouldn't be there. It is a race car!
0:27:44 > 0:27:49I am just glad there is no longer a 4,000 Ford Fiesta on the top of the board.
0:27:49 > 0:27:50CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:27:53 > 0:27:56Now it was time to see if our new improved cars could stand up
0:27:56 > 0:27:59to the ultimate safety test - a demolition derby.
0:27:59 > 0:28:02To prepare, we had reinforced them overnight.
0:28:02 > 0:28:07This is great. Look at this.
0:28:19 > 0:28:20Yee-ha!
0:28:25 > 0:28:29- I'll be right there, you get comfortable.- Do you need a hand?
0:28:29 > 0:28:30I'm fine.
0:28:32 > 0:28:37Wow! You guys realise, this is it. It's all or nothing right here.
0:28:38 > 0:28:40- Let's do this.- Let's do it. - CAR ENGINES REV
0:28:45 > 0:28:47I did not think of that.
0:28:50 > 0:28:53- These are huge cars.- Look at that.
0:28:53 > 0:28:55- We're in deep- BLEEP.
0:28:57 > 0:28:59This is a death lap.
0:29:04 > 0:29:05Oh, my God.
0:29:06 > 0:29:09- We don't even have numbers. - That's what you're worried about?
0:29:09 > 0:29:12You've got a fire extinguisher on your roof.
0:29:12 > 0:29:15- That make you feel better? - See? Who's laughing now?
0:29:15 > 0:29:17When I say this, I mean it. Good luck.
0:29:17 > 0:29:18Yeah.
0:29:18 > 0:29:22- Hope that six-wheel drive works for you.- Oh, we're dead.
0:29:22 > 0:29:25- It's going to work great. - How you doing?
0:29:27 > 0:29:31That guy says your car's ugly. I'm just saying. The guy in the Corvair.
0:29:38 > 0:29:40- Holy- BLEEP.
0:29:43 > 0:29:44Oh, my God!
0:29:46 > 0:29:51- I have peed my pants.- The ground is actually shaking from these cars.
0:29:52 > 0:29:54We are in big trouble.
0:29:54 > 0:29:56- We're- BLEEP.
0:29:56 > 0:29:59Ladies and gentlemen, now it's time for something we call
0:29:59 > 0:30:03Big Star, Small Car, and our star doesn't get much bigger than this.
0:30:03 > 0:30:05You know him from Criminal Minds
0:30:05 > 0:30:08and the man played Dean Martin, Mr Joe Mantegna!
0:30:08 > 0:30:10- Wo-oh! - APPLAUSE
0:30:13 > 0:30:15How do you think you're going to do on the track?
0:30:15 > 0:30:19Well, Mario Andretti was Italian, I'm Italian, figure it out.
0:30:19 > 0:30:20I like your thinking.
0:30:20 > 0:30:23Why don't you mount up this beast and we'll see how you do.
0:30:23 > 0:30:25All right, let's go.
0:30:27 > 0:30:29'Mass has ended, go in peace.
0:30:31 > 0:30:32'And he's off.'
0:30:32 > 0:30:36- Oh!- 'Time to beat, Patrick Warburton, 1:41:8.
0:30:36 > 0:30:37'Let's see how Joe does.'
0:30:37 > 0:30:41Nice arc. Nice and smooth, take it easy.
0:30:41 > 0:30:45'He's heading into the first corner. He takes it...gently.'
0:30:45 > 0:30:49That's right. Stay on the track, Joe.
0:30:49 > 0:30:52'He's coming out the chicane...gently.'
0:30:52 > 0:30:55Get ready for the next down shift.
0:30:58 > 0:31:00Headed for the Teardrop.
0:31:00 > 0:31:02'OK, he knows where he's going.
0:31:02 > 0:31:04'He just doesn't appear to be in a hurry to get there.
0:31:05 > 0:31:10'Here's the straight, here's where he can make up some time.
0:31:10 > 0:31:13'At the halfway point, Joe is on the bottom part of our board.
0:31:13 > 0:31:15'The Steve Schirripa neighbourhood.'
0:31:16 > 0:31:18Try not to kill the cameraman.
0:31:18 > 0:31:22'He's coming into Cameraman's Corner, this turn can be dangerous.
0:31:24 > 0:31:28- 'Not today.' - Accelerate, take it to third.
0:31:28 > 0:31:32- 'Heading to the final section of the track.'- Take it wide.
0:31:32 > 0:31:35- Come in close to the tyres. - 'Here's the last turn.
0:31:37 > 0:31:39'And Joe's across the line.'
0:31:39 > 0:31:41CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:31:43 > 0:31:46Joe Mantegna! Come on up.
0:31:59 > 0:32:03- How was it, my friend, did you have fun?- I did have fun.
0:32:03 > 0:32:05My stomach is just starting to settle now.
0:32:05 > 0:32:10- One thing I learnt, don't eat right before you do this.- No!
0:32:10 > 0:32:12- You are a criminal profiler on Criminal Minds.- Right.
0:32:12 > 0:32:15One of the best things about that show is,
0:32:15 > 0:32:17your daily driver on that show was a G4 jet.
0:32:17 > 0:32:19Yeah, isn't that sweet?!
0:32:19 > 0:32:22And wherever you guys show up, someone's dead.
0:32:22 > 0:32:27- Oh, yeah.- If you see Joe getting off a plane, somebody dies.- Oh, yeah.
0:32:27 > 0:32:31Not just dead, we don't want to bring back what we find.
0:32:31 > 0:32:33It's like all this stuff, and,
0:32:33 > 0:32:36"I kill you because my mother never cooked for me."
0:32:36 > 0:32:37Trust me, when the real FBI,
0:32:37 > 0:32:40you know...we play it pretty close to the real deal.
0:32:40 > 0:32:42I've been to Quantico a few times, become dear friends
0:32:42 > 0:32:46with many of the real members of the Behavioral Analysis Unit.
0:32:46 > 0:32:48The one thing they'll say,
0:32:48 > 0:32:50they look at the jet with a little bit of envy.
0:32:50 > 0:32:53I mean, they don't quite get the G4 like we do.
0:32:53 > 0:33:00- What is your daily driver? - Right now, I drive an Audi TT.
0:33:00 > 0:33:03- Nice.- But I've had a little blacked out, powdered coating.
0:33:03 > 0:33:04You murdered out a TT?
0:33:04 > 0:33:09Yeah! It's... You know...I'm not as young as I used to be.
0:33:09 > 0:33:13No, that's cool. And you're a musician as well, I just found out.
0:33:13 > 0:33:15Well, I was.
0:33:15 > 0:33:17Back in the '60s I was actually in a band for about five years.
0:33:17 > 0:33:19We used to tour with a group,
0:33:19 > 0:33:22at the time they were called The Missing Links.
0:33:22 > 0:33:24We were The Apocryphals. We toured with them quite a bit.
0:33:24 > 0:33:26- There we are! - LAUGHING
0:33:26 > 0:33:27There's The Apocryphals.
0:33:27 > 0:33:30They said, "We're going to change our name.
0:33:30 > 0:33:32"We're going to add a couple of guys to our band."
0:33:32 > 0:33:34The Missing Links. "We're gonna change our name.
0:33:34 > 0:33:37"We're going to call ourselves Chicago Transit Authority."
0:33:37 > 0:33:40We're thinking, "Yeah, that's cute, it'll never go."
0:33:40 > 0:33:44They became the group Chicago. We became...nothing.
0:33:44 > 0:33:47So the writing was on the wall. I thought, maybe I should try acting.
0:33:47 > 0:33:50So I kind of went another direction with my career.
0:33:50 > 0:33:55- Is that your band car?- That was the band car. That's a 1947 Buick.
0:33:55 > 0:33:57- Straight-8?- Straight-8.
0:33:57 > 0:34:00That's me on the left with the George Harrison look.
0:34:02 > 0:34:07That was probably about 1966 and I bought that car for 225.
0:34:07 > 0:34:10What happened is, I got it cast in the play Hair.
0:34:10 > 0:34:12I did the play for two years.
0:34:12 > 0:34:14When the play closed, I decided I had to...
0:34:14 > 0:34:18It was in Chicago, snow, the weather.
0:34:18 > 0:34:19"I'm going to put the car in storage."
0:34:19 > 0:34:23So my dear friend says, "Why don't you stick it in my barn?"
0:34:23 > 0:34:24He had a barn in Indiana.
0:34:24 > 0:34:27"Stick it in the barn, crack it out in a year or two
0:34:27 > 0:34:28"when you've got a little money."
0:34:28 > 0:34:31Little did he know, I wouldn't have money for 30 more years.
0:34:32 > 0:34:37Literally 30 years later, I get a call from this friend of mine
0:34:37 > 0:34:39saying, "I'm moving.
0:34:39 > 0:34:41"I'm moving from the farm. What do you want to do with the car?"
0:34:41 > 0:34:44I'm going, "The car? You still have the car?"
0:34:44 > 0:34:47He goes, "Yeah, the car's in the barn. I think mice live in it."
0:34:49 > 0:34:52I felt bad. This guy kept this car for 30 years.
0:34:52 > 0:34:55I said, "Why don't you stick it on a flat-bed,
0:34:55 > 0:34:56"send it out to California."
0:34:56 > 0:35:00- That was my first car, I bought it when I was 19.- Sure.
0:35:00 > 0:35:05"I'm going to bring it back to its original glory."
0:35:05 > 0:35:08Well, I think you have a photo of what the car looked like
0:35:08 > 0:35:10- when it arrived.- Mm-hmm.
0:35:10 > 0:35:11That's what the car looked like.
0:35:11 > 0:35:14I remember I was doing the Leno Show the day after the car arrived,
0:35:14 > 0:35:18and knowing what a car buff he is, I brought that picture.
0:35:18 > 0:35:21I said, "Jay, you're a car buff, I want to show you
0:35:21 > 0:35:25"a picture of the car, I just got my car back from 30 years ago."
0:35:25 > 0:35:30He looks at it and said, "Alert the Navy, we found their anchor."
0:35:30 > 0:35:32LAUGHTER
0:35:32 > 0:35:36But I said to myself that day, "Jay, you're going to eat those words.
0:35:36 > 0:35:38"However long it takes,
0:35:38 > 0:35:43"I'm going to bring this car back, somewhat, to those glory days."
0:35:43 > 0:35:45Ten years later, this car
0:35:45 > 0:35:50- became...that car. - Ha-ha! Look at that!
0:35:50 > 0:35:52APPLAUSE
0:35:54 > 0:35:56All right, how do you think you did?
0:35:56 > 0:35:59Boy, you know, I'm looking at this thing.
0:35:59 > 0:36:02Steve Schirripa's a good friend.
0:36:02 > 0:36:04I wouldn't be embarrassed if I was right around Steve.
0:36:04 > 0:36:07Chumlee, I worry about a person with a name like Chumlee.
0:36:09 > 0:36:12- Was that a person? - Yeah, it's a person.
0:36:12 > 0:36:15I didn't want to get beaten by like a monkey or something.
0:36:15 > 0:36:17- You guys want to see Joe's time?- Yes!
0:36:17 > 0:36:19APPLAUSE AND CHEERING
0:36:19 > 0:36:21I'm ready.
0:36:23 > 0:36:25You did it...
0:36:26 > 0:36:31..in 1:51:1.
0:36:31 > 0:36:34APPLAUSE
0:36:34 > 0:36:36Just what I hoped for!
0:36:39 > 0:36:41Joe Mantegna!
0:36:41 > 0:36:43APPLAUSE AND CHEERING
0:36:47 > 0:36:51'The time had come for the ultimate test of our modified cars.
0:36:51 > 0:36:53'A demolition derby.'
0:36:55 > 0:36:58'We needed to survive three minutes against each other
0:36:58 > 0:36:59'and four real demo derby cars.
0:37:00 > 0:37:04'The first car to drive out of the arena at the end would be
0:37:04 > 0:37:07'crowned the safest...most dangerous car.'
0:37:07 > 0:37:09BEEPING
0:37:12 > 0:37:14I'm outta here, I'm out!
0:37:16 > 0:37:18Oh, you've got to be kidding me.
0:37:27 > 0:37:29Is that all you got?!
0:37:30 > 0:37:36Oh! Two-wheel motion. That's how it works. That's how we do it here.
0:37:36 > 0:37:38Oh BLEEP! Tanner!
0:37:42 > 0:37:47- Get that piece of crap off my hood! - Hah! That's right.
0:37:55 > 0:37:56This is it.
0:37:56 > 0:37:57Oh!
0:37:59 > 0:38:01- Are you kidding me? - Now, here it comes.
0:38:05 > 0:38:10What the hell? Oh, he hit the extinguisher on me. You jackass!
0:38:12 > 0:38:16- Come on, Rutledge. Don't run, baby. - Come on, I'm going to get you!
0:38:16 > 0:38:17OK, I'm going to throw up.
0:38:17 > 0:38:19- Oh,- BLEEP.
0:38:19 > 0:38:24- Oh, I'm up on his car. - Hey, Rut!
0:38:24 > 0:38:25Samurai strikes!
0:38:31 > 0:38:35- That is so satisfying, I don't know why.- Adam's going in the ditch.
0:38:35 > 0:38:37- Get in there.- Rut!
0:38:40 > 0:38:42HORN BLOWS
0:38:42 > 0:38:46And it's the horn! Yes, the last Samurai.
0:38:47 > 0:38:49You're going to have to back up so I can get out, jerk.
0:38:50 > 0:38:51Race is done.
0:38:51 > 0:38:54I didn't blow up and with just a few simple modifications,
0:38:54 > 0:38:57the Pinto was a perfectly safe car.
0:38:59 > 0:39:05My gosh, that is the most insane thing I have ever done.
0:39:05 > 0:39:09Why won't you die?! Why won't you die?!
0:39:09 > 0:39:12- God, this thing lived for ever. - Easy.
0:39:12 > 0:39:15You got a lot of aggression problems, my friend.
0:39:15 > 0:39:18- That was the longest three minutes in history.- I know.
0:39:18 > 0:39:20But I clearly won.
0:39:20 > 0:39:24- What do you mean, you clearly won? - Look at your cars, they're a mess.
0:39:24 > 0:39:27- Yeah, but it wasn't about... - It's when you leave.
0:39:27 > 0:39:30The least damage in the car to drive OUT of the arena.
0:39:30 > 0:39:32That looks stuck from here.
0:39:35 > 0:39:38- So is it the first one out of the arena?- It could be.
0:39:38 > 0:39:41I guess it... All right.
0:39:42 > 0:39:45Damn you, metal crate.
0:39:49 > 0:39:51Oh, come on!
0:39:51 > 0:39:55- Come on, baby, start. Start, start. - Oh, it's going to do it.
0:39:55 > 0:39:57It's going to do it.
0:39:58 > 0:40:01Yeah, yeah... That's it!
0:40:04 > 0:40:06I can't turn.
0:40:09 > 0:40:13I did it! I got out first, I did it.
0:40:13 > 0:40:15A little rock.
0:40:18 > 0:40:23I couldn't turn. I've got like nine flat tyres.
0:40:25 > 0:40:26This is going to suck.
0:40:29 > 0:40:35Safe at any speed. Look at him. Oh, he's depressed.
0:40:35 > 0:40:36Are you just going to abandon that thing?
0:40:36 > 0:40:38Let me just say one thing.
0:40:38 > 0:40:42It went through the whole race, no fire, no explosions.
0:40:42 > 0:40:46So I may not be able to drive out because I was in a rut,
0:40:46 > 0:40:48but the car is perfectly safe. EXPLOSION
0:40:50 > 0:40:51THEY LAUGH
0:40:51 > 0:40:55- Holy- BLEEP! - Let's get marshmallows!
0:40:57 > 0:41:00- Who feels like a s'more? - Don't say anything.
0:41:00 > 0:41:02- Come on, it's a great pick-me-up. - Don't say anything.
0:41:02 > 0:41:07- Come on, look at that. - That's a good flame right there.
0:41:07 > 0:41:09CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:41:09 > 0:41:11That's right.
0:41:11 > 0:41:13The Corvair wins.
0:41:13 > 0:41:17- Its reputation has been restored. - No, it hasn't.
0:41:17 > 0:41:21The only thing better than winning was watching your Pinto blow up.
0:41:22 > 0:41:26It didn't blow up, that was a controlled burn, OK?
0:41:26 > 0:41:28How did you restore the reputation? You made it worse.
0:41:28 > 0:41:31You put six wheels on the rear axle.
0:41:31 > 0:41:33It's an eight-wheel death trap is what you made it.
0:41:33 > 0:41:37- And you put scaffolding on the side of that car.- Yeah.
0:41:37 > 0:41:38Yes, I did.
0:41:38 > 0:41:41And you can drive down the road in comfort and then blow up.
0:41:43 > 0:41:45I made my car fun, that's what these cars are about.
0:41:45 > 0:41:48I made the only rolling Weeble Wobble ever.
0:41:48 > 0:41:52- Once you knock it down it comes back up.- That's fun to drive like this.
0:41:52 > 0:41:54"Hey, we're making good time."
0:41:55 > 0:41:57It was kind of fun.
0:41:57 > 0:41:59These are nice points except the only one that counts is
0:41:59 > 0:42:01the fact that my Corvair got out the fastest.
0:42:01 > 0:42:04The Corvair wins, that's all we got time for!
0:42:04 > 0:42:07CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:42:10 > 0:42:13Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd