Top Gear: Polar Special
Encyclopedia
Top Gear: Polar Special was an episode of the popular series Top Gear
, first broadcast on 25 July 2007 on BBC Two
. It was an attempt by the BBC
's Top Gear crew to be the first to drive a motor vehicle to the 1996 location of the Magnetic North Pole.
The project was co-ordinated by the car manufacturer Toyota and Top Gear, with the help of Arctic Trucks
, an Iceland
ic vehicle modification company. The vehicle used was a modified Toyota Hilux
. Toyota promoted the event under the name Hilux Arctic Challenge.
The UKTV
channel Dave has broadcast this episode in an edited 46 minute version for their one hour broadcast slots, as has BBC Canada
. The special has also been released on DVD as one-half of the Top Gear: The Great Adventures set, along with the Top Gear: US Special
.
, Richard Hammond
and James May
to the 1996 magnetic north pole.
The idea was originally proposed by the BBC to coincide with the Polar Challenge
race, an annual event where competitors race to the 1996 location of the magnetic north pole by trekking and cross-country skiing
. The attempt would be shown as a one-off Top Gear special in 2007. As part of the challenge, the car would be racing against a dog sled
, the traditional means of transport around the Arctic
. Top Gear presenters James May and Jeremy Clarkson would drive the car, and Richard Hammond traveled with the dog sled, accompanied by driver Matty McNair
.
Clarkson and May ultimately were the first to reach the finish in their Hilux, thus winning the race and achieving their goal of being the first to do so in a car.
The episode was largely scored
with compositions
by Clint Mansell
and performed by the Kronos Quartet
, particularly the pieces "Lux Aeterna" and "Death is the Road to Awe", from the soundtracks of Requiem for a Dream
and The Fountain, respectively. The episode also contained a segment from the soundtrack of John Carpenter's The Thing.
Until 15 November 2009, this was the only episode of Top Gear that had been broadcast in high definition.
The vehicles used in the challenge were two 2006 Toyota Hilux
double cab 3.0l diesel
pickup trucks and one Toyota Land Cruiser 120. A trailer on 38" tyres was also used to carry part of the equipment and fuel. One Hilux was used by the presenters and was fitted with camera and sound recording equipment, the other two were used by the film crew, two driver/repair experts and one polar expert. All vehicles underwent the same extensive modifications to make them suitable for the Arctic conditions. The major modifications to the trucks included:
The Hilux was chosen because it had proven itself to be exceptionally durable. The car had featured in various Top Gear challenges, being floated out to sea, set on fire, and finally being placed on top of a high-rise tower which was then destroyed in a controlled demolition. After all this, the Hilux was still able to be driven away. The Hilux was therefore the obvious choice for this test of endurance.
The truck used by the film crew was later re-used by James May in his attempt to get close to the still-erupting Eyjafjallajökull
volcano and bring back a souvenir. The vehicle was further modified to include a tyre cooling system which included environmentally friendly vodka instead of anti-freeze and a corrugated roof to prevent damage to the vehicle from ejected debris.
, where the presenters learned how to erect a tent, build a makeshift aircraft runway, pull a sled and deal with polar bears. Also, Clarkson was pushed into the frigid water by their trainer, an SAS
veteran. With help from satellite images provided by the BBC, the support team plotted the route that the expedition would take.
Polar explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes
was called in to speak with the presenters after their constant joking and horseplay during their cold weather training. As a former guest on the show who was familiar with their penchant for tomfoolery, Fiennes bluntly informed them of the grave dangers of polar expeditions, showing pictures of his own frostbite injuries and what remained of his left hand.
at 1300 on 25 April 2007. The destination for this day was Bathurst Island
, an uninhabited island where they would make camp. After leaving Bathurst Island, the team had to rely on satellite navigation to plan their route.
Travel on the first three days was fairly easy, as the ice was smooth and the expedition was able to make good speed. Things got more difficult on April 28, however, as the terrain became more difficult to cross, with sharp-edged ice covered in thick snow making it difficult to obtain traction, as well as posing a danger to the tyres. At this point, the team were relying on their guides to scout ahead for a safe route, demolishing outcrops of ice with axes when necessary. The terrain became even more perilous further north, with the team having to cross a field of very thin ice. There was a real danger of the ice cracking and the car falling through due to the weight, so the vehicles had to be driven very slowly. At one point, Clarkson & May's vehicle became trapped when it fell partly through the ice, and had to be pulled free by an accompanying vehicle—something that never happened with the dog sled team, which never required any assistance at all.
On the morning of 2 May 2007 the GPS system confirmed that the team had reached the 1996 location of the magnetic north pole at 78°35.7′N 104°11.9′W (or at least at 78°35′7"N 104°11′9"W, the reading showing on the GPS in the program, which is 0.7 miles SSE of it), making them the first people to reach within a mile of the magnetic north pole location of any year in a motor vehicle. From there, the Top Gear presenters were evacuated by plane, while the team drove on to the disused Isachsen weather station
, where they made camp and checked the vehicles to make sure they were in good enough condition to make the return trip to Resolute.
Richard Hammond never made it to the pole, as it "seemed cruel to make him go the extra distance just so Clarkson could gloat".
whilst driving through an ice field in the Arctic. Despite the producer's claims that they were beyond the jurisdiction of drunk driving laws in international waters at the time and Clarkson stating on the programme that he was not driving but sailing, the BBC Trust
found that the scene could "glamorise the misuse of alcohol", and that the scene "was not editorially justified in the context of a family show pre-watershed
".
, the show's credits included each crew member names with the words "Sir Ranulph" (e.g. "Sir Ranulph Clarkson, Sir Ranulph Hammond, Sir Ranulph May") in homage to Sir Ranulph Fiennes
.
" includes an extra ten minutes of previously unseen footage and various other changes, including new voice-overs and an alternative soundtrack to the original BBC broadcast release.
The BBC released the extended Polar Special as a stand-alone Blu-ray disc on 20 October 2008. The extended version included scenes of frostbitten extremities during the training in Resolute, and Clarkson & May discovering the abandoned Isachsen weather station
(left vacant since 1978), among others.
Top Gear (current format)
Top Gear is a British television series about motor vehicles, primarily cars. It began in 1977 as a conventional motoring magazine show. Over time, and especially since a relaunch in 2002, it has developed a quirky, humorous style...
, first broadcast on 25 July 2007 on BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
. It was an attempt by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's Top Gear crew to be the first to drive a motor vehicle to the 1996 location of the Magnetic North Pole.
The project was co-ordinated by the car manufacturer Toyota and Top Gear, with the help of Arctic Trucks
Arctic Trucks
Arctic Trucks originated in Iceland, its roots lay in the need for dealing with the difficult terrain in Iceland, summer and winter. In the 1970s the Icelandic people started experimenting with larger tires and low tire pressures on the snow with interesting results. But it was not until in the mid...
, an Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
ic vehicle modification company. The vehicle used was a modified Toyota Hilux
Toyota Hilux
The Toyota Hilux is a series of compact pickup trucks produced and marketed by the Toyota Motor Corporation. Most countries used the Hilux name for the entire life of the series but in North America, the Hilux name was retired in 1976 in favor of Truck, Pickup Truck, or Compact Truck...
. Toyota promoted the event under the name Hilux Arctic Challenge.
The UKTV
UKTV
UKTV is a digital cable and satellite television network, formed through a joint venture between BBC Worldwide, a commercial subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation, and Scripps Networks Interactive, spun off from The E.W Scripps Company in 2008...
channel Dave has broadcast this episode in an edited 46 minute version for their one hour broadcast slots, as has BBC Canada
BBC Canada
BBC Canada is a Canadian English language Category B specialty channel. It presents programming primarily from the BBC. BBC Canada is a joint venture between Shaw Media and BBC Worldwide.-Programming:Main article: List of programs broadcast by BBC Canada...
. The special has also been released on DVD as one-half of the Top Gear: The Great Adventures set, along with the Top Gear: US Special
Top Gear: US Special
Top Gear: US Special was an episode of the popular series Top Gear, first broadcast on 11 February 2007 on BBC Two, as part of series 9. In this full-length story, presenters Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May attempted to see if it was cheaper to buy a car for exploring the southern...
.
Overview
The episode showcased a race between presenters Jeremy ClarksonJeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson is an English broadcaster, journalist and writer who specialises in motoring. He is best known for his role on the BBC TV show Top Gear along with co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May...
, Richard Hammond
Richard Hammond
Richard Mark Hammond is an English broadcaster, writer, and journalist most noted for co-hosting car programme Top Gear with Jeremy Clarkson and James May, as well as presenting Brainiac: Science Abuse on Sky 1.-Early life:...
and James May
James May
James Daniel May is an English television presenter, journalist and writer. He is best known for his role as co-presenter of the award-winning motoring programme Top Gear alongside Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond....
to the 1996 magnetic north pole.
The idea was originally proposed by the BBC to coincide with the Polar Challenge
Polar Challenge
The Polar Challenge is a competitive, 350 nautical mile team race taking place in the Arctic, to the 1996 location of the Magnetic North Pole. The race runs between mid-April and mid-May each year, taking teams approximately 4 weeks to complete, including the training time...
race, an annual event where competitors race to the 1996 location of the magnetic north pole by trekking and cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
. The attempt would be shown as a one-off Top Gear special in 2007. As part of the challenge, the car would be racing against a dog sled
Dog sled
A dog sled is a sled pulled by one or more sled dogs used to travel over ice and through snow. Numerous types of sleds are used, depending on their function. They can be used for dog sled racing.-History:...
, the traditional means of transport around the Arctic
Arctic
The Arctic is a region located at the northern-most part of the Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. The Arctic region consists of a vast, ice-covered ocean, surrounded by treeless permafrost...
. Top Gear presenters James May and Jeremy Clarkson would drive the car, and Richard Hammond traveled with the dog sled, accompanied by driver Matty McNair
Matty McNair
Matty L McNair is an American explorer. She now lives in the Canadian Arctic in Iqaluit, Nunavut, on Baffin Island, where she runs her company NorthWinds...
.
Clarkson and May ultimately were the first to reach the finish in their Hilux, thus winning the race and achieving their goal of being the first to do so in a car.
The episode was largely scored
Film score
A film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film, forming part of the film's soundtrack, which also usually includes dialogue and sound effects...
with compositions
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
by Clint Mansell
Clint Mansell
Clinton Darryl "Clint" Mansell, is an English musician, composer, and former lead singer and guitarist of the band Pop Will Eat Itself....
and performed by the Kronos Quartet
Kronos Quartet
Kronos Quartet is a string quartet founded by violinist David Harrington in 1973 in Seattle, Washington. Since 1978, the quartet has been based in San Francisco, California. The longest-running combination of performers had Harrington and John Sherba on violin, Hank Dutt on viola, and Joan...
, particularly the pieces "Lux Aeterna" and "Death is the Road to Awe", from the soundtracks of Requiem for a Dream
Requiem for a Dream (soundtrack)
-Requiem for a Tower EP:#Requiem for a Tower, Movement 2#Requiem for a Tower, Movement 3#Requiem for a Tower, Movement 4-Remixed album:#Clint Mansell – Tappy's Intro – 0:51#Plant – In the End It's All Nice – 6:17...
and The Fountain, respectively. The episode also contained a segment from the soundtrack of John Carpenter's The Thing.
Until 15 November 2009, this was the only episode of Top Gear that had been broadcast in high definition.
Vehicle
Toyota Hilux
The Toyota Hilux is a series of compact pickup trucks produced and marketed by the Toyota Motor Corporation. Most countries used the Hilux name for the entire life of the series but in North America, the Hilux name was retired in 1976 in favor of Truck, Pickup Truck, or Compact Truck...
double cab 3.0l diesel
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
pickup trucks and one Toyota Land Cruiser 120. A trailer on 38" tyres was also used to carry part of the equipment and fuel. One Hilux was used by the presenters and was fitted with camera and sound recording equipment, the other two were used by the film crew, two driver/repair experts and one polar expert. All vehicles underwent the same extensive modifications to make them suitable for the Arctic conditions. The major modifications to the trucks included:
- The standard wheels and tyres were replaced with bespoke Arctic Trucks wheels and 38" studded snow tyres. The tyres were able to run at pressures as low as 0.2 bar (3 psi) for better traction over snow. The tyres are called Arctic Trucks AT405.
- The wheel arches were raised and extended to protect the larger tyres.
- The standard 3.0-litre D-4D engine was modified to cope with the very low temperatures. Heaters were added to increase fuel and coolant temperature, a large heavy-duty battery was fitted and the air intake was modified.
- A 90 litre auxiliary fuel tank was fitted.
- The gearing ratio was lowered to 1:4.88.
- Two winchWinchA winch is a mechanical device that is used to pull in or let out or otherwise adjust the "tension" of a rope or wire rope . In its simplest form it consists of a spool and attached hand crank. In larger forms, winches stand at the heart of machines as diverse as tow trucks, steam shovels and...
es that could be fitted either to the front or rear of each of the vehicles were carried, in case they got stuck in the snow.
The Hilux was chosen because it had proven itself to be exceptionally durable. The car had featured in various Top Gear challenges, being floated out to sea, set on fire, and finally being placed on top of a high-rise tower which was then destroyed in a controlled demolition. After all this, the Hilux was still able to be driven away. The Hilux was therefore the obvious choice for this test of endurance.
The truck used by the film crew was later re-used by James May in his attempt to get close to the still-erupting Eyjafjallajökull
2010 eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull
The 2010 eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull were volcanic events at Eyjafjöll in Iceland which, although relatively small for volcanic eruptions, caused enormous disruption to air travel across western and northern Europe over an initial period of six days in April 2010. Additional localised disruption...
volcano and bring back a souvenir. The vehicle was further modified to include a tyre cooling system which included environmentally friendly vodka instead of anti-freeze and a corrugated roof to prevent damage to the vehicle from ejected debris.
Preparation
Work began on the vehicles in December 2006, at Resolute, Canada, from where the expedition would begin. Over 240 man-hours of labour were spent completely refitting the two vehicles in preparation for the journey. Testing of the vehicles began in February 2007, after which some further modifications were made to the vehicles — the suspension was altered and the original 29" tyres were replaced with 38" ones. Testing of the vehicles continued until April 2007 with repeated cold start evaluations being taken to make sure that the vehicles would start in all conditions. On 20 April 2007 the Top Gear presenters arrived and began their cold weather training. This intensive training involved a two-night expedition camping on sea iceSea ice
Sea ice is largely formed from seawater that freezes. Because the oceans consist of saltwater, this occurs below the freezing point of pure water, at about -1.8 °C ....
, where the presenters learned how to erect a tent, build a makeshift aircraft runway, pull a sled and deal with polar bears. Also, Clarkson was pushed into the frigid water by their trainer, an SAS
Special Air Service
Special Air Service or SAS is a corps of the British Army constituted on 31 May 1950. They are part of the United Kingdom Special Forces and have served as a model for the special forces of many other countries all over the world...
veteran. With help from satellite images provided by the BBC, the support team plotted the route that the expedition would take.
Polar explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes
Ranulph Fiennes
Sir Ranulph Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes, 3rd Baronet, OBE , better known as Ranulph Fiennes, is a British adventurer and holder of several endurance records. He is also a prolific writer. Fiennes served in the British Army for eight years including a period on counter-insurgency service while...
was called in to speak with the presenters after their constant joking and horseplay during their cold weather training. As a former guest on the show who was familiar with their penchant for tomfoolery, Fiennes bluntly informed them of the grave dangers of polar expeditions, showing pictures of his own frostbite injuries and what remained of his left hand.
The expedition
The expedition set out from Resolute, NunavutResolute, Nunavut
Resolute or Resolute Bay is a small Inuit hamlet on Cornwallis Island in Nunavut, Canada. It is situated at the northern end of Resolute Bay and the Northwest Passage and is part of the Qikiqtaaluk Region....
at 1300 on 25 April 2007. The destination for this day was Bathurst Island
Bathurst Island
A member of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, Bathurst Island is one of the Queen Elizabeth Islands in Nunavut Territory, Canada. The area of the island is estimated at , making it the 54th largest island in the world and Canada's 13th largest island. It is uninhabited.The island is low-lying with...
, an uninhabited island where they would make camp. After leaving Bathurst Island, the team had to rely on satellite navigation to plan their route.
Travel on the first three days was fairly easy, as the ice was smooth and the expedition was able to make good speed. Things got more difficult on April 28, however, as the terrain became more difficult to cross, with sharp-edged ice covered in thick snow making it difficult to obtain traction, as well as posing a danger to the tyres. At this point, the team were relying on their guides to scout ahead for a safe route, demolishing outcrops of ice with axes when necessary. The terrain became even more perilous further north, with the team having to cross a field of very thin ice. There was a real danger of the ice cracking and the car falling through due to the weight, so the vehicles had to be driven very slowly. At one point, Clarkson & May's vehicle became trapped when it fell partly through the ice, and had to be pulled free by an accompanying vehicle—something that never happened with the dog sled team, which never required any assistance at all.
On the morning of 2 May 2007 the GPS system confirmed that the team had reached the 1996 location of the magnetic north pole at 78°35.7′N 104°11.9′W (or at least at 78°35′7"N 104°11′9"W, the reading showing on the GPS in the program, which is 0.7 miles SSE of it), making them the first people to reach within a mile of the magnetic north pole location of any year in a motor vehicle. From there, the Top Gear presenters were evacuated by plane, while the team drove on to the disused Isachsen weather station
Isachsen, Nunavut
Isachsen was a remote Arctic research-weather station named after the Norwegian explorer of the Arctic, Gunnar Isachsen. it is located on the western shore of Ellef Ringnes Island in the Sverdrup Islands, in the territory of Nunavut in Canada. Isachsen Station was established to participate in a...
, where they made camp and checked the vehicles to make sure they were in good enough condition to make the return trip to Resolute.
Richard Hammond never made it to the pole, as it "seemed cruel to make him go the extra distance just so Clarkson could gloat".
Criticism
During the Polar Special, Jeremy Clarkson was seen to be drinking a gin and tonicGin and tonic
A gin and tonic is a highball cocktail made with gin and tonic water poured over ice. It is usually garnished with a slice or wedge of lime, or lemon. The amount of gin varies according to taste...
whilst driving through an ice field in the Arctic. Despite the producer's claims that they were beyond the jurisdiction of drunk driving laws in international waters at the time and Clarkson stating on the programme that he was not driving but sailing, the BBC Trust
BBC Trust
The BBC Trust is the governing body of the British Broadcasting Corporation. It is operationally independent of BBC management and external bodies, and aims to act in the best interests of licence fee payers....
found that the scene could "glamorise the misuse of alcohol", and that the scene "was not editorially justified in the context of a family show pre-watershed
Watershed (television)
In television, the term watershed denotes the time period in a television schedule during which programs with adult content can air....
".
Credits
Similar to the Top Gear: US SpecialTop Gear: US Special
Top Gear: US Special was an episode of the popular series Top Gear, first broadcast on 11 February 2007 on BBC Two, as part of series 9. In this full-length story, presenters Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May attempted to see if it was cheaper to buy a car for exploring the southern...
, the show's credits included each crew member names with the words "Sir Ranulph" (e.g. "Sir Ranulph Clarkson, Sir Ranulph Hammond, Sir Ranulph May") in homage to Sir Ranulph Fiennes
Ranulph Fiennes
Sir Ranulph Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes, 3rd Baronet, OBE , better known as Ranulph Fiennes, is a British adventurer and holder of several endurance records. He is also a prolific writer. Fiennes served in the British Army for eight years including a period on counter-insurgency service while...
.
DVD and Blu-Ray release
In 2008, the BBC packaged an extended version of the Polar Challenge, along with a cut-down version of the American East Coast Challenge on a twin DVD box set entitled Top Gear - The Great Adventures (also known as The Great Adventures: Polar and U.S. Special). This "Director's CutDirector's cut
A director's cut is a specially edited version of a film, and less often TV series, music video, commercials, comic book or video games, that is supposed to represent the director's own approved edit...
" includes an extra ten minutes of previously unseen footage and various other changes, including new voice-overs and an alternative soundtrack to the original BBC broadcast release.
The BBC released the extended Polar Special as a stand-alone Blu-ray disc on 20 October 2008. The extended version included scenes of frostbitten extremities during the training in Resolute, and Clarkson & May discovering the abandoned Isachsen weather station
Isachsen, Nunavut
Isachsen was a remote Arctic research-weather station named after the Norwegian explorer of the Arctic, Gunnar Isachsen. it is located on the western shore of Ellef Ringnes Island in the Sverdrup Islands, in the territory of Nunavut in Canada. Isachsen Station was established to participate in a...
(left vacant since 1978), among others.