The Story Behind the Top Gear Caravan Airship

In Top Gear (UK - the only real Top Gear) Series 14, Episode 3 James May and Richard Hammond continue their ongoing war against road-clogging caravans by trying a new technology to remove them from the road.  The idea was to make an airship out of a small caravan.  The aviation minded James May would pilot the airship in a race with Richard Hammond driving a special addition Lamborghini Gallardo.  In the episode James May "accidentally" penetrated the controlled airspace of Norwich International Airport while Richard Hammond chases him from below in a one of the few rear wheel drive modern Lamborghini's.  The footage is wonderful, with cuts of the giant red airship billowing in the wind as it drifts above a landing Q400 and is later intercepted by a police helicopter.

In actuality, the scene was well planned along with the construction of the airship.  It was built and piloted by by Lindstrand Balloons and certified by Britain's CAA.  The story behind the science and construction of building the airship compliment the Top Gear episode perfectly.  Check it out.

Fall M Coupe Barbecue 2012

Fall is officially here, which means it's time for the M Coupe Buyers Guide Fall Barbecue.  M Coupe Buyers Guide is the best M Coupe resource on the internet.  We meet at its creator Jon's house every spring and fall to stretch our car's legs a little and geek out in his driveway.  This year we had a record setting 9 M Coupes, 2 M Roadsters, 3 E90 M3's, 2 E36 M3's, and 2 motorcycles.  My brother John flew out for the weekend and drove the new addition to my fleet, a track prepped M Roady (I'll post more about that later).

The New Addition

As the cars rolled into Jon's neighborhood the numbers in attendance this year became staggering compared to previous years.  Lindsey travelled the farthest distance, coming all the way from Bozeman, MT in his Cosmos Black M Coupe with gold wheels.  Colby had the newest addition, with his nearly mint Dakar Yellow M Coupe.  Seth, who I met by refusing to allow his oil to be changed at Jiffy Lube came up with his Estoril Blue M Coupe.

A Record 9 M Coupes

After the obligitory photo session we drove out usual route through Poudre Canyon and Stove Prairie.  The High Park Fire this year had scorched large swaths of the canyon, while the ongoing drought had reduced the Poudre River to a trickle.  The colors of the canyon were diverse, with the usual yellow and orange colors contrasted deeply by black and greys in the burned areas.  There was a certain beauty to the destruction that contrasted the vivid colors of our M Coupe's brilliantly.  The impact of the fire on the community, even after three months, was still fresh.  Signs thanking firefighters were posted by many residents and on Stove Prarire helicopters were dropping straw on mud slide prone burn areas.

80 Years of Automobile Evolution Separated by a Gas Pump

Staging Before the Canyon

Colby's Dakar Yellow M Coupe

Firefighter Gratitude

John Driving the M Roady

Into the Canyon

Drought Stricken Poudre River Slowed to a Trickle

More Gratitude

Headed Up Stove Prairie

See the Helicopter?

John and I had to break off at the end of the drive, but not until we all got together for one last photo session overlooking Horsetooh Reservior.  

One Last Group Shot

John in the Roady