Revving up

Sharu Delilkan | 19th February 2010

This chap has no problem finding a park in town. Sharu Delilkan talks to Auckland stunt driver Peter Hall about what we can expect at this year's Top Gear Live.

Expect edge-of-your-seat antics when celebrities try out their skills on the purpose-built racetrack at the ASB Showground during the Top Gear Live 2010 World Tour.

Celebrity drivers will be trained by driving stuntman Peter Bell, from Auckland's North Shore, the Guinness Book of World Records holder for making the world's tightest parallel park.

The co-ordinator and main instructor for the stunt school says: "It's extremely challenging and rewarding teaching people, especially when those without experience manage to conquer the track.

"It's all about getting them out of their comfort zone."

Brand Events NZ and Festivals general manager Rob Elliott, who's been running Top Gear Live since 2004, is excited about the stunt school.

"We built the track specially for the show because there's nothing like seeing cars going at speed to get the adrenaline pumping."

Presenters for this year's show are Jeremy Clarkson, James May, Greg Murphy, and The Stig.

Besides the Top Gear Live festival featuring a track, stunt school and marque park for the first time, other segments include the theatre show and the Prestige & Performance Motor Show. Bell is also one of the crew who will be demonstrating.

"The key to success is precision and timing," says the stuntman. "If you mistime a manoeuvre by a millisecond when you're performing multiple spins, you can be off my a few metres rather than a few centimetres, so you have to be on your game.

"Total concentration is the only way to succeed."

Top Gear Live 2010 World Tour, ASB Showgrounds, Green Lane, until Feb 21. Tickets: ph 0800 Ticketek