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MPH '05

Car mania takes center stage in London

When was the last time you went to an auto show and were handed a pair of 3D glasses? Well that's exactly what spectators got when they walked in to London's Earls Court on November 20th. Make no mistake; this is not your typical car show. It is a spectacular theatrical event where the cars are the actors, paired with an automotive gallery showcasing luxury cars, classics, and every type of extravagant supercar available in the world. Welcome to MPH '05.

The Theatre

Hosted by motoring icon Jeremy Clarkson, his sidekick from Top Gear TV Richard Hammond, and Fifth Gear TV personality Tiff Needell, MPH '05 is designed to show off vehicles in a way an ordinary motor show could only dream of, and with a level of interaction that is rarely afforded the viewing public. From a fire-spitting Subaru Impreza taunting the ever watchful speed camera perched atop a police vehicle, to sprints in an Ultima GTR 640 that break local speed limits in a confined space, MPH has it all.

A motoring theatre directed by John Napier, the famed Broadway director who brought us "Cats," "Miss Saigon" and "Les Miserables," the show uses a series of elaborate sequences that combine racing antics, flying cars, and smoky burnouts that sent choking fumes pouring over the audience. Periodic catwalk displays of the latest offerings from Aston Martin, Noble, TVR, Ascari, Range Rover, Porsche, Lamborghini and a slew of others were thrown in to break up the scenes. Jaguar took this opportunity to unveil the new XK coupe to a salivating UK public. PSA also chose the venue to launch the new Citroen C6; Aston Martin showed off the latest 911 competitor, the V8 Vantage; and the 641-bhp Grumpert Apollo made its first appearance.

The sequence that stole the show was the four Vauxhall Astra VXR coupes, also making their UK debuts, dancing with four perfectly choreographed JCB backhoes. Renowned precision driver Russ Swift along with his son were responsible for weaving the vehicles through the balancing act as the backhoes' operators fully extended the arms of their enormous machines. While Swift has had extensive experience turning vehicles into tight spaces (he is the stunt man Hollywood called when they remade "The Italian Job"), the 180-degree turn in a Ford Fiesta under the teetering JCBs drew gasps from the audience.

Yet another one of Britain's famous stunt drivers, Terry Grant, had the arduous task of showcasing the new driving rage from Japan—drifting. He and young racing driver Ben Collins manuevered the cars sideways around the stage in a figure eight, eventually setting the cars facing one another before lighting up the tires and switching cars. How they managed to keep the cars accelerating while they exited is a mystery. But the smoke was dense and the crowd was happy.

Clarkson and Needell took over the controls and tried their hands at the new driving style. Sliding sideways around stages was not either's forte, though Needell didn't crash the car. That accomplishment was achieved by his Top Gear companion, who whined to the audience that he had hurt his thumb in the collision with the wall. The damaged blue car was replaced with a red one and the show went on.

While these types of incidents were limited, another impromptu accident occurred when one of the "rage-buggies" (intimidating racing cars that look like they came out of a Sci-Fi thriller) fell off the bridge that doubled as a stage. The others, some with chainsaws mounted to the hood, carried on their destructive and careening wrath without caring for the sideways-laying victim. The sequence portrayed a family brought into the wrong part of town by a navigation system gone awry. Like a pack of schoolhouse bullies, the buggies came out and encircled the family's car and, in a series of doughnuts, tormented the displaced individuals.

Still another event seldom seen was car sumo wrestling. Needell and Clarkson pitted two similarly powered older vehicles (with large tires attached to the hood of each) against one another in a lighted "ring" while Hammond supplied the audience with his usual banter and rhetoric. They then proceeded to accelerate and push one another back and forth as the theater filled with colorful smoke courtesy of the latest Kumho tires. Clarkson seemed to come out the victor in that one, but through the billowing smoke it was hard to tell.

Europeans are fond of soccer (or as they call it, football), so it was only natural to have an acknowledgment of the sport at the affair. And since the festival revolved around automobiles, they had to be the players. Enter two teams of Toyota Aygos, three per. Toyota probably never intended for its new compact city car to be used in this manner, but they proved to be surprisingly resilient and easily maneuverable. Of course, there were a few near misses and a rearward fender bender that required a "yellow card" penalty to be called on the Top Gear team. After a one-minute penalty, the player returned and scored a goal, just before popping the oversized ball between offensive bumper and defensive door. The final score was 2-1 Top Gear, and the crowd went wild.

A team of Radical SR8s, a sports car that set the lap record for the fastest lap at the Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit (completing the 13-mile course in just six minutes and 55 seconds) September 28, 2005, paraded around the venue waving large white flags attached to the bodywork. Images projected onto the flags were barely decipherable, but the sound of the 2.6-liter high-revving V8 engines roaring through the venue was exhilarating.

The final act was when the 3D glasses were needed. State of the art computer animation depicted a helicopter gunship on a huge screen while a Lotus Exige 240R, piloted by Lotus test driver Gavin Kershaw, attempted to outrun missiles being launched at it. Jaw-dropping maneuvers were completed by Kershaw while loud explosions (courtesy of pyrotechnic technology) deafened and stunned the crowd.

After the show, spectators were welcomed into the paddock area where they could see the acting metal up close—gorgeous machines resting in their dressing rooms after a long night on stage, and those with visible scars where they had been wounded in battle. They looked peaceful and pleased, ready for the next evening's performance.

The Motor Show

Out on the showroom floor, attendees were able to view the latest the manufacturers had to offer. From the much-anticipated Alfa Romeo 159 to the interesting 3-wheeled, Dutch-built Vanderbrink Carver, the gallery was a slice of motorhead heaven. Regardless of interests, the abundance of vehicles from mainstream manufacturers to classics, niche, tuners and bikes was evident. If driving is the passion in your life, this was the place to be.

TVR unveiled the new Tuscan convertible at the show, and Saab and Volvo revealed their new convertibles, the 9-5 and C70 respectively. Bentley showed the 4-door version of its Continental GT, the Flying Spur; and Marcos Engineering displayed their new TSO G12.

MB Roadcars exhibited its 3-seat lightweight supercar. Made of lightweight carbon fiber, and teamed with a 500-bhp V8, it combines F1 technology and aerodynamics yet remains road legal and emissions compliant. The windows were completely blacked out; deriving the interior wasn't quite finished yet.

The Mitchilak C7 with Smart ForTwo underpinnings and mechanicals was a personal favorite, while Weismann showed off its GT and Roadster, a striking and unique design recalling Jaguar's E-type with a 3.2-liter BMW powerplant.

At the Auto Italia magazine stand, Austrian-born automobile designer Christian Hrabalek's Fenomenom Stratos was on exhibit. Homage to the Lancia Stratos, the prototype is a modern version of the classic rally car.

Tuners like Racing Green exhibited their take on a Jaguar XKR and the new Range Rover Sport, featuring a range of modifications resulting in gobs of horsepower. Gemballa also had a Cayenne GT on hand, with subtle modifications to the interior, body and wheels. An outgoing Honda Civic with a unique single seat interior, jet-inspired steering wheel and dash-mounted video screens for side- and rear-view cameras were the quintessential definition of "show car."

A few motorcycles also made their presence known. Standing out from the crowd were a three wheeled V8-powered Boss Hoss, loosely based on a Harley; the Heretic, hand made by Ecosse Moto Works in Denver, CO; and an Ultima trike from TRIKEtec.

In the classic car section the crowd feasted their eyes on automotive memorabilia spanning six decades. A Ferrari Dino, GTB/4 Daytona, and California GT complemented the Porsche Spyders, Aston Martins, Jaguars and Bentleys; all from eras long gone.

The American car culture was certainly not forgotten. Saleen had a few of their vehicles on display, including the beautiful S7. I was somewhat caught off guard when I saw a right hand drive Saleen Mustang, exhibited by an importer who explained the painstaking process involved in the conversion. The entire dash needs to be re-molded and angled appropriately in order for the transformation to appear seamless. Also on hand were a Dodge Ram SRT-10 and a Corvette C6.

A host of goodies was available for purchase at the various stands around the venue. From the worlds smallest GPS system to one-off automotive paintings, video game accessories (like a moving seat to help you experience Need for Speed), and speed trap detection devices; there was even a chance to win Gumball 3000 founder Maximillian Cooper's Ferrari 550 Maranello, dressed to look like the General Lee from the "Dukes of Hazzard."

So if you're in the UK in the month of November, be sure not to miss an automotive sensory experience second to none. Book your tickets at http://www.mphshow.co.uk/