Misplaced Pages

#643356

109-562: The Top Gear test track located at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey , United Kingdom was used by the BBC automotive television programme Top Gear . The track was designed by Lotus Cars as a testing facility, with many of its Formula One cars tested there. It was used to test both cars and drivers seen on the programme, mainly in Power Laps and Star in a ... Car . For the 23rd series of Top Gear

218-458: A Hawker Siddeley HS.125 G-BCUX was taking off on a test flight from runway 07. Just as aircraft became airborne, it was struck by birds. The pilots tried to land back onto the runway but the aircraft overran the runway and struck a passing car on the A281 road. The aircraft stopped in a field and was destroyed by fire. All six people inside the car died, and one crew member out of nine passengers and crew

327-490: A road hump , or undulation , and speed ramp ) is a rounded traffic calming device used to reduce vehicle speed and thus sound volume on residential streets. Humps are placed across the road to slow traffic and are often installed in a series of several humps to prevent cars from speeding before and after the hump. Common speed hump shapes are parabolic , circular, and sinusoidal . In Norway , speed humps are often placed at pedestrian crossings. Generally, speed humps have

436-595: A sleeping policeman in British English , Maltese English and Caribbean English , a judder bar in New Zealand English , and a lying-down policeman in Colombia , Dominican Republic , Hungary , Croatia , Serbia , Estonia , Lithuania , Slovenia , Bulgaria and Russia . A speed bump is a bump in a roadway with heights typically ranging between 8 and 10 centimetres (3 and 4 in). The traverse distance of

545-480: A certificate of lawful use as an aerodrome. Dunsfold appealed but the appeal was rejected in April 2012. When rejecting the appeal the inspector made reference to the old planning consent granted in 1951 for "erection, repair and flight testing of aircraft" stating that it was now agreed by all parties that "it was and is a permanent permission" and that the use at Dunsfold would revert to the 1951 consent, in 2018 on expiry of

654-565: A comprehensive report in 1973 examining vehicle behavior for a large variety of different bump geometries. At the time speed humps were not permitted on public roads but had been installed on private roads. According to a publication by the Institute of Transportation Engineers , the first speed bump in Europe was built in 1970 in the city of Delft in the Netherlands . A speed bump is also known as

763-452: A delay than humps and are typically preferred by fire departments over speed humps. In the UK, vertical deflection in highways for the purpose of traffic calming typically takes one of the following forms: The Department for Transport defines the regulations for the design and use of road humps. Speed bumps in some areas have been removed after protests by local residents. Such protests cite

872-475: A dislike of Cowell (he claimed earlier in the episode that Cowell had been at the top of the leaderboard for too long). Had this not happened, Cowell would have been knocked off the top by Grand Designs host Kevin McCloud . Clarkson has referred to the part of the board with times of 1:51 and over as the ' Thespian Zone' due to the propensity for classically trained actors to post slow times. Series 11 featured

981-407: A fast lap time with the use of a Mini Rallycross Car. This segment was used only in this series, as following Chris Evans' resignation, it was scrapped due to negative feedback. Starting from the twenty-fourth series, the basic format of "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car" was revived following the axing of the rally-cross format, though the name was changed to "Star in a Reasonably Fast Car" due to

1090-546: A level road. The system measures the speed of an oncoming vehicle by using radar. In another design, a rubber housing is fitted with a pressure relief valve that determines the speed of a vehicle. If the vehicle is traveling below the set speed, the valve opens allowing the bump to deflate as the vehicle drives over it, but it remains closed if the vehicle is traveling too fast. The valve can also be set to allow heavy vehicles, such as fire trucks , ambulances , and buses to cross at higher speeds. A speed hump (also called

1199-500: A long speed hump with a flat section in the middle. Speed tables are generally long enough for the entire wheelbase of a passenger car to rest on top. The long, flat design allows cars to pass without slowing as significantly as with speed humps or cushions. Because they slow cars less than similar devices, speed tables are often used on roads with typical residential speed limits. Speed tables can also be signed as pedestrian crossings , namely zebra crossings . A raised zebra crossing

SECTION 10

#1733084659644

1308-514: A new Reasonably Priced Car for the next series. On 27 June, during the first episode of the fifteenth series , it was revealed to be the Kia Cee'd and, as with the Chevrolet Lacetti, another open day was held to welcome the new car. Nick Robinson, Peter Jones, Al Murray, Bill Bailey, Peta Todd, Louie Spence, Johnny Vaughan and Amy Williams were among the initial drivers. Clarkson commonly refers to

1417-469: A private automobile, the increase in fuel consumption due a pass over a speed bump is responsible for fuel waste of 10ml. This multiplied with the number of vehicles going over a particular speed bump every day suggests significant annual fuel wastage for a single speed bump. Dynamic speed bumps differ from conventional speed bumps in that they only activate if a vehicle is traveling above a certain speed. Vehicles traveling below this speed will not experience

1526-502: A result the aerodrome was completed in just six months. The first squadrons based at the aerodrome were 400 from 4 December 1942, 414 from 5 December 1942 and 430 Squadrons RCAF, from 8 January 1943, equipped with Curtiss Tomahawks and North American Mustang Is . They were followed by the North American Mitchell II medium bombers initially of No. 139 Airfield RAF between 17 November 1943 and 12 May 1944 when

1635-407: A series of temporary planning consents which contain restrictions on the levels of aircraft movement and restrict flying to certain times. However, the long-term and permanent underlying use has been a matter of considerable dispute between the owners and the council. In April 2011, Dunsfold Park claimed that the use of the site for aviation was entirely unrestricted on the grounds that the use predated

1744-405: A slight change to the format, with two 'Stars' per episode instead of the previous one (although there had been a couple of editions in previous series' with more than one guest). Each of the pair are professionally associated with their fellow guest, usually both either act in or present the same TV show. Unlike previous episodes where two stars have appeared, the stars drove individual laps without

1853-417: A small cut across the bump allows those vehicles to traverse without impediment. Each of these devices can be made from a variety of materials, including asphalt , concrete , recycled plastic , metal , or vulcanized rubber . Several trade-offs must be made when selecting the material for a new speed cushion. Traditionally most vertical deflection devices have been constructed of asphalt or concrete. Due to

1962-543: A speed bump is typically less than or near to 0.3 m (1 ft); contrasting with the wider speed humps, which typically have a traverse distance of 3.0 to 4.3 m (10 to 14 ft). Speed bumps are used in parking lots and on small-neighborhood roads where space and cost are limited. They are being replaced by Speed Humps (discussed in this Misplaced Pages section) in higher-traffic areas where speed bumps would be ineffective because bumps are mere blips to law-breaking speeders, while law-abiding drivers must slow to far below

2071-416: A speed limit of 20 miles per hour (32 km/h; 8.9 m/s) and fitted with road humps, a petrol driven car produced 64 per cent more nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) than in a similar 20 miles per hour (32 km/h; 8.9 m/s) street fitted with road cushions. It also produced 47 per cent more particulate matter (PM) and nearly 60 per cent more carbon monoxide (CO) emissions. Another study estimated that, for

2180-498: A surprise to the audience and the viewing public, and when Nigel Mansell came on the show, it was covered up in magazines and on the internet by saying that the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car would be Alan Titchmarsh . Since Mansell's appearance the Liana has remained in use as a vehicle reserved for Formula 1 drivers. For some of the laps more than one person has been present in the car. This

2289-459: A taper edge near the curb to allow a gap for drainage. Speed humps are used in locations where low speeds are desired and suitable for the surrounding traffic environment. Speed humps are typically placed on residential roads and are not used on major roads, bus routes, or primary emergency response routes. Placement is generally mid-block between intersections. Speed humps typically limit vehicle speeds to about 25–30 km/h (15–20 mph) at

SECTION 20

#1733084659644

2398-451: A three-second time penalty, but after Clarkson consulted the audience, it was decided to let the time stand, which her Doctor Who co-star, David Tennant , tried to overturn on 23 December 2007 show, at the end of the following series. Clarkson remarked that if Tennant had worn a see through top (like Piper for her interview), he "would have been faster than Simon Cowell". In the 11 November 2007 episode, Simon Cowell retook his status as

2507-472: A time of 1:47.70 in melted snow and standing water. Given the rivalry Oliver felt towards fellow celebrity chef, and the lapboard leader, Gordon Ramsay , Oliver asked that the 4-second allowance normally granted for wet laps be used to put him at the top of the leaderboard "just for a day". Actress Billie Piper posted a time of 1:48.3 but was deemed by The Stig to have failed to complete a lap properly, as she failed to negotiate some corners. The Stig suggested

2616-551: A time, Clarkson noted that the Liana would be pulled out for use by Formula 1 drivers in the future. The original 'black' Stig and the first 'white' Stig have done laps around the track in the Suzuki Liana. Both had their times removed from the leaderboard upon their departure. The first Stig was Perry McCarthy , who once test drove for the Williams F1 team, and drove for the ill-fated Andrea Moda Formula One team. The second Stig

2725-410: A track width of 1,300–1,500 millimetres (50–59 in). Many emergency vehicles are also equipped with dual tires on their rear axles. The additional tires limit track width to as narrow as 1,200 millimetres (48 in), meaning speed cushions may not be suitable for their intended use. A speed table (also called a bus-friendly hump , flat top hump , or raised pedestrian crossing ) is designed as

2834-644: A traverse distance of about 3.7 to 4.3 m (12 to 14 ft) and span the width of the road. The height of each hump ranges from 8 to 10 cm (3 to 4 in). The traverse distance and height of each hump determines the speed at which traffic will travel over the devices. Shorter traverse lengths and greater heights slow cars most drastically. When placed in a series 110–170 m (350–550 ft) apart, humps will reduce 85th percentile speeds by 13–16 km/h (8–10 mph). Warning signs should be used to notify approaching motorists of upcoming humps. Humps generally have pavement markings to enhance visibility and

2943-549: Is an unlicensed airfield in Surrey , England, near the village of Cranleigh . It extends across land in the villages of Dunsfold and Alfold . It was built by the Canadian Army and civilian contractors as a Class A bomber airfield for Army Co-operation Command . It was commanded by the Royal Canadian Air Force from 1942 to 1944 and was known as Royal Canadian Air Force Station Dunsfold . Under RAF control it

3052-403: Is approximately 1.75 miles (2.82 km) long. It was considered to be an equaliser for cars since, according to Richard Hammond , both 0–60 miles per hour (0–96.6 km/h) times and top speed are totally meaningless. The track also incorporated a drag strip ; although this was not used for timed segments, it did feature in some challenges and other features on the show. The course started on

3161-522: Is commonly known for his work on the Compton Effect with X-rays . He also invented what he called "traffic control bumps", the basic design for the speed hump, in 1953. Compton began designs on the speed bump after noticing the speed at which motorists passed Brookings Hall at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri , where he was chancellor . The British Transport and Road Research Laboratory published

3270-634: Is known that in the actual game there are options to race on the full track, race both of the rings in separate races and race on Top Gear ' s drag race mile. There is also an achievement for completing a lap of the Top Gear Test Track in the Kia Cee'd fittingly named "Star in a reasonably priced car". Forza Motorsport 4 's sequel, Forza Motorsport 5 , also features the Top Gear test track. The track layouts from Forza Motorsport 4 return, with

3379-511: Is referred to as a wombat crossing in Australia. Other road features may be included, such as junctions , or even mini-roundabouts . Speed tables are used with zebra crossings repeatedly in Leighton Buzzard . Typical speeds resulting from 7-metre (22 ft) speed tables are 32–48 kilometres per hour (20–30 mph). One sample of 8 sites found a 45% decrease in accidents per year with

Top Gear test track - Misplaced Pages Continue

3488-575: Is sometimes controversial—as they can increase traffic noise, may damage vehicles if traversed at too great a speed (despite that being the point), and slow emergency vehicles. Poorly-designed speed bumps that stand too tall or with too-sharp an angle can be disruptive for drivers, and may be difficult to navigate for vehicles with low ground clearance , even at very low speeds. Many sports cars have this problem with such speed bumps. Speed bumps can also pose serious hazards to motorcyclists and bicyclists if they are not clearly visible, though in some cases

3597-662: Is their effect on emergency vehicles . Response time is slowed by 3–5 seconds per hump for fire trucks and fire engines and up to 10 seconds for ambulances with patients on board. Speed humps are thus usually not placed on primary response routes. Speed cushions may be placed on these routes instead. Occasionally, there is an increase in traffic noise from braking and acceleration of vehicles on streets with speed humps, particularly from buses and trucks. Other effects include increased fuel consumption and emissions as well as increased wear and tear on brakes, engine and suspension components. Damage caused by snow plows during

3706-411: Is typical to leave space between the bump and either edge of an enclosed road (i.e. with curbs and gutters) to allow for drainage. Spaces on either side may also allow more expedient passage for emergency vehicles, though effectiveness will depend on the type of vehicle and specific road design. Local authorities have cited disadvantages to speed bumps: Other sources argue that speed bumps: In 2003,

3815-517: The BAe Sea Harrier production finished in 1998 and the Harrier 2+ production was moved to Brough in 2000. The gate guardian aircraft – Hawker P.1127 XP984 – was moved to Brooklands Museum on long-term loan. In 2002, BAE Systems (British Aerospace's successor) sold Dunsfold Aerodrome to The Rutland Group, which formed Dunsfold Park Ltd. From mid-2002 until 2020 the BBC motoring show Top Gear

3924-629: The Berlin Airlift . Skyways also refurbished ex-RAF Spitfires and Hawker Hurricanes for the Portuguese Air Force . The following units were here at some point: In 1950, The Hawker Aircraft Company acquired the lease of the site. Dunsfold became internationally known for development of the Hunter jet fighter; limited numbers of Sea Hawks were also produced and Sea Furies were refurbished. Airwork Ltd leased two hangars from 1953 to 1958 for

4033-449: The Hawk trainer aircraft was at Dunsfold. Hawker Siddeley became part of British Aerospace in 1977. On 2 July 1986, British Aerospace's deputy chief test pilot Jim Hawkins was killed at Dunsfold when his developmental Hawk 200 crashed. On 24 June 1999, British Aerospace announced the closure of Dunsfold as part of a restructuring; Hawk final assembly had been transferred to Warton in 1988,

4142-600: The South East England Regional Assembly and the South East England Development Agency . It received support from Age Concern Waverley, Guildford Labour Party, Farnham Labour Party, Cranleigh Labour Party and the former Lib Dem MP for Guildford, Sue Doughty . It also received support from some environmentalists, including leading national authorities on sustainable living such as Professor Roland Clift and from national Friends of

4251-509: The Top Gear television programme. Ultima say that their motive for running a non-televised lap was that they felt that the GTR was being specifically ignored by the producers of Top Gear . "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car" was a recurring segment on Top Gear . During most programmes, a celebrity (usually, but not exclusively of British fame) is interviewed by Jeremy Clarkson. Discussion is normally amusing, and focuses on car-related matters, such as

4360-735: The centre line during an emergency. Speed cushions have several distinct advantages over similar traffic calming devices. Many municipalities are challenged by opposition to speed humps and speed tables since they slow down emergency vehicles and buses. Speed cushions address this problem by allowing larger vehicles to straddle the cushion without slowing down. This is also an advantage for buses , as lower floor vehicles can sometimes ground out on traditional humps. Speed cushions are often less costly than speed humps or tables, and most cities report them to be just as effective. In some jurisdictions, narrower speed cushions are placed at more frequent intervals to allow ambulances to pass while driving over

4469-527: The 'Well Spoken Man' after failing to recognise him), comedians Alan Davies and Jimmy Carr , rock stars Rick Wakeman and Justin Hawkins , footballer Les Ferdinand , and actor Trevor Eve who topped the time at 1 minute 47.0 seconds. Jimmy Carr , who held second place in the Liana behind Ellen MacArthur , spun off while doing his timed lap and got the second slowest time ever around the track at 2 minutes, 8.91 seconds. On 28 January 2007, Jamie Oliver posted

Top Gear test track - Misplaced Pages Continue

4578-496: The Earth , for its innovative approach and contribution to sustainable development. Friends of the Earth also supported the development on the basis that re-development as an eco-settlement would remove the threat of aviation expansion at Dunsfold once and for all. However, the proposal was refused planning permission by the local borough council (Waverley) and in 2009 rejected on appeal by the then secretary of state John Denham . Although

4687-497: The Kia phonetically as the "Cee-apostrophe-d". Sophie Raworth , Bill Turnbull and Fiona Bruce all did the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car for Children in Need 2012 . In the first episode of series 20, Clarkson, Hammond and May revealed their new Reasonably Priced Car: a Vauxhall Astra 1.6 Tech Line. In similar fashion to earlier "new starts", an open day was held for multiple stars to drive

4796-409: The Liana is Daniel Ricciardo with 1:42.2. The Liana endured considerable abuse from the stars while undertaking their laps. In one incident, actor Michael Gambon clipped the final corner, taking the car onto two wheels. It was done in such a spectacular fashion that the corner was named "Gambon Corner". When Lionel Richie drove the Liana, one of the front wheels fell off, invoking Clarkson to coin

4905-532: The Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance in 2009. Dunsfold Park Ltd also organises a drive-in cinema, Dunsfold Drive-In, over the Easter bank holiday as well as a popular and classical concert, Strings & Wings. On 22 October 2020, a second 747, Boeing 747-400 G-CIVW, joined G-BDXJ, to be situated at Dunsfold for use as a filming location and for specialist training. It previously belonged to British Airways and arrived at

5014-546: The Top Gear race track in the Suzuki Liana. Starting with the eighth series the Liana was replaced by a Chevrolet Lacetti and a new blank scoreboard. The format was changed so that each star would have five practice laps, and then a final timed lap, with no allowance being given for mishaps. As a starter for the new car and format, an open day was held for any celebrity who wanted to take part. Seven stars recorded times that day: James Hewitt (who Jeremy and Richard referred to as

5123-399: The aerodrome from Cardiff Airport . On 5 December 2020, a third 747, G-BNLY, was moved from Cardiff to Dunsfold, for use as a filming location and trainer aircraft. This airframe is one of three Retrojet 747s previously used by BA, wearing the 1980's - 1997 Landor Associates livery, and has the name City of Swansea . Dunsfold Park's existing lawful use is in part as an aerodrome under

5232-404: The back, a homage to Indian drivers. In its service, the Liana covered 1,600 laps of the circuit; went through 400 tyres; its brakes were changed 100 times; and it required six new clutches, two new hubs, driveshafts, wishbones, struts and gear linkages and a replacement wing mirror. In July 2005, Formula One driver Damon Hill appeared on the show for the first time as the star. This was kept

5341-455: The board with a lap time of 1:42.2. Ricciardo took the tighter line through the first corner, claiming that it covered less distance. For series 23, "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car" was renamed as "Star in a Rally-Cross Car" segment, with the track expanded to include a " Rallycross " route, featuring the addition of a jump and a water splash obstacle, but retaining the use of some of the corners. Two celebrities were invited to partake in setting

5450-631: The car driven by Top Gear was a prototype that did not feature the adjustable ride height found on the production model. Because The Stig set his time in the non-adjustable prototype and the production version has not been driven around the track, the Caparo's time remains ineligible for the Power Lap board. Occasionally attempts at the Power Lap record are made without the support of the BBC. The following laps of Dunsfold were recorded, filmed and promoted independently of

5559-457: The car. Following the abrupt end of Series 22 as a result of Clarkson's dismissal from the show, the Astra was returned to Vauxhall before being auctioned off for charity on 27 December 2015 for £17,800. All Formula One drivers were put into their own list with regard to lap times because of their exceptional skill level. When the Liana was pulled out from retirement to allow Jenson Button to make

SECTION 50

#1733084659644

5668-405: The cars, mainly because wet or otherwise poor weather conditions (see time deductions below) can negatively affect lap times. Due to the size of the list, only the top 20 are shown. See List of Top Gear test track Power Lap Times for the full list. The second most powerful production car ever featured on Top Gear , the 1001 PS (987 bhp; 736 kW) Bugatti Veyron , was taken around

5777-488: The celebrity's car history. Then Clarkson and the studio audience watch the guest's fastest lap on the Top Gear test track, after which Clarkson puts the celebrity's time on the time board. For the first seven series the car driven for lap times was a Suzuki Liana . When first introduced, the car was worth £9995. The car used is stock except for a roll cage and racing seats added as safety measures. Each guest practises with The Stig before making several attempts to complete

5886-498: The centre line. Large trucks are also not slowed down. Development of speed cushions has focused primarily on the European context. European vehicles typically have a narrower track width than American vehicles, meaning their left and right wheels are closer together. Emergency vehicles still feature a wide track width, and the difference between them makes speed cushions more applicable. In North America, however, consumer vehicles have

5995-501: The chairman of the London Ambulance Service, Sigurd Reinton claimed that delays caused by speed bumps were responsible for up to 500 avoidable deaths from cardiac arrest each year. He later denied the statement. In Sweden, an evaluation of spinal stress in bus drivers against ISO 2631-5 required on health grounds that: Speed bumps can also have adverse environmental impact. A study found that in one north London street with

6104-552: The chassis. Next was "Hammerhead", a left-then-right corner, which again highlighted understeer and oversteer. The track came to a right-hand curve, then the course turned right through the flat-out section called the "Follow Through" (it resembles turns 11 and 12 of the Albert Park Circuit ). After the left hand "Bentley Bend" named after the person who first "discovered" Jeremy Clarkson and former Top Gear presenter, Jon Bentley , but commonly referred to simply as "the tyres",

6213-572: The continent in the autumn of 1944, 83 Group Support Unit arrived with Spitfires , Typhoons and Tempests on 22 February 1945 when became 83 Group Disbandment Centre on 1 August 1945. After the war the airfield was used by the RAF to repatriate prisoners of war . Dunsfold was declared inactive by the RAF in 1946 but was then used by Skyways Ltd , with Avro York , Avro Lancastrian , Douglas C-54 Skymaster , de Havilland Dragon Rapide and de Havilland Dove aircraft. Skyways' operations included support of

6322-437: The course came to " Bacharach Bend", which, after the first series, was referred to as the "Penultimate Corner" or the "Second-to-last Corner" and is often regarded as one of the most challenging on the course. The final turn before the finish line was "Gambon" in honour of Sir Michael Gambon , who completed the turn on two wheels in episode 8 of Series 1 . Prior to this, the corner was known as " Carpenters Corner". The track

6431-456: The discomfort of a conventional speed bump. Dynamic speed bumps may allow the passage of emergency vehicles at higher speeds. The Actibump system, successfully used in Sweden, is based on powered equipment integrated into the road surface, which operates a platform that is lowered a few centimeters when a speeding vehicle approaches. Any vehicle approaching at or under the speed limit will pass on

6540-654: The exception of the drag race mile, which has been removed. Subsequent games in the series, Forza Motorsport 6 and Forza Motorsport 7 , also feature the Top Gear Test Track, with the full track and both separated rings. In these versions, the rings are able to be raced in reverse layout as well, and in both dry and wet conditions. The track also appears in the mobile game Top Gear – Extreme Parking , and in Automation – The Car Company Tycoon Game as "Airport Track" for players to test their cars on. Dunsfold Aerodrome Dunsfold Aerodrome (former ICAO code EGTD )

6649-572: The existing Rolls-Royce engines and replacement with twin mount engines. The aircraft has also featured in Primeval , the 2009 BBC production of The Day of the Triffids , RED 2 , and Golda . Speed bump The use of vertical deflection devices is widespread around the world, and they are most commonly used to enforce a speed limit under 40 km/h (25 mph). Although speed bumps are effective in keeping vehicle speeds down, their use

SECTION 60

#1733084659644

6758-482: The existing temporary consents. In April 2014, Lord Justice Sullivan , at the High Court , said the 1951 permission for "flight testing" did not amount to consent for unrestricted flying. In 2006, the owners of Dunsfold Aerodrome proposed the construction of a new settlement with 2,600 homes on the site, a school, health services, public transport and road links to the A281, and an expanded business district. The project

6867-451: The grass. Christopher Eccleston was the only celebrity to use a Liana with an automatic transmission, because a hesitant Eccleston admitted he was "only qualified to drive an automatic." To accommodate his needs, Top Gear succeeded in borrowing an automatic Liana, of which only 40 existed in the UK. As a reference to his role in Doctor Who , the automatic Liana was shown materialising onto

6976-510: The holder of the fastest lap with a time of 1:45.90. According to Clarkson, the cameramen said they had never seen such consistency in the practice laps. However, Cowell was knocked off the top spot in Series 11 by Jay Kay , who now holds the fastest time in the Lacetti, although Clarkson selected the fastest of Jay Kay's times rather than the last run, which was slower than Cowell's time, seemingly due to

7085-621: The hump and 40–50 km/h (25–30 mph) at the midpoint between humps, depending on spacing. Studies show an average 18% reduction in traffic volume and an average 13% reduction in collisions. While similar to speed bumps, humps are less aggressive than speed bumps at low speeds. Humps are often used on streets, while bumps are used more in parking lots. While speed bumps generally slow cars to 10–15 km/h (5–10 mph), humps slow cars to 25–30 km/h (15–20 mph). The narrow traverse distance of speed bumps often allows vehicles to pass over them at high speed with only mild disturbance to

7194-573: The humps. Meanwhile, they allow fire engines (and other large vehicles) with wider axles to straddle the cushions without slowing down. Wider, American-style ambulances might also be able to straddle speed cushions. However, in Europe and Australia, where vehicles like the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter are used most frequently as ambulances, there is no advantage. In these jurisdictions, narrower speed cushions are sometimes placed between lanes to allow ambulances to pass unobstructed while driving over

7303-505: The introduction of the planning acts or alternatively that a 60-year-old planning consent dating from 1951 allowed the unrestricted use of the aerodrome for aviation. The claim led to objections from parties such as all the local parish councils and bodies such as the Council to Protect Rural England and Friends of the Earth, and concern was expressed by local MPs. In June 2011, Waverley Borough Council refused Dunsfold Park Ltd's application for

7412-712: The list are still timed. Whenever a non-qualifying vehicle was raced, the time was compared to the official Power Laps but then removed from the board, for example—the Ferrari FXX owned by Michael Schumacher (1:10.7) was taken off the board after because it both failed to meet road legal standards and used slick tyres . All laps were timed with the car's manufacturer-provided adjustable settings configured for maximum performance—all adjustable suspensions being set at their most efficient, all gear shift maps at their most aggressive, and driving aids such as traction control deactivated. Lap times did not offer complete comparisons between

7521-422: The other present in the car. On 28 March 2010, Richard Hammond attended the demolition of the two 550 ft chimneys at Lafarge Cement's Northfleet Works. On the first episode of Series 15, it was shown that the Lacetti was partially crushed by placing it in the path of one of the falling chimneys. In the last episode of the fourteenth series of the show, Clarkson revealed that they were thinking about getting

7630-433: The other traffic on the road at the time. Speed cushions are a type of speed hump installation designed to alleviate the negative impacts that vertical deflections have on emergency vehicle response times. Speed cushions installations are typically made up of several small speed humps installed across the width of the road with spaces between them. They force normal cars to slow down as they ride with one or both wheels over

7739-402: The owner says it still hopes to persuade the authorities that eco-settlement remains the best long-term future for the site, it says it is now concentrating on expanding and promoting the underlying aviation potential of the aerodrome, which is still in operational use. In December 2016, planning permission was granted for 1,800 homes to be built on the current site of the aerodrome. As part of

7848-407: The passenger seat in a time of 2 minutes 2 seconds, which was 1.4 seconds quicker than Terry Wogan, and 4 seconds faster than Richard Whiteley. The fastest non-professional driver was Ellen MacArthur . Unlike most contenders she made no comments to the camera during her lap. She completed the lap in 1 minute 46.7 seconds, beating Jimmy Carr by 0.2 seconds. The current fastest professional driver in

7957-414: The perimeter road outside the Top Gear studio. The first bend was a fast right-left kink named " Crooner Curves." " Willson Bend" was the first proper turn on the track and the first corner usually seen when The Stig is lapping a car. " Chicago ", a long right-hand around a tyre wall onto the main runway, was designed by Lotus as a steady state corner , designed to highlight understeer or oversteer of

8066-419: The proposal at Dunsfold was for only 2,600 houses whereas the minimum size for an eco-town was 5,000. The assessment also said that the public transport offering needed further work. In May 2008, Dunsfold Park Limited applied to Waverley Borough Council for planning consent for the eco-settlement. It was opposed by local residents, Surrey County Council , four borough councils and 13 parish councils as well as

8175-493: The racing track, with a TARDIS materialisation sound effect played over it. The Liana has also been modified on several occasions. David Soul's Liana featured a red police light and a white stripe in reference to his Starsky and Hutch role. Johnny Vegas was provided with L-plates as he had not passed his driving test at the time. When Justin Hawkins came on the show, the Liana he drove had flame decals pasted on it. Actor Sanjeev Bhaskar had an ornate tissue box placed in

8284-472: The redevelopment, it is proposed that the track and associated aerodrome infrastructure such as the runway drag strip be demolished. A memorial, funded by public subscription, was erected outside the nearby Alfold Barn pub (on the A281 road between Guildford and Horsham ). The memorial and its unveiling on 20 July 1992, exactly 50 years to the day after the first aircraft (an RCAF Tiger Moth ) landed at Dunsfold,

8393-470: The refurbishment of North American F-86 Sabres and Supermarine Attackers . In October 1960, the then Hawker Siddeley flight tested its Hawker P.1127 prototype, the development aircraft that led to the Hawker Siddeley Harrier , the first VTOL jet fighter bomber. Folland Gnat test flying and production moved to Dunsfold from Chilbolton, Hampshire, in 1961. Final assembly of the Harrier and

8502-455: The rigidity and durability of these materials, they have more permanence and are more effective at slowing traffic. However, they can be difficult to shape and form into consistent forms and precise dimensions. Rubber products are pre-shaped to standard sizes to meet industry standards. Preformed rubber products are typically bolted down, making them easier to install or remove. Temporary bolt-down installations can be ideal for planners in testing

8611-519: The road level: "This scheme of stopping automobile speeding has been discussed by different municipalities, but Chatham is the first place to put it in practice". The average automobile's top speed at the time was around 50 km/h (30 mph), but braking was poor by modern standards. Arthur Holly Compton was a physicist and winner of the Nobel Prize in physics in 1927 for his discoveries resulting in major changes in electromagnetic theory . He

8720-409: The runway. Cars acquired during challenges often posted lap times (driven by either one of the presenters or The Stig) around the track against either a target time or a time set by The Stig in another vehicle. During many challenges, the track was used in more unorthodox fashions — for instance, serving as a makeshift motorway lane during a challenge testing tailgating prowess with vans. Power Laps

8829-419: The speed limit to avoid large vehicle accelerations and displacements. These are the counter-productive results produced by unavoidable dynamic vehicle response. (See https://lindberglce.com/tech/Worst_Roads.PDF ). Because of these counter-productive responses, speed bumps traversals of at least 2 m (about 5 ft.) with smooth approach and exit should be used wherever possible. Speed bumps vary in length, but it

8938-438: The term "pulling a Lionel". Trevor Eve also lost a wheel. The former British transport minister Stephen Ladyman added further injury to the Liana by denting the boot when he lost control during practice and slid backwards into a tyre wall. David Soul destroyed the gearbox of two Lianas during his time on the show due to his rough driving style. Patrick Kielty broke the Liana's front suspension during series 4 when he drove on

9047-444: The test track for the realistic PC racing simulation rFactor , produced with permission from Dunsfold park. The track has also been produced as an add-on for World Racing 2 . and the realistic racing simulator Assetto Corsa . Top Gear have also added a basic version of the test track on the games section of their own website, with the title of "Be a star in our reasonably priced car". A Top Gear mobile phone game also features

9156-433: The test track in the fastest time. The guest does not learn their time until the interview. Practice laps, crashes and the drivers' facial expressions are also shown during the segment. The two slowest laps on the Liana celebrity list are held by Terry Wogan and Richard Whiteley , both of whom were beaten by Billy Baxter , a blind Bosnian war veteran. He guided the Liana through the track under direction from Clarkson in

9265-522: The tighter line. Clarkson also mentioned on this episode that the current Stig has yet to do a lap of the track in the Liana, therefore there is currently no time on the board for the Stig. On 17 February 2013, Lewis Hamilton returned to do a dry lap and lowered the F1 Drivers record by 1.1s to 1:42.9. This was in the wake of his move to Mercedes AMG for the 2013 season. On 8 February 2015, Daniel Ricciardo topped

9374-465: The track by The Stig in Series 12, Episode 4, after 3 years of waiting. However, it disappointed the team by only managing fifth place on the Power Board (currently 26th), an unexpectedly low position ultimately attributed to the car's kerb weight of 1,888 kg (4,162 lb), more than any of the four faster cars. In Series 15 Episode 5 however, the Stig took the 1,200 PS Super Sport version around

9483-510: The track in 1:16.8, thus setting a new lap record. For the 1:17.6 lap, the Koenigsegg CCX was fitted with an optional rear spoiler to provide downforce after The Stig spun the unmodified version off the track. The Stig allegedly recommended this modification, correctly predicting that the car would then be the fastest ever round the track, although Koenigsegg stated that the improvement was due to other adjustments. A "non-qualifying" vehicle

9592-424: The track was expanded with a rallycross section for the "Star in a Rallycross Car" segment, but it was abandoned at the end of series 23. In December 2016 planning permission was granted for 1,800 homes to be built on the current site of the aerodrome. As part of the redevelopment, it was proposed that the track (and associated aerodrome infrastructure such as the runway drag strip) was to be demolished. The track

9701-512: The track. The game Gran Turismo 5 , developed by Polyphony Digital features a fully rendered version of the Top Gear track. Players have the ability to drive and race on the track. The track also appeared in Forza Motorsport 4 ; the Top Gear logo appeared in a trailer for the game on the Top Gear website. Cars were shown racing in the follow-through section during the E3 2011 trailer. It

9810-451: The unit became No. 139 (Bomber) Wing RAF between 12 May and 16 October 1944, consisting of 98 between 18 August 1943 and 18 October 1944 and 180 Squadrons RAF initially between 18 August 1943 and 12 April 1944 then between 26 April and 18 October 1944, and 320 Squadron initially between 18 February and 6 May 1944 then between 18 May and 18 October 1944 (formed from Dutch Naval Aviation Service personnel). When 139 Wing departed for

9919-497: The use and positioning of speed bumps before implementing them in a larger project. Bolt-down products can also be removed or relocated during winter snow periods—where speed bumps are easily concealed and may be damaged by snowplows. On June 7, 1906, The New York Times reported on an early implementation of what might be considered speed bumps in Chatham, New Jersey , which planned to raise its crosswalks five inches (13 cm) above

10028-499: The use of a more powerful Toyota GT86 . Both The Stig and Chris Harris instruct the celebrities on driving the car around the track. Footage of several celebrities who drove the car before the first episode of the twenty-fourth series, was aired on spin-off programme Extra Gear . The segment was dropped in Series 29 to maintain social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic , and did not return in later series. On 24 October 2007, it

10137-407: The use of speed tables. Wombat crossings may reduce casualties by 63%. Speed tables are effective in calming traffic on streets where the speed limit needs to be maintained rather than slowing cars more significantly. Traffic speed, volumes, and accidents have been shown to decrease with the use of tables. Although not as responsive to emergency vehicles as speed cushions, speed tables cause less of

10246-416: The wheels and suspension, and hardly affecting the vehicle cab and its occupants. The relatively long slopes of speed humps are less disruptive at low–moderate speeds, but they create a greater, more sustained vertical deflection; at higher speeds, a more sustained deflection is less-absorbed by vehicle suspensions and has a greater effect on the vehicle as a whole. One problematic aspect of speed humps

10355-406: The winter months is an additional concern. Heavy sedans , trucks , and SUVs are less affected by speed humps, and may not have to slow down as dramatically. Thin cuts are sometimes placed in the middle of a hump in order to allow bicycle traffic to pass through. However, forcing cyclists to take a particular line on the road compromises their ability to position themselves safely according to

10464-430: Was Ben Collins ; in the first episode of Series 13 the Stig was "revealed" to be Michael Schumacher, although this was a joke in the vein of the rest of his appearance on the show. On 6 July 2011, Sebastian Vettel managed to top the board with a time of 1:44.0. Vettel's lap was the first time someone taking a 'Formula One drivers' line through the first corner was able to top The Stig's time, as Rubens Barrichello took

10573-678: Was RAF Dunsfold . Post-war it was used by Hawker Siddeley and then its successor British Aerospace . From 2002 to 2020, it was used as the main site of the BBC show Top Gear . Canadian engineers were charged with the construction of the aerodrome. Such projects had previously taken up to a year to complete and this site was complicated by the two hundred acres of woodland that first had to be cleared. The Canadian sappers had access to large-scale earth moving equipment from North America obtained under Lend-Lease arrangements. The Canadians also used pipe-pushing apparatus to place explosives under trees thereby facilitating their rapid removal. As

10682-458: Was a segment of the programme in which The Stig completed a lap around the track in a reviewed car to compare its performance to previous contenders. To be eligible to appear on the Power Lap Times board, a vehicle must have been a road-legal production car and must have had sufficient ride height to clear a standard speed bump , although occasionally vehicles that do not appear to qualify for

10791-500: Was announced that players of the PlayStation 3 game, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue , would be able to download episodes of Top Gear within the game, and that the test track would be one of the included circuits in the full game ( Gran Turismo 5 ). A very basic yet driveable version of the track appeared around 2003 for the PC racing simulation Grand Prix Legends . There is also a version of

10900-445: Was designed to be an exemplar of green and sustainable living . In late 2007, Dunsfold Park Ltd. applied to have its plans for the new town selected as one of the then Labour government's proposed eco-towns. On 3 April 2008 Dunsfold Park was one of over 40 proposals denied eco-town status by the then housing minister Caroline Flint . The government's summary assessment said that the bid was too small in terms of house numbers, because

11009-472: Was injured. On 2 July 1986, British Aerospace's deputy chief test pilot Jim Hawkins was killed at Dunsfold when his developmental Hawk 200 ZG200 crashed into farmland just beyond the road outside the airfield's southern boundary. On 5 June 1998, a Hawker Hunter (G-HHUN) crashed at Dunsfold prior to that weekend's airshow. The pilot, John Davies, was killed. A Boeing 747-200 which served with British Airways until 2002 as City of Birmingham , G-BDXJ,

11118-551: Was on a former Royal Canadian Air Force airbase constructed during the Second World War and later used by British Aerospace (and its predecessors) as a manufacturing and test facility. The track's main route, marked by painted lines and simple structures such as stacks of tyres, was designed by test drivers from Lotus . The layout of the track was designed to put the car through various conditions, ranging from provoking understeer to testing brake balance and tyres. The track

11227-421: Was one that did not meet the requirements to remain on the board; that is, one that was not a "road car", which according to Top Gear meant being: available to buy, fully road-legal (lights, indicators, registration, profile tyres, etc.), and street-worthy (i.e. able to negotiate a speed bump ). The Caparo, Radical, and Westfield are road-legal in the UK but are unable to clear a speed bump. According to Caparo,

11336-537: Was organised by the Dunsfold Society. A Tiger Moth and Lockheed P-3 Orion (of present-day 320 Sqn RDNAS) performed fly-pasts. A museum housing a collection of Second World War Dunsfold memorabilia is maintained on site (open on Wednesdays to the public) by volunteers; the museum was started by the late Reg Day who served with 98 Sqn RAF at Dunsfold in 1943–44. On January 7, 1944, two RAF bombers collided near Dunsfold and were brought down. On 20 November 1975,

11445-500: Was purchased by Aces High Limited, a company specialising in supplying aircraft for television and film work, and transferred to Dunsfold. It was modified and used for filming for the 2006 James Bond film Casino Royale . Some of the scenes set at Miami International Airport were filmed at Dunsfold. The aircraft has also appeared in the background of numerous Science in Action and Top Gear episodes and directly in an episode where it

11554-573: Was recorded at the park using a hangar as a studio and parts of the runways and taxiways of the aerodrome as the test track . The track is also used to host cycle races in the summer months as part of a closed circuit series in the Surrey Cycle Racing League. From 2005 to 2019, Dunsfold Park was home to Wings and Wheels , an annual air and motor show typically held in late August. The airshow attracted over 25,000 visitors and raised over £80,000 for charities including Help for Heroes and

11663-423: Was the case for Clarkson's run when he had both Hammond and Jason Dawe in the car. Trinny and Susannah were both in the car for each other's runs. Denise Van Outen was in the car when Johnny Vaughan did his lap; Van Outen never did a lap driving the car. Clarkson was also present as a navigator for Billy Baxter's laps. From 2024, Ex-Stig Ben Collins started taking out various automotive YouTubers to race on

11772-460: Was towed by a JCB Fastrac tractor, and in many other programmes and commercials. It was also towed by a Volkswagen Touareg in a 2006 Fifth Gear episode, the same year that the modified aircraft and Dunsfold Airfield were featured in a television advertisement filmed for the Volkswagen Touareg , demonstrating the vehicle's towing ability. Modifications to the aircraft include the removal of

11881-475: Was used routinely for the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car and Power Laps segments on Top Gear . It also served myriad roles in other portions of the programme, especially in testing cars and in challenges. When testing cars, they were often driven around the airfield by the presenters. Afterwards, they were taken around the test track by The Stig to set a lap time. Occasionally, drag races and speed tests were held on

#643356