Documentary / Action & Adventure / Reality
A 14,000 kilometer journey to re-enact one of the world’s greatest overland adventures – the most daring car race of them all.
The old vehicles, which have been shipped half way around the world, are lined up at the European quarter of old Peking where the Great Race started 100 years ago. Five cars identical to the originals, ready to re-create motoring history. There's limited back up, hardly any spares and 14,000 kilometres to drive.
With 250 kilometres of desert still to cross, the expedition stumbles on an abandoned Soviet military town called Choya. Ten thousand Russians used to live there up until 15 years ago. The old Soviet airstrip is the perfect place for a little grudge match between the Itala and Spyker, and Dutch horsepower triumphs over 'spaghetti power'. Then it's off to Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia's capital city.
The yellow De Dion has a hole in the gearbox, the Contal has a broken spring and the Itala has a broken tail shaft. The crews are just managing to limp into Irkutsk and straight into the arms of Russian Hell's Angels. And what a lucky break it turns out to be even though it means extra time in Irkutsk, time to let loose and mix it on the dance floor with some locals.
It's Day 31, the expedition is halfway through Russia, and with the traffic getting worse the further west they go, the crews opt for a back road. But Russian back roads are always a struggle, and the million dollar Spyker ends up in a ditch. There's rain. Lots of it and it's very cold. Stijnus's support crew, Rob Spyker is worried about hypothermia, but they can't stop.
Himself
Across the US, millions of project cars lay unfinished up on blocks or under tarps. Dan Brockett, Shea Seefeldt and Aaron Parker are on a mission to rescue those broken cars. And they won't just finish them, but they'll redeem them. These guys have about a week to get them across the finish line, whether it's on a track, down a dragstrip or up a mountain.
From a 1969 Chevy Nova to a race-ready farm truck, the vehicles - and their drivers - come in all shapes and sizes and have one thing in common: the need for speed. But according to the STREET OUTLAWS of Oklahoma City - home to one of the largest undercover street racing rings in America – if you’re not on “the list,” you don’t matter. The “list” contains the 10 fastest street-racing cars in Oklahoma City and they are the best of the best. Not only will these guys will do anything -ANYTHING- to get ranked on this list, they’ll do whatever it takes to STAY ranked. Street racing comes first - before family, before friends and before work. The stakes are high and these drivers will put everything on the line to get to top, where there can only be one #1.
Pimp My Ride is a TV show produced by MTV. Each episode consists of taking one car in poor condition and restoring it, as well as customizing it. The original American version was hosted by rapper Xzibit. Recently, MTV2 has begun airing episodes from Pimp My Ride UK hosted by DJ Tim Westwood, which features cars being customised in the UK, and Pimp My Ride International, featuring cars in central Europe, hosted by hip hop artists Fat Joe and Lil' Jon, as well as the related CMT series Trick My Truck.
James May takes a look at the 'peoples car'. Covering every form of cars for the masses - from the Beetle to the Kei Car, May looks at the many forms of people's car, their origins and their effect on history. Each episode covers a particular theme; these being cars from dictatorships, microcars and the dream cars we aspire to.
During the back-end of the 19th century, the genius but socially awkward engineer Sorano Appare and the wise yet cowardly samurai Isshiki Kosame find themselves drifting in the sea between Japan and America. With no money, the duo decide to enter the Trans-America Wild Race to win the prize money so they can get home. The two encounter rivals, bandits, and challenges in the wilderness as they race through America, from the starting line in Los Angeles to the finish line in New York, in the steam-powered car they built.
