James Martin's Mille Miglia

[James]

I agree with all chaz has said with regards to his attitude in my experience people with money are arogant and egotistical and expect the world to revolve around them.

This is with the very rare exeption but there are a few! It's a shame really but money does change people.

I was disapponted in the show I would have prefered it if the show had focused on the event with focus on one entrant instead of the show being all about one entrant but this is most probably because of the financial debt.

I did think he was a t**t for not wanting to take his girl freind and them replacing here with another blond! I think this gives an insight into his ego more than anything else.

[jeff oakley]

The programe was okay but it didn't paint him in the best light at all. From what I have seen and read in the past he is a nice guy who is a true petrol head, but lets not foget he is wealthy beyond most of our dreams and has a lifestyle we would like. I have done okay but I couldn't get the money from anywhere he did to buy and rebuild the car, although it didn't look too bad when it arrived.

The petrolheads amongst us wanted the cars to be the star but he is a celebrity which would have drawn in just as many viewers who have no interst in cars, hence the programe was about him and his race not about the race.

He will get back in again next year and we will see a sequal probably with different girls but who can blame hime for that.

And to think we used to laugh at lads who wanted to do cooking instead of metal work.

[CedricTheBrave]

I can't believe the spanner man took so long to realise it was borked unless that padded that out as well

sounded shot when they first pulled over

[juansolo]

My view is that the programme makers didn't have a clue about the subject matter and instead made a 'minor celebrity reality show'. I say minor because like all the others, I'd never heard of the bloke before the show. Anyhow it was all false drama and deadlines as they always are to try and make it interesting. Which is a shame as the subject matter, the prep, the cars and the other entrants all would have been interesting. As it was they deceided to focus on one guy and his 'struggle' to do this thing and the money involved.

Again sadly I feel it's a failure on the production team in that the narration was woeful concentrating on cost and profit rather that again, the passion and event. goodness me they had Stirling Moss there and all they managed was that he went really fast once!! The other thing was the narration trying to again give a false sense of speed and danger to an event that has neither. Why?! That's not the point of it.

As for the fella, he came across to me like an awful lot of people who've made a lot of money very quickly. Egotistical, dangler sure and a bit arrogant. I don't hold any of that against him, because he's made it and he's indulging his passion. All power to the man. Sure he made a few cringeworthy comments, but what the hell. Though I do think he should have listened to his co-driver a little more as she seemed to be the only person there with any sort of motorsport experience and a bit of common sense.

Finally the car breaking. This is motorsport and s**t happens, quite often. Things break and people have to go home after loads of money and preparation. It actually makes a change to see this. Though quite why they didn't follow some of the other guys is beyond me.

Again, I suppose logic says that when you've just rebuilt a fragile vintage racing car, some sort of testing and run-in might have been wise... Hopefully he'll be more prepared for next time and he'll get a production team that aren't complete numpties.

[Claude]

I wonder how much money he was paid to have that all filmed?

[Mike H]

Only saw the end, always thought the guy is a dangler, the show confirmed it.  Laughed my A*** off when they went on about how much money he'd 'lost' !

Mike

[Rory's Dad]

I remember a bit about limiting the revs to 3,500 and he said no, 4,500 would be OK.  Famous last words...

Rory's Dad

[Muttleys V8]

Watched the prog, was dissapointed in the content and lack of footage of the race/cars...

James wotsit came across as a kok. So full of himself i found it difficult to feel sorry for him.

Whole thing reminded me of our trip to the classic lemans earlier this year..... We did 1000 miles or so, had afew breakdowns, drove on some top roads etc...

But cost about 1000th of the cost and was about 1000x more fun due to the people being a 1000x more down to earth!!!! QED

Was i on the same trip!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!          

[geordieboy]

I wonder if Mr Martin got round to having a 'chat' with the engine builder.  Given JM's manner - Oh to be a fly on the wall for that one.  Unlikely we will hear anything more about this unless one of his cookery guests asks him a direct question on Saturday morning live TV?

[MITTONS]

I remember a bit about limiting the revs to 3,500 and he said no, 4,500 would be OK.  Famous last words...

Rory's Dad

I remember that bit as well famous last words (famous broken valve) shame we did not see some of the other cars  

[speedy jon]

wasnt the workshop at cars international which the car was rebuilt fantastic.cars international

i thought the mechanic on the trip was the guy who built the engine. but for him to say he's going to words with him about it dropping a valve after he was giving it the beans would be just stupid and if he every did i would hope the mechanic tells him to naf off.

how did they first think that a misfire was a rad problem??lol and the coment of the whole program was the co-driver telling the mechanic that the engine noise wasnt normal. lmao

[Asterix]

Personally I thought that was excellent. He ain't a bad lad, he's just rich - not his fault - and he had an unsympathetic production team (that commentator definitely had it in for James).

TBH, he reminds me of me, except he's poorer, less handsome and less modest*.

The history was excellent and so was the race footage.

The only other downside was that he was from Yorkshire

I did wonder why he didn't just buy a seat (though I guess all of them were so rich they didn't need to sell any seats).

* 1 of them's a lie

The key moment for me was, with my 6yo son sitting on my lap, when the Merkin chap suggested that the time spent driving with his son in the MG was "priceless"...how I can sympathise with that view.

[ChrisF]

QUOTE

wasnt the workshop at cars international which the car was rebuilt fantastic.cars international

Looks like your spot on.....

The photo of the workshop shows the Maserati stripped out and ready for the rebuild.  Pity they don't put prices on the web site for their current stock, I'd love to know what an F1 Cosworth Jag would set you back.  I guess the old adage applies to me...if you have to ask the price you cant afford it  

[greenandmean]

The only other downside was that he was from Yorkshire

Oi watch it Cox or we will put a curse on your engine,            oh bu**er somebody did that this year already  

[cast iron]

I liked it and didnt read in to it too deeply, it was entertaining. However the best bit for me was at the end in the bookshop when he read the paragraph about the 3 similar cars which had all ran in the mille miglia and dropped valves on the first day - do your research springs to mind, oh and it was a good kop out for the engine builder also