Top Gear presenter in caravan love affair shock
Richard Hammond of Top Gear has written a book about caravans. No, seriously...
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Thursday, 10, Sep 2009 03:25
The BBC's award-winning motoring programme Top Gear is not exactly known for its love of caravans. The last time that James May, Richard Hammond and the notoriously taciturn Jeremy Clarkson went away for a caravan jaunt, it ended with the trailer burnt to a crisp after a chip pan blaze. And previously? They lined up four caravans to see if a Volvo could 'leap' over them. Let's just say the caravans didn't come off too well.
Yet what do we have here but one of the trio of presenters, writing a book which testifies to his 'longstanding love affair' with caravans?
Richard Hammond is said to be an 'obsessive', having researched their origins and history, their celebrity owners, the uses to which they have been put, and even recipes to cook in them. (Ed: Caravan Times advises against the recipe for chips Hammond last used on holiday, considering that it destroyed the vehicle.)
In his latest book A Short History Of Caravans In The UK the presenter they call 'The Hamster' also gives sound practical advice on how to use them to best advantage, and how to race them. On a serious note, he also looks into whether the caravan will continue it's renaissance with the credit crunch and the increasing cost of holidays abroad.
Be warned however. If you are as fond of white trailers as we are, you may find some of the scenes disturbing where he carefully explains how to destroy them in interesting ways. (His last count when totalling up the caravans he's destroyed? Only 80.)
This tongue in cheek book is a great read for fans of caravan holidays, and perfectly channels the ribald sense of humour that we know and love from Top Gear.
A Short History Of Caravans is published in hardback by Weidenfield and Nicholson, priced £12.99. We did a little research in case your interest has been piqued, and Amazon.co.uk are offering it here at half price.