By Jeff Glucker
Anytime someone says they’re putting together a car show for television it leads to the inevitable comparisons to Top Gear. That’s a bad thing for the folks pitching the show, because nothing can match the Clarkson, Hammond, and May-trifecta. Not every show wants to be Top Gear though, and there’s a new one in the works starring a friend of mine that I think you’re going to like. The show is called Fast Lane and it premieres at 1PM EST on Friday April 12th over on the Travel Channel.
The man getting the screen time is Jason Harper. His written work appears in many of the magazines and websites that you read including Bloomberg, Esquire, Automobile and pretty much everything else that talks all things auto. Now he’s putting his mug up on the small screen, and he’s doing it in locations and in cars that get the heart pumping and the blood flowing.
The first episode is all about Italy. Harper is on a quest to find out what makes this country produce such amazing machines, and he gets up close and personal with the best of them. What does that actually mean? Well, how about flinging a Ferrari 458 around Imola then riding shotgun in a 458 GT3 while a professional driver attempts to make Jason scream like a lady boy. After that, the Fast Lane crew move on to driving a Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder with local enthusiats, and 1960’s-era Fiat 500 around Rome. That little Fiat almost gets him arrested too.
Finally, Jason winds up behind the wheel of a Lancia Stratos … I can’t believe I just typed that out. Dammit Jason, you have my number and I’m not terrible on camera… I’d pay my own way to lick the wheel wells of that car. He pushes the Stratos in a vintage car rally that comes complete with 2,000-foot cliffs heckling the fine Italian bodywork from the side of the road.
Yes, it’s clear that I’m writing this review for a friend because I want his show to succeed… but I wouldn’t be sharing it with you if I didn’t think that it sounds excellent. It’s a car show that isn’t trying to be Top Gear, and might even wind up a bit like No Reservations but with cars – and that sounds fantastic. So set your DVRs for the Travel Channel and Fast Lane. It premieres at 1pm EST on Friday April 12th, and I think you’re going to enjoy it.
Need I repeat Lancia Stratos?!
Christian "Mental" Ward 
Antti Kautonen
"Finally, Jason winds up behind the wheel of a Lancia Stratos. . ."
Sounded really cool and interesting up to that line.
That line, though, made me shiver.
Seriously… It's ridiculous. It was a genuine car too, not a replica. I may be wrong though, and it might actually be an 037 (per what I read on Jalop)
This is a 037…
<img src="http://www.mad4wheels.com/webpics/hires/00000094%20-%201983%20Lancia%20037%20rally/1983_Lancia_037_rally_018_9022.jpg" width="600">
While this is a Strato's.
<img src="http://kthxnp.dyndns.org/sfwporn/images/localfiles/bc159d1718e0b2ab7a0d0f4ec04c98f4.jpg" width="600">
037 ever time. Rough and ready engine, massive panel gaps, scafolding poles welded into place to support suspension, nothing aligns, rattles and bangs – whats not to like?
It was! One of the originals. Last rear-wheel-drive car to win the WRC. The thing is a monster. I can't believe the owner (a great guy) let me have it for a real (and dangerous as hell) road rally.
If I was cursed to drive boring cars for the rest of my life but was allowed one last hurrah in any car I wanted, it would be an original Stratos.
Good for you, Jason. I like the concept Jeff described above, and I hope you show does well.
But if it doesn't, at least you got to do this. Hell. Yeah.
Last weekend, I had a passenger ride in this…
<img src="http://www.forum-peugeot.com/Forum/static/mesimages/63940/DSC00746.jpg" width="650/">
Nice. Scary, but fun scary.
I'd drive that to France.
I'm all for more car shows. Like you said, everyone compares to Top Gear, but there are other ways to have an intelligent and interesting car shows without completely replicating their formula.
Like I've said about Top Gear USA: I love Mexican food, and Taco Bell barely counts as Mexican, but I still crave it every once in awhile.
Get ready… there's another post about a new car show right after this.
and I'm going to need help from everybody to make it popular, because I'm in it.
Dude, I'll be watching!
Jason isn't the only one.
Any international distribution for either show. They sound like something I would watch if they were on down here in Horse-Trailer.
Where might somebody, say, an Englishman, point his cursor if he wished to view this programme via the internet?
I feel left out here… 🙁
Hands across the oceans! There's no loneliness in the Hooniverse…
Hmm… good question. I think perhaps there has to be a way to view Travel Channel shows online. Let me ask Jason and get back to you.
Check your comments at Roadwork. Only way I could figure out a semi private message…
I am all for another car show. The comparisons to Top Gear will be inevitable regardless of which direction this show goes, but it looks like the right direction in my book. I have come to enjoy TopGearUS as well now that they seem to have found a good formula (place Rutledge, Tanner, and Ferrara in challenges) They have rightly discarded their version of a star in a reasonably priced car and really any in jokes about The Stig.
I like the reference about this being akin to No Reservations with a car twist.
I agree..more car shows..but do it right and get some everyday folks into the mix. Throw a Hoon out there..or how about letting a soul-sucking appliance driver behind the wheel of something exciting..or anything. How about taking some non-car people and converting them? Good luck with the show!
This show sucks. Sorry but it did. I wished it was better but it far lacked my expectations. Fake tire screeching really? That chit is whack! It has potential but time will tell…and quickly too