The Man in the White Suit: The Stig, Le Mans, the Fast Lane and Me - Hardcover

Collins, Ben

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 000732796X ISBN 13: 9780007327966

Publisher: Harpercollins Pub Ltd, 2010

Synopsis

Top Gear's iconic driver, the Stig, is finally revealed!

Ben Collins divulges how he came to be Top Gear's iconic driver, as well as what it's like to thrash an Aston Martin DBS, train for the Army, face the terror of Jeremy Clarkson's underwear, and much more. When the Black Stig disappeared off the end of an aircraft carrier in 2003, audiences were introduced to the White Stig—faster, stranger, and harder to keep clean. Ever since, millions have wondered—who is the man in the white suit? They're about to find out. Ben Collins caught the car the bug young, kicking his dad's boss in the balls for not giving him a company Jag, and this was the attitude that eventually led him to spend seven years sharing a cabin with Jeremy Clarkson's underwear, James May's PhD thesis, and Richard Hammond's hairspray. Now he tells all about life inside the iconic white helmet: what it's like to guide a blind ex-RAF officer around the Top Gear track, pit a drug dealer's Mitsubishi Evo against a Trojan tank, set a Vauxhall Monaro against Chloe the dancing Ninja, and race double-decker Routemasters against bendy buses—not to mention all the inside stuff on how the show's amazing driving sequences are made. He also reveals how he got to be there—setting a Dunsfold lap time faster than Michael Schumacher's. It's an awesome story, told by an amazing man.

About this title

About the Author:

Ben Collins won races in every category from Formula Three to Le Mans Sportscars and GT, and captured the European NASCAR title. He also worked as a Hollywood stuntman. In 2003 he became the anonymous fourth presenter, known as the Stig, of Top Gear, coaching celebrities, organizing car chases, and testing hundreds of priceless cars. Eight years later, his alter ego is recognized by millions around the world.

Review:

"Car culture's Deep Throat has come forward."  —New York Times blog

"An interesting look into the life of a man that landed in an amazing job on TopGear UK, and a telling look at the life of TG behind the scenes."  —The Protagonist blog

About this edition

• Publisher: Harpercollins Pub Ltd
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 000732796X
• ISBN 13: 9780007327966
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 339