Guy Martin TV Alert

[JAVELINBOY]

For those of you that showed an interest in Guys Vulcan programme he is on again tonight 14 December looking at his Latvian Great Grandfather some military and POW to the story he uncovers apparently
Channel 4 at 21:00

[k3k3]

The programme is called "Our Guy in Latvia" and is to be repeated four times over the next week on channel 4seven, Sky no. 140.

[Sandy Parts]

Worth watching if just for the history of Latvia. Shows the reason for their (reluctant) decision to fight for the Germans in WWII. Those who get annoyed by Guy will be pleased to hear he is used as a 'narrative link' rather than doing much himself. Very much like the BBC "Who do you think you are" format. Also good to see you can make a Lada last for over 20 years and still handbrake it around on the gravel

[skua]

Great programme, as is usually the case with GM. Unfortunately it seemed to disprove my theory that he is Fred Dibnah's lovechild!

[Evanelpus]

he might be a lovely guy but I found him him a bit of a tt on the Vulcan programme and won't be in a hurry to watch him again on anything, anytime soon.

Just my opinion.

[cheese bobcat]

I fully agree that the Vulcan programme was completely spoilt by that Martin guy. What on earth was he doing taxiing that other Vulcan down the runway; what did that have to do with the final flight of the Vulcan? It's just another example of the "celebrity" being the more important part of the programme than the subject. It was great to see the guys again in the flesh, so to speak, but it was very disappointing all in all.

CB

[Kitbag]

Just watching him in Latvia. As always GM comes across as a no holds barred human being.
I'd drink his beer and maybe buy him one in return.

[Wageslave]

Two things strike me about GM. One is that he'd be far better if you could understand what the heck he is talking about, the other is that he'd be far better if he knew what the heck he was talking about.

Worst kind of spurious (as in "who the **** is he?") "celeb" taking the limelight from an interesting subject.

He scores nil for me.

Anyway, who the f*** IS he? And why is he on UK TV if can't he speak English?

[skua]

WS
You have obviously spent too much time in Surrey. You need to get out more.

[A and C]

Wageslave

The TV is full of people who are just famous because they are on TV, they are hauled out for all sorts of work and spout utter trash.

Guy Martin is not one of these, as a motorcycle road racer he is one of the fastest with few 130mph + laps of the TT course to back this up, he is also a world class off road cyclist.

His day job is a truck machanic and he also builds some very fast motorcycles.

So far from your average media talking head........

[Shaft109]

Few thoughts from a lurker -

As A & C said Guy actually knows what he's talking about from a technical point of view because he's a fully trained mechanic who gets his hands dirty - not just a talker. Bit like Fred Dibnah.

Also Anyone who owns a Snap - On tool chest like that gets a thumbs up from me as it must cost north of £30,000 for all of that.

Like most of his programs they struck the right level of technical detail and back story - taxiing XM 665 was a bit of context and fun - how long do you drone on about '558's last flight?

Finally there is a reason why he is 'quirky' but technically brilliant. It's buried in 2 pages of his first book.

[VinRouge]

For all you Southern faries asking who the F*ck GM is, he is the modern day equivalent of Fred Dibnah.

Get out of your £7 larger shandy drinking posh wine bar, cover yourself in some axle grease/soot from a dirty rag and have a look at his programme on the Spitfire. The guy has done lots to foster interest in engineering, technology and science at a time most youngsters aspirations are

"I wanna be on X-factor innit".

Oh, he has a working Merlin sat in his living room too.

[TURIN]

For those decrying Guy Martin. He seems to be doing a good job promoting engineering and technology. Kids love him. Anyone who can get my teenage daughter to sit still for an hour watching this blokes antics and create an educational interest in technology is a genius in my book.

[NutLoose]

Also Anyone who owns a Snap - On tool chest like that gets a thumbs up from me as it must cost north of £30,000 for all of that.

Bling, Expensive tools for expense sake does not make one a better or good engineer, there are plenty of brands that are equal too or superior to Snap Off tools, and in the last 20 years their quality has dropped since they shipped the "made in" from the US to all points East... Oh and yes the majority of my tools are Snap Off and all of my tool chests, but if I was buying now I would go for the likes of Halfords Professional range, just as good at a fraction of the price minus the "snobbery" factor, and the "look at me I must be good, my tools are Snap Off".

As A & C said Guy actually knows what he's talking about from a technical point of view because he's a fully trained mechanic who gets his hands dirty - not just a talker. Bit like Fred Dibnah.

I drive a car, does that give me the knowledge to know to fly an aircraft? NO, similarly fixing trucks is a totally different thing to fixing aircraft, I wouldn't know what I was talking about repairing HGV's and neither does that work the other way, especially the other way, as maintaining ones car etc gives one a grounding in all things motor vehicle wise.

I don't doubt or decry his achievements or credentials, I just think he is a lousy presenter, a poor attempt at filling Fred Dibnahs shoes.

The one slip dejacking the Vulcan and the world will come tumbling down was an example, you can't do much damage only having the jacks locking collar wound off a couple of threads as was the case.
It was a good show filled with a load of look at me purile dross.


Bahhh.. Humbug
..

[Sandy Parts]

For the record - if you read his book, you will see he hates the 'meedja' dressing up of the story more than anyone else. However, he is also intelligent enough (yes, even with that accent and background ) to realise that as an average waged truck mechanic who enjoys racing expensive bikes and playing with expensive toys e.g. the Merlin - he needs to lie back and take the cash every now and then. You either like his style or not but, whatever you think, he is an engineer (fully qualified Motor Mechanic which counts in my book). How many engineers do you see on TV at prime time? Would a media company have managed to fund and sell the Vulcan prog to C4 without a 'face' to front it? I doubt it.

[Shaft109]

Tools

Haha Nutloose - sounds like the run up to xmas is wearing you down

Secretly you want a shiny SnapOn tool kit don't you? Go on.

But yes agreed the newer stuff isn't as good as the set I got even 5 years ago - hope they don't do a Mercedes.... and start trading off the name for some cheaper product.

[BEagle]

The 'last Vulcan flight' programme was ideal for the target audience - and for once fortunately didn't witter on about Black Buck too much.

Mad as a box of frogs with a strong 'eeh ba gum' accent, tha' knaws, but so what? It was Guy Martin's enthusiastic manner which mattered most.

Worst part about the programme? Those wretched advert breaks! Fortunately I'd recorded it, so skipped over them!

't Bungling Baron would be properr proud o' 't lad!

[ericferret]

Guys fanbase covers a lot more than teenage girls. I had one seriously p*ssed off lady on the phone. Apparently she was waylaid on the way back from a parish council meeting and missed the first ten minutes. She has to be north of 60 and adores him.

Don't annoy the granny vote!!!!!

[AR1]

I quite like him. He's entertaining and has a real background to him. His latest book however is seriously close to biting the hand that feeds, - well, more than that. Mauling the chap putting the bowl down before being shot by the vet.

I suspect he'll be spending more time with his trucks.

[skridlov]

GM at the TT

I have mixed feelings about him. Whilst there's a down-to-earth quality about his presentation, the repeating everything three times tic is about as annoying as Fred Dibnah's constant hmm hmm-ing.

Anyone who can get round the TT course at a competitive lap time deserves huge respect but the fact is that in comparison to the likes of John McGuinness, Ian Hutchinson et al, Guy Martin's an also-ran and a regular crasher. He should quit before he has a crash too far.

It seems to be invariably the case that these down-to-earth horny-handed types who get taken up as TV celebs are in severe danger of turning into, er, Celebs. Which isn't a compliment.
Edited
This film, available in its entirety on YT has a lot of footage of the pre-celeb GM and is in any case an excellent representation of the TT overall.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qds9Of4qw-M