MPH 2005

When was the last time you went to an auto show and were handed a pair of 3D glasses? Well that's exactly what spectators got when they walked in to London's Earls Court on November 20th. Make no mistake; this is not your typical car show. It is a spectacular theatrical event where the cars are the actors, paired with an automotive gallery showcasing luxury cars, classics, and every type of extravagant supercar available in the world. Welcome to MPH '05.

The Theatre
Hosted by motoring icon Jeremy Clarkson, his sidekick from Top Gear TV Richard Hammond, and Fifth Gear TV personality Tiff Needell, MPH '05 is designed to show off vehicles in a way an ordinary motor show could only dream of, and with a level of interaction that is rarely afforded the viewing public. From a fire-spitting Subaru Impreza taunting the ever watchful speed camera perched atop a police vehicle, to sprints in an Ultima GTR 640 that break local speed limits in a confined space, MPH has it all.


A motoring theatre directed by John Napier, the famed Broadway director who brought us Cats, Miss Saigon and Les Miserables, the show uses a series of elaborate sequences that combine racing antics, flying cars, and smoky burnouts that sent choking fumes pouring over the audience. Periodic catwalk displays of the latest offerings from Aston Martin, Noble, TVR, Ascari, Range Rover, Porsche, Lamborghini and a slew of others were thrown in to break up the scenes. Jaguar took this opportunity to unveil the new XK coupe to a salivating UK public. PSA also chose the venue to launch the new Citroen C6; Aston Martin showed off the latest 911 competitor, the V8 Vantage; and the 641-bhp Grumpert Apollo made its first appearance.


The sequence that stole the show was the four Vauxhall Astra VXR coupes, also making their UK debuts, dancing with four perfectly choreographed JCB backhoes. Renowned precision driver Russ Swift along with his son were responsible for weaving the vehicles through the balancing act as the backhoes' operators fully extended the arms of their enormous machines. While Swift has had extensive experience turning vehicles into tight spaces (he is the stunt man Hollywood called when they remade The Italian Job), the 180-degree turn in a Ford Fiesta under the teetering JCBs drew gasps from the audience.


Yet another one of Britain's famous stunt drivers, Terry Grant, had the arduous task of showcasing the new driving rage from Japan—drifting. He and young racing driver Ben Collins manuevered the cars sideways around the stage in a figure eight, eventually setting the cars facing one another before lighting up the tires and switching cars. How they managed to keep the cars accelerating while they exited is a mystery. But the smoke was dense and the crowd was happy.