Taking a lead from the popular segment in the Top Gear television programme, we’ve invited 20 of New Zealand’s most well-known ‘stars’ to be the first in the world to set a time on the leader board for Top Gear Live. You’ll see leading names like comedian Rhys Darby, tv hosts Lana Coc-Kroft and Brooke Howard-Smith, news anchors Mark Sainsbury, John Campbell, Oliver Driver and Carly Flynn, All Black Jerome Kaino, radio jocks, Shortland Street stars and more. All will be taking their turn to set their time and take home the glory of being the top ‘star’ overall.

February 14

-          8.00am – 9.00am at Shell Gladstone, cnr Dee and Lewis Sts, Invercargill

-          12.00pm – 12:30pm at Cadbury World and Factory, 280 Cumberland Street, Dunedin

-          1.00pm – 2.00pm at Shell Andy Bay, 333 Anderson Bay Rd, Dunedin

-          5.00pm – 6.00pm at Shell Caroline Bay, 62 Theodosia St, Timaru

February 15

-          7am – 8am at Shell Shirley, 7 Marshland Rd, Christchurch

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February 16

-          8am – 9am at Shell Taranaki St, 155 Taranaki St,  Wellington

-          12pm – 1pm at Shell Supreme, 676 Pioneer Highway, Palmerston North

-          4pm – 5pm at Shell Heretaunga St, cnr Heretaunga St West and Southland Rd,  Hastings

February 17

-          8am – 9am at Shell Kennedy Rd, 256 Dickens St, Napier

-          12pm – 1pm at Shell Taupo, cnr Titiraupenga and Tuwharetoa Sts, Taupo

-          4pm – 5pm at Shell Frankton, cnr Lincoln and Edgar Sts, Hamilton

February 18

-          9.30am – 11am at Shell Beach Rd, 150 Beach Rd, Auckland

-          11.10am – Convoy departs on Parade through Auckland CBD

-          Convoy to travel along Quay Street, up Queen Street, along Karangahape Road, across Grafton Bridge, along Carlton Gore Road, down Broadway and Manukau Road to Greenlane Road and on to the ASB Showgrounds.

The starting gun will be fired in Invercargill on Sunday February 14 to send the Top Gear Live Convoy of around 25 classic prestige and performance cars valued at more than $30 million on a tour of the country.

The Convoy will stop at Shell service stations in Invercargill, Dunedin, Timaru, Christchurch, Wellington, Palmerston North, Hastings, Napier, Taupo and Hamilton – arriving in Auckland on Thursday February 18 just in time for the opening show of Top Gear Live, powered by Shell V-Power.

The touring convoy, which will also stop at Cadbury World in Dunedin, will feature examples of motoring classics such as a 1936 Jaguar SS Le Mans race car, a Ferrari Enzo and the very rare 1986 Ferrari GTO.  Each pit-stop will be an opportunity for local Top Gear Live fans and motoring enthusiasts to get up close and personal with some amazingly rare vehicles and participate in the Convoy’s festival atmosphere, and to purchase Shell V-Power – the fuel developed with Ferrari.

In addition to some of the world’s greatest cars, there will be a chance for customers to win a Top Gear Live Prize Pack, thanks to Moro at each stop, which includes a double pass to Top Gear Live, Shell V-Power gift cards, Cadbury Moro bars and the chance to take a drive in one of the convoy vehicles. Along with this, bonus Fly Buys points are up for grabs and a souvenir photo booth for the public to be photographed with the cars.

The drivers of the Convoy will also be raising funds at each pit-stop throughout the country for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand, Top Gear Live’s sponsored charity for 2010.

On the morning of February 18 the entire Convoy will meet at Shell Beach Road where it will leave for a parade up Queen Street and through central Auckland before heading on to the ASB Showgrounds.

While the official Top Gear Live Convoy is a closed group of cars, owners of classic or performance cars are welcome to join it for a leg of the journey and potentially the parade through central Auckland.

Top Gear Live includes a high impact theatre show presented by Jeremy Clarkson, James May, New Zealand’s Greg Murphy and The Stig; who are joined by our record breaking Top Gear Live stunt driving team led by Paul Swift and Terry Grant.

Expect an edge-of-your-seat experience with flaming rally cars, extreme underground street racers, cars which change colour, amazing stunts like the world’s first indoor loop-the-loop, the ever popular Cool Wall, pyrotechnics and enough humour and breath taking car antics to satisfy even the hardest motoring fan.

New to the format is the Top Gear Live Festival featuring the Toshiba Track, Stunt School, Marque Park and luxury car exhibition as well as the national Top Gear Live Convoy.

Top Gear Live is at Auckland’s ASB Showgrounds from February 18-21. Ticketing and information at: www.topgearlive.co.nz

http://www.eventmagazine.co.uk/channel/Events/article/969884/Top-Gear-Live-breaks-records-driving-game/

Check out the packages by clicking on the link below:

Package One: Gala Dinner

• Champagne Drinks Reception
• The ‘Best Seats in the House’ at the premier performance of the all new Top Gear Live theatre show
• Admission to the Top Gear Live Prestige and Performance Motor Show
• VIP fast-track entry to the backstage paddock tour to see the stage vehicles and Top Gear memorabilia up close
• Stunning 3-course meal and all beverages
• Souvenir Programme for all guests
• VIP Parking for you and your guests
• Personal Account Manager
• Top Gear Live Festival Pass

Package Two: Corporate Box

• Invite up to 30 guests to join you in your very own corporate box to watch the all new Top Gear Live theatre show in style
• Admission to the Top Gear Live Prestige & Performance Motor Show
• Catered canapes, drinks included from 45 mins prior to the show
• VIP fast-track entry to the backstage paddock tour to see the stage vehicles and Top Gear memorabilia up close
• Post-show refreshments in the VIP Lounge
• Souvenir programme for all guests
• VIP parking for you and guests
• Personal Account Manager
• Top Gear Live Festival Pass

Package Three: VIP

• Invite up to 30 clients and guests to a customised hospitality suite within the Prestige & Performance Motor Show
• Includes 30 tickets to the all new Top Gear Live theatre show
• Catered canapes, beer and wine included from one hour prior to the start of the theatre show
• Personal Account Manager
• Top Gear Live Festival Pass

Keen? Contact sales@topgearlive.co.nz or 09 531 5524

Theatre Times
Thurs 18 Feb – 6.30pm
Fri 19 Feb – 4.30pm, 8.00pm
Sat 20 Feb – 12pm, 3.30pm, 7.30pm
Sun 21 Feb – 11am, 2.30pm, 6.30pm

Read the full article from Times Online here.

Segment from London Top Gear Live Theatre Show

The Top Gear Live 2009/2010 world tour kicked off in spectacular fashion at London’s Earl Court arena today. Audiences were thrilled by an all-new show, which featured more cars, more stunts and – crucially – more fire.

The audience witnessed Ford Focus RS’ changing colour before their very eyes, constantly burning rally cars, the world’s largest interactive game, the world’s first indoor loop-the-loop, the Stig leading a troupe of world record breaking precision drivers – not to mention the ringmasters themselves; Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May at the head of the motoring mayhem.

Rowland French, executive producer of Top Gear Live, says “Our team of world class engineers and special effects designers have combined to create some incredible cars that are about as far from road legal as you could imagine! There’s some truly ground-breaking machinery that will keep people on the edge of their seats”

Over 350,000 fans will get to see the all-new 2009/2010 show and it’ll take one 747 cargo plane, three ships and 135 trucks to haul all the kit needed around the world. No wonder, when that kit includes almost 100 cars, 600 sets of tyres and enough petrol to raze a small country.

Tickets for this year’s hottest, fastest, loudest, maddest and possibly even funniest show are running out fast so Top Gear fans in New Zealand should book now at www.topgearlive.co.nz or through Ticketek.

London, Earls Court, 5-8^th November 2009

Birmingham, NEC, 12-15^th November 2009

Dublin, RDS, 3-6^th December 2009

Amsterdam, RAI, 21-24^th January 2010

Capetown, The Grand Arena at Grand West, 28-31^st January 2010

Johannesburg, Coca-Cola Dome, 4-7^th February 2010

Sydney, ACER Arena, 11-14^th February 2010

Auckland, ASB Showgrounds, 18-21^st February 2010

For more information on the Auckland show please visit: www.topgearlive.co.nz

Thousands of cars honked and tooted as they drove past with a bunch of loyal Top Gear fans driving through to get their premium seats before the rest of the world had woken up.

Thanks to the team at Nomad for the coffee and Independent Prestige for the Lamborghini, Bentley and Aston – what Top Gear Live event would be complete without them.

Top Gear Live will hit Auckland on 18th – 21st February 2010. Tickets at Ticketek

At the Drive-Thru - free coffee with your tickets anyone?