1. Car vs. Motorbike vs. Steam Locomotive
In 2008 the Tornado was completed, the first steam locomotive to be built since 1960, and the only LNER Peppercorn Class A1 in existence. As the train was an example of the staple vehicle on the rails back in 1949, Top Gear raced it against the fastest car and motorbike of the period, a Jaguar XK120 and Vincent Black Shadow respectively. Starting at Platform 1 of King's Cross Station, Hammond and May took the A1 due to the fact the M1 hadn't been built in '49, and Clarkson took the A1 locomotive on a non stop chartered express. The finishing line was the bar at the Edinburgh Balmoral hotel, and they all set off at "exactly 7.23 and a bit". Although the 'choice' of who drove which vehicle was another example of Top Gear being artistic with the truth, the race itself was genuine, and each presenter had to conform to speed limits as well as their own individual trials. As a fireman on the locomotive, Clarkson had to deal with boiler problems and commuter trains, James in his Jag had to contend with traffic and a dodgy fuel gauge, leaving Hammond with pelting rain and cramped legs. Thanks to Hammond's own-goal of failing to close the cap on the Black Shadow's reserve fuel tank, a hefty fix of the bike's carburettor left him out the of the running. A close call right at the end left Clarkson running for the hotel as soon as he stepped off the footplate, only to find May waiting for him when he got there. At least he bought him a beer for his efforts though.