Talk:The Stig

Archive 2

Page was 95K. So, I've thrown them into another archive.--293.xx.xxx.xx (talk) 07:20, 2 January 2009 (UTC)

Dutch TV programme shows Ben Collins unmasked

This youtube video, at around 0.55 mins shows Ben Collins in a car with the stig suit on but no helmet. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=VihIf1Fi-BM I can't edit the article so I thought I would place it here for discussion. #Bluebrainfreezy (talk) 01:50, 2 January 2009 (UTC)

Wikipedia:Original Research. Read it, and come back when you have more credible proof. --293.xx.xxx.xx (talk) 07:17, 2 January 2009 (UTC)

Quite. In fact if anyone else is thinking of watching the video - DON'T BOTHER, it shows nothing of the sort. The shot in question is the guy doing the Megane crash test (who is wearing a white shirt). Halsteadk (talk) 13:04, 2 January 2009 (UTC)

Isn't that video kind of ancient history anyway? It looks like nonsense to me. Drmargi (talk) 13:38, 2 January 2009 (UTC)

It's actually reference #28 in the article. The link is to finalgear.com. --293.xx.xxx.xx (talk) 21:47, 2 January 2009 (UTC)

Identity Section

In series 13 episode 1, the Stig was revealed to be Michael Schumacher.

Telegraph Outing

So, now that the Telegraph has allegedly outed Ben Collins as The Stig, I believe this article should be altered to reflect that fact. It may not be the complete truth, but the Wikipedia is about verifiability, not truth. What say you? 76.10.169.241 (talk) 05:53, 20 January 2009 (UTC)

Go back and read the Wikipedia article. Thoroughly. --293.xx.xxx.xx (talk) 05:57, 20 January 2009 (UTC)

Repeating of Telegraph Info

Guys, make sure you re-read the article before adding the Ben Collins Telegraph article. It's in there, we don't need people fan-wanking and mentioning the fact hundreds of times in the article. --293.xx.xxx.xx (talk) 23:44, 21 January 2009 (UTC)

293: did your last revert[1] go one revision too far; it removed the "...open secret..." stuff from The Times. —Sladen (talk) 23:53, 21 January 2009 (UTC)

In the mean time, as in doubt, I've temporarily partially-reverted the change so the Times/Telegraph paragraphs are back. The effect of that edit is now[2]. —Sladen (talk) 01:27, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

Telegraph blurb is contained in reference citation #38 (same link). But the times one is slowly pushing the fact that we're gonna have a glut of Ben Collin material. --293.xx.xxx.xx (talk) 01:45, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

So i've deleted the repeated info, and moved the Times blurb to where the other link posted earlier is. Guys, this is why I said "Look carefully." I can see good faith in the first edit, but now I can't due to the reversions. --293.xx.xxx.xx (talk) 01:54, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

Supposedly fresh revelations.

The Finnish Tabloid Iltalehti's sports section notes that some British rag has "revealed" (I have zero knowledge as to how reliable a source is in question) that the very first Śtig was in fact Heikki Kovalainen, and that the other Stigs are in fact Russ Swift, Terry Grant, Dan Lang, Chris Goodwin, Julian Bailey and Ben Collins. Could somebody with access to British fish wrap verify this news has indeed been circulating there, and by a source of what level of reliability? -- Cimon Avaro; on a pogostick. (talk) 13:26, 29 January 2009 (UTC)

• Reference mark #30. Also, the first Stig was Perry McCarthy, not Heikki. --293.xx.xxx.xx (talk) 17:30, 29 January 2009 (UTC)

The way the Finnish paper has interpreted Kovalainen as the "first" Stig has been taken out of context, or mis-translated: in the context of the Mail's story, he is described as "first" only as in being first in their list, and it then clearly states Kovalainen appeared once in 2004. Re the Daily Mail's reliability, I think the fact that they said the guy who appeared at the National Television Awards was identified on the basis that someone left the building wearing an "I am the Stig" t-shirt, shows just how reliable a source it is. I can think of more apt types of paper, but you wouldn't wrap your fish in them... Halsteadk (talk) 10:17, 7 February 2009 (UTC)

Well, I kind of think that way about the rival Finnish tabloids too. So what we have here is a chinese whispers version of tabloid journalism. That's settled then. Too bad people who read that article in the Finnish tabloid may have that information stuck in their heads. Not everybody has the good sense ;) to check wikipedia articles, nevermind their talk pages... -- Cimon Avaro; on a pogostick. (talk) 19:13, 7 February 2009 (UTC)

collins

if you'd add lots and lots of alledged evidence for why the stig is ben collins, you'd end up with an article that provokes a proof by verbosity bias, that'd not be in the spirit of good information, would it? all the guesses by newspapers and so on might be very reasonable, but they're guesses never the less, until we find evidence that stacks up reasonably well, it would be wrong to cite any of them in any more then a mention of the name and a reference to the article. as it is now, it reflects the available information wonderfully. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 88.130.66.254 (talk) 13:30, 29 January 2009 (UTC)

Black Stig Return?

As shown in this youtube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Lkh0uWFg9c), The Black Stig could be back! I think this is surely worth a mention in the article. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 78.105.224.176 (talk) 20:46, 6 February 2009 (UTC)

• Generally YouTube is not a reliable source, which is what is required for a mention. DP76764
• I am inclined to agree, the clip is at best a viral marketing campaign, or just a ploy by some Top Gear fans (Talk) 21:21, 6 February 2009 (UTC)
• it's obviously just a nice clip some fans made —Preceding unsigned comment added by 88.130.108.81 (talk) 06:52, 7 February 2009 (UTC)

*Not really sure why media like The Times has apparently taken it as any indication of even growing speculation.[3] It's clearly just 10 blokes having a laugh on a beach, but fair play to them especially as they've got some publicity! But it's definitely not material for this article, at least until the BBC acknowledges it. Halsteadk (talk) 10:06, 7 February 2009 (UTC)

press conference

is the press conference the stig recently gave after a show of top gear live of any relvance for this article? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 88.130.70.29 (talk) 10:27, 13 February 2009 (UTC)

• Just make sure you add it in the right place. Not the identity Section.--293.xx.xxx.xx (talk) 04:07, 14 February 2009 (UTC)

Stig's Communist Cousin

I don't have an account and can't be bothered to make one and autoverify it just for the sake of this one edit, so I'll leave it here: In episode 12x01 during the series preview a red Stig can be seen riding a motorcycle. Jeremy introduces him as "Stig's Communist cousin". This whole segment (as supposedly it involved a chalenge of some sort) was later cut from the series, as noted on "Vietnam revisited" gallery on Top Gear website[4]. It may reappear, as the same page also hints that it shall be included on a DVD (though what DVD they had in mind I do not know). --212.76.37.158 (talk) 23:15, 22 February 2009 (UTC)

They had in mind the DVD release of the longer edit of the top gear vietnam special. Floker (talk) 00:45, 15 March 2009 (UTC)

Users keep reverting any mention of this and asking for a source, although in both cases a source of the episode number or a DVD extra has been stated. Could someone please explain why stating the episode he was mentioned in is insufficient to support a statement that he was MENTIONED? Sources do not have to be linkable external web pages. Halsteadk (talk) 08:21, 8 May 2009 (UTC)

Wikipedia:Citing sources. Again, cite sources, or it gets deleted. Merely stating the episode isn't enough. --293.xx.xxx.xx (talk) 19:06, 15 May 2009 (UTC)

Sources have to be verifiable. That is the issue. The episode, as aired, did not have this segment. The DVD as yet is not released (as far as I know). So neither of those would be good sources.-Localzuk^(talk) 19:12, 15 May 2009 (UTC)

Wait, what? The Episode I can see, but the DVD of the actual race, with all the extras that producers try to lure you in with because they need to make the money back somehow isn't exactly reliable? Am I reading this right?--293.xx.xxx.xx (talk) 08:25, 17 May 2009 (UTC)

No, that is not what I said at all, and I really can't see how you've managed to read that into what I said. I said the segment in question was not shown in the episode on tv (ie. the episode didn't contain this 'communist stig'. Therefore, the episode could not be a source for this. I then said that the DVD has not been released yet. ie. it doesn't exist. So, it isn't a source, let alone a reliable one. How did you not understand that?-Localzuk^(talk) 10:49, 17 May 2009 (UTC)

3 cans of Monster Energy Drink?--293.xx.xxx.xx (talk) 06:05, 18 May 2009 (UTC)

well the dvd exists now - its in the shops. communist stig does exist. mentioning the first episode of series 12 (where he appeared in the preview) and referencing the DVD must surely be enough to allow its mention 128.243.253.112 (talk) 16:05, 28 May 2009 (UTC)

Sorry, but I feel something has been missed here. S12 Ep1 *mentioned* this Stig during the series intro, so surely this episode is sufficient source to say that this Stig has been *mentioned*, but nothing more (because as has been said the segment never aired)?? If the episode is not a sufficient source to cite what happened in it, then what is the valid source for all the material in the episode guides? Halsteadk (talk) 19:38, 28 May 2009 (UTC)

completely agree with you on that and as he's on the DVD deleted scenes then thats surely got to be enough isn't it? also i know it won't be a reputable source but those segements are on youtube too (just such stig communist cousin) 128.243.253.103 (talk) 18:24, 29 May 2009 (UTC)

How To identify the Several stigs

There are several drivers who play the stig. But there is a clue that goes outside hinting who the driver is. The key is in the helmet.

There are two men who play the White Stig in the Top Gear TV Show. The First can be recognized by being tall, athletic (fit) and mostly flat stomach, Most Importantly the Helmet around the area that covers the mouth is in the shape of a triangle with a high relief of two horizontal shapes above the mouth and three vertical shapes from mouth to chin which gives the impression of a larger face. you can see also see two slim "air intakes" more or less in the cheek area (each side) one small other large they are not straight but diagonal. No advertisement on the helmet, except for two little logos in the sides of the visor. You can see it here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tellycars/2587450803/ and here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/halfbyte/1531969252/ and here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/halfbyte/2101913963/ or here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78O4ZEXjw1c or : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_prr2MVczc

Whenever Perry McCarthy drives he can be recognized whenever he's playing the black stig for Top Gear TV Show (not anymore since season 4 or so) or playing the white stig for the Top Gear Magazine, He's recognizable by the little bigger stomach than the TV stig and for the helmet which around the area of the mouth has a slight depression with the shape of a pentagon, also you can see three (not two like the TV stig) "air intakes" around the cheek area (both sides) but these ones are straight not diagonal, and an additional 4 "air intakes" around the chin area, plus an advertisement logo in red letters that reads SIMPSON. (you can see how the overalls fit differently respect the TV Stig) You can see it here: http://vimeo.com/2893229, and the black one: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00481/stig385_481471a.jpg some press have shot McCarthy on the street pointing to others drivers names: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wapster/3138364230/

there is a third guy (most likely played by Ben Collins) that uses a helmet similar to Perry McCarthy's for playing the white stig in close contact events and in the Top Gear TV show. The helmet is: around the mouth it is a pentagon but with a relief not a depression and three equal sized "air intakes" around the cheek area, still with the name SIMPSON in red letters. This guy is no athletic Nor former-athletic-with-big-stomach, this guy is thin (or at least thinner than the other TV Stig and McCarthy) and the overalls look not is tight in the arms as with the other two stigs: see here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/njsphoto/201240956/ or here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Stig_British_International_Motor_Show_.jpg or more famously here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnmWpSCXPbs this is : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7fWGohtTmI

So, anyone who's registered can add it to the article since it is locked for anonymous users. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 190.71.15.84 (talk) 06:46, 22 March 2009 (UTC)

• Wikipedia:Original Research violation; will not add to the article and any mention of it will also be deleted. I also suggest that others not do it unless a reputable source even bothers to attempt to make such a distinction. --293.xx.xxx.xx (talk) 07:52, 22 March 2009 (UTC)

the stig is always commented as an it , so i suggest he is changed to it SkyPaulusPlus (talk) 17:15, 19 April 2009 (UTC)

This is not always the case, the Stig is often referred to as "he". Halsteadk (talk) 11:56, 15 May 2009 (UTC)

Tame Racing Driver

It is not "untame racing driver", it is TAME racing driver, please stop changing it. As quoted by the BBC: "Every performance road car that comes to the Top Gear test track eventually ends up in the hands of our tame racing driver. Some say that his face appears on high-value stamps in Sweden and that he's afraid of bells. All we know is, he's called the Stig." —Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.73.22.34 (talk) 18:34, 24 May 2009 (UTC)

Schumacher

honestly, does the fact schumacher came on top gear 'as the stig' need to be included different 4 times in the article? chocobogamer mine 20:28, 21 June 2009 (UTC)

As noted in the article, it is possible that it's all a massive joke about the controversy. There's evidence that it was all a big joke in the show, paart from the afformentioned point that Michael Schumacher was listed as a guest and not the Stig, it's also evident when he tried to go around the track in the Suzuki Liana. Mainly that Stig already took the Liana around the track in episode 2 of series 8, posting a time of 1:44.4. Though I do agree, it doesn't need to be mentioned as oftena s it is. Looneyman (talk) 21:09, 21 June 2009 (UTC)

Michael Schumacher did not do a lap time because he already did one in the previous series (as The Stig). The lap at the end of the show was obviously a joke (Schumacher can actually drive a normal car). Schumacher being the Stig was confirmed almost immediately afterwards by BBC Three news. Criffer (talk) 21:18, 21 June 2009 (UTC)

What was their source of the confirmation? --Tango (talk) 21:20, 21 June 2009 (UTC)

It's blatant OR, but he just didn't look like The Stig to me - his posture and gait was all wrong. It's possible that was because he wasn't making the effort to be in character, but I'm putting it firmly in the "evidence against" column. I reckon we'll find out tomorrow sometime when somebody makes a statement to the press. --Tango (talk) 21:20, 21 June 2009 (UTC)

I think we could tone down the "elaborate" and "massive" terminology in relation to the scale of the gag too... Halsteadk (talk) 21:52, 21 June 2009 (UTC)

As stated in the introduction by May and Clarkson, no one is allowed to take home his Ferrari FXX but Schumacher (it's the only black one without a stripe as mentioned here. And as he was already there to drive the car, why not go all the way and say he's the Stig. It's so obvious, really. 82.176.160.13 (talk) 23:43, 21 June 2009 (UTC)

I removed the mention from the lead, and transferred it into the Identity section. The speculation from Jalopnik should remain given it does fit in with the section concerning the press throwing around theories about who The Stig is. As for the others.....I say leave it in for the time being and let the hype die down abit before we aggressively edit it further to fit it into the article. For all we know, it's gonna be the "Running Gag" in Season 13 (Like Hammonds alleged "fetish" of Teeth Whitening (Season 8?), the scorn and anticipation of the Dacia Sandero from season 11 and 12, etc.) --293.xx.xxx.xx (talk) 05:10, 22 June 2009 (UTC)

Are we sure it was the Stig who drove the FXX and got the best lap time? It might have been Schumacher. It would seem he is the reason they got the car tested in the first place, and they decided to play a prank on people telling them he was the stig, since Ferarri obviously would only trust Schumacher with the car. That's my view at least. It seems quite a coincidence that Schumacher was revealed as the Stig, the same show they got a car who most people would think of impossible to test. --Suzpaz (talk) 07:34, 22 June 2009 (UTC)

Ferrari wouldn't let the actual Stig drive the FXX so they sent Schumacher with his own black FXX to wear Stigs costume. TG decided to use this to get publicity for the new series by saying the Stig would be 'unmasked', the lap at the end was just there to prove he isnt Stig. 80.0.209.179 (talk) 14:55, 22 June 2009 (UTC)

<snip!> I've removed what was copy-and-pasted here verbatim from a web article. Those texts are copyright of whoever wrote them and cannot be posted verbatim into Wikipedia, which is GFDL and CC licensed. The remark from 293 below refers to the original post. Zunaid 15:32, 22 June 2009 (UTC)

Thank You Captain Obvious.--293.xx.xxx.xx (talk) 10:03, 22 June 2009 (UTC)

It seems there are a couple people on here who believe the Stig to be Schuey. If you check out the Top Gear site and watch the interview with Michael in which he talks about lapping in the FXX it becomes pretty obvious he isn't actually the Stig. He talks having to take a few laps to learn the layout of the track, something the real Stig simply wouldn't have to do. So there it is, full and properly sourced evidence for something which was already pretty obvious. Here's a link http://www.topgear.com/uk/videos/schuey-in-the-FXX Tocheb73 (talk) 17:40, 22 June 2009 (UTC)

Good point and the Telegraph confirms your assumption - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/5603990/Seven-million-watch-Michael-Schumacher-unveiled-as-The-Stig.html

Grammar correction to Black Stig section.

{{editsemiprotected}}

Under the section, Black Stig / The Stig (Series 1&2), there is a small error which I am not authorized to correct.

The passage reads: Clarkson then described the Stig as having a very small brain, who had worthless opinions, and a disorder described by Clarkson as "Mansell Syndrome".

The passage should read: Clarkson then described the Stig as having a very small brain, worthless opinions, and a disorder described by Clarkson as "Mansell Syndrome".

"who had worthless opinions" is incorrect.

Mclarkson (talk) 10:09, 23 June 2009 (UTC)

Y done ~dom Kaos~ (talk) 11:01, 23 June 2009 (UTC)

Just done a minor correction to the above bit. Looneyman (talk) 14:22, 23 June 2009 (UTC)

Long Hair

In the episode in which they take a derv beemer round the 24 hour le mans, I remember there was one clear shot where the Stig had long hair poking out the back of his helmet. This was after the car broke down and they were obviously in a hurry to get it/him back out. Unfortunatley I can't find a clip of this video to prove it. Nor can i find any other mention of it it anywhere.

The real Stig possibly revealed?

http://blogs.edmunds.com/straightline/2009/06/the-stig-finally-revealed-on-top-gear.html I recently saw this and thought I would share with you guys :) I am new here and so I don't want to edit the main article and mess anything up :) --Lapchair (talk) 17:51, 23 June 2009 (UTC)

It's what we've all been discussing over the past couple of days. It's not new. Looneyman (talk) 18:07, 23 June 2009 (UTC)

In the First Episode of Season Thirteen it was reveled that The Stig is in fact Michael Schumacher.

See three of the immediate four discussions above. MelicansMatkin (talk) 19:12, 23 June 2009 (UTC)

Hi Lapchair and welcome to Wikipedia. Thanks for adding the link: as the other posters have said, there's already been quite a bit of debate about this issue already, but additional sources are always welcome for articles and if you're not sure where they might fit into an article, adding them to talk pages is usually a good starting point. Happy editing!
~dom Kaos~ (talk) 22:08, 23 June 2009 (UTC)

"Schumacher talks about lapping in the FXX and it becomes pretty obvious he isn't actually the Stig. He talks about having to take a few laps to learn the layout of the track, something the real 'Stig' presumably wouldn't have need to do." - This is opinion, speculation and editorial. It has no place in an encyclopedia. 78.105.127.160 (talk) 23:28, 23 June 2009 (UTC)

This is a better account of the stunt. 78.105.127.160 (talk) 23:36, 23 June 2009 (UTC)