The Snowbine, a contraption created by the presenters of the popular BBC motoring television program, Top Gear, has joined the ‘World of Top Gear Exhibition’ at the Beaulieu National Motor Museum in England.
The Snowbine is the actual combine harvester that Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May modified to prove that combine harvesters can do something other than gathering crops in the summer. It has a snow plough attachment on the front, which proved to be successful in clearing deep snow. The huge machine – complete with flame thrower – allowed the Top Gear team to clear an entire Norwegian road of snow.
The team successfully demonstrated that farming vehicles, which normally lie dormant and unused in the winter, can be utilized all-year round in dual roles saving money for local authorities who then no longer have to buy dedicated snowploughs that would be unused for the majority of the year.
The World of Top Gear exhibition at Beaulieu features many other Top Gear Challenge cars. The Double Decker cars used by the Australian team in Top Gear’s car-based version of the Ashes are on display. Other highlights include the Top Gear ‘Enormodrome’ which recreates the feel of the Top Gear studio, the Cool Wall and the Celebrity ‘Lap Times’ boards, which are kept up to date in line with the show. Visitors can also watch behind-the-scenes footage of the Top Gear production zone and clips of some of the best Top Gear moments.
Beaulieu is open every day, except Christmas Day, from 10am, and other attractions include the National Motor Museum with its collection of over 250 vehicles, the James Bond exhibition with genuine vehicles and memorabilia from the films, Palace House, home of the Montagu family since 1538 and the 13th century Beaulieu Abbey.