My latest television obsession is the BBC car show Top Gear. Go figure.

On our trip over to Africa last Fall, my brother was watching episodes of the series on his netbook, and I saw a bit of it, but kept forgetting to check it out once I got home. Until a few Sundays ago when I was grooming the dogs, and my husband turned on the TV for me. It happened to be set to BBC America from the previous night’s episode of Doctor Who. I caught the end of the Gordon Ramsay cooking show (man, does he have a foul mouth). Followed by two episodes of Top Gear. And I was hooked.

My brother is a car nut. I am not, although I do have strong feelings for my New Beetle Convertible, which I bought in 2003. And have always had a certain affection for the Ford Mustang, Triumph Spitfire, and MG Spider and Midget convertibles. The classic ones. And I like Jaguars although I would never buy one.

Uh Oh. More of a car nut than I thought.

Which explains why this show has hooked me. Because it’s about cars, but it’s more than cars. It taps into how we feel about cars. I have a 2005 Toyota Highlander as my primary car because I need something to lug around kids and dogs, and wanted a hybrid. I have a New Beetle convertible because I love driving with the top down and have happy memories of a Bug we had when I was a kid.

Top Gear hosts Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May love cars. They also love to entertain, and get a certain amount of pleasure about putting one over on each other. It’s gorgeous TV, and you don’t need to love cars to love this show.

Check it out.

Bonus: Do you remember all your cars?  Here are mine: Chevy Impala, an Audi of some sort (didn’t have it long), Dodge Colt (my first standard car), Nissan Sentra, Dodge Neon, Jeep Grand Cherokee and currently the Toyota Highlander and my convertible.