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This is the third time the MPH Live Motor Show has been to Johannesburg. I attended the very first performance and wasn’t all that impressed. That was a reason to skip the second show in 2008. Even Clarkson deserves another chance though, so we got some tickets to view their latest spectacle.

All things considered, this was an entertaining event. The primary reason, in my opinion, was the inclusion of the audience. In fact, this seemed to be a carbon copy of the TV show, including the Cool Wall and a video game lap of the Top Gear circuit.

A display of cars included an Alfa Romeo and Aston Martin – nothing one would not be able to see by visiting a few showrooms in and around the city. I wouldn’t mind seeing a Veyron or something more exotic… The cars on the exhibition floor were similarly pedestrian.

Thankfully, the local yocal Martinengo took a bit of a back seat and didn’t feature too prominently in the show’s proceedings. I’m no big fan of this motoring-wannabe-aficionado. A victory in the custom motorized wheelchair drag race for him is more than enough.

What else? Hammond risked his manhood by having a motorbike hop over him.

A rather weak Evil Knievel routine was out of place and not very interesting. Once again, I must say that the participation of the audience was the best thing Clarkson could have come up with – nothing like insulting members of the audience and being sexist to get a few laughs. It works, so why mess with the formula?

The usual car soccer game. We’ve seen that before, but this match was curiously riveting. The upcoming 2010 event increasing the interest of the audience.

Thankfully, the South African team was victorious. Last of all, an appearance by The Stig, or someone dressed just like him. Again, the brief theatre of motorbikes and cars, with The Stig being chased around, was very much the same as I’d seen in 2007.

It was not a bad show. Quite entertaining in contrast to the first one I’d seen. Audience participation makes all the difference. I would really like to see something a bit more exotic in terms of cars, though. It’s quite obvious that local suppliers and sponsors play too large a part in what is shown. With all the cash Clarkson is making out of this franchise, I’m quite certain he has the budget to bring a couple of really cool wheels with him…