R2OK!

Toggy · Joined: 18 Aug 2008 Posts: 1239

James May built a motorbike out of mecanno, it was fraught with difficulties of course but it wouldn't be James if it wasn't. Laughing

I spent a very pleasant hour thoroughly absorbed in it. Great Friday night TV, wish there were more programs like this.

Colin · Joined: 26 Sep 2013 Posts: 916

Yes, I agree. That's good though because that's what "engineering" is all about - finding a practical solution to a problem (it's derived from the French "angenieux" and where we get "ingenuity" from). You have to stick at it to resolve the problem.

I wish that mainstream TV would promote the idea that engineering (in all its disciplines) can be fun. My son is a Mechanical Engineer working in an R&D and Test environment and his passion started by taking things apart (don't mention the vacuum cleaner!) in order to figure out how they worked and then putting them back together again.

It annoys him when he tells people that he's a Mechanical Engineer and people assume that he's a grease-monkey in a local car repair shop. The media has a lot to do with public perception and James May is the kind of guy who can do much to change that.

And, as a nation, we desperately need good engineers. My son's company advertises for staff in Poland - a country which produces very good engineers. Why not the UK?

Answers on a postcard........

Toggy · Joined: 18 Aug 2008 Posts: 1239

It's difficult to not like James, he always comes across as a thoroughly decent bloke, not only that as you say he understands engineering.
It's great to watch somebody who has enthusiasm for what they are talking about, so many presenters these days go though the motions with little or any interest in their subject.