September 5, 2024 • 3hr 3min

#2199 - Chris Harris

The Joe Rogan Experience

Chris Harris is an automotive journalist, racing driver, and former Top Gear presenter. He joins Joe Rogan to discuss his experiences in the automotive world, reflections on hosting Top Gear, conspiracy theories, motorsports, and more. Harris provides insider perspectives on the car industry and television production, while Rogan draws connections to broader topics like technology, politics, and human nature.

0:00

-0:00

Key Takeaways

Chris Harris reflects on his experience hosting Top Gear, saying he shouldn't have taken the job trying to follow Jeremy Clarkson. He still gets hate mail years later.
Harris discusses the accident that led to Top Gear being put on hold indefinitely, where his co-host Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff was seriously injured filming a stunt. Harris had warned BBC executives months earlier that someone could get killed if safety practices weren't improved.
Harris and Rogan debate the merits of electric vehicles vs. internal combustion engines. Harris believes EVs are currently only viable for wealthy people and that the technology isn't ready for mass adoption yet.
They discuss conspiracy theories, including the mysterious death of Stanley Meyer who claimed to invent a water-powered car. Harris is more skeptical of conspiracies but acknowledges corporate coverups do happen, like the Volkswagen emissions scandal.
Harris shares stories of ingenious cheating and rule-bending in motorsports, especially Formula 1. He says F1 is largely about interpreting rules and not getting caught.
They talk about the incredible engineering and technology in F1 cars and fighter jets like the F-35. Harris recounts racing an F-35 in a McLaren for Top Gear.
Harris plans to relaunch his YouTube channel soon to focus on car content without network interference. Rogan encourages him to do his own thing online.

Introduction

Chris Harris is an automotive journalist, racing driver, and former Top Gear presenter. He joins Joe Rogan to discuss his experiences in the automotive world, reflections on hosting Top Gear, conspiracy theories, motorsports, and more. Harris provides insider perspectives on the car industry and television production, while Rogan draws connections to broader topics like technology, politics, and human nature.

Topics Discussed

Reflections on Top Gear (2:15)

Harris discusses his time hosting Top Gear and the challenges of following Jeremy Clarkson:

Says taking the Top Gear job was "the wrong call" in hindsight due to Clarkson's popularity
Still gets hate mail years later from Clarkson fans
Enjoyed making the show but even good segments were criticized for not being Clarkson
"Following in Jeremy's footsteps was on reflection a decision I made the wrong call. I shouldn't have done it."

Top Gear Accident and Safety Concerns (36:54)

Harris reveals details about the accident that led to Top Gear being put on hold:

Co-host Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff was seriously injured filming a stunt in a Morgan 3-wheeler
Harris had warned BBC executives months earlier that someone could get killed if safety practices weren't improved
Feels partly responsible for not being able to advise Flintoff on the vehicle that day
BBC conducted inquiries but Harris was largely kept out of the loop
Harris lost his job when the show was canceled and feels the BBC "left him to rot"

Electric Vehicles vs Internal Combustion Engines (1:06:41)

Harris and Rogan debate the merits and challenges of electric vehicles:

Harris believes EVs are currently only viable for wealthy people
Infrastructure and technology not ready for mass adoption yet
Poor resale value of EVs compared to gas vehicles
Harris: "The electric vehicle is for rich people, isn't it? You think about it. You show me the electric vehicle for normal people."
Rogan points out challenges for apartment dwellers without home charging

Conspiracy Theories (2:24:44)

They discuss various conspiracy theories, including:

The mysterious death of Stanley Meyer who claimed to invent a water-powered car
Harris is more skeptical but acknowledges corporate coverups do happen
Volkswagen emissions scandal shook Harris' faith in large corporations
Recent suspicious deaths related to a fraud trial
Rogan: "Conspiracy theories are fascinating because some of them are bullshit and some of them are real and it's hard to figure out what's what."

Cheating and Rule-Bending in Motorsports (2:41:59)

Harris shares stories of ingenious cheating in racing:

Formula 1 is largely about interpreting rules and not getting caught
Toyota excluded from World Rally Championship in 1995 for clever turbo restrictor bypass
Lotus used diversion tactics to hide ground effect aerodynamics
Harris: "Formula One is about not getting caught. That's really what it's about."

Fighter Jet and F1 Technology (2:50:57)

They discuss the incredible engineering in F1 cars and fighter jets:

Harris raced an F-35 fighter jet in a McLaren for Top Gear
Extreme G-forces and power of the F-35
Technology transfer between aerospace, F1, and road cars
Harris: "The F-35 was one of the coolest man-made objects I've ever seen."

Harris' Future Plans (2:56:39)

Harris discusses his plans for the future:

Plans to relaunch his YouTube channel soon
Wants to focus on car content without network interference
Rogan encourages him to do his own thing online
Harris: "I like cars. I want to make shows about cars. And I will, of course, I will go back to the Internet."

Conclusion

Chris Harris provides fascinating insider perspectives on the automotive world, from hosting Top Gear to the cutting-edge technology in F1 and fighter jets. He reflects candidly on the challenges and controversies he faced at Top Gear, while also sharing his passion for cars and motorsports. The conversation with Joe Rogan covers a wide range of topics, from electric vehicles to conspiracy theories, showcasing Harris' deep knowledge and Rogan's curiosity. As Harris looks to the future, he seems eager to return to creating car content on his own terms, without the constraints of network television.