High Gear

High Gear is a weekly motoring show developed by Mason Baldwinson in 1989, and broadcasting on MBC 4 across Meridiania, with Dutch translated versions in Gezag and Raakstad, and French translated versions available in South Juliet. Each season features 12 episodes, and occasional specials, featuring 14 over the show's lifespan. The show has had it's current lineup of presenters since Cooper Aimet joined the cast in 2005. Each episode involves Toby and Patrick driving cars around the area south of Angelorium near the test track in places such as Cosfree, Atyard Green, Eglesridge Bridge and Blacksbeck Chapel. There are also notable coastal films featuring areas around Hoshpen. After Toby and Patrick finish their films, Cooper (or another driver in certain cases or before 2005) will test the car(s) that were previously driven in the episodes, in a drive around the test track in a 3 1/3 minute film, followed by a laptime around the track.

History
In 1986, Mason Baldwinson, a young and aspiring television writer in Angelorium came up with an idea for a motoring show, very similar to High Gear. He first approached MBS in mid 1987 and PBC in early 1988 before being given the contract to make the first 12 episode season in June 1988 by the MBC to be broadcast on MBC Four. The original cast of presenters was Toby Allman who teamed with Taj Macguire for the first season. After season one, former GP driver Jorma Numminen joined the cast as a resident test driver, with Toby and Taj still being the two to host films and segments, Jorma only taking cars on track. In season 3 Jorma took on the role of a third presenter but he was subsequently replaced in season three by Meridianian F3 Driver Jackson Bethel. After season 4, Allman had a falling out with the executives of the MBC and was replaced, until he came back in 1996 after executive changes with the MBC, with Darcy Alcorn.

Test Track
The buildings where the show is filmed when in studio are located in Cosfree are all part of a test track, built in 1991. Before the show had it's own facility, the show was filmed at the Leistring in the state of West Coast.

Challenges and Races
Each episode features a race of some sort, which tests three cars, one driven by Cooper, one by Toby, and one by Patrick.

200 seconds of fury
Although officially called 200 seconds of fury, Cooper always tests the cars to their limit before he takes them for a lap to determine where the car goes on the lap board.

Car Laps
Since the show started driving on it's own track in 1991, there have been 386 episodes, 372 excluding specials, and 591 cars have visited the test track to set a time. The fastest time ever around the track by a racing car was in 2005 when Kilburn brought their Kilburn 1/16 Thoroughbred Grand Prix Car to make a lap, and it set down a 0:57.32

Notable Times

 * Kilburn 1/16 Thoroughbred GPS Car 0:57.32 (driven by Lorenzo McKay shortly before he was replaced)
 * Bugatti Veyron 1:09.18
 * Chevy Camaro SS 1:15.53
 * Holden Commadore 1:17.98
 * Chevy Camaro LS V6 1:18.64
 * Holden Ute 1:20.44
 * Honda S2000 1:24.67
 * Patrick's VW Buggie 1:25.81
 * Cooper's VW Buggie 1:28.36
 * Chevy Volt 1:31.03
 * Smart Fortwo 1:44.84
 * Toyota Prius 1:54.40
 * 1914 Ford Model T 3:53.43
 * 1910 Buick Model 17 4:01.41
 * Toby's VW Buggie DNF

Invitation Only
Invitation Only is a segment where celebrities come out to the track and

Club Day Drivers
Once each season, the presenters invite four drivers each for a club day at the track.

Toby Allman (1989-1991, 1996-)
Toby Cecil Allman (born August 13, 1959 in Cooper, Cooper) is the longest serving presenter on High Gear. Allman began working in MBC Main in Angelorium in 1981 right out of college at the University of Cooper. In 1987, he was brought onto MBC 3's Sports Sunday, providing commentary to various lesser sports activities from the week, including MTCC and MSCRA events. In 1988, Mason Baldwinson hired Allman to be a presenter in his pilot for a new show which would become High Gear, along with newsman Taj Macguire from MBC channel M3TV.

Patrick Strempel (2001-)
Patrick James Strempel began his career in the automotive industry as a low ranking member of the David Madison Regional Auctions in 1981 at the age of 14 before moving up to become a regional auctioneer while in college at Dethridge City University in 1988.

Previous Presenters

 * Taj Macguire 1989-1990
 * Jorma Numminen 1989-1990
 * Jackson Bethel 1991-
 * Darcy Alcorn 1991-1996