Gears and Tears

Gears and Tears was a British television documentary series that originally aired on the Northern Ireland variation of BBC One in 2010. It followed the story behind a BriSCA Formula One Stock Car Racing season and followed a bitter battle between two dominant clans in the sport: the Wainmans from Yorkshire and the Smiths from Lancashire. Over the nine-month season, the film makers got unprecedented access to this world of everyday heroes, who come from all walks of life. Although the Wainmans and the Smiths are the central characters, other drivers who appear in the series included Nuneaton-based father and son Rob and Chris Cowley, and Leicestershire double glazing company manager Paul Hines. The programme was narrated by Ralph Ineson and produced by Charlie Clay who also produced Trawlermen. It was initiated by lifelong stock car fan and assistant producer on the show John Lakey who has worked on other BBC shows such as Top Gear, Wrong Car Right Car, and Panic Mechanics. A large amount of on board mini-cameras that were used in the series brought stock car racing to life in a way that had never been seen before.