BBC Radio 4 FM

BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

BBC Radio 4

Radio 4

Radio 4 (FM)

Picturing Britain

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

Adil Ray looks at life through the lens of contemporary photographers

Picturing Britain: Series 2

Picturing Britain: Series 2: Episode 3: The Lady Bangers

Episode 3

Episode 3: The Lady Bangers

Series 2

The Lady Bangers

BBC Radio 4 - Picturing Britain, Series 2, The Lady Bangers

Adil Ray views a banger race meeting through the lens of photographer Chloe Dewe Mathews.

Adil Ray goes to the oval track and enters the wild and colourful world of a forgotten motorsport - banger racing - through the lens of documentary photographer Chloe Dewe Mathews.

In Picturing Britain, Adil Ray explores British life through the lens of some of the country's photographers.

In this programme, Adil takes to the track - the oval track - to discover the wild world of banger racing and meet the diehard foot-soldiers and fans of the sport. 

He goes to an evening meeting just outside Eastbourne with documentary photographer Chloe Dewe Mathews as she works on her latest project. Their main focus - to follow the lady banger drivers as they prepare to for the first of the evening's races.

As he wanders around the arena, Adil discovers banger racing is very much alive and kicking thanks to a small but devoted band of followers who invest all their time and energy, not to mention money, in doing up old, useless and scrap cars and making them safe to race. 

The cars are painstakingly stripped inside and out, all glass removed, doors taped and then painted in bright colours - only to have them smashed them to pieces on the track. 

As he discovers, it's very much a family affair - bringing together two or three generations with a passion for the sport. 

And it is a close-knit community and a warm and welcoming one - but keen to share the love of this forgotten motorsport with all newcomers. 

Producer: Mohini Patel.

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Adil Ray views Britain through the lens of five different types of photographer

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Picturing Britain

Series 2

Episode 3: The Lady Bangers

Genres

Brand

Series

BBC Radio 4 FM

About BBC Radio 4