Racing is about more than just simply speed, and it goes deeper than just on-track competition. Competitors and the fans that follow them collectively form a family of sorts, a tightly knit unit that bonds over the smell of burning tires and exhaust.
That is especially true in the dirt racing world, where drivers work on their own cars, flare their tempers on short tracks and become heroes to those who pay to see them every week.
It is in the spirit of that universe where “Shifting Gears” lives, and the spirit in which the film was developed.
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“I grew up in the South, and going to visit my granddad in Asheville, we would walk to the dirt track and sit up on the hill,” said Keith Harris, who wrote the script for “Shifting Gears” and also stars as Tom Williamson. “That always has been in my fond memory bank. … We wanted this to have a real grassroots kind of feel to it. I’ve got nothing but mad respect for those drivers.”
In the family-friendly flick, Williamson is an overworked dad, in a dead-end job who decides to spend his life savings on a “family business” hoping to bring his family closer together – his family being his wife, Carol, teenage son, Jeremy and daughter, Stephy.
Instead, that decision wagers the family’s destiny on Jeremy’s unexpected dirt track racing skills.
When it comes to some of the more colorful anecdotes of the dirt track scene, well, Harris had first-hand intel. His friend Rick Kennedy worked at a local garage for a decade and collected funny stories from the racers that visited. Some of the tentpole moments in the movie are based off true stories from Kennedy’s journal.
The idea of collecting those stories was the spark for Harris to write the script.
“My goal as a filmmaker was obviously to honor the sport as well as the people and the core audience, too,” Harris said. “I wanted to be as authentic as possible and have as few red flags thrown by people who are in the sport as possible. That was my goal.”
Several NASCAR drivers got their start on the dirt scene and can relate to some of the themes throughout the movie – especially the strong sense of family and community.
Corey LaJoie, one of those drivers raised on dirt, offered this review to NASCAR.com:
“Shifting Gears” is a well-made movie that keeps you entertained with light hearted humor and the Williamson’s determination to keep their family’s small auto shop in business.
Growing up in a racing family, I can relate to Jeremy’s mission to prove himself both on and off the race track to his family and friends.
The movie portrays a feel-good story of learning the ropes of dirt racing in order to buy the family’s shop back. They pull together to make it happen, just like thousands of short track racers all over the country do every single week.
With a solid cast and interesting ending, I certainly recommend taking the time to watch “Shifting Gears.”
John Ratzenberger, who stars as Conrad Baines, a local businessman who wants to knock down the service station Williamson and family are trying to run, has his own take on the film.
Dirt racers are known for getting their hands dirty and touching all parts of the car. It’s a skillset that ultimately goes beyond racing.
“The whole messaging of this movie is right along with what I’ve been trying to do for 20 years,” Ratzenberger said, “and that is teaching young people how to use tools. That doesn’t happen anymore. I love when people want to work on cars and want to be nuts-and-bolts guys.
“I like to remind my audiences that civilization wasn’t built by actors and celebrities. It was built by people who know how to use tools.”
“Shifting Gears” opens March 23 in select theaters nationwide, and also on streaming services such as Amazon, iTunes, DirecTV, and more. Find where you can see the movie at ShiftingGearsMovie.com.