What Gear?

I don't usually watch Top Gear on the BBC, but it happened to be on the channel when the three blokes were testing clapped out cars in a variety of weird ways. They had to park on a steep incline in neutral, without using brakes, and get out. Jeremy Clarkson's car was invisible in clouds of smoke. Then they had to drive over a cobbled road with a colander of eggs slowly breaking over their heads. Lastly, they donned wetsuits and snorkels while their cars were filled with water and had to drive as far as they could until the water level dropped below the steering wheel. I was laughing so loudly my daughter came to see what was going on and joined in the hilarity. I thought, this is so familiar, but why? A tall man, curly hair, big feet, smoking car? Oh, yes! The circus. Those clowns with bits falling off their cars are a hard act to follow.