Speedsters caught on film

Geoff Wilson is standing up to the boy racers in his street. Photo / Christchurch Star

Most people are not brave enough to stand up to boy racers.

But Geoff Wilson is not among them.

Fed-up with speedsters on his street, the Christchurch man set up a speed camera system in his back yard to nab them.

Residents have long suffered speeding and noisy acceleration in his Belfast street, with some drivers going more than double the 50km/h speed limit.

But 57-year-old Wilson's ingenuity has resulted in seven convictions for excessive speeding - with two more boy racers pinged by his camera currently before the courts.

Police have tested and calibrated his system against their own car radars. They say his footage can be used as evidence in court.

The system works by measuring the time it takes for a car to travel 7m along the road beside Wilson's house.

Wilson said it was not uncommon for people to drive down his street at more than 100km/h. He went to the city council some years ago to see if speed bumps could be installed, but nothing had been done.

"I thought right, I'll do it myself,' he said.

The camera system has been in place for about a year, and it appeared the message was starting to get through.

"The street has quietened down now. They [the local boy racers] know I'm serious," Wilson said.

Some could be heard slowing down in front of his house, then speeding up again.

But his stand has not come without a personal cost. Not only did the system cost him in time and money, but he has also faced retribution from those convicted through his system.

He has had a rock thrown through his son's rear car window, a letterbox thrown into his garage, threats from boy racers' parents - in one case requiring an anti-harassment order - and bottles thrown at his vehicles and house.

But Mr Wilson said someone had to "take a stand".

"I'm out to get the guys going 80, 90 and 100 km/h. The speed limit is 50km/h, not 90km over the speed limit."

"I only do it if it is serious."

Wilson said he did not have a grudge against car enthusiasts; rather his motivation was about "safety in the community".

Senior Constable Pete Carrington said anyone could set up a system like Wilson's.

"If you've got a camera covering an area which is measured and a computer system that works to a 100th of a second and you've got a clock on it, there is nothing to stop anybody," he said.

* Boy racers snapped

May 13, 2007: 110km/h. 17-year-old man convicted.

May 30, 2007: 99km/h. 17-year-old man convicted.

June 16, 2009: 130km/h. 18-year-old man convicted.

May 12, 2009: 108km/h. 19-year-old man convicted.

August 12, 2009: 91km/h. 18-year-old man before the courts.

- CHRISTCHURCH STAR