Car fans protest to prove not all 'boy racers' bad

Car enthusiast Jade O'Brien is frustrated at being judged by the illegal actions 'of a few'. PHOTO/GEORGE NOVAK

A group of car enthusiasts frustrated at being judged by the illegal actions "of a few" are holding a protest rally to prove they are not all bad.

Organiser Jade O'Brien said members of the Shifted Society Facebook group would meet in Tauranga on Saturday to make a stand against the antics of some 'boy racers' at the centre of a police bust last weekend in Paengaroa. Read more about that here.

"I'm so frustrated. A lot of us are. Everyone thinks we have anti-social behaviour which is not the case," O'Brien said.

"It's always been a stigma with us. We really enjoy going to our car meets but some people have obviously ruined it for the rest of us," she said.

Twelve cars were impounded after police raided a gathering of about 200 people and 150 cars in Paengaroa on Saturday night. Dozens were charged with vehicle offences and more than 40 were fined.

Police said such gatherings had become subject of complaints from locals and had damaged property. In some instances, residents had been met with aggression.

O'Brien, who worked for Oranga Tamariki, was not at the Saturday meet up but said the gatherings were not aimed at creating upset but more for socialising with others who shared a passion.

"We like going to car meets and talking about our cars. It's really cool. It's a great car community that we have and this [protest] is our way to show 'no, this isn't about street racing and burnouts'."

The 19-year-old said the group did not encourage illegal behaviour but confessed some drivers liked to try to do some tricks when the gathering was leaving to go to another area.

"And it's like 'thanks guys, you've made us a target for police now'. It just creates this whole stigma and that is totally not what we are about."

O'Brien, who drives a 2L twin turbo Subaru legacy, said the core 'boy racer' group involved about 60 to 70 people but sometimes others would join in on the gatherings or create their own.

"This weekend is more of a protest to the people breaking the laws with illegal racing, doing the burnouts and the skids. We don't want to be part of that. If you do, then don't come."

Inspector Karl Wright-St Clair said police were "aware of the protest by the car racing enthusiasts and will be patrolling the central city as per usual throughout the day and night to ensure everyone has a safe night".

The group will meet at Tauranga's Memorial Park at 4pm.

Street racing

Illegal street racing and the anti-social use of vehicles are tackled by measures in the Land Transport (Enforcement Powers) Amendment Act 2009. Drivers who use their vehicles in an anti-social manner are a threat to public safety and can cause excessive noise, disruption and intimidation. The 2009 changes in the Act strengthened existing laws and ensured that penalties became appropriate to prevent repeat offending.

Source - New Zealand Police