Mayhem as hundreds of boy racers invade city

Hundreds of boy racers caused mayhem around Tauranga last night, pouring diesel on roadways, throwing bottles at police cars, fighting and setting fire to vehicles.
Boy racers came from all over the region to hoon it up. Some of the worst offending occurred at the intersection of Marine Parade and Grace Avenue, near the Mount Main Beach.
Several hundred cars were counted by irate residents kept awake into the small hours of this morning.
Senior Sergeant Ian Campion of Tauranga police said the behaviour was appalling and would not be tolerated.
A 37-year-old Tauranga man was badly beaten in The Strand reclamation carpark at 1am in an assault that arose out of an earlier alleged boy racer related collision in Hewletts Rd.
Mr Campion said two men have been arrested and charged with injuring with intend to cause grievous bodily harm.
Police were kept busy for most of the night impounding vehicles and trying to break-up trouble as it flared up around town. Mr Campion said the rear window of a police car was smashed by a bottle in Grace Rd at about 11pm.
The other main trouble spots were Westmorland Rise in Bethlehem, Oropi Rd by the old service station, Sulphur Point and Aerodrome Rd.
Police impounded 10 vehicles last night and several more were expected to be impounded today as a result of investigations. Five boy racers were arrested for offences such as sustained loss of traction and racing.
Trouble started brewing about 10pm and police were kept busy until the early hours of this morning.
About 2am police immobilised and impounded a Datsun ute for doing burnouts in Cross Rd. But tow truck operators were so busy they were unable to respond immediately and when they arrived the ute was in flames.
The Tauranga fire service was called but was unable to do anything except dampen down the wreckage.
Mr Campion said police charged the driver with disqualified driving and other offences.
And the Mount fire service was called out just after midnight to another car fire in Te Ngaio Rd where a set of mag wheels had been stolen from a car and the vehicle set alight and extensively damaged.
Mr Campion said police would continue to take a hard line with any breaches of boy racer legislation.