Undie 500 hits the road with police in tow

Vehicles in this year's unofficial Undie 500 - the Trek '08 - are checked by LTSA and police in Christchurch.

A rebel group of Undie 500 participants hit the road today with police in tow and in defiance of a ban on the event following riots and violence last year.

The event involves students driving from Christchurch to Dunedin in cars bought for less than $500.

It was cancelled this year following disorder in 2006 by drunken students and then riots last year in Dunedin which resulted in 69 arrests.

Police said it appeared about 30 vehicles were involved in the event today, but some were support vehicles including rentals. As many as 150 vehicles were involved last year.

Inspector Dave Campbell from Dunedin police said officers from Christchurch were shadowing the procession as it travelled between the cities and would assist their Dunedin colleagues once they arrived.

He told Radio New Zealand many were stopping off at pubs in rural towns and police had already spoken to one participant who was seen urinating out of a van window in Ashburton.

Mr Campbell said the procession was likely to string into Dunedin at various times throughout the night and that if there was any trouble it was likely to be tomorrow.

"It's not just the people that travel down, it also attracts local Dunedin students who join them and that's where it's difficult to assess what numbers may ultimately be involved in partying," he said.

Otago Polytechnic Students' Association (OPSA) has warned any illegal behaviour by its students this year could end in expulsion.

Association leaders said the event was traditionally poorly organised and reflected badly on all students.

This week they labelled the Undie 500 "purely poorly organised public disorder" and feared this year's version would be even more poorly organised than the official version.

- NZPA