When is a boyracer not a boyracer?

[B1NZ]

This guys still trying to get off his conviction, Its good to see them actually appling it to everyone, not just basing it on age and what you drive:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3849622a11,00.html

Or for you people too lazy to click a link or cant access at work:

51-year-old treated as 'boy racer'
04 November 2006
By HELEN PRATTLEY

He may be a middle-aged businessman in a flash car, but he's still covered by the boy racer legislation. Helen Prattley reports.

"I'm not a boy racer, I'm a car enthusiast."
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These words from a Tui beer advertisement were yesterday used in the defence of the chairman of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce who was convicted of spinning the wheels of his Mercedes Benz in Mahoe St, Te Awamutu, last December.

John Rae, 51, yesterday appeared before Judge Joanna Maze in the Hamilton District Court, having been found guilty of wheel-spinning under what is known as the "Boy Racer Act".

He was fined $450 and disqualified from driving for six months.

In an effort to have Rae discharged without conviction, lawyer Stephen Harrop told the judge the legislation was designed for "boy racers who congregate at night in suburban areas to undergo deliberate, sustained loss of traction to impress their like-minded mates, and in the course of that create significant dangers to people and property".

He said Rae never intended to spin the wheels of his car and was in complete control of the $250,000 Mercedes CLS 55 AMG while doing so. The car, which left a 27m-long trail of rubber, was impounded by police for 28 days.
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"Mr Rae is neither a boy, nor on this occasion was he racing," Mr Harrop said.

"He did not create a material risk to road safety."

He said a conviction would affect Rae's ability to travel overseas, impact on his business, cause him personal embarrassment, harm his reputation, and stop him driving in motorsport competitions. It was therefore out of proportion to the gravity of the offence, Mr Harrop said.

But Judge Maze told Rae the purpose of the law was to tackle exhibitionist drivers.

"In a sense, yours was exhibitionist driving although I accept you have difficulty accepting that," she said.

The judge referred to Rae's previous convictions for careless use of a motor vehicle in 1993 and dangerous driving in 1976, and 17 fines for speeding since 1985.

"I think they (the speeding infringements) are indicative of the approach you have applied in the past towards driving safety and your obligations," she said.

[hsmidy]

thats mint aye, loving it

[Ae92typeX]

He said Rae never intended to spin the wheels of his car... [yet]left a 27m-long trail of rubber...

lol, what a knob. 'if' that was true(yeah right) he clearly has no car control skills and should be off the road anyway lol.

[Mad Murphy]

The guy's obviously an idiot who thinks money is an excuse for breaking the law, hence he hasn't learned a lesson from 17 speeding fines and 2 previous convictions. People like that claiming to be an enthusiast give real enthusiasts a bad name. It's great to see the judge hit him where it really hurts, taking his licence away.

[Adamal]

27m and never meant to do it?

"Whoops..... My wheels are spinning....... To stop this.... I should remove my right foot from the gas...... Ok.......... Here goes......... There we go"

[gurutasker]

People like that claiming to be an enthusiast give real enthusiasts a bad name.

I'd be careful what you spout out before you actually know... I'm not denying he was in the wrong but I think you will find he is involved in a hell of a lot more motorsport than you are.

[Inane]

if there was any real justice the guy would get a medal for being probably the only owner of a cls 55amg that actually uses it like a muscle car (which it is) and not as a daily driver.

I think its great that they are applying the rule to everyone... but wait no they arent.

they are making an example of a high profile person,
I know of so many people who drive v8 holdens and fords who get away with stuff like that right in front of police.

most of those are middle-aged to mid 50s men.

and the cops dont ping them.

but do it in a euro-sports car or in a jap import and your screwed.

[Chickenman]

Yeah, he's been around a long time and has a race car and all that.. if anything you would have to expect him to be more restrained on the road as he has an outlet for that sort of behaviour.


Basically he's just a boyracer with money and I spit on his mercedes as I spit on 1500cc hondas that try to race you

[summin]

Castrate him I reckon, its about time they made an example. Im sure hes not a bad guy and has been involved in a lot of motorsport etc etc, but Im sick of people living outside the law just cos they're either rich or their uber expensive laywer makes them look like saints.

Anyone who does a 27m skid should lose their licence, regardless of who you are, what you've done in the past, or what your driving. I dont see how he is any different from a 17yr old doing a skid in his dad merc...

My 2c

[Dirtbag]

so his loss of traction was deliberate going by the fact "he was in control" at the time, and hes still trying to get off? jezuz. Hope they ream him

[Mr.Phreak]

A guy with a previous record driving a $250k car.......

Yup, he definately fits the profile of Average Joe, I'm really glad they're applying it to everyone

[Quint]

He broke the law, hes paying the fine and hes doing his 'time'.

Theres no need for this rightious 'YEA ITS ABOUT TIME!' since if it happened to you, you'd be crying into your mums skirts and it shows you up for being a real asshole.

I've seen just as many 'middle-aged' men getting away with this behaviour as 'boy-racers'. If u don't want to get stuck with the stigmata of being a boyracer, DON'T DO SKIDS.

P.S i wonder how long untill this thread gets locked >_<

[Quint]

A guy with a previous record driving a $250k car.......

Yup, he definately fits the profile of Average Joe, I'm really glad they're applying it to everyone

I don't think this law is for your average joe....

Average joe doesn't do 27m skids down the road.

[sergei]

If you want this thread locked, we can talk about religion

[Chickenman]

I found Jesus



He was behind the couch

[pureadrenalin]

Your average boy racer doesn't have a traction control button to turn off either......

[sergei]

Who cares about who gets burned by that law any way?
What I find is really stupid that this goverment instead at addressing why this problem exists, they just push another law to curb it. Like that overspending on election campaing law.

[Quint]

thats a bureaucracy for ya

p.s saw your pic before it got removed, many lols

[MR2SIK]

I dont see how this took so long to go through, my workmate did a 27cm skid (not exact but it was miniscule) in the rain and he got stung with loss of licence and a fine.

He thinks he can get away with it cos he does motorsport making him a better driver? Does that mean that since I drag race, I can Launch at every set of lights and hit 180km/h as quickly as possible? pfft doubt it.

He's getting everything he deserves, and hes brought the media attention upon himself by being so blatently arrogant with the way hes fighting it.

[sergei]

thats a bureaucracy for ya

p.s saw your pic before it got removed, many lols

it was some what un-apropriate