Boy racer, boy racer, boy racer

[SkylineObsession]

Now that i have your attention, i've been asked by The Star reporter Catherine Pattison if i could post this around a few forums - if you get The Star you may have read it already last week but here it is again.

Responses have to be given to her by e-mail or phone no later than 12pm this Wednesday.

Boy Racer response
By CATHERINE PATTISON

BOY racers, car enthusiasts and disgruntled residents living near favourite drag train pull-ups, may have all found a friend in Dunedin City Council community road safety advisor Henriette Rawlings.
She has agreed to present the responses sent in to The Star after last week's articles on boy racers to key stakeholders, as a catalyst for setting up a working party It would investigate alternative options to young drivers congregating at community facilities, such as Henley Hall.
"As a community we need to say yes there's a problem and we need to explore creative solutions and ideas, while trying to find some middle ground," Ms Rawlings said.

Although instigating events for drivers was beyond her brief, she stressed that her empathy lay with all involved in the boy racer conundrum. With support from police, Land Transport New Zealand, ACC, Public Health South and other DCC representatives, regular, organised meetings could be possible.

Research on what other regions are doing and an eventual public meeting if stakeholders expressed sufficient interest) would be necessary to gauge how to move forward, Ms Rawlings said.
"We need to ask how can we do this in a controlled and responsible way that limits the impact on the wider community but doesn't draw back from sensible enjoyment of boy racers."

One place a possible future venue will not be, is the Dunedin International Airport. Chief executive John McCall cited the airport's 24-hour operation schedule, compliance and security measures as major obstacles to running any form of motorsport on the landing strips or taxi runways.
"The risk is simply far too high," he said.

If young people were looking for excuses to test their car's performance, Otago Sports Car Club president Ross Cameron welcomed them to enter the monthly events (gravel in winter and tarseal in summer).
"They should join some of our [club] events and be competitive and match their cars against comparable cars," he said.
The quarter-mile events were open to non-members, otherwise a $65 annual membership gave access to all the club's hill climbs, rally sprints and circuit meetings in Invercargill and Timaru.
A competition license costing about $65 a year, safety checks on cars and safety gear were other requirements. Drivers under-18 needed their parents approval.

Island Park Speedway publicity officer Ricky Boulton had a straight-shooting message for drivers wanting to race in Dunedin.
"We've got motorsport venues, so utilise them."
The speedway had about 50 teenage members, who indulged their passion for cars, speed and adrenaline at the Waldronville speedway. For $1000, young drivers could set themselves up with a race car "- a lot of them are boy racer cars" - and be involved with "400 to 500 other people that will have the same sort of passion," Mr Boulton said.

* If you have any comments on potential venues or events you would like to see run on a regular basis in a controlled environment in the city, please email them to star@alliedpress.co.nz or phone Catherine Pattison on 479-3505 ext. 8312. These will be passed on to DCC community road safety advisor Henriette Rawlings.

My opinions have already been sent and (i think) you've only got until 12pm this Wednesday to send yours!

[EVL20V]

the speedway is for crappy old filthy fords/holden etc that want to thrash around a muddy course full of potholes.

on the other hand, boy racers need preferably a smooth tarmac track for burnouts and their coilovers/cutties

[SkylineObsession]

Japanese/British/American cars are actually cleaning up a few of the speedway races.

There's heaps of different cars racing, CRXs, Preludes, 300ZX, Mitsi GTO, R30/R31 Skyline, Camaro, Corvette, Firebird/TransAm, Sierra, Mustang, 180SX (pushing 740 hp...), Mini's, 323, Galant, Legacy, Monaro and heaps more.

[ke25sr]

sports car club aye might just follow that up.

[itsamirage]

hill climb this sunday, was entering in the cefiro but big end went so my engines in bits , there was a friendly bet between a guy who comes into work and me on th race since we were both entering, his did a big end at teretonga in the weekend so his is in bits now too.. moral of the story? Dont bet people or your big end bearings will hear you and let go