Illegal Car Meets
Discussion
The BBC is having another pop over illegal car meets..
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-68232...
It is pretty obvious the police aren't making a lot of progress in stopping them, I know there will always be an underground element but maybe facilitating somewhere to hold these might reduce the problems with them?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-68232...
It is pretty obvious the police aren't making a lot of progress in stopping them, I know there will always be an underground element but maybe facilitating somewhere to hold these might reduce the problems with them?
These have been going since god was a lad. I was into the 'scene' about 20-25 years ago. Used to park, walk round the cars and go home.
Until once, a policeman warned me he had my registration plate logged and my car would be crushed if I was ever seen at another one. He was unbelievable hostile and wouldn't let me speak. It completely put me off going to any more. As ever, 5% of the attendees piss around, draw attention to it and the other 95% suffer.
Until once, a policeman warned me he had my registration plate logged and my car would be crushed if I was ever seen at another one. He was unbelievable hostile and wouldn't let me speak. It completely put me off going to any more. As ever, 5% of the attendees piss around, draw attention to it and the other 95% suffer.
To be honest, I think it's a valid complaint. There are "car meets", where owners meet and chat - which I have attended many times myself - and there are "car meets" - where idiots make a huge amount of noise, and are one step away from having an accident and wiping out some of their mates.
There is an industrial estate behind my previous address - and the entrance to the industrial estate is off a dual carriageway which is about 1.5 miles between two roundabouts. About 6 months before I moved out it seems it became popular with morons revving the nuts off their cars, screeching about and (from the sounds of it) screaming up and down the dual carriageway with pretty much all silencing removed from their exhausts.
Much as I like cars, a month or two more and I would have been tempted to order a baseball bat. It was f*****g annoying all evening, even late.
There is an industrial estate behind my previous address - and the entrance to the industrial estate is off a dual carriageway which is about 1.5 miles between two roundabouts. About 6 months before I moved out it seems it became popular with morons revving the nuts off their cars, screeching about and (from the sounds of it) screaming up and down the dual carriageway with pretty much all silencing removed from their exhausts.
Much as I like cars, a month or two more and I would have been tempted to order a baseball bat. It was f*****g annoying all evening, even late.
8IKERDAVE said:
These have been going since god was a lad. I was into the 'scene' about 20-25 years ago. Used to park, walk round the cars and go home.
Until once, a policeman warned me he had my registration plate logged and my car would be crushed if I was ever seen at another one. He was unbelievable hostile and wouldn't let me speak. It completely put me off going to any more. As ever, 5% of the attendees piss around, draw attention to it and the other 95% suffer.
Seeing as the 5% are outnumbered massively by the 95% then a bit of self-policing might not go amiss.... why don't the 95% make it clear to the 5% that they are being tit's or are they to busy watching the 5%?Until once, a policeman warned me he had my registration plate logged and my car would be crushed if I was ever seen at another one. He was unbelievable hostile and wouldn't let me speak. It completely put me off going to any more. As ever, 5% of the attendees piss around, draw attention to it and the other 95% suffer.
If the 5% don't have an audience, they might just not bother turning up.
I think there's a huge difference between the meets most of us went to as younger kids (maybe 20 years ago?), and this "takeover" style f
kery we're seeing now.
I grew up popping down to Southend on a Fri/Sat night or attending local car park meets. All were mainly static, MAYBE you had a naughty boy pull a burnout in his Fiesta in a bit of traffic and that would usually attract the attention of the sole police car in the vicinity. What you have now are 30-40 cars parking up along a dual carriageway with another 10-20 bellends racing between roundabouts or drifting the roundabouts in between local traffic. The danger to Joe public and others at these meets is massive. There's a stretch near me that is particularly bad.
The problem is these meets are very mobile as they'll just rock up to anywhere, there doesn't have to be a car park and its very often a B road somewhere they'll line. The police just don't have the resources to mobilise sufficient units to deal with the volume of offenders and they know it.
Personally, I think the attitudes of the types who attend these events is the issue and no, they shouldn't be provided with an area or venue because they're too stupid not to cock it up and tt someone walking around. They don't want to pay for anything so wouldn't want a ticketed venue with the required supervision. A big part of the problem is the shift in car culture. When everyone is sat about in mapped Audis/BMWs on finance there's not a lot to look at in a static meet so the focus shifts to who's a "certi driver".
I hate that I sound so old fashioned and ranty, I've nothing against people enjoying what they like but it's the lack of respect for anyone else that grates. They give every petrolhead a bad name.
kery we're seeing now. I grew up popping down to Southend on a Fri/Sat night or attending local car park meets. All were mainly static, MAYBE you had a naughty boy pull a burnout in his Fiesta in a bit of traffic and that would usually attract the attention of the sole police car in the vicinity. What you have now are 30-40 cars parking up along a dual carriageway with another 10-20 bellends racing between roundabouts or drifting the roundabouts in between local traffic. The danger to Joe public and others at these meets is massive. There's a stretch near me that is particularly bad.
The problem is these meets are very mobile as they'll just rock up to anywhere, there doesn't have to be a car park and its very often a B road somewhere they'll line. The police just don't have the resources to mobilise sufficient units to deal with the volume of offenders and they know it.
Personally, I think the attitudes of the types who attend these events is the issue and no, they shouldn't be provided with an area or venue because they're too stupid not to cock it up and t
t someone walking around. They don't want to pay for anything so wouldn't want a ticketed venue with the required supervision. A big part of the problem is the shift in car culture. When everyone is sat about in mapped Audis/BMWs on finance there's not a lot to look at in a static meet so the focus shifts to who's a "certi driver". I hate that I sound so old fashioned and ranty, I've nothing against people enjoying what they like but it's the lack of respect for anyone else that grates. They give every petrolhead a bad name.
The plod should rock up unannounced and then proceed to scrutinise every single vehicle in minute detail for faults and check every modification from factory spec is is accounted for on the insurance schedule and that the insurance is 100% valid eg no fronting or other sneaky ways to reduce premiums. On top of that, every driver is drug tested. These measures should rapidly reduce the number of these vehicles on the road.
FMOB said:
The BBC is having another pop over illegal car meets.
A "pop" over something that is illegal? Perhaps more accurately the BBC is reporting on illegal car meets.FMOB said:
maybe facilitating somewhere to hold these might reduce the problems with them?
Perhaps if the organisers of these car meets actually looked into renting a location to hold them that might solve the issue.Like a couple have said, I used to frequent some of the meets in the late 90s, early millennium, back when the 'esses' and cage were in Birmingham. Stopped going as it started to get really out of control.
I also recall going to a meet in Bristol, Saturday night in a retail park. The plod that were there were ok, chatting with a few of us - they did end up closing the place so that there was just one entrance/exit. Must have been 300 cars there.
The thing that has changed now is it seems by us that it's about racing about the place making as much noise as possible.
I also recall going to a meet in Bristol, Saturday night in a retail park. The plod that were there were ok, chatting with a few of us - they did end up closing the place so that there was just one entrance/exit. Must have been 300 cars there.
The thing that has changed now is it seems by us that it's about racing about the place making as much noise as possible.
PF62 said:
FMOB said:
The BBC is having another pop over illegal car meets.
A "pop" over something that is illegal? Perhaps more accurately the BBC is reporting on illegal car meets.FMOB said:
maybe facilitating somewhere to hold these might reduce the problems with them?
Perhaps if the organisers of these car meets actually looked into renting a location to hold them that might solve the issue.Making something 'official' takes the fun out of it for some but also costs money. If there is an empty industrial estate where these can be held without causing a lot of trouble then why not let them be held there? They are going to do it anyway so this could reduce some of the disruption for others, yes people will run out of talent and cause accidents but if you attend you take the risk. If it goes wrong then the pieces should be picked up, those who need prosecuting get so but trying to stamp it out which is what they are trying to do is just futile, does this really serve the general good? Probably not.
FMOB said:
PF62 said:
FMOB said:
The BBC is having another pop over illegal car meets.
A "pop" over something that is illegal? Perhaps more accurately the BBC is reporting on illegal car meets.FMOB said:
maybe facilitating somewhere to hold these might reduce the problems with them?
Perhaps if the organisers of these car meets actually looked into renting a location to hold them that might solve the issue.FMOB said:
Making something 'official' takes the fun out of it for some but also costs money. If there is an empty industrial estate where these can be held without causing a lot of trouble then why not let them be held there?
The phrase "without causing a lot of trouble" is doing a lot of heavy lifting there.Certainly in my area industrial estates are frequently not the deserted areas overnight or during the weekend that they were a decade ago, with units now being used for everything from gyms, to dance schools, to trampoline parks, and many more uses that contribute to traffic and people at all times of the day and night.
So as before, how about the organisers finding somewhere to do it without causing any trouble, and if that has an expense then that shouldn't be an issue for those with the expensive cars they want to show off.
Unless of course the desire is actually behave like a t
t doing illegal things.FMOB said:
They are going to do it anyway so this could reduce some of the disruption for others, yes people will run out of talent and cause accidents but if you attend you take the risk. If it goes wrong then the pieces should be picked up, those who need prosecuting get so but trying to stamp it out which is what they are trying to do is just futile, does this really serve the general good? Probably not.
Well if stamping it out stops the trouble then that serves the general good, and if those organising these illegal meets continue to cause trouble then perhaps the authorities should 'stamp' harder until it does stop.
FMOB said:
If there is an empty industrial estate where these can be held without causing a lot of trouble then why not let them be held there?
Someone will own that industrial estate. What do they get from allowing this sort of thing, other than the very real risk of someone getting seriously injured, or worse, and them being left on the hook for it?PorkInsider said:
FMOB said:
If there is an empty industrial estate where these can be held without causing a lot of trouble then why not let them be held there?
Someone will own that industrial estate. What do they get from allowing this sort of thing, other than the very real risk of someone getting seriously injured, or worse, and them being left on the hook for it?There is no upside for an organiser. There is no market where participants would pay the going rate while they can just use the street.
FMOB said:
Making something 'official' takes the fun out of it for some but also costs money.
By "official", you mean "legal". This would involve people driving to the normal standards of the road, which isn't what they want to do is it? Let's not dance around the issue. Plus, if you can afford a car you can afford a tenner to go and sit in a car park. Cost is a non-issue.FMOB said:
If there is an empty industrial estate where these can be held without causing a lot of trouble then why not let them be held there?
As pointed out, there's no such thing. Someone owns the land. People work there. If you had a drive outside your house that was empty and you were out for the day, could I hold a little meet on it and do some burnouts? I'm going to do it anyway so whaty's the harm? I may blow my gearbox all over your drive but it's only me and my mates there so all cool yeah?
FMOB said:
those who need prosecuting get so but trying to stamp it out which is what they are trying to do is just futile, does this really serve the general good? Probably not.
And what about those normal road users who get caught up in it? What about that bloke sat in his car in Brum now brown bread because some tt though it would be cool to nail it down a busy street? He's fine, so he'll be prosecuted and that'll make it all ok? Appreciate it's not a "meet" but the standard of driving was about the same. The "greater good" is society as a whole and yes, not having someone driving like that on the road is serving it rather than the need to try and impress your mates with a bang average skid around a roundabout. I appreciate it may be a bit harsh to pull apart your comment, and I'm not assuming you're the type of person who attends these or participates (despite your defence of them) but this thread was started with the title "illegal car meets". What do you think is making them illegal? If people were meeting up in a car park, sitting around and chatting about their cars, then leaving taking all their rubbish with them having not sat and pinged their BMW off the limiter for 10 mins with a pops and bang map do you think anyone, let alone the BBC would be giving a toss? No, it's because the people who go to these meets have zero respect for the law, the local communities they're in or other road users. They've quite literally ruined the scene.
I've had a couple of chats with people who go to these kinds of things and they all have the same things in common. Can't see how it hurts anyone else, think they're always doing it in a "safe" manner because they wait until the traffic has died down or someone blocks a road somewhere, claims there's no where else to go. Absolute bulls
t. If you want to drive like you're on a race track or drift, pay to do it on a track. If you can't afford it then ask yourself why you feel entitled to act as you please in a common, public area.
I'm afraid I've no time for anyone who thinks this type of thing is ok or attends them. We've all probably been a bit naughty on our own in an empty car park, or perhaps driven above a posted speed limit at times. But there's a huge difference between that and this organised take-over culture. As a car enthusiast my whole life I'd fully endorse the Police turning up and seizing any car caught parked up at these events, along with those caught driving in a manner other than what they should be. Start making these things less attractive to attend by removing the onlookers. It's got to that stage now where I honestly think that would be for the best.
The simple truth is these meets will still happen, the police aren't being successful in stamping them out so maybe some sort of compromise maybe a more productive approach.
And I do know someone will own an industrial estate and any damage needs to be fixed but all these people hear is no you can't do that so decide to do it and to hell with the consequences. Industrial estates, housing estates, general roads still get used and damaged so a solution is no closer.
Maybe some of the nay-sayers would like to suggest something rather than shouting no you can't do that here at the moon.
And I do know someone will own an industrial estate and any damage needs to be fixed but all these people hear is no you can't do that so decide to do it and to hell with the consequences. Industrial estates, housing estates, general roads still get used and damaged so a solution is no closer.
Maybe some of the nay-sayers would like to suggest something rather than shouting no you can't do that here at the moon.
FMOB said:
The simple truth is these meets will still happen, the police aren't being successful in stamping them out so maybe some sort of compromise maybe a more productive approach.
And I do know someone will own an industrial estate and any damage needs to be fixed but all these people hear is no you can't do that so decide to do it and to hell with the consequences. Industrial estates, housing estates, general roads still get used and damaged so a solution is no closer.
Maybe some of the nay-sayers would like to suggest something rather than shouting no you can't do that here at the moon.
So just let people take the absolute piss?And I do know someone will own an industrial estate and any damage needs to be fixed but all these people hear is no you can't do that so decide to do it and to hell with the consequences. Industrial estates, housing estates, general roads still get used and damaged so a solution is no closer.
Maybe some of the nay-sayers would like to suggest something rather than shouting no you can't do that here at the moon.
What's the compromise that doesn't impact everyone else?
FMOB said:
The simple truth is these meets will still happen, the police aren't being successful in stamping them out so maybe some sort of compromise maybe a more productive approach.
And I do know someone will own an industrial estate and any damage needs to be fixed but all these people hear is no you can't do that so decide to do it and to hell with the consequences. Industrial estates, housing estates, general roads still get used and damaged so a solution is no closer.
Maybe some of the nay-sayers would like to suggest something rather than shouting no you can't do that here at the moon.
How about turning your question around and ask if you want to have these meets what are you going to do so they can go ahead safely and legally. After all you want to do something why should others find the solution?And I do know someone will own an industrial estate and any damage needs to be fixed but all these people hear is no you can't do that so decide to do it and to hell with the consequences. Industrial estates, housing estates, general roads still get used and damaged so a solution is no closer.
Maybe some of the nay-sayers would like to suggest something rather than shouting no you can't do that here at the moon.
Avon and Somerset can’t even stop the drift meets in Cheddar Gorge and there’s only one road in and one road out. Loads of rock filled cages are dotted around to try and stop the donuts which they do to a certain degree. But they had people turning with full blown drift cars on trailers at one stage to race up through the gorge. The police have had a speed camera van parked up which probably caught more tourists than drifters and have had DVSA up pulling and checking modified vehicles. Still goes on every Saturday night though . There are vids on TikTok of the police chasing them up through the gorge. They only had to park a car across the road further up and they’d have nowhere to go
Speed Matters | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff