Boy Racers/Car modifiers....Why????

[v8thunder]

Hate to pee on SC's parade, but this stuff came from a site called www.boyracerguide.co.uk

It's written by a rallycross driver who does Minicross. Unfortunately S appears to have printed the 'funny' bit that's unrepresentative of the rest of the site - it quite comprehensively explains the difference between modifying a car well to go faster, perform better and respond to the input of a keen driver safely, and chavving up your motor and driving like a tw@. The section of the site where he's talking about good and bad driving is excellent - he questions the point of doing burnouts, wheelspins, handbrake turns and so on in car parks and urban streets when you could be learning advanced driving techniques that would be useful.

He also touches on certain dangers of one or two chav mods - big show-off fragile bodykits from dodgy back-street automarts aren't necessarily crash tested so God knows what happens if you stove one into something. As for silly lights and over-powered stereos - grow up! Seriously, can anyone give me an honest reason why it's a good thing to drive around with a stereo on so loud that the windscreen wipers don't make contact with the 'screen and everyone's ears ring after even a short lift? IMO there should be a decibel limit on car stereos, and I don't care if there's an 'industry' or a 'scene' around it.

But let's face it, the worst thing about laxxed-up cars is inevitably the drivers. You don't make a car look like that to do anything other than show off to anyone who might be in the vicinity, so even the driving screams 'look at me', rather than 'look at the road'.

[Evocator]

Perhaps the post may have been taken in a light hearted manner if the views of the BiB weren’t to actually prosecute for these petty offences.

Oh how the maxers must laugh at the outstanding wit and comical expertise when they pay out for all those fines

I’ll sleep safe in the knowledge that these criminals are being kept on the straight and narrow by our brave BiB

I think perhaps SC ought to arrest all those cyclists who think that cardboard in the spokes makes a cool motorbike type noise – we’ve got to think of the children as well

[Streetcop]

fishtek69 said:

So if you noticed a car behind you with its fogs on unneccesarily, and pulled it over, would you walk to the back of the car first to check they also had rear fogs on, just in case they were? If the car did have rear fogs on - and argued that conditions were previously such as to warrant the use of these lights - would you let them be on their way or still fine them regardless?

I would walk to the rear of the car if the driver stated they had 'forgotten to switch the fogs off'...

I also like to point out the warning light on the dashboard...

As for letting them off......If a driver can't adapt and change the auxiliaries on his/her car in accordance with the conditions, they deserve no benefit of the doubt..

Just like if some one is driving with no lights at all during the night..and when stopped they say.."I drove yesterday lunchtime and didn't need them then!"

[Streetcop]

v8thunder said:

Hate to pee on SC's parade, but this stuff came from a site called www.boyracerguide.co.uk

not peed on my parade at all matey..

Like I posted earlier...explaining that i'd cut/pasted it from elsewhere....but people assumed I had wrote it all myself..

[havoc]

Well, according to Street's original post, I'm halfway there, with just a (nearly) standard car and a few ideas:-

-Exhaust...not modified, but loud enough anyway...and yes I think it's fun!!!
-Uprated brakes...well, pads anyway, for track. But my calipers are red! (Again, factory!)
-Lowered...from the ordinary Integra, yes. But by professionals!
-Suspension...am considering coil-overs, but for track
-Clear indicators...I am still considering this for side repeaters, clean the side of the car up.
-BIG spoiler...well it left the factory with it on, what's a man to do???
-Alloys...ditto!
-Wire mesh radiator grill...now this is a safety thing...there have been a couple of Honda engines that have died due to undesirable stone/radiator interactions!!!

So...does this make me a boy racer???...or worse...a CHAV?!?

>> Edited by havoc on Thursday 3rd March 13:05

[Streetcop]

He meant me and Mrs Streetcop's car....


>> Edited by Streetcop on Thursday 3rd March 13:07

[Richard C]

Paul Dishman said:

It may not be to his taste and it isn't to mine , but better to spend their money on doing up their motors than on booze or drugs.

Yes totally agree with this view. Modifying cars - yes I did it in the 70's too. Then rallying was what most 'maxxer'-equivalents aspired to and thats what we made the cars look like. Some of us took it further and my road Imp mutated into a full prep a rally car that was used as such at the weekends.

That aspect of rallying is a bit missing from todays costly scene which is divorced from road cars thnaks to cost and specialism - with turbo fuel at £3/litre trailer your car from scrutineering to the start ramp nowadays.

Even if its not to my taste I admire the lads who put this much money and constructive effort and pride into something even if like so many other things today style is more important than performance.

Stuff those anal conformists out there who would have even this sort of thing 'banned'

[v8thunder]

I think the site's got better things to say here:

site said:

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CAR MODIFIERS AND BOY RACERS It is worth mentioning at this point that there *is* a difference between boy racers and car modifiers. Boy Racer is a term used to mainly describe the driving style (i.e. dangerous), whereas "car modifier" is a term used to describe the practice of "doing up" a car by adding "performance" parts and "styling" to it. Most Boy Racers are car modifiers, although the reverse is not always true. For a start many professional (or even amateur) car modifiers do a good job of car modifications, when all Boy Racers usually do is stick the same old tired mods on their cars in a haphazard fashion. As Boy Racers tend to give car modifiers a bad name, they tend to be disliked by the latter. Boy Racers can be described as "Max-ing" their cars, a term which is originally named (rather unfairly in our opinion) after a car modification magazine called Max Power, but which has since become synonymous with badly modified, tasteless cars. A comparison between the stereotypical characteristics of boy racers and car modifiers can be seen below; Boy Racer: Main use for car Driving around town centres, music blaring, big bore um... boring. Sitting in local car parks. Visiting local "cruises". Primary styling mods Styling mods purchased with no consideration for the car's aesthetics as a whole. Stupid spoilers, bad bodykits. Bodged installation. Car says "look at me, I'm fast" but is probably shit. Primary performance mods Whatever they can get their hands on. May not be expertly installed. Usual car models Cheap usually low-powered models. 1.0, 1.1 and 1.2 litre engines, sometimes larger if the boy racer thinks they can afford the insurance. Mods often make them look worse than standard. Driving style "Pedal to the metal" on public roads. Erratic driving in public car parks. Not all that much driving skill. Car Modifier: "Track days", where a car is put through its paces on a race course, or normal driving. Primary styling mods Subtle styling blending in with the aesthetics of the car. Not too OTT. Time and care taken installing mods. Car says "if you know about cars, you know I'm nice" Primary performance mods Primarily safety and handling mods. Performance mods aren't used dangerously. Usual car models Can be any size car but usually decent cars in their own right sans modification. Driving style Careful on public roads, but not averse to driving fast at special events.

So there you go, now you know who they're talking about.

[jacko lah]

lanciachris said:

Personally id say the previous owner was nuts to spend the money on the exhaust over fixing the rust, but hey, I cant say I disapprove of any of these modifications. Oh, clarification is requested on the front lights thing - what is the difference between spotlights and foglights from the laws perspective? spots wired into main beam I suppose?

Driving Lights wired by relay into main beam - Higher the better. USELESS IN FOG
Fog lights Only to be used in FOG - Lower the better.

You live and learn on the rust thing. Mini 1000 - fitted cooper wheels, rear spot light, resprayed (in dad's single garage) red with white roof, Failed MOT on Rust and Brakes - Had to flog it as was a skint student.

Current Car - C REG SRi Cavalier.

Mods:
Rear Seat Belts- Never had them as standard.

I fitted later clear indicators, but have decided to put the orange ones back on.
Got a CDi grill, but might be going for an early one circa x reg
I'm going to fit new shocks and think that whilst I have front Suspension apart I may as well lower it - How far ? 30 mm 60 mm - seen a second hand g Max kit at -60 mm - shall I - NOT sure.
Brake UPgrade : I have a set of front calipers off a mk3 Cav SRi same as Astra GTE 16V. They will fit, and I shall do them soon.
Rear Exhaust: Saw an SRi 130 box with wider rear pipe, got it for £5. Make a nicer noise and looks better. IMHO
ICE - The perfect 80's Philips Stereo has been replaced with Sony Unit and 10 disc changer- I spend 2 hours a day in my car I'll do what I like !
Seats - TOO perfect, so I may get a set of seat covers to keep them that way.
Badges : Fancy some Opel Ascona Badges !!! Do I have to tell my insurance company?
Bumpers : Fancy a Calibre Body Kit, but I don't think I can be arsed with people calling me a Chav Boy Racer.

Note : I'm 38, a chartered engineer and my friends have suggested that its a mid life crisis.

I've suggested that I'm old enough to do what I want and I don't give a stuff what anyone thinks.

[fishtek69]

I'd regard myself as both a 'maxer' and a 'car modifier', but not as a boy racer. A car is not 'max'd' unless it has been modified positively - a badly-modified car could not be described as 'max'd', just ruined. Having a large base of friends who'd call themselves 'maxers' - some of whom have had cars featured in that very publication - I know there to be a misconception. Its the same as saying that all police officers are power-hungry scum; they're not, although that's the perception of many.

I personally have nothing against the police, and think that they do a valuable job. I just think many use the powers they're given without thought about consequence or reason. A police officer doesn't have to 'do' someone for having their fogs on - most do it to prove a personal point, as it gives them the powertrip they crave.

And SC, driving at night without any lighting isn't quite the same as driving in good visability with fogs on. Any competant person would realise they were driving with no lights, but may not even consider the small blue light telling them about the fogs being left on. I know people should realise, but they sometimes genuinely don't. Why do the feds have to be so cynical all the time?!

I would be very vengeful and bitter if I was fined for having my fogs on when not needed, particularly as I only ever switch them on when I need to, hence making it a genuine mistake. And people wonder why the police are detested so by many.

This sounds like I'm having a go at you personally SC, please believe I'm not. You've got a job to do and you're doing it in the way you think best. I have friends who are officers and know from experience that the ones who hold respect and admiration are the one's that aren't so dictorial as others.

[Mr E]

v8thunder said:

I think the site's got better things to say here: site said: THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CAR MODIFIERS AND BOY RACERS some good stuff So there you go, now you know who they're talking about.

Agree with all of that.

If I was a cynic, I'd suggest SC was trolling with this one.....

[towman]

Streetcop said:

It was light hearted...

[fishtek69]

A friend tells me that the Kia Sorento doesn't have a visible indicator for the fog lights, and that the fogs are apparently quite easy to switch on by accident when switching on the headlights (same stalk). If a driver had knocked the fogs on by accident, they'd have no warning from inside the car. Wonder how many other cars are like this, and how many oblivious people have been fined for something they didn't even know they'd done?!?

[Mr E]

mungo said:

I don't believe it!!!! A thread on "Boy Roys" and Gazboy hasn't posted - Is he dead?

He's still about. I'm sure he'll turn up sooner or later.

[butzi]

I think fishtek69 has expressed most of my views.

PC plods could spend there energies far better on something more consequensial than illigal neon lights here and there, just because it's unpleasant to them.

Regarding front fog lights, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the fog light the one at the bottom of the bunmper, not very bright anyway, and usually pointing more downward than the headlight? I rarely use mine anyway except in dark country unlit roads so I can see the side of the roads better. But why does it annoy so many of you?

If I've mistaken, and you actually meant the full beam then fair enough, they can really dazzle other drivers, just like the rear.

By the way, I don't find Maxe'd cars my kind of taste but it's not my money, but then I don't like onion either and I don't tell people off for having onion breath when they come to see me.

[MR2Mike]

butzi said:

Regarding front fog lights, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the fog light the one at the bottom of the bunmper, not very bright anyway, and usually pointing more downward than the headlight? I rarely use mine anyway except in dark country unlit roads so I can see the side of the roads better. But why does it annoy so many of you?

Because they are very high intensity lights, and cause a distracting glare, more so if the road is wet and you are in a low car (TVR etc).

They make a virtualy imperceptible difference to the lighting to the sides of the acr, an then only for a few meters. If you really need them on to see where you are going I'd suggest either going for an eye test or sorting out your headlights.

As for fishteks Kia Sorento, I'm certain that C&U regs demand the presence of a warning light for fog lights, so the car would not have passed type approval/SVA if it didn't hace this.

Personaly I don't mind "maxxers" turning perfectly reasonable cars in rolling christmas trees that epitomise bad taste, as long as they are legal. It's pretty sad though, having huge alloys and wings and pathetic, standard engines. The insurance excuse is often rolled out, but I don't belive it. The policy loading for body kits etc. is as much or more than engine mods IME.

[fishtek69]

Fog lights make vitually no difference to either a driver or the driver of another vehicle, so in actual fact they should probably be banned all together!

The information about the Kia Sorento came from a car-dealer friend of mine, and so is not something I can back up at all. However, he tells me that they definately do not come with a warning light on the dashboard and that he has actually been stopped himself for accidentally having his fogs on. The copper told him that he should have observed the dashboard warning light, but then changed his cocky attitude a bit when told to point the warning light out. This car dealer friend also tells me that he's driven other brand new cars with no warning light, as this is actually a personal gripe of his.

[jacko lah]

fishtek69 said:

Fog lights make vitually no difference to either a driver or the driver of another vehicle, so in actual fact they should probably be banned all together! The information about the Kia Sorento came from a car-dealer friend of mine, and so is not something I can back up at all. However, he tells me that they definately do not come with a warning light on the dashboard and that he has actually been stopped himself for accidentally having his fogs on. The copper told him that he should have observed the dashboard warning light, but then changed his cocky attitude a bit when told to point the warning light out. This car dealer friend also tells me that he's driven other brand new cars with no warning light, as this is actually a personal gripe of his.

Does the Button light up ?

[iainuk]

whilst driving, I find foglights on an oncoming car are a minor annoyance, in the wet they're slightly more annoying.
However when I'm riding my bike in the wet without the benefit of windscreen wipers, the glare created from fog lights off of a wet road and through driving rain and the rain collected on my visor is almost totally blinding.
For this reason I'd gladly throttle every errant fog light user with my bare hands, incosiderate 's.
As for those that drive around with their fogs and side lights only, throttling's too good for them.

[fishtek69]

The Sorento doesn't have a button, it has a twisty thing on one of the indicator stalks. You 'turn' the fogs on in the original and most literal sense of the word. It has other twisty things for headlights etc, and apparently its easy to accidentally knock the foglight twisty thing if you're slightly overzealous in turning on the headlights.

Not sure if the actual switch has a light on it, but even if it did it still might not be easily visible and noticable if the fogs are on or off.