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HUNDREDS of lives are being put at risk every week as Hunter car hoons push the safety boundaries in illegal drag race meetings.
The lead-footed drivers have moved into social media in an effort to garner interest in their dangerous stunts, with regular meetings being organised at Kooragang Island.
The Newcastle Herald has obtained fresh video footage and photographs from a Facebook page set up solely to instigate the meetings, which has received more than 8000 likes in just over a week.
In some of the videos vehicles can be seen performing burnouts and high-speed races only metres from pedestrians, with some drivers coming dangerously close to losing control.
The irresponsible stunts are not only endangering hundreds of vulnerable onlookers, but the participants are also believed to be polluting the roads with oil in order to help tyres lose traction during burnouts.
Yet the administrators of the page, a 20-year-old and her boyfriend, have absolved themselves of any responsibility for the happenings at Kooragang and said not even police action will stop them.
Kate*** told the Herald she started the page to get Kooragang ‘‘started again’’ and said a few hundred people would gather on a busy Thursday night.
‘‘We’ve noticed it getting a bit quiet and wanted people to start coming back,’’ she said.
‘‘There’s never a safe way to do it but I shouldn’t be held responsible for other people doing the wrong thing.’’
While Kate and her partner don’t take part in the illegal activity they get kicks out of watching the races and burnout comps.
‘‘I guess it’s the adrenaline rush and it’s just fun watching,’’ she said.
‘‘It’s a place to have fun and somewhere to get loose.’’
The deafening sound of roaring engines, burning rubber and the shrill screeching of tyres has been synonymous with the Kooragang site since the 1960s, but never have hoons been so brazen in their efforts to organise gatherings.
By using such a public forum as social media – anyone in the public can view their posts – they are blatantly and shamelessly flaunting their illegal activities.
Police have undertaken numerous operations at the site in the past few decades, most recently on Thursday night, and are believed to be clamping down hard on the venue in the next few weeks.
Superintendent Bob Ryan, of the NSW Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, said the operation on Thursday resulted in 32 vehicle defects, 74 traffic infringements, two suspension notices and two traffic charges.
‘‘Street racing is extremely dangerous and police across NSW are working hard to remove it from our roads,’’ he said.
‘‘Known social media sites are regularly monitored and high visibility patrols conducted in identified areas to deter and detect racing.’’
He said police were working with councils, private land owners, car enthusiast clubs and the Environment Protection Authority to educate and limit opportunities for street racing.
But Kate said the threat of police operations wouldn’t stop the meetings and called for a legal drag strip to be built in the Hunter.
‘‘We’re still gonna go and race and do burnouts no matter what,’’ she said.
‘‘The cops come every week but it’s not going to stop us.
‘‘It’s been going on for more than 30 years at Kooragang and they have a place in Sydney at Eastern Creek [for legal races] so I think they should have one in Newcastle.’’
National secretary of the Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party Keith Littler said the Facebook page did not represent the entire car culture.
‘‘We’re totally opposed to illegal burnouts and racing on the streets,’’ he said. ‘‘They are hurting everyone.’’
Mr Littler said police should focus on catching the criminals rather than targeting car owners who have no intention of racing with impoundments and defect notices.
‘‘Unfortunately the government keep introducing rules to combat the issue that aren’t working,’’ he said.
‘‘Ineffective is an understatement.
‘‘Either [the police] don’t have the man-power or they don’t have the inclination to catch those doing the wrong thing,’’ he said.
A Transport for NSW spokeswoman said tough sanctions such as licence suspension and vehicle sanctions provided a strong deterrent.
‘‘Drivers who engage in street racing and burnouts are taking an extreme level of risk,’’ she said.
‘‘Research has shown that vehicle sanctions like impounding pose a greater deterrent and provide further safety benefits to licence suspension alone.
‘‘Vehicle sanctions remove access to a vehicle for serious offenders like car hoons.’’
*** Kate is not her real name.
The Thursdays at Kooragang Facebook page
PENALTIES
A person who organises, takes part in or promotes any race between vehicles on a road can face a maximum penalty of $3300 and 12 month licence disqualification
Subsequent offences can lead to 9 months imprisonment
Performing a burnout will result in similar punishment
A driver exceeding the speed limit over 45km/h can face a maximum penalty of $2300 and immediate 6 month licence suspension
Number plates can also be seized for the above offences