Boy racer problem persists in Rongotea
Efforts to curb boy racer hijinks at a notorious Manawatu¯ intersection are being deemed a failure, with the district’s mayor accepting it may be time to work with the young troublemakers instead of against them.
For years, the intersection of Kaimataru and Banks roads in Rongotea has been a regular gathering spot for boy racers, who have treated it like a skidpad.
Manawatu¯ District Council attempted to put a stop to the hooning by installing a traffic island in the intersection, but boy racers just skidded right over it.
It was the second attempt to discourage such shenanigans, after laying a rougher road surface to increase traction and make it harder to skid on.
Mayor Helen Worboys said it was disappointing neither measure had worked and the council was looking at other options, including talking with boy racers to hammer out a remedy that suited everyone.
Worboys said community safety was the council’s No 1 priority, but how to move the boy racers off public streets was a long-running issue.
Addressing the problem required a collective approach, with the council, police and car enthusiasts, she said. ‘‘I’m well aware of the drama and stress these boy racers cause residents [near the intersection]. There’s no point of us coming up with a solution they’ll ignore or won’t use.’’
Rongotea resident Joel Murphy said the intersection had been a latenight hive of activity until a fatal crash near it earlier this year.
‘‘Now, most are going out to the Manawatu¯ Gorge, where they think it’ll be safer because the road’s closed – but they are starting to come back.’’
Murphy has been part of the drifting scene for years. While older enthusiasts, like himself, kept their hobby to race tracks, the younger racers couldn’t afford track fees, he said.
The nearest legal skidpad was in Masterton. Between petrol costs and the $50 fee, most couldn’t afford that either, so they took it to the streets.
Murphy said it wasn’t safe and the older enthusiasts tried to discourage it, but they were too passionate to be easily put off.
‘‘If they can’t afford to do it on a track and there’s nowhere else, they’ll keep doing it on the streets, no matter what.’’
Murphy has taken part in several unsuccessful attempts to get safe and supervised skidpads set up in Manawatu¯ .
Worboys said the council had not discussed backing a skidpad, and probably wouldn’t because of the maintenance costs and the risk of being responsible for injuries and accidents.
However, she said she would be open to suggestions if car enthusiasts had ideas on how it could be done.