MODIFIED-CAR enthusiasts say reckless hoons give them a bad name and they have backed the work of a specialist anti-hoon police unit.
Tom Painter, who organises car cruises through club Hardtuned, said he and club members suffered "constant grief" for driving Skylines and WRXs because of the behaviour of idiot drivers.
"Just because I drive a Skyline, it doesn't mean I am out doing something illegal," he said.
"I even get people glaring at me as I drive past. We're involved in the scene because we like the cars - not because we want to drive at crazy speeds."
He said Task Force Diagonal - a police unit created a year ago to target car clubs - had helped his organisation grow by shutting down irresponsibly run clubs.
"At the start of last year, the cruise scene was dying for us," he said. "We were all enthusiasts and we wanted to get out there, but the hoons ruined it for us by bringing too much negative attention.
"We didn't feel like we could bring our cars out without getting picked on. In the end, we organised a cruise and rang the police to let them know. Police from the task force got in contact and came out with us.
"Now I tell people who want to come along that, if they drive stupidly, they'll get defected and their cars will be taken away."
Mr Painter said it made him, and members of his club, furious to hear of drivers charged with killing innocent motorists while drag racing.
"We think it's stupid some of the behaviour that goes on," he said.
"It gives us a bad name - from the community and the police. I do not want to see another teenager or someone my age killed on the road.
"We can go out on a cruise and have a good time without doing burnouts or putting anyone in danger, and it's been proven.
"Now our cruise numbers are getting bigger and bigger because there are people out there who want to come out and have a good time without anyone getting hurt or without their cars being defected."
Hardtuned Network director Loz Glen said his website, which began in South Australia, was now a major national networking site for car enthusiasts.
He said they now had clubs in every Australian state, as well as overseas.
"The website caters to all performance car enthusiasts, while promoting safe driving and acting as a central point for event organisation and coverage," Mr Glen said.
Police spokeswoman Shelaye Boothey said the task force had been in contact with Mr Painter and had accompanied the club on their runs.
"Officers from Task Force Diagonal have addressed all the participants to ensure they were aware that if they commit any offences, they would be dealt with," she said.
"Otherwise they are free to cruise.
"The Task Force was basically there to ensure they can cruise safely and without incident.
"But, as is the case in all situations, any breach of law will be dealt with
Tom Painter, who organises car cruises through club Hardtuned, said he and club members suffered "constant grief" for driving Skylines and WRXs because of the behaviour of idiot drivers.
"Just because I drive a Skyline, it doesn't mean I am out doing something illegal," he said.
"I even get people glaring at me as I drive past. We're involved in the scene because we like the cars - not because we want to drive at crazy speeds."
He said Task Force Diagonal - a police unit created a year ago to target car clubs - had helped his organisation grow by shutting down irresponsibly run clubs.
"At the start of last year, the cruise scene was dying for us," he said. "We were all enthusiasts and we wanted to get out there, but the hoons ruined it for us by bringing too much negative attention.
"We didn't feel like we could bring our cars out without getting picked on. In the end, we organised a cruise and rang the police to let them know. Police from the task force got in contact and came out with us.
"Now I tell people who want to come along that, if they drive stupidly, they'll get defected and their cars will be taken away."
Mr Painter said it made him, and members of his club, furious to hear of drivers charged with killing innocent motorists while drag racing.
"We think it's stupid some of the behaviour that goes on," he said.
"It gives us a bad name - from the community and the police. I do not want to see another teenager or someone my age killed on the road.
"We can go out on a cruise and have a good time without doing burnouts or putting anyone in danger, and it's been proven.
"Now our cruise numbers are getting bigger and bigger because there are people out there who want to come out and have a good time without anyone getting hurt or without their cars being defected."
Hardtuned Network director Loz Glen said his website, which began in South Australia, was now a major national networking site for car enthusiasts.
He said they now had clubs in every Australian state, as well as overseas.
"The website caters to all performance car enthusiasts, while promoting safe driving and acting as a central point for event organisation and coverage," Mr Glen said.
Police spokeswoman Shelaye Boothey said the task force had been in contact with Mr Painter and had accompanied the club on their runs.
"Officers from Task Force Diagonal have addressed all the participants to ensure they were aware that if they commit any offences, they would be dealt with," she said.
"Otherwise they are free to cruise.
"The Task Force was basically there to ensure they can cruise safely and without incident.
"But, as is the case in all situations, any breach of law will be dealt with
hope the message will get through
all enthusiasts arent hoons
but all hoons are "enthusiasts"
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