Motor Magazine Covers Nsw Hwp Discrimination

[scathing]

There's an article in this month's Motor magazine about the cops' undertakings to combat "street racing". They've got their Exige, and the Bankstown cops drive it around on patrol. The purpose is to use it as an "ice breaker" with hoons, to engage them in conversation.

Reading the article just shows off its typical non-tuner bias. The cops crapped on about drive-by shootings and carjackings before they went out, but in the end all they did was pull over a bunch of Japanese sports cars and defect a guy in an Integra that had lowered suspension and Vault Crystals.

Funny how none of these cops managed to pull over any cars matching the descriptions of the two Commodores who crashed into that elderly couple on the Great Western Highway, killing them both, but they pulled over a WRX doing laps and a stationary RX3.

The article also shits on about how all modifications to a car (including wheels) must be approved by the "Department of Planning and Infrastructure". Since the article is written about operations in Bankstown, Sydney, the context is we're talking about NSW government departments (in WA and NT the name for their version of the RTA is similar to "Planning and Infrastructure"). And if you look at the NSW Dept of Planning's priorities, its (at best) tangentally related to motor vehicles.

Right, like the guys who determine the layout of Sydney have shit all knowledge of cars. They can't even do their proper jobs correctly, if you have a look at the dog's breakfast that is town planning and public transport design in Sydney. Maybe they should worry more about how to get a f**king rail network to service more of metropolitan Sydney on time than people with lowering springs and shitty wheels.

It also totally ignores the RTA's VSI (Vehicle Standards Index) No. 6, which covers light modifications to cars. Wheels up to 25mm wider do not require certification by an engineering signatory, and neither do a host of other mods.

Quality f**king journalism there, guys. Especially from a specialist "enthusiast" mag, that had the gall to publish a "Hot Tuner" edition that actually said what mods did and didn't need to be certified.

And feature advertisements from a variety of car modification companies. I wonder if CAPA's Flash Tuner for the Falcons is legal, or Powerchips? Considering they just sell the box and not a custom dyno tune, I wonder if the product also includes the cost of running an emissions test? Who's promoting "amateur modification" now, you hypocrites?

This one's definitely worth reading at the newsagent's, just for the perspective, but make a stand and don't buy it. Motor, who I generally have a bit of respect for, can go f**k themselves with this one.

[djr81]

Your first mistake was to expect one of ACP's magazines to contain quality journalism.

Your second was to expect police spokemen to spout anything other than simple minded prejudice against anyone who has more than a passing interest in cars.

[NickR33]

word... motor is a joke... I usually can read any old drivel about cars but I can't read motor

[scathing]

Your first mistake was to expect one of ACP's magazines to contain quality journalism.

Your second was to expect police spokemen to spout anything other than simple minded prejudice against anyone who has more than a passing interest in cars.

What can I say? I'm an eternal optimist whose faith is sorely misplaced.

Edited July 31, 2007 by scathing

[Beer Baron]

who wrote the article. anyway, I can't chat long I'm off to the Department of Planning and Infrastructre to try and renew my rego. I guess the one I got at the NSW RTA is no good anymore

[djr81]

What can I say? I'm an eternal optimist whose faith is sorely misplaced.

Well now that I have grown old & cynical I am in a postion to pass on the distillation of my years of learning.

Every non specialist magazine article/news story/press release ever published will be aimed at the lowest common denominator of our society. It is the LCD's that, by sheer wieght of numbers, dictate the sludge you are forced to consume in life.

Everything from bad movies, to bad cars, bad coffee, bad music & bad politicians.

It's the LCD's fault.

All of it.

At this point I would like to quote Shaun Rhyder:

"I'm not your role model, be your own kids f**king role model" (Grape Tapes, 1998)

It is your only hope...

[N1GTR]

A Lotus is quite an expensive ice breaker.

Maybe they should just get out of their cars and say "Hi", it may be more effective

[rukus]

just buy a 31.

the other night i did a crazy swerve overtake and my rear right indicator doesnt work. i did this infront of cops - they didn't give a shit.

31 > *

[wilch]

When driving, just look at everyone like this:

They'll leave you alone.

http://comedy.videosift.com/video/Drama-King

[v_s_p_e_c]

Good rant

[88silhouette]

Your first mistake was to expect one of ACP's magazines to contain quality journalism.

amen to that

[scathing]

Maybe they should just get out of their cars and say "Hi", it may be more effective

Or, you know, try having an actual conversation instead of "What are you doing here?", "Are you on your P's", "What are you up to and where are you headed tonight?", or "Pop your bonnet please".

It doesn't cost them anything to be nice, and act human.

It occasionally happens to me and the guys I hang out with when I'm up at Thornleigh, and most of us think that they're pretty cool. If they selected car enthusiasts for HWP and gave them the freedom to act like a part of the car community instead of its overseer, and the knowledge of the relevant laws to ensure that they don't accuse people of doing something illegal when they are not, then maybe they'd get a bit more co-operation and earn a bit more credibility.

Edited July 31, 2007 by scathing

[SECURITY]

coppers will always be coppers, hoons will always be hoons. its the way of life. they were never meant to get along.

using a lotus on patrols does nothing, cause everyone (including myself) who has pulled up next to it has thought "i could SO beat that", not "oh wow, these cops REALLY cool... lezbefriendz?"

i dont care if theyre in a freaking ferrari, if a copper is pulling me over they are not my friend.

want a way to break the ice? offload the lotus, and next time you pull one of us over, buy us a coffee instead.

[rukus]

When driving, just look at everyone like this:

They'll leave you alone.

http://comedy.videosift.com/video/Drama-King

haha

i do this already.

[sewid]

Australian motoring "journalism" at it's finest.

[DRD-00F]

+1 on the good rant, it had proper spelling, grammar and punctuation. 'Twas lovely to read .

I dont actually have that much trouble with police, and I'm not sure why. I had my light up rear facia on in all its glory the other night, as i have been too busy to put it on a switch as of yet, and i was exiting a corner, past a petrol station, where a copper was just getting back to his car.

Due to the acceleration, and the incredible amounts of induction noise, i saw him whip his head around (seriously, he might have a broken spinal column now), jump in the car and then i lost sight. He must have been doing over 100 in a 70 zone to catch up, cause i was cruising along for quite some time, expecting him to pull out but he took his sweet ass time.

Then out of nowhere, BAM, hes right up my arse. "Great", i thought. I flicked a couple switches and just waited.

In the end, he followed me for about two minutes, then turned off at a roundabout.

This has happened a few times. Maybe its the stock exhaust and stock wheels, and very stock looking appearance from the rear. I'm not entirely certain. But i have NEVER had a police person harass me about my car. Yet.

[MaTBoY]

Yeah good rant

[GTR R35]

I have that mag as well and it was a joke of an article.

I mean they are writing an article about the police to motoring enthusiasts, the least they could do is get the RTA (aka gestapo) right.

The cops were also not shown to be the brightest sparks on the front like. It seemed like a very lazy article and not worth the $'s is cost me.

[N1GTR]

Or, you know, try having an actual conversation instead of "What are you doing here?", "Are you on your P's", "What are you up to and where are you headed tonight?", or "Pop your bonnet please".

It doesn't cost them anything to be nice, and act human.

It occasionally happens to me and the guys I hang out with when I'm up at Thornleigh, and most of us think that they're pretty cool. If they selected car enthusiasts for HWP and gave them the freedom to act like a part of the car community instead of its overseer, and the knowledge of the relevant laws to ensure that they don't accuse people of doing something illegal when they are not, then maybe they'd get a bit more co-operation and earn a bit more credibility.

Thats the problem right there

using a lotus on patrols does nothing, cause everyone (including myself) who has pulled up next to it has thought "i could SO beat that", not "oh wow, these cops REALLY cool... lezbefriendz?"

:rofl::rofl:

Funny cause its SO true

[T04GTR]

scan it. highlight the parts that are incorect. (with a abstact showing the corect answers) and email it to the editor. plebs seriously. i havent read it yet but can already imagine what horse crap dribble is in it.