Night of tyre-squealing on Festival Park
High Court papers are to be lodged to get an injuction to ban boy racers from Stoke-on-Trent. Here Iain Robinson spends a typical Sunday night watching Festival Park transformed into a car fanatic's Mecca.
7.30pm: The first groups of cars are already gathering around Festival Park, filling the gated entrances to shops like PC World and Morrisons and using the car park of McDonald's as a rallying point.
Other groups are also forming at strategic points along Festival Way and there is a steady trickle of modified vehicles passing by.
Some drivers remain seated in their parked cars while others sit on the gleaming bonnets, but all heads turn as one whenever another vehicle worthy of their respect cruises past.
As an outsider, it's difficult to tell what sets many of these revered automobiles apart from the rest.
While a few are clearly upmarket sports cars, such as Subaru Imprezas or Nissan Skylines, the majority look like disfigured family hatchbacks.
Some, bedecked in exaggerated spoilers, alloy wheels and tinted windows, are clearly the finished article.
But others, sporting mis-matched undercoated body panels and seemingly glued-on accessories, appear very much to be works in progress.
8pm: The number of cars on Festival Park has risen sharply. Although there are probably fewer than 30 on Ridgehouse Drive, there are easily double that number parked along Festival Way, including some large groups forming at Waterworld.
The more popular types appear to be Citroen Saxos, Vauxhall Corsas and Volkswagen Golfs from various eras, Peugeot hatchbacks and a handful of ageing BMWs.
The drone from the modified exhaust pipes is becoming almost constant now, punctuated only by frequent horn blasts and the screech of tyres as drivers accelerate around the complex's roundabouts.
As I drive along Festival Way I notice a black Subaru Impreza suddenly looming in my mirrors. Obviously unimpressed by my adherence to the 30mph speed limit, the driver drops back and then hurtles at me before applying the brake just a few feet from my rear bumper.
Clearly not everyone is content to sit and gawp at the cars on display.
8.30pm: Several marked police cars have passed by, sharks swimming among shoals of seemingly un-bothered fish.
Once out of sight the tyre squealing resumes.
It is getting very busy now. Almost every car has been restyled to some extent, although only a select few have opted for the full body styling kits.
Some less radically distorted vehicles might pass for a middle-aged mum's shopping cart, but the tell-tale whine from the altered exhaust port seems to lend them unquestioned credibility as high-powered street machines.
The cars are forming convoys of 20 or 30 vehicles at a time, which snake along the twisting layout of the retail park, crawling over the speed humps to avoid losing those extra-wide exhausts, then squealing around the Pavilion Drive island and going back the same way.
I join one of the convoys and follow it back along Ridgehouse Drive, noticing how the drivers slow down to parade past any clusters of parked cars.
At the Marina Way island, the cars all spurt up Festival Way, past more admiring groups on the verges, before performing u-turns outside the Parcelforce site at the end of the road and accelerating away fiercely to complete another lap.
9pm: Traffic is so heavy that Festival Way is brought to a standstill several times, and the resulting traffic jam even halts the Marina Way roundabout.
The only sounds are revving engines, screeching tyres, blasting horns and the dull thud of bass from the cranked-up stereos.
More gatherings have now sprung up on Morrisons car park, the Odeon cinema car park and the gated entrance to Festival Heights, by KFC, off Pavilion Drive.
By now it is impossible to count the total number of cars. Aside from well over 100 I saw parked, I counted 20 to 30 cars a minute passing me as they continued to cruise lap after lap of the retail park.
About a third of the drivers were female, but there was very little to distinguish their cars from those of their male counterparts.
Anyone visiting Festival Park tonight who was unfamiliar with the area could be forgiven for thinking that all 17 to 25-year-olds in the city are routinely issued with bizarrely modified family hatchbacks as part of some obscure Government-sponsored mobility programme.
9.30pm: Sunset nears and Festival Park now belongs wholly to the boy (and girl) racers. It may seem unfair to use the term, but there is now a lot more racing going on than spectating.
The ratio of cars coming off the Marina Way roundabout and staying within the speed limit seems to be about one in 10.
For the rest, it is a perfect opportunity to run engines and abuse rubber until it screams.
The still summer evening is perfect for an all-night outdoor event, and that's exactly what this is gearing up to become.
Along the roadsides, everyone is out of their cars now, chatting, smoking, drinking – although there is no obvious evidence of alcohol – or just admiring whatever lies beneath the next driver's bonnet.
Taken in isolation, each group looks like any group of friends passing an evening minding their own business.
But the overall scale gives it an intimidating feel.
The numbers involved are not only staggering, they are almost frightening.
Whatever the drivers' individual demeanours and intentions, to any bystander their presence in such density and the aggressive nature of some of the driving makes them something to be feared.
10pm: 10pm: Night is falling and the spectacle has reached its peak, but there is no sign of the party ending.
Even the arrival of blue flashing lights on Festival Way doesn't deter the drivers any.
It is not immediately clear what has summoned the police, but the patrol car is parked directly opposite a large group of at least a dozen vehicles.
The gatherings are in a state of flux now – dispersing and reforming and breaking up again.
Small pockets vanish and merge with larger formations of parked cars, only for others to peel away from the incessant convoys and fill the vacant spaces.
More activity seems to be taking place around the fast food restaurants in Ridgehouse Way and the Odeon site off Marina Way now, but there is no sign that the hordes on Festival Way are any closer to departing.
Related news:
Police inquiry into dramatic car crash
10 Comments
by Rach, Stoke-on-Trent
Wednesday, July 15 2009, 5:53PM
“I can see both sides of the arguement and can understand people feeling intimidated by the number of people that gather at festival park, however, I feel intimidated in a number of places in Stoke on Trent and other parts of the country, sadly, that I feel is the current climate we live in, with how crime is portrayed in the media. I do visit friends at festival park on occasions and I'll admit to finding there to be on the whole a really friendly atmosphere there. In the same way as when you go for a night out in Hanley or Newcastle, some people think it is fun to make trouble, but not everyone is the same! On a daily basis you see people speeding, driving without due care and attention and being generally BAD drivers and thats without going anywhere near festival park. There are laws in this country to stop the racing and true anti-social behaviour that goes on at festival park, but i don't feel it is inforced. There are camera all over festival park that are often watching the behvaiour that goes on, surely they would be able to pass these recordings on to the police? also why not have more speed humps, it certainly slows the 'boy racers' down because they care for their cars(rubbish or not). I can't see this problem being solved anytime soon especially when everyone is tarred with the same brush, its a real shame that more respect can't be given on both sides.”
by Ed, Stoke On Trent
Wednesday, July 15 2009, 8:12AM
“Finally, I have been very vocal about this issue both in comments to news stories in this publication, and with my views and opinions on several of the car clubs forums that come and go in the area. I have also spoken to Councillor Gavin Webb (who seemed pleasantly suprised to find Car Enthusiasts being well behaved, normal individuals) regarding this matter. At the time he seemed sympathetic to the car enthusiasts cause, but I have yet to hear whether the discussion made a difference or impact... I also spoke via telephone with Sentinel reporters the last time there was a severe accident down on Festival Way. Nothing changes the bias or public perception however...
Consider this. The injunction on Festival Park WILL eventually be put in place. The people being campaigned against will not just disappear, cease to exist however. They will move to other areas outside of the injunctions jurisdiction, and those who are poorly behaved will continue to be poorly behaved.
There will STILL be noise and littering down on Festival Park of a night time, as there will still be fast food outlets in operation, and late night public entertainment (the odeon, the bowling alley).
It will only succeed in moving some of the problem elsewhere. It is a draconian measure, and I for one believe there must be better alternatives.
Instead of another boy racer slating session, how about some comments and discussion on how to solve this issue to everyones favour.
Rgds.
Paul, aka "Ed"”
by Paul, Stoke On Trent
Wednesday, July 15 2009, 7:54AM
“With all due respect Ray, that is the sort of cliched, "tarred with the same brush" sweeping generalised opinion that I am battling against.
Lets put this straight. Yes there are idiots down there, yes there are young lads in mummies or daddies car who do not know any better (and do their mummies and daddies either?). But everyone using Festival Park as a social meet point is tarred the same way, and that is simply not accurate.
As I said before, a lot of people and clubs in the area meet down on Festival park out of necessity rather than choice. And (believe it or not) most all are greatly displeased with the anti social behaviour of a minority of idiots affecting the majority. Certainly this holds true of the people I know there.
As for Lucy, I appreciate your comments. There are many who would welcome another (safer) meeting place away from all the rabble, but with the reputation all car modifiers are tarred with, what chance is there for us to find one? Take the Port Vale proposal last year - as soon as that was mooted, the not in my backyarders kicked up a stink. Ok Port Vale FC may not be the ideal location, its in a built up residential area. The better option is for a location LIKE festival park (i.e industrial/retail with the space needed for car parking), but inevitably as soon as you try anywhere else, you either get moved on by heavy handed security, else the rabble you are trying to avoid follows you. Finally some people wish not to stray too far from Festival Park as "their friends are still down there". You can take a horse to water and all that....
Given the space to congregate without hassle, I think you would find the enthusiasts, the real car modifiers (and not the boy/girl racer contingency) would be well behaved and police themselves.”
by Ray, Stoke
Tuesday, July 14 2009, 10:49PM
“The way i see it, these are mostly ladies cars souped up so that young boys can afford the insurance... They have to play somewhere so let them have Festival Park when it's closed, they will be over 20 soon and will have moved on to Jeremy Kyle.”
by Lucy, Stoke
Tuesday, July 14 2009, 10:31PM
“I can see both sides of the argument but I have to agree with Ed that the Sentinel has not tried to understand the the view from the people meeting down Fezzy Park. I used to frequent Festival Park in my lovely shiny car nearly 13 years ago when I was 20. It was a great place to catch up with friends and yes show off our cars and when it snowed...well it was really great fun, we had no speed humps or gates to stop us going on PC World, undoubtely we helped the argument for the gates and speed humps but it was genuinely a good place to meet everyone was friendly and looked out for each other - admittedly there were idiots but where aren't there? BUT I have to say now that I am totally initmidated if I find myself straying down there after 8pm and its not that I am ashamed of my car as my love of cars has not diminished and I certainly have a car that would rival many of the cars there (without the stupid modifications.well we all have to grow up!) It is not a nice experience for someone to go through if they are not part of the crowd, it can be very scary. I think the genuine car enthusiasts need to distance themselves and find somewhere else to go and let the police deal with the rest. Yes I know it is not that easy to find somewhere acceptable but if you are really passionate about your cars you will find somewhere.”
by Mike, Newcastle
Tuesday, July 14 2009, 9:19PM
“I myself go down to festival park.
Whoever has written this article makes everyone who goes down there sound evil!
we never cause any bother, everywhere is shut up there so we are not causing access problems!
its just good to go down there and meet with friends etc.
cant see what the problem is!”
by Dave, Crewe
Tuesday, July 14 2009, 8:12PM
“I'm sorry but a neutral person doesn't know that sticking a big piece of plastic on you boot is cool....... he has written it from the point of view from a normal person shopping at morrisons or going the odeon, why oh why would he need to know that an exhaust that wakes people up is somehow much better than a standard one designed for the car when produced. Obviously you have support for the 'meets' I am against them in Festival park but in a field or somewhere else no problem. I have been a few myself & we have far more thought for the public. (oh & it's car enthusiasts, I'd rather buy a nice car with 'stuff' on that stick it on afterwards ) Anyway I'm sure if there is truley that many people going weekly/daily, it'll be like a pound each to go hang around in like a field or something, maybe someone should go ask a friendly farmer. Just an idea......”
by Ed, Stoke On Trent
Tuesday, July 14 2009, 4:29PM
“Ok. My observations and thoughts regarding this news story....
1) It appears to be written with a lot of artistic licence and bias. The public feeling generally runs against those who choose to use Festival Park as a place to hang out, and this story caters to that feeling quite keenly...
2) The writer has seemingly spent his time in Festival Park as an observer. To get the full story on this, or rather to present a less biased reporting, would he not have been better off actually talking to a few people down there? Although having said that, the Sentinel has lifted car clubs/festival park go'ers up to shoot them down more than once in recent history....I am sure that "people like us" are having their patience worn thin...
3) The writer, although familiar with makes and models, appears to have very little understanding about cars and car culture. Certainly he has failed to grasp that the modification of cars is a personalisation thing - in my eyes very little is different from personalising your car to decorating your house in your own tastes. The vehicle modification industry in this country is a multi-multi million pound industry creating a lot of jobs...
4) Finally, the writer appears disdainful of the quality and state of repair of cars in the area during his observation. Certainly this may be true of some of the idiots who are the menace of Festival Park, but of the CAR ENTHUSIASTS I know who frequent the area, most look after and service their cars better than any other road user.”
by Dave, Crewe
Tuesday, July 14 2009, 2:52PM
“Brilliantly put, exactly the style of writing needed to explain this situation. Neither offensive or ridiculing just spectating, a great neutral stance on a very touchy subject. Perhaps this will help the people who attend these 'meets' to think exactly how they appear to the 'outsiders' & how mostly unimpressive they can be.
First article I have read in a while where I actually wanted to finish it.”
by ST, stoke
Tuesday, July 14 2009, 1:26PM
“All very sad really isnt it?”