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On Saturday, 3rd April, car cruisers from Nottingham
joined over 500 people for the latest big cruise. Around 17 convoys
from all over the country joined those from Nottingham.
Cruisers came from as far as Devon and Scunthorpe
for the event.
Car cruising is a hobby where people passionate
about cars meet up to show off their cars. It is an opportunity
for those who have an interest in modified or 'souped up' cars to
share ideas about their cars, meet with mates and make new friends.
The cruises usually last for around three
hours, beginning at about 8:00pm.
Car cruises normally take place on public
roads, where cruisers drive proudly round the streets.
The law says that cruising in itself is not illegal unless a nuisance
is being caused or driving offences are being committed.
Many genuine cruisers are angry at a minority
who attend but deliberately break the law by speeding and exhibiting
other dangerous driving.
Daniel, 21, from Eastwood says, "A small minority spoil it
for the rest of us by doing full handbrake turns and doughnuts".
BBC Nottingham has been told that the car
cruising club based in Nottingham has said that it will take measures
to ban for life, those who drive dangerously.
Dangerous driving and ridiculous speeding
reflects badly on genuine cruisers and enforces the image of 'boy
racers' which many are trying to shed, "It's the idiotic drivers
who push it too far and go racing up and down" says Daniel.
According to Mewstar, a Nottingham cruiser, police
have lately been attending cruises and, "last year had a clamp
down".
This resulted in the confiscation of a Mitsubishi
at one of the cruises after the driver allegedly ignored a warning
she had been given at a previous meet.
Many people will wonder why these events
have to take place on public roads. Some say that there have been
attempts to find off road venues for these meets but they have so
far found nowhere - "If it was possible, I would do it off
road", said one cruiser.
Car cruisers have been known to congregate
in off road private car parks, such as those of large supermarkets
but they do not have permission to use this land.
It is an expensive hobby. Daniel will go
to every rally that is organised but is not himself, involved in
organising them. He bought his car for £2700 and has spent
another £4000 on modifications to it since to turn it into
the car of his dreams.
Modifications usually involve improving the suspension, upgrading
the wheels and many other changes to a standard car.
He explained that doing handbrake turns would do nothing for his
car and is frustrated by those who drive dangerously.
On top of the cost of the car, is the cost
of insurance which will be high due to modifications and the younger
age of many of these cruisers.
However, for many people the cost involved
in car cruising and the risk that they may be deemed to be causing
a nuisance, which could result in the impounding of their cars,
is worth it. They are fanatical about what they do and are determined
to continue.
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| Cruising Notts - Photo courtesy
of Sam Care - Read more about Cruising Notts at www.LeftLion.co.uk |
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Are you from Nottingham? Do you love your car?
Well, here's your chance to share your cars with others. Send us
in a nice piccie of your automobile and we'll turn it into an e-card.
E-mail your pictures to nottingham@bbc.co.uk
(Subject : Cruising Nottingham).
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