1

Glanzstar

And even though the kevs are now trying to do it properly, Queue bashing in 5…4…3…2…1

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3

Mr G

I always get caught by the police, they keep saying my rear light is out, but it never is.

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5

FireStar

@ Mark:

I take it you didn’t read the article…? I think that’s the point this guy is trying to make – there are a lot of folks out there who love their cars, but that doesn’t mean they’re all hooning about at top speed. Some people respect their cars, and respect the job the police do – they just want somewhere to hang out and socialise in peace.

Also, a lot of those with ‘souped-up’ cars DO declare modifications – they can cost a lot of money, and are often a target for theives – only last week we had some poor guy come over and ask us about £600+ of sound system he had had stolen. It’s not a cheap hobby, and those that enjoy it aren’t idiots. They are very very aware of the issues regarding insurance, trust me.

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7

Glanzstar

I would imagine that is his car that he is pictured with ‘mark’.

Doesnt look particularly souped up to me

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9

LP GSY

Oh by the way mark…
Not declaring modification is not illegal, it just means if they claim it will not be replaced with ‘souped’ up parts but with standard ones!

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11

Sarah

Congrats to Shane someone who is trying to make a change in a positive way. Just because there are the odd few out there that spoil it for the others doesn’t mean we should all be stereotyped. My parents have told me multiple times they used to do the same and they never had any bother when they were younger so why has it changed? Although there is a few that ruin why stereotype others just because the have a sporty looking car? Welldone Shane!

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13

Unknown

What a load of Pathetic nonsense! Waste of time…

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15

Jadie

well good on you shane,
i think people need to re think when they call people a “kev” and a danger to the road! Some young adults that work for their money to buy the car that they personally want, so they can go out in & show off shouldnt always be targeted as the bad people all the time! why are the youngsters always get targeted as a danger to the road, funny how they never mention older people that have road accidents?? everyone has accidents but people only ever seem to gossip about the “kevvy” ones. on the way to work this morning waiting in the traffic i witnissed a middle aged women doing her bloody make up in the car behind me?? but because she had a family car she wont ge targeted even though clearly she was a danger to herself and others! my boyfriend also get targeted who gets called “kev” because he has personalized his car to what he wants, he gets such horrible looks from people and has got pulled over twice for “random checks”, and not once has he ever commeted a crime! just loves making his car his own! oh and YES “mark” he has let his insurance know before you get your knickers in a twist :)

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17

FireStar

@ Unknown

Your comment sums up the thoughts of every young driver who has ever been pulled over for these nonsense ‘checks’ – THAT’S a pathetic waste of time… It’s not sorting out traffic crime – it’s irritating a whole generation, and finally someone has spoken up about it.

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19

Mark

from Getinlane.com

Are you covered?
You must advise your insurance company of your planned modifications. If you don’t, you may find that you are no longer covered by your insurance, and you could end up in all sorts of bother

So you work in insurance do you Lisa??

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21

Glanzstar

@Mark, in my experience what happens is. The insurer are leagally obliged to offer 3rd party cover (they may then choose to sue the holder for failure to disclose to recover the money).
IN the case of fully comprehensive insurance, the assessor will come and look at the car and say you have modifications that would have cost £xxx to decalre, so we will deduct £xxx from your £xxxx pay out

But you know, everyone is an internet expert, so im sure you wont believe me.

@Donkey Doo,
I seriously doubt Shane wants to convince you. If you are in charge of Police Traffic strategy then I think he might. If not, I think the article was mainly to raise the profile of the event tonight. So that anyone that would like to discuss anything with the traffic police can

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23

Species_8472

The more techno-savvy Kevs are taking apart their car’s ECU and replacing the little 8 pin Flash chip to “upgrade” their car’s performance.

Manufacturers are now Epoxying over the chip to prevent this but older cars can still be found with socketed chips :-)

The other trick is faking out the lambda sensor signals with a microcontroller so the ECU alters the fuel to air mixture and increases performance.

I looked into this with my car to see if fuel economy could be improved but sadly it is a sealed unit and not replaceable.
The other trick might work if i could get to the lambda sensor without hours of cursing and bruised knuckles…

FWIW cleaning these beasties with an ultrasound cleaner can reverse damage caused by sooting and save you a bit of money on a new one as well as the excess petrol usage.

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25

FireStar

@ Donkey Doo

Sure, because someone is really going to be THAT irritated that they write a letter to the Chief of Police after receiving ONE caution… I don’t think so. These pointless pink slips are a problem, and it’s gotten to the point now where we can’t go out without getting at least one every few days. Anyone will tell you that these caution slips are being used for the wrong reasons – heck, most of the text on them relates to alcohol tests! Honestly the amount of times I’ve been pulled over for random drink drive tests! Thats another favourite -

“have you been drinking?”
“no”
“okay, well here’s a pink slip for no insurance documents anyway”
“thanks for wasting my time”.
Any excuse to hand these things out and they will.

Trust me, Donkey Doo, I don’t think this is a one-off pink slip that has prompted such a response.

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27

Matt

I remember when they used to use the tax disk excuse. It was always 3 months out of date ‘according to their computer’. And then just the random stops with no reason on the pink ticket in the vain hope that you won’t be able to produce your insurance. I even had to produce my documents when I reported my car being hit while parked in north beach. More interested in my insurance then catching someone who has actually commited an offence. Of course the cameras where all pointing the wrong way as usual. At 2pm, on a Saturday!

Fair play to Shane for trying but it will be in vain. The sterotype is pretty much set in stone and won’t go away. As someone commented earlier I see far more middle aged/old people driving erratically in poorly maintianed vehicles then I ever do ‘kevs’.

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29

Species8472

@Firestar

I have been pulled over a couple of times, its really not a problem.
Good thing they can’t test for Red Bull intoxication, or I would be going down faster than a NoTW journalist.

On an aside, WHY do people never ever check their brake/front lights? I have seen literally one in ten cars with one brake light out and a few with those “kewl” brighter-than-supernova head level lights which give afterimages. Grr.

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31

St Marcouf

Perhaps these “car enthusiasts” should demonstrate some goodwill themselves by rectifying their noisy fake exhausts, which do not make their cars go any faster (as if they need to in Guernsey as it’s not Essex) and which the police seem to ignore completely.

Anyway, apparently the term “kev car” is outdated and has been replaced by “yobmobile”, defined in the urban dictionary as:

“A vehicle, normally a car, which is the normal mode of transport for a yob/hoody/chav/boyracer (ie male under 21). A yobmobile is normally a Saxo, 106, Clio, Nova, Corsa or some other small car with a huge array of add ons, massive bodykits, a stupendously loud stereo (usually played LOUD with the blacked out windows down)
It will normally have a Really LOUD exhaust with a HUGE chromed/flared Tailpipe. It will usually be fitted with blue LEDs, Induction Filter and Always will have super shiny Alloys.
It is usually driven at night at excessive speeds round most council estates, town centres, Retail park car parks and can often be seen being pursued by the Police. Most yobmobiles will not be insured or have any road tax either, as the owner will spend all his money on the car’s appearance”.

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33

Glanzastar

@Species8472,

even if you car is putting more fuel in. your map will still be miles out, resulting in your running richer, and making less power. but anyways, this is digressing.

@St Marcouf,

please can you clarify what you mean by a ‘fake’ exhaust? An exhaust vents gasses from the engine, I would imagine a ‘fake’ ehaust wouldnt?

A uprated exhaust is entirely leagal if declared to your insurance? so why shouldnt they have one?
Also I notice with the final section in your paragraph, that again you are taking onboard stero types that a driver will be uninsured. Congratulations on being a bigot.

Let me compare the anology to your house, you could live in a bare concrete room, with no television/sofas. That would allow you to survive.
But instead you make it the way you like it, with carpets, sofas and maybe a *larger television, that you really need*. Not that you need a 40″ telly, i mean, you could see a 17″ from you sofa. This is your lounge, not a cinema. (See where im going with this)

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35

Dan

@St Marcouf

You’ve basically summed up the whole discussion with your “opinion”, believing that every one of these people are “boy racers” who have kevved cars and the like.

From the picture in this article alone, you can tell that the car itself is not a kev car, in that it is not a “Saxo, 106, Clio, Nova, Corsa or some other small car” (it is, in fact, a mk 7 Ford Fiesta Zetec-S, not a kev car at all) and neither does it have “a huge array of add ons” (aesthetically, it looks stock from the picture).

You yourself are doing what it appears the Guernsey Police are doing and stereotyping these people based on nothing but your own prejudice.

As mentioned above, I have never had any kind of run in with a “kev” which may have resulted in an accident. On the flip side, I have many a time seen older drivers acting in a way which is not only dangerous to themselves but also those around them.

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37

Saints

@Zippy, I don’t recall a biker demolishing a security hut by behaving like a speeeding idiot as has happened down at the North Beach, nor see loads of fast food container rubbish strewn everywhere every night. They are also not damaging the islands image as the first thing people see coming off the Condor in the evening are gangs of ‘Kevs’ revving their engines and doughnutting and generally being anti-social. This continues until three or four in the morning keeping visiting yachtsmen awake who have paid good money to moor their boats in the QE II marina. Visitors also find this sort of behaviour intimidating when walking back to their cars after an evening out in town. Still, I wouldn’t expect these people to think about issues like this as all they’re concerned about is themselves and sod anybody else. I think it’s a bit sad that a 22 year old has nothing better to do with his time than sit in his car all evening in a car park but this is just a reflection of the times we live in.

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39

Glanzstar

@Saints,

I think youll also find that Shane is a member of several Guernsey bands, which have played at and helped organise recent events like
VEF
The upcoming Choas Weekend
The recent ‘nostalgia’ gig at the hockey club

amongst many other local events.

So he hardly has ‘nothing better to do’

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41

Elz

I understand that the hut you guys are referring too was the one that was hit by a Hyundi Getz. ….Which ironically enough had nothing to do with the groups of ‘kevs’, as I know the person myself.
….A real ‘kev’ wouldn’t be seen dead in a Getz anyways!!!!

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43

Paul Le Page

Saints – just a thought:

Some might argue that sitting in a car park interacting socially with other human beings face to face is a darn sight healthier than spending every night alone in front on the TV – or getting drunk, starting fights, vandalising property etc. etc.

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45

Haha Haha

He has a Ford lol

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47

Donkey Doo

I think some people may have got the wrong end of the stick with my 1st comment. The article clearly refers to people being ‘victimised’. I merely asked how many ‘pinks’ makes it victimisation.

There have been a lot of anti Kev posts on here which are in the main unjustified. I was a ‘Kev’ before the term was invented (I’m 48 now). We used to all hang out on the Crown Pier and do the town/bridge run all night, Pete’s hotdog Van & Franks Chippy, oh the memories. Even then we were frequently stopped by the Police for minor traffic stuff. Things will never change as it is generally younger drivers who will ‘experiment’ with their cars be it by modification or exploring the performance potential should we say. This behaviour has and always will draw attention. Will things change? No never, not as long as new young drivers have new toys to play with. However nearly all will come out the other side further down the line and look back with fond memories as I do.

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49

Pete

Wouldn’t worry about it, it’s all just part of growing up. You’ll get plenty of being left alone when your old and ugly like me, so enjoy the attention while your can.

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51

Glanzstar

@Saints,

Well you did say when the Condor gets in, and unless you are suggesting that people do it specifically when the Condor gets in then surely it must be happening throught out the night, so fairly regularly?

That wouldnt help at all Saint. As if there are 100 cars as you say, assuming each has a front seat driver and passenger. That is 200 youths now with nowhere to go. So the problem will just movie to Salarie Corner, or one of the other Piers.

But again, this article isnt about Kevs doing anything wrong. Its about them trying to do it right, and explain to the police where their issues lie, in a relaxed enviroment where everyone can express their points.

But again, a lot of people with bigoted opions seem to come out and wont understand that people they think are ‘yobs’ also have a point of view on the situation.

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53

Glanzstar

@St Marcouf,
if the exhaust is marked for road use, and is declared to your insurance. Then it is leagal.
The problem of being ‘too loud’ is at the officer/police vehicle inspectors discretion. Which obviously, is different to yours.

With regards to a matter of personal preference, your surround sound system has the ability to be played loudly, only for the enjoyment of one TV watcher.

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55

Glanzstar

@St Marcouq

I understand your point, however, surely as Shane’s claims (the root of this artcile) outline. The owners of these cars are under the impression that they are being stopped regularly.
Surely it would be polices job to enforce this noise law, and if the noise being produced from this exhaust is excessive then it is their job to demand it to be rectified. (Much the same as in the television example, they would attend the hosue and ask the owner to turn it down)

Therefore if the exhaust is road leagal then it is deemed suitable to be fitted to road legal car then it is the police that are required to police the use of that exhaust.

Much the same as the televsion example, the system can go louder, but if it is being abused by a minority then that issue must be policed and delt with according.

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57

Zippy

@ Saints

A friend of mine had a Sunseeker with twin 5 litre V8 petrols on manifolds only! could hear it miles away when they went out in it! and all thatanti foul in the Sea tut tut tut!!! and lack of navigation knowledge causing the lifeboat to be called out, and being drunk in Herm the sialing back to face no prosecution. Best not bring the boat owners into this too much eh!!!

As for the bikers I am one of them also and people whinge about us making to much noise looks like there will never be a general agreement so might as well just keep annoying each other!

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59

FireStar

Also apoliges for the spelling mistakes in that last post… My phone is awful for typing up comments on this site, sorry!

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61

St Marcouf

Glanzstar and FireStar, the irony is that the police do have grounds to stop the likes of you every time, i.e. for excessive noise, but they don’t realise and instead find you’ve done nothing else wrong or something very petty of little consequence.

Actually therefore you are not law-abiding road users, and perhaps you should count yourselves lucky that you are being allowed to break the law in a way which gives you so much enjoyment to the extent that being stopped on the odd occasion is a minor inconvenience not worth fussing about.

If you were to ditch the chunky exhausts and cut the bellowing noise voluntarily you may find that people’s views about you change overnight.

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63

dee

maybe if the states did not waste so much of tax payers money they could aford to do a constructive building where these kids could go and learn how to maintain there cars properly and give them some think to do some of there personalised cars are very good and if they had a place to learn all about there cars i think it would give them some thing or intreset to do some pay a lot of money out for there cars and work hard for it so let them have a place to go

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65

Phil

St Marcouf

As tolerant as ever I see.

Perhaps you could enlighten us as to what you would prefer these youngsters to be doing with their time?

They do not “blight the lives of thousands”, they may annoy the odd crank but apart from that what they do is pretty much harmless.

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67

Glanzstar

@Saints + @St Marcouf

I am glad that your interpretation of road traffic law is exceeding that of a trained officer.

@Geoff
This is the kind of incidents were are talking about. Thankyou for you sympathy.

I fully agree with Firestars points, a FEW are tools, drive like they are invincible. But the majority of us arent. Therefore, we are trying to do the right thing. Trying to extend a hand to the police, but some of you guys are too set in your ways to accept that not everyone under the age of 20 is a hooded ‘yoof’. So go back behind your Daily Mail.

You cant help some people.

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69

Saints

@ Glanzstar, show me where I have misinterpreted road traffic law? Instead of going off at a tangent how about trying to address some of the points I’ve made? I don’t think you can because you would then be trying to defend the indefensible.
On the evening where you were invited to meet the emergency services and inspect the kind of damage that can and has occurred on local roads, I hear the ‘Kevs’ thought it appropriate to turn up in a synchronised convoy, and that the relatives of the victim who was killed in the Forest Road accident who was invited to attend in order to explain the impact on their family were openly sniggered at. I’m through posting on this subject in this thread, you can’t debate and I’m wasting my time, you sort of people are beyond contempt.

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71

St Marcouf

Phil

On the contrary, I exhibit remarkable tolerance because I put up with all those things I have been expressing an opinion about without actually physically meddling in any way. Conversely, your apathetic and indifferent stance does not amount to tolerance because there is no element of endurance attached to it.

What these people should be doing with their spare time is something more constructive than mindlessly following each other around the island in their cars and congregating in car parks like a flock of sheep. Ideally they should do something that enhances themselves and this beautiful island rather than engaging in shabby urban culture which significantly detracts from the island.

And yes the noise does blight the lives of thousands of islanders, and many visitors too.

FireStar

Before I’d make any admissions as to labelling you incorrectly I’d want to know the decibel rating of your car when idling and at various revs. As I said before, the exhaust pipe itself may be legal but the noise it emits may not be.

You’ve called me a bigot for not acceeding to your point of view, but equally you have not acceded to my point of view which therefore makes you a bigot too. Even worse, I’ve offered you and your comrades some advice about how you could garner a better reputation by reducing the noise you make, and all you have done is laugh at it.

Glanzstar

I’d be surprised that the police have much if any training in the law on vehicle noise seeing as they don’t appear even to have the equipment necessary to measure it or a good idea of how it offends people.

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73

FireStar

@ St Marcouf

You are more than welcome to bring your imaginary decibel machine to meet my factory-standard exhaust pipe. I will be at North Beach from 8pm most nights this week.

You probably won’t notice me there though, sitting quietly amongst happy law-abiding friends… I imagine the two or three inevitable law-breakers will attract your attention and end up receiving a (rightful) ear bashing. That’s if you can get your point across over the vast amount of noise being emitted from the rear-ends of their vehicles…

On a side note, recent discussions with the Guernsey Police have confirmed that you, St Marcouf, need no longer lie awake at night with ears full of thunderous exhaust noise. Decibel measuring equipment is to be introduced shortly, and will rid our roads of this problem.

I will be sure to let you know as soon as i am fined for excessive noise pollution – in fact I’m so worried that I’ve booked a special appointment to have my exhaust tested – sometime around the 12th of Never!

And yes, I do feel you are particularly biggotted, and I will agree that I am also. However, I realise now that I probably should have worded what i said in a slightly different way – what I meant was “YOU ARE WRONG”.

You continue to lump every single person into the same category – even going so far as to accuse me of having an illegal car (let me tell you, my car is most likely more legal than yours) – you cannot accept that there might be a majority of younger drivers who are happy and law abiding citizens, which is factually WRONG!

Please, please explain to me how – in the face of an article such as the above, whereby someone has finally gotten sick and tired of this stereotypical view – you can still hold the opinion that these people are all out breaking the law?

I’ve heard that a great many older drivers are still partial to the odd three or four pints before a leisurely drive back home in time for Countdown. Doesn’t mean that I will head on over to a site like this and continually troll a comments feed with the absurd opinion that ALL older drivers do it!

Honestly, you are wrong, St Marcouf. That IS a fact. And to judge me on nothing more than the fact that I congregate with friends in North Beach of an evening is proof of that.

I continue to laugh – only in disbelief, more than anything.

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75

Glanzstar

Something constructive, because creative expresion by setting your car up how you want it. Isnt constructive or creative.

Feel free to bring your decibel meter to meet my certainly not standard exhaust pipe. You will find it has a 3.5inch tip.

And then once your recovered from your swooning fit, you will find that even still. It comes under the UK decibel limit. And is actually quieter than some standard Aston Martins.

But alas, you wont. So snuggle up at home, and put that cotton wool in your ears in case somebody drives passed your house in or on anything louder than electric pushbike.

We will be sat with our friends. Talking about our hobby and our interest, and continuing to try and do the right thing. To show that it is the minority that are trouble makers.

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77

Iphoney

Mr Shane Rouget

You need to get off your high horse and stop doing laps around the proverbial island!
Fair play however for somewhat raising awareness for motorists young and old but let’s face it; the reason youve done this is to have a dig at the local bobby in a democratic and pc way.
By driving around at all hours of the day and night and congregating in north beach you make yourself a target for the police. Don’t you think your time and money could be better spent? If you are interested in cars and tuning them why not join the guernsey motorcylve and car club or the guernsey kart and motor club? I can assure you that time spent with the members of these two clubs will be far more rewarding then wasting time and money with your ‘slowly developing street chums’ who are as ignorant as yourself to not realise that you do have other more rewarding things to do in life.

I can’t recall who orated this but it goes: “if there is something you don’t like that you cannot change – change your attitude!”.

I.e. If your getting stopped all the time, change your pastime so that you don’t!

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79

FireStar

@ Iphoney

Another person who hasn’t read the article and paid attention.

The new-breed of car-caring, insurance-owning, non-drink-or-drug-driving, clean-driving-license ‘Kevs’ actually respect the Police, and the job they do. We are just a little narked-off at being pulled to the side of the road for petty offences, when there are others (young and old) hooning about and causing accidents.

We are trying to assist the Police in raising awareness of the effects of dangerous driving, in the hope that these few idiots take notice and think twice before putting their foot down – wishful thinking to a degree, I know, but at least we are trying to put an end to this suicidal driving culture that has sprung up amongst the few.

The article did convey a sense of ‘bad attitudes’ towards the Police, and their treatment of younger drivers, but that is in fact not the case. The Press will always glorify and sensationalise for effect – frankly you’re a moron if you believe someone who has assisted and liaised with the Police on such a regular basis as Shane has is actually in the Press in order to ‘have a dig’. He was actually trying to promote the “License to Kill” presentation, put on by himself and the Guernsey Emergency Services, a fact somewhat overlooked in the article.

To summarise, we’re out to change perceptions and change opinions, not to slate the Police – they do a fantastic job, and a tough one at that. We are just trying to aid in their conveyance of the message that Speed Kills. It’s tough to get that message into the heads of some people, and some may never learn, but until those that are complaining about ‘kev’ culture actually get off your backsides and come down to witness life in North Beach first hand, or until you actively try and make a change to the attitudes of the few that insist on driving like complete idiots, i don’t think any of your points or opinions really hold a great deal of weight.

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81

SS

Firestar. Speed does not kill. Inappropriate driving kills.

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83

Iphoney

Ss

I didnt tell tell you to get another hobby so calm down chap, in fact i suggested joining two local clubs (that you were very quick to dismiss) that will actually enhance your hobby and steer you away from the time / money wasting and pointless activity that is the kev run which in the long term will likely manifest itself into something less innocent or auspicous if you carry on with it. i dont have a garden, alas no begonias to prune. In my spare time i restore and repair cars, on occasion i build engines for racing purposes. Spares litter my garden and sadly plants are not able to grow. Thats right ss, in my youth i was no different then you, as you get older you learn to appreciate what the police were trying to do.

Firestar

What makes your generation so special? You are no different to any other generation who did the kev run in their youth. Policing methods were the same back then and will continue to be in the future. What makes you believe you could possibly change peoples perceptions and opinions? Personally i think it was a noble but wasted effort, those that care wont benefit and those that would benefit dont care.

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85

FireStar

@ SS

Very true, however that’s something you will need to take up with the Emergency Services… their advertising campaign leaves a little to be desired on the ‘slogan’ side of things…

I guess ‘Impacts Kill’ didn’t have the same ring to it?

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87

St Marcouf

Phil – intolerance of intolerance is intolerance, which is no better and often worse because it tends to be laced with personal venom.

FireStar and Glanzstar – I’m not one of those old doddery drivers (another stereotype) if that’s what you are hinting, and I am a lot younger than you might believe. Also I don’t sit at home recording road noise with my decibel meter, not that I have one.

What you seem to be saying is that there are two breeds of kevs: a new majority breed of car enthusiasts who drive around quietly and congregate at North Beach for nothing more than a friendly chat and a mutual inspection of cars, and the original minority breed who drive around with screaming house-vibrating exhausts.

If so, that really is not my experience so perhaps I would be tempted to show willing by popping down to see it for myself and let you demonstrate that I was wrong. It’s not going to answer the loitering in car parks question though…

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89

geoff

i wasn’t going to write any more on this subject, but some of the above posts are ridiculous, they say that it’s the young drivers fault they get stopped because they keep breaking the law, think back to the original story, they are complaining that they get stopped when doing NOTHING WRONG, and it does happen because it happenned to me, traffic policeman John Tostevin said in the press they needed justification to stop you, in other words if you aren’t doing anything wrong and your car is in perfect condition (as mine was when i was stopped) then the police are in the wrong to stop you, also iphoney says if the young drivers are interested in cars they should join the motorcycle & car club, WHY? if you like watching football it dosn’t mean you have to join a football team does it. Get a life! its about time you remembered you were young once and just because you are young dosn’t make you a criminal

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91

FireStar

@ Dave

I am glad you have noted that it is not everyone. As I mention, it is unfortunate that many people will only notice the moving cars in North Beach – as you mention, those haring about at speed. But look a little closer and you will see the vast number of parked cars who rarely move (other than an occasional trip to the petrol station or the shop for a little food or drink). The problem that we have noticed is that the Police patrols through North Beach tend to stop alongside these parked, non-moving cars and bemoan them about all manner of things, whilst those breaking the law are out tearing the roads up. Patrolling the car park is certainly necessary, but we seem to have an awful lot of articles in the Press about the numerous crashes happening elsewhere. Yes there are those that speed on the ‘kev run’, but a lot of people are very aware of the Police presence on the seafront. You will find that the majority of suicidal driving happens in areas well away from the traditional Bridge-and-back route, and thats where Police attention needs to be directed. You can scream at those parked up until you’re blue in the face, but the culture of young drivers hanging around in their cars will never change. In order to kill-off the culture of absolute nutter-driving – the actual life-threatening side of things – the Police really need to rethink their strategy.

@ St Marcouf

As you state, that is indeed the case. A large Group A, who spend a considerable amount of money on cars, and insurance, and who use the car park as a well-lit, large and cost-free place to gather and socialise, and then the smaller Group B who insist on tearing around shoddy rust-buckets with many illegal ( and often undeclared) modifications. It’s unfortunate that we are all tarred with the same ‘kev’ brush, and by all means you are more than welcome to come and see for yourself that we’re actually a pretty easy-going bunch. Weather permitting we’ll be out every night – the large group of tidy, well-looked-after cars, parked up… that is to say not speeding about.

Re: Exhausts, I appreciate that loud exhausts are an annoyance, however there are meters being phased in by the local Police force, but you will appreciate that any self-respecting car enthusiast will ensure all aftermarket parts are E-Marked as legal for road use. This will ensure they would pass an MOT on the mainland and, as GlanzStar states, many are in fact quieter than a lot of high-end standard parts. We’ve all heard those Aston’s and R8′s zip past kicking out a hell of a racket, and I’m pretty sure the owners of those kinds of vehicles wont be tampering with such expensive pieces of automotive art just to weld a crude loud exhaust on – thats just the standard, factory specification noise that those particular cars make.

Loud road-legal exhausts show the problems with E-Marking and MOT legislation on the mainland unfortunately, the problem certainly doesn’t lie with those buying the parts and fitting them. After all, lets not forget that all road legal parts are produced (in UK terms) for the market in the mainland, and must be able to pass an MOT over there. As such, at present the Police are limited to checking exhausts for E-Marks. Perhaps the noise meter will sort out this problem in future? All though quite how happy Mr Porsche will be when he has to fit a silencer to his classic car is still yet to be seen…!

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93

FireStar

@ Scarlett

Simply put, anyone with any working knowledge on this subject will tell you that they (that is, the nutters) don’t use this ‘same well worn route’ to speed about on… hence why the constant speed checks & Police presence there never catches anyone doing anything overly noteworthy. Maybe the odd 45 / 50mph…

Look to the roads a little further southwest (and funnily enough the complete lack of a Police presence at any time of the day thereon…) and you might find a few triple figures on the speed gun.

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FireStar

@ Iphoney

Haha, thanks – it’s nice to know there is still a mutual respect of opinions, even though they do appear to differ on the odd area or two of this particular topic.

I think I’ve done all I can to get our message across here, so I’ll call it a day in terms of posting comments now.

Thanks to the supporters, and thanks also to those opposed to ‘kev life’. It’s good to know the points of view surrounding the argument so we can work a little harder to gain a little more respect perhaps, and do our best to minimise the menace that are the wreckless, law-breaking drivers on the islands roads, young and old.

I’ll keep monitoring the comments, as it’s an area rather close to my heart, and no doubt I’ll stick my oar in should I feel it necessary, but until then, over and out.

If you need me, I’m sure you know where you’ll find me :)

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97

St Marcouf

FireStar – may be if you come into contact with these “rogue” drivers as you share the same car park you could hold some sway over them. Anyway thanks for the information on exhausts and I might pop down one evening (if I don’t it will probably be because I am not bold enough to interlope a group of stangers out of the blue) but until then I’ll give you the benefit of the/my doubt…

Phil – No I’m not struggling. If you don’t tolerate intolerance – which you don’t – then by definition you are intolerant too. It’s a common phenomenon for those who profess or preach tolerance to demonstrate rabid intolerance towards those who present as intolerant or a contrary view.

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