read this in the sunday mail today and just had to reply....
replied with:
I am writing to respond to Tony Tagliaferro’s comments about hoon driving in last weeks sunday mail.....
1/. How do you know that these cars have had ( Obvious work done) just by the sound of them taking off from lights ??
2/. why must every driver of a performance vehicle be “Tarred with the same brush”
3/.just by listening you can tell a modified vehicle speeding,revving hard or doing a burnout......
I am getting sick of people with the “Blame anyone who drives a hotted up car” attitude for anything associated with hoon behaviour.
I am involved with a car club, of which many of our members drive “ Highly Modified vehicles”
We do not tolerate hoon behaviour on any of our events and if this does occur, the police are handed the offending vehicles details.
We are a family orientated club, who provide outings as a family, our most recent being an Easter Egg hunt cruise to Mintaro SA for the kids.
On a personal note I drive a 2001 WH Holden Statesman with a 5.7 litre LS1 V8 Engine. my car is stock except for a set of 18 inch chrome wheels and a free flowing performance exhaust which it not as restrictive as the original exhaust, thus increasing fuel economy.
It also has a sporty note to it.....I’d hardly call it a “Modified Vehicle” but yes it does make a noise when I take off from the lights.
I have spent too much time and effort on my car, to disrespect it by spinning wheels, creating smoke or revving it hard at every given opportunity.
Majority of the cars I see performing those exact things you are describing, are bog stock 4 cylinders, VN Commodores or Ford Falcons, hardly modified vehicles by any means...
You complain about the government not banning the sale of 600 –700hp street engines, but where do we draw the line ??? do we ban any vehicle manufactured, whose speedo goes above this states limit of 110 kph ?
You can spin the wheels,rev hard and speed in a Hyundai Getz also tony, yes their may be “ Hoons” out there performing these actions you describe, but their are also Enthusiasts, those of us who take pride in our vehicles, do have modifications but treat our cars with the respect they deserve, and who are quite frankly sick of being heaped together by the misinformed public.
Sincerely
Andy Johnson
( Membership Coordinator )
Commodore Owners Car club
c/o 414 Regency road Prospect
SA 5082