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Don't drive us down, say car modifiers

8:15am Monday 10th September 2007

comment Comments (82)   Have your say »


CAR enthusiast Sara Jeapes says she has been victimised by the new dispersal order launched in Swindon town centre labelling her a boy racer.

Car club founder Sara Jeapes, of Top Secret Cruising, says she is sick and tired of being tarred with the same brush as irresponsible and anti-social drivers.

On Friday the Adver reported that police had issued a dispersal order covering the whole of the town centre in a bid to combat rough sleepers, motoring menaces and pushy salesmen.

It is the first time in Swindon a neighbourhood policing team has been given such an order for their whole patch and means they have the power to move on groups of more than two people who are causing harassment, alarm or distress. The town centre order is the 27th to be put in place in Swindon since they were introduced in 2004.

The first was brought in on March 1, 2004, in Stratton.

Under the order, the Wyvern Theatre car park, where Sara and her friends meet to discuss their cars, has now been locked after business hours.

But Sara, who also runs her club's website topsecretcruising.co.uk, says the club doesn't welcome irresponsible motorists.

She said: "This dispersal order is doing nothing more than putting cars onto the streets searching for somewhere else to socialise.

"I can understand that there are people that speed around and burn rubber but I am certainly not one of them and don't think I should suffer because of an idiot in a car. Surely being in one place the police would know we are there and behaviour would be easier to police'?"

The office worker says that she and her friends use their spare time to meet up and talk about their cars, not to upset local residents living nearby.

"It's not a bad hobby - bad for my wallet maybe - but I believe it stops some young people from getting into things like burglary and mugging and gives them a meaning and a life."

Sara also argues that her club's presence in the car park helps reassure some drivers.

She said: "We have seen some shady characters looking from car to car before, but the fact that we are there stops them from getting away with anything.

"If we see anything that looks dodgy, we are usually first to call the police. We have even had one resident thank us for sticking around because it means her car is under our watchful eyes - it's a shame not everyone feels the same."


Your Say YourSwindon

Al Smith, Swindon, UK says...
9:11am Mon 10 Sep 07

She is founder of Top Secret Cruising - isn't cruising exactly what she say's she isn't doing?

GraemeLeighfield, Swindon says...
9:23am Mon 10 Sep 07

fair comments all round.

why let a few spoil if for the majority

crackerz, swindon, wiltshire says...
9:25am Mon 10 Sep 07

Al Smith wrote:
She is founder of Top Secret Cruising - isn't cruising exactly what she say's she isn't doing?
its only a name - a name we are currently changing to reflect our views.

Andy_C, Swindon says...
9:25am Mon 10 Sep 07

Nope, Cruising is a slow form of driving where people with nice cars show them off. I dont do this as i dont have a nice car.

Racing is the word your thing of. The order should be against the people who treat swindon as a race track!

adam, Swindon says...
9:28am Mon 10 Sep 07

Here we go... should be a 200+ readers comments!

Let's keep it clean and have a fair fight. (",)

Voice of Reason, The Parks says...
9:38am Mon 10 Sep 07

Morning crackerz think you know were I stand on this issue, good for you keeping it in the public eye. As I said last week if all these "residents" dont like these guys meeting to show off there motors then please feel free to start a petition to find them somewhere they can go. Thats all they want a decent place to meet greet and discuss thing what herm are they doing. At least there not out in town on the pi55 causing trouble fighting etc lets back them not victimise them.You go for it girl I wish you all the best...x

crackerz, swindon, wiltshire says...
9:47am Mon 10 Sep 07

thank you very very much!!!

missey, Surrey says...
9:55am Mon 10 Sep 07

I'm not from your area, but this seems a little harsh on the part of the police. If motorists are troublesome, surely there are enough laws in place to combat antisocial behaviour without the need to become hysterical about it and issue blanket bans.
Good luck with this Sara and I hope you get the correct result :) x

Voice of Reason, The Parks says...
10:34am Mon 10 Sep 07

Can you do me a favour Crackerz, I have a 16 year old son he thinks I stress the word thinks he knows about cars. All I hear is how he is gonna get this car fitted with nos etc he is not as clued up as he thinks. I would love to bring him to meet you guys one time so he can see how you improve a car properly without becoming one of those idiots with sh1te car with a stupid exhaust bought from Halfords. Not sure how I can contact you without it being public to find out pls let me know cheers..x

crackerz, swindon, wiltshire says...
10:53am Mon 10 Sep 07

Voice of Reason wrote:
Can you do me a favour Crackerz, I have a 16 year old son he thinks I stress the word thinks he knows about cars. All I hear is how he is gonna get this car fitted with nos etc he is not as clued up as he thinks. I would love to bring him to meet you guys one time so he can see how you improve a car properly without becoming one of those idiots with sh1te car with a stupid exhaust bought from Halfords. Not sure how I can contact you without it being public to find out pls let me know cheers..x
Hey!
Get him to join up to TSC topsecretcruising.co
.uk/forums and we'll help him along the way!!
Thanks for your support everyone
Sara

Voice of Reason, The Parks says...
10:56am Mon 10 Sep 07

Ok will do sugar thanks, do you meet msot Friday nights if so can you let me know were..x

Beaker you Muppet!, swindon says...
10:57am Mon 10 Sep 07

I work in town near theater square and sometime have to park in wyvern if i work late,i have to say that not once have i seen any antisocial behaviour not once have i heard a loud stereo, however leaving late friday 7th i see three lads having beers on a balcony in the flats opposite the car park and one threw his empty off the balcony, non of us are perfect and we all have our hobbies quirks and faults that will irritate someone else, personally from what i have seen i think these enthusiasts are getting a raw deal due to a minority of idiots

crackerz, swindon, wiltshire says...
11:07am Mon 10 Sep 07

Good to hear an outsiders view! Thanks!
VoR - Halfords at the moment!

Beaker you Muppet!, swindon says...
11:13am Mon 10 Sep 07

no problem it seems to me that people are only to happy to jump on you because its not a hobbie they would have, and i take it that its people like the beer can throwers that complain about you? pot calling kettle black i think

anyway i hope you get things resolved

Neil (aging car enthusiast)

crackerz, swindon, wiltshire says...
11:21am Mon 10 Sep 07

No problem Neil!!

Mr Blackberry, Oxford says...
11:21am Mon 10 Sep 07

Well done Crackers. A good article. Not everyone that is into moddifying their car is a sreet racer.

VW, Swindon says...
11:58am Mon 10 Sep 07

I am not a car modifier or customiser, however my dad has been for over 50 years. Nothing radical these days, but he just loves cars. Not all of the people who meet at the wyvern car park are irresponsible drivers i am sure. Therefore it is puzzling as to what has prompted this dispersal order. Is it the noise from cars arriving, the noise from stereos, other less intelligent drivers showing off as they pass or just the result of a blanket ban on groups.

VW, Swindon says...
12:00pm Mon 10 Sep 07

I am not a car modifier or customiser, however my dad has been for over 50 years. Nothing radical these days, but he just loves cars. Not all of the people who meet at the wyvern car park are irresponsible drivers i am sure. Therefore it is puzzling as to what has prompted this dispersal order. Is it the noise from cars arriving, the noise from stereos, other less intelligent drivers showing off as they pass or just the result of a blanket ban on groups.

swindonian01, Swindon says...
12:07pm Mon 10 Sep 07

ok so we've had both sides of the story as it were. What I'd like to know if anyone is working with the police to try and find an alternative venue ?

crackerz, swindon, wiltshire says...
12:15pm Mon 10 Sep 07

yes we currently are. We are aaiting replies :) the paper version of the article says that but not the online version :)

crackerz, swindon, wiltshire says...
12:16pm Mon 10 Sep 07

awaiting thats suppose to say!

csb, Swindon says...
12:26pm Mon 10 Sep 07

I am Pleased to see that there are members of the public standing up for the unfair treatment that these 'cruisers' are being subjected to. My Mother is a Disabled badge holder and regulary parks in the wyvern theatre multi-story car park and she has never once had a problem with these people being in there and if she needs to park somewhere then she asks them politly and they move out of her way with no problems, i Hope Crackerz that people take note of this article and do not tar the law abiding people who are only out to meet up with there friends and talk cars with the same brush as the idiots who put peoples lives in danger with there idiotic driving.

Voice of Reason, The Parks says...
1:01pm Mon 10 Sep 07

Ok Crackerz I might bring him down Friday if thats ok let him have a look around. To all the others who also agree with me that these guys are just enjoying a hobby mail the adver like I did asking them to help back these guys getting there own place to go

GetAJob, Swindon says...
1:26pm Mon 10 Sep 07

So now the car park is actually closed to ALL users after business hours - not just "cruisers" - surely the comment that their little club dissuades ne'er-do-wells from thieving is a little redundant? As as for intimidation - I have driven past "cruisers" of an evening in the past to sneers of derision just because I don't drive a car with a bucket for an exhaust, ridiculously slim tyres and a shedload of stickers on the front wing. So I guess my view is a little biased. Why not spend a bit of money and get your own rented land or agree to meet in a pub car park? It's not the end of the world! No one complains this much when a music group or similar are desperate for somewhere to rehearse!

GetAJob, Swindon says...
1:26pm Mon 10 Sep 07

So now the car park is actually closed to ALL users after business hours - not just "cruisers" - surely the comment that their little club dissuades ne'er-do-wells from thieving is a little redundant? As as for intimidation - I have driven past "cruisers" of an evening in the past to sneers of derision just because I don't drive a car with a bucket for an exhaust, ridiculously slim tyres and a shedload of stickers on the front wing. So I guess my view is a little biased. Why not spend a bit of money and get your own rented land or agree to meet in a pub car park? It's not the end of the world! No one complains this much when a music group or similar are desperate for somewhere to rehearse!

adam, Swindon says...
1:36pm Mon 10 Sep 07

Why not rent a community centre or something similar for “meets” like other clubs do?

I mean, it’s not like you often find your local chess club hanging around in car parks after-hours. What’s different?

StFc, Swindon says...
1:36pm Mon 10 Sep 07

Why don't you all paint little Angels & halos on yr cars while your at it.
The kids in cars in the wyvern car park are a pain in the a*se and should be moved on. You say you all park & chat, well thats Bull **it for a start, you may park there but you treat he surrounding area as your own private race track before you get there.

cartmanzx, swindon says...
1:39pm Mon 10 Sep 07

I'm 30 and love cars and modifying them as do I enjoy meeting up with other like minded individuals with the same passion.
I used to regularly pop along to the wyvern for a chat with my friends and never once saw any bad behaviour. Every once in a while you get some idiot who’s got a small car e.g. 1.2 Clio with a huge exhaust screaming through to show off and in fact this is always snubbed at and never encouraged. I think it's unfair for the police or anyone to tar us with the same brush as those irresponsible “Boy Racers”. There is a difference!!

adam, Swindon says...
1:55pm Mon 10 Sep 07

"I can understand that there are people that speed around and burn rubber but I am certainly not one of them and don't think I should suffer because of an idiot in a car".

The problem is that these so called “idiots” are there because your club is there. Your club needs to be legitimately controlled or someone needs to be held accountable.

Agreed, they’re everywhere
Football grounds are accountable for their idiots.
Local pubs are accountable for their idiots.
So you should be accountable for yours.

That’s why these meets need to be official and on rented land and not just in a car park

adam, Swindon says...
2:07pm Mon 10 Sep 07

IF YOU LOT REMEMBER A WHILE BACK ON ITV'S TREVOR MCDONAULD TONIGHT THERE WAS A PROGRAMME ABOUT BOY RACERS AND HOW THEY CLOSED ROAD AND KILLED PEOPLE BY RACING AROUND

so what's you point then?

swindonman, swindon says...
2:16pm Mon 10 Sep 07

I work for the ambulance service and friday and saturday nights getting down fleet street to emergency calls is a nightmare due to all the idiots in there modified cars who feel the impulse to drive down to john street car park and then drive back to flemming way they repeat this loads of time through out the night people have been knocked down loads of times. The sooner they shut off fleet street at weekends to non emergency vehicles the better.

adam, Swindon says...
2:20pm Mon 10 Sep 07

So when car meets are not properly organised there is the potential for roads being closed and people being killed? YES?

Then they need to be properly organised!! You’re contradicting yourself.

I know that you say you’re a club that does not condone this behaviour but your events are not organised and anyone can turn up.

crackerz, swindon, wiltshire says...
2:21pm Mon 10 Sep 07

swindonman wrote:
I work for the ambulance service and friday and saturday nights getting down fleet street to emergency calls is a nightmare due to all the idiots in there modified cars who feel the impulse to drive down to john street car park and then drive back to flemming way they repeat this loads of time through out the night people have been knocked down loads of times. The sooner they shut off fleet street at weekends to non emergency vehicles the better.
not by any of us they haven't. There would have been uproar.

crackerz, swindon, wiltshire says...
2:24pm Mon 10 Sep 07

adam wrote:
So when car meets are not properly organised there is the potential for roads being closed and people being killed? YES? Then they need to be properly organised!! You’re contradicting yourself. I know that you say you’re a club that does not condone this behaviour but your events are not organised and anyone can turn up.
no thats not what he saying lol. our 'meets' are open to all but bad behaviour is frowned upon and very rare.
what he is saying is that unlike some other towns, all we want to do is hang around - not shut roads off and race.

mc, swindon says...
2:36pm Mon 10 Sep 07

I wonder if the modified (bad taste) cars are insured as such?I was unlucky enough to be the one that stopped a 'modified' car that ran out of brakes and totaled my 4 month old car- police turn up sort the mess out etc then contact me to say he was uninsured as the 'modifications' had not been declared to his insurance co.,ANY change from standard it seems will invalide a policy -my cover paid for a new car and they are recovereing the cost through the county courts - beware - if I had 3rd party cover I'd of been on my own to recover any loss - think about it ! A £14000 debt owed to me by a 17year old earning £150 a week....how does £5 a week sound.....

crackerz, swindon, wiltshire says...
2:41pm Mon 10 Sep 07

my dad goes to classic car meets that use carparks!? they arent official!!

mc - sounds like you were unlucky. all my mods are declared. and most peoples are - as the ongoing debates on my forum prove. seems not all insurance companies ask whether you have mods but thats a different ball game all together.

adam, Swindon says...
2:45pm Mon 10 Sep 07

It's not a personal attack, Just the truth. If you paid for your venue then this discussion would not even be taking place. End off.

crackerz, swindon, wiltshire says...
2:53pm Mon 10 Sep 07

where exactly can we pay to go 6 nights a week where our cars can be with us?

adam, Swindon says...
2:56pm Mon 10 Sep 07

That's your problem.


crackerz, swindon, wiltshire says...
2:58pm Mon 10 Sep 07

its not doable.

adam, Swindon says...
3:04pm Mon 10 Sep 07

I can't afford to go to the pub or watch football every night. Maybe six nights a week is a little too excessive!!

Like I said, it’s your problem. If you pay for a venue then nobody can object.

Grimaldi, The Big Top says...
3:08pm Mon 10 Sep 07

Yet another fascinating and informative article from the local paper. Why the editor feels there is a need to make a story out of this topic is beyond me. I thought we had established the fact that crackerz and chums were whiter than white last week, and just want somewhere to drool over their cars in peace. Instead the Adver print another non story and we end up with discussions about car parks, and VoR trying to crack on to the ringleader. Can we please move on?

crackerz, swindon, wiltshire says...
3:10pm Mon 10 Sep 07

its not excessive? i ride my horses everyday, twice a day. so 6 nights a week with my cars seems not enough!

GraemeLeighfield, Swindon says...
3:12pm Mon 10 Sep 07

couldnt agree with you more Grimaldi

mush1234, swindon says...
3:17pm Mon 10 Sep 07

i hear your gonna take over mataland car park now,you lot are as bad as the pikies,you get moved on go to anther spot,leaving you mcdonalds bags and other rubbish in these car parks why dont you go up to the ridgeway out of the way and it would be a nice drive for you lot.

adam, Swindon says...
3:20pm Mon 10 Sep 07

This is going nowhere……

You don’t pay to be there.

If you did pay to be somewhere, nobody can/would complain.

Nobody cares how much you like your car or what is deemed as excessive.

The fact that the police have issued a dispersal order against you means that you are a nuisance to the public .

Just do it by the book and then you’re ok, and we can get on with our lives.

Chris, says...
3:26pm Mon 10 Sep 07

crackerz wrote:
where exactly can we pay to go 6 nights a week where our cars can be with us?
Why don't you actually DRIVE your cars or join a proper car club with regular meetings and shock - Public Liability Insurance.

The rubbish left behind sickens me - how can you been so filthy?

Grimaldi, The Big Top says...
3:29pm Mon 10 Sep 07

mush1234 wrote:
i hear your gonna take over mataland car park now,you lot are as bad as the pikies,you get moved on go to anther spot,leaving you mcdonalds bags and other rubbish in these car parks why dont you go up to the ridgeway out of the way and it would be a nice drive for you lot.
Excellent spelling and use of grammar there Mush. Well done!
And Crackerz - why anyone in their right mind would want to drive their car to a car park 6 nights a week just to stand around and look at other people's cars is beyond me. Odd. Very odd.

Voice of Reason, The Parks says...
3:39pm Mon 10 Sep 07

Grimaldi thanks for showing how immature you are and how much sh1t you really talk. How is speaking to somone and asking politley if I can take MY SON along to see there cars hitting on someone.Your obviously a small minded individually who still thinks if a man has a woman as a friend then they must fancy each other how old are you 14 you gob sh1te.

mush1234, swindon says...
3:39pm Mon 10 Sep 07

cheers gimbo thanks for that ,chris are you the old chris h or are you a new chris

cartmanzx, swindon says...
3:45pm Mon 10 Sep 07

End of the day, we enjoy cars!, not all car enthusiasts are bad peaople who some of you make us out to be. There are idiots out there who mug people and cause damage to property etc and we are being labeled as anti social. If the police cant control these boy racers how can we???

Grimaldi, The Big Top says...
3:46pm Mon 10 Sep 07

Charming use of language VoR. Your 16 year old son must be very proud of you. I just hope he has grasped the basics of grammar and spelling at school, because you clearly haven't. Now can we get back to the topic of cars?

Voice of Reason, The Parks says...
3:53pm Mon 10 Sep 07

You were the fool who got off the topic of cars and made it personal. Yes my son is proud, just because you dont like what these people do it does not make it wrong.

Grimaldi, The Big Top says...
3:59pm Mon 10 Sep 07

I never said it was wrong. My point is that it is a non story, and there must be far more important things the Adver staff can be reporting on than people who meet up in a car park and look at cars.

Mellish, Hounslow says...
4:01pm Mon 10 Sep 07

I'm with Grimaldi on this one. It did look like you were more interested in the actual cruising organiser rather than showing interest on behalf of your son.

Voice of Reason, The Parks says...
4:06pm Mon 10 Sep 07

So people really are small minded. I dont really care what you think anyhow.And as the said girl in question is only 22 years old I dont chase girls not long out of school, no disrespect meant to crackerz. I am happily married have been for 18 years I am an adult unlike yourselves

Chris, says...
4:09pm Mon 10 Sep 07

mush1234 wrote:
cheers gimbo thanks for that ,chris are you the old chris h or are you a new chris
I am the only Chris. I was hear first.

Mr Blackberry, Oxford says...
4:09pm Mon 10 Sep 07

I think this dispersal order has been instigated with a too wide variety of offences. The drunks, homeless and general "hoody" type groups are possibly the ones the police should be concentration on. Perhaps the police should stop by some of these meets to check peoples cars, insurance, road legal then they will realise a majority of people that modify are completely 100% legal.I drive a modified car and all 100% all my modifications are declared.

Mellish, Hounslow says...
4:17pm Mon 10 Sep 07

Voice of Reason wrote:
So people really are small minded. I dont really care what you think anyhow.And as the said girl in question is only 22 years old I dont chase girls not long out of school, no disrespect meant to crackerz. I am happily married have been for 18 years I am an adult unlike yourselves
Now you're just turning the discussion into talking about yourself...as always.

adam, Swindon says...
4:31pm Mon 10 Sep 07

zzzzzzzzzzz

Mr Blackberry, Oxford says...
4:39pm Mon 10 Sep 07

adam wrote:
zzzzzzzzzzz
You havent fallen asleep already have you? :-/

Beaker you Muppet!, swindon says...
4:54pm Mon 10 Sep 07

adam wrote:
This is going nowhere…… You don’t pay to be there. If you did pay to be somewhere, nobody can/would complain. Nobody cares how much you like your car or what is deemed as excessive. The fact that the police have issued a dispersal order against you means that you are a nuisance to the public . Just do it by the book and then you’re ok, and we can get on with our lives.
well Adam what small minded and very judgemental comments, if they have legal cars with road tax, insurance ect and it is a public place they they have paid to meet, the police have not "just" issued a dispersal order against this club, its for the whole of the town centre because of the nuisence from beggers salesmen skaters ect ect, if you had bothered to read the article you would know this, as for you earlier comments of Football grounds are accountable for their idiots and Local pubs are accountable for their idiots is just laughable, how can crackers be accountable for people that have nothing to do with her club, she has already stated that idiots are not tolerated and frowned apon in her club, you are clearly a keyboard warror with nothing better to do than make ill informed comments about something you clearly know nothing about and people you clearly know nothing about.

adam, Swindon says...
4:58pm Mon 10 Sep 07

Have you not herd of loitering? A criminal offence I believe.

I read the article on Friday and the wyvern car park was also mentioned.

Good day (“,)

Voice of Reason, The Parks says...
5:01pm Mon 10 Sep 07

No mellish I wasnot talking about me that was started by idiots on here who are small minded

Beaker you Muppet!, swindon says...
5:06pm Mon 10 Sep 07

Yes here is the classification:

A. A person commits loitering if such person intentionally:

1. Is present in a public place and in an offensive manner solicits another person to engage in any sexual offense; or

2. Is present in a transportation facility and after a reasonable request to cease or unless specifically authorized to do so solicits or engages in any business, trade or commercial transactions involving the sale of merchandise or services; or

3. Is present in a public place to beg, unless specifically authorized by law; or

4. Is present in a public place, unless specifically authorized by law, to gamble with any cards, dice or other similar gambling devices; or

5. Is present in or about a school, college or university building or grounds after a reasonable request to leave and either does not have any reason or relationship involving custody of or responsibility for a pupil or student or any other specific legitimate reason for being there or does not have written permission to be there from anyone authorized to grant permission.

B. Loitering under subsection A, paragraph 5 is a class 1 misdemeanor. Loitering under subsection A, paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 4 is a class 3 misdemeanor.


As there not selling items selling there bodies looking for someone selling there body or in a college then its not really applicable

Chris, says...
5:11pm Mon 10 Sep 07

Beaker you Muppet! wrote:
adam wrote: This is going nowhere…… You don’t pay to be there. If you did pay to be somewhere, nobody can/would complain. Nobody cares how much you like your car or what is deemed as excessive. The fact that the police have issued a dispersal order against you means that you are a nuisance to the public . Just do it by the book and then you’re ok, and we can get on with our lives.
well Adam what small minded and very judgemental comments, if they have legal cars with road tax, insurance ect and it is a public place they they have paid to meet, the police have not "just" issued a dispersal order against this club, its for the whole of the town centre because of the nuisence from beggers salesmen skaters ect ect, if you had bothered to read the article you would know this, as for you earlier comments of Football grounds are accountable for their idiots and Local pubs are accountable for their idiots is just laughable, how can crackers be accountable for people that have nothing to do with her club, she has already stated that idiots are not tolerated and frowned apon in her club, you are clearly a keyboard warror with nothing better to do than make ill informed comments about something you clearly know nothing about and people you clearly know nothing about.
And of course, boy and girl racers causing distress, alarm and harressment.

Her 'club' have (quite rightfully) no power to stop others from assembling in any public place. Thankfully, the police now have.

Why not actually drive your cars?

Beaker you Muppet!, swindon says...
5:21pm Mon 10 Sep 07

so you are saying parked up cars and peop