Boy racers gather for first car meet since lockdown as crowds gather and police look on

Hundreds have gathered in car parks for the first large scale car meet up since lockdown, travelling in convoy to five different locations to admire each other’s customised motors.

Car enthusiasts from across the country took part in the all-day drive-a-thon beginning at 10:00am in Barking before motoring down the M25 to meet at a service station and arriving at several locations in Harlow, Essex.

The meeting then returned to Barking where pictures show hundreds of revellers ignoring social distancing and flouting the government’s social distancing limit of 30 people per gathering, no arrests have been made. 

Car enthusiasts from across the country gather in Barking (pictured) after a day of cruising 

Several police cars and two ambulances attended the gathering in Barking where noise complaints were made after cars sped their way through the McDonald’s drive-through.

Footage and pictures show revellers blaring music and using nitrous oxide before dumping the canisters on the car park in Harlow.

Although cruising events are not illegal under normal circumstances, the meetings are often treated as antisocial behaviour by police due to the likelihood of illegal speeding, handbrake turns and criminal damage. 

Essex Police said in a statement: ‘Officers attended The Oaks Retail Park on Howard Way, Harlow, on Saturday 4 July after receiving reports of a car cruising event with around 200 vehicles present. 

Cruising events are not illegal under normal circumstances, however some of the behaviour that is known to take place at the events is - including speeding and handbrake turns

Cruising events are not illegal under normal circumstances, however some of the behaviour that is known to take place at the events is – including speeding and handbrake turns

Social distancing is all forgotten as crowds gather to watch a car backfire

Social distancing is all forgotten as crowds gather to watch a car backfire

Large crowds mingle outside of their cars at the meet up which attracted hundreds from across London and Essex

Large crowds mingle outside of their cars at the meet up which attracted hundreds from across London and Essex

Essex police warned that attending gatherings of this size could put extra pressure on our NHS and impact the health and safety of participants due to covid-19

Essex police warned that attending gatherings of this size could put extra pressure on our NHS and impact the health and safety of participants due to covid-19

A police officer talks with a member of the car meet up as social distancing rules are disregarded

A police officer talks with a member of the car meet up as social distancing rules are disregarded

The meeting far exceeded the government's social distancing limit of 30 people per public outdoor gathering, however no arrests have been made

The meeting far exceeded the government’s social distancing limit of 30 people per public outdoor gathering, however no arrests have been made

Footage and pictures show revellers blaring music and using nitrous oxide before dumping the canisters on the car park in Harlow

Footage and pictures show revellers blaring music and using nitrous oxide before dumping the canisters on the car park in Harlow

Police were present in Harlow, Essex (pictured) and later in Barking as lots of wheel spinning and noisy antics carried on until the small hours

Police were present in Harlow, Essex (pictured) and later in Barking as lots of wheel spinning and noisy antics carried on until the small hours

The events are organised on Facebook and Instagram with dates and locations released last minute in an effort to avoid attracting police

The events are organised on Facebook and Instagram with dates and locations released last minute in an effort to avoid attracting police

‘The majority of vehicles then moved to South Way in the town, and officers stayed in both locations to monitor the event.

‘No arrests were made but one ticket was issued for careless driving.

‘We would like to remind everyone thinking of attending a similar event that gatherings of this size could put extra pressure on our NHS and impact the health and safety of participants.’

One witness said the police appeared to be ‘powerless’ against the crowds and were seen ‘chatting’ with them.

He said: ‘People were spinning their wheels outside McDonald’s and definitely breaking the acceptable level of decibels with the noise their car motors made.’ 

Adding: ‘Lots of wheel spinning and noisy antics carried on until the small hours’.

The events are organised on Facebook and Instagram with dates and locations released last minute in an effort to avoid attracting police. 

A stop in Barking on the morning of the car meet up, with one reveller popping his bonnet up to show the engine of his modified car

A stop in Barking on the morning of the car meet up, with one reveller popping his bonnet up to show the engine of his modified car

By evening a large car park in Barking was filled with the modified cars and revellers

By evening a large car park in Barking was filled with the modified cars and revellers

A modified Subaru features LED blue lights on its undercarriage and  a sticker reading 'outlaws'

A modified Subaru features LED blue lights on its undercarriage and  a sticker reading ‘outlaws’

A Subaru features red LED lights on its undercarriage as it arrives in Barking

A Subaru features red LED lights on its undercarriage as it arrives in Barking

A police officer chats to a reveller in Harlow, Essex, as crowds fill the industrial car park

A police officer chats to a reveller in Harlow, Essex, as crowds fill the industrial car park

A video taken at the event shows car enthusiasts performing a 'burnout', revving the engine to showcase its power and create clouds of smoke while crowds watched.

Car enthusiast Julien Macedo said he was given a warning for the stunt

 A video taken at the event shows car enthusiasts performing a ‘burnout’, revving the engine to showcase its power and create clouds of smoke while crowds watched

A video taken at the event shows car enthusiasts performing a ‘burnout’, revving the engine to showcase its power and create clouds of smoke while crowds watched.  

Car enthusiast Julien Macedo commented on the video: ‘That’s my car, don’t like the burnout? so be it, one thing i know is the people there in person went crazy cuz they’ve never seen an american car like mine.

He added: ‘Cops gave me a ticket at first and then took it down to a warning since i was respectful! morale of the story, know the place, know the time, and know how to be respectful cuz it goes a long way!! whoever didnt get to follow me yesterday, nows your chance!’

The Metropolitan police have been contacted for comment. 

Footage and pictures show revellers blaring music and using nitrous oxide before dumping the canisters on the car park in Harlow

Footage and pictures show revellers blaring music and using nitrous oxide before dumping the canisters on the car park in Harlow

Locations were shared for the event in mid-June but its date was not revealed until this week, with a change in location to Harlow, Essex

Locations were shared for the event in mid-June but its date was not revealed until this week, with a change in location to Harlow, Essex

Earlier this week two men were charged in connection to a ’70mph boy racer’ crash at a ‘Fast and Furious’-style car meet.  

A Nissan 350z clipped a black Toyota GT86 in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, at the monthly event in July 18 2019, sending both vehicles ploughing into huge crowds that had lined the roadside.

Julian Castano, 21, was driving at 70mph in the Nissan while the driver of the Toyota was Dominic Brown, 21, from St Albans, who works in a Toyota dealership. 

Julian Castano, 21, of Essex

Dominic Brown, pictured,of St Albans, was driving the Toyota

Julian Castano, pictured left, 22, of Essex, and Dominic Brown, pictured right, who was visiting the event from St Albans, was driving the Toyota

The Nissan was sent flying across a central reservation while the Toyota went careering to its left by the impact, smashing into more spectators who were on the pavement and a grassy bank behind it.

Witnesses said the Toyota had performed a ‘reckless donut stunt’ moments before the crash, and the driver had to be cut free from the vehicle by emergency services. 

The incident was been branded an ‘accident waiting to happen’ by residents who say they have warned police over the dangers ‘hundreds of times’. 

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