Petition: Change the view of the modified car scene.

[FuzzyDropbear]

Yeah, i know, you probably see this as useless. But you never know our luck if enough people get behind this petition.

 

Yes, I know, it does come from a Commodore Club and some people have major issues with Commodore owners  , but this is one time where we, as enthusiasts, need to come together.

 

Sign-up at Street Commodores

 

Cheers guys,

 

Rob

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The tarring of the greater car-enthusiast community with the same brush as the hoon minority by mainstream media and the government is unfair and unjust.

 

With an aftermarket industry worth over AUD$200 million in exports annually (representing over 21 percent of all exports by Australian component manufacturers), the size and strength of the modified car community in this country can not be underestimated.

 

Australia boasts a massive car-enthusiast base that can be witnessed at such events such as the annual Summernats Festival, held in Canberra each January. It attracts more than 1500 entrants and over 30,000 spectators over the weeklong celebrations. Similar events are held nationwide, year round, each and every year, and the scene continues to grow.

 

The inflammatory, oft-exaggerated and ill-informed stories appearing on televisions around the country portray all modified-car owners as mindless, dangerous hoons. It’s as though they were criminals on a similar level to thieves and rapists.

 

Despite this, the majority of people who enjoy customising their vehicles are just regular people. They would rather spend their money on personalising and improving their vehicles than blowing their cash on drugs, alcohol or other consumer items.

 

Modified-car owners in Australia spend millions each year in the local economy buying items to improve the looks and performance of their vehicles. For the most part, they use their vehicles in a safe and sensible manner.

 

However, there will always be a minority in any sub-culture or sector of society that play the fool. Why, then, is the greater car-loving community singled out by the mainstream media and collective governments to be victimised for the actions of the few?

 

We don’t see farmers, sport shooters, security staff or other gun owners condemned for owning guns just because the minority is out in the streets shooting people. Nor do we see all computer owners persecuted when we have a minority out there using PCs for fraud, child abuse and other atrocities.

 

So, why are all modified-car owners humped into this seemingly unique position of being victimised because of the minority?

 

Why are the general public effectively told to frown upon all modified car owners as subhuman, dangerous or low-brow just because the few act the fool while the majority are decent, tax paying, hard working and productive members of our society?

 

It is time to reverse this mindset. It is time that the mainstream media and all levels of government cease their persecution of modified-car owners because of the minority.

 

Stop the police targeting of modified cars to search for generally non-existent defects while a stream of rusted-out, poorly maintained heaps rattle by unnoticed. These present more of a danger to the community and the environment than someone’s pride and joy ever could.

 

Help us to turn around the public perception of modified-car owners as being a menace to society. Let them see that they have only ever been shown the minority in action – not the community-minded, hard-working majority.

 

It is time that the country sees the truth, and it is time the government stops allowing themselves to be swayed by the ill-informed public perception that has been fed by the mainstream media for far too long.

 

Work with the modified-car community and not against it. Street Commodores believes that it is time that the modified car as a whole stood up to be counted to give a display of strength and solidarity against the injustices being perpetuated against us each and everyday.

 

We're a big community. We drive modified cars, and we vote, just like everyone else.

If you want the government to understand just how many of us there are, and just how much power we wield come election time, add your name to this petition. We're aiming to get at least 10,000 signatures, and then we will submit it to the powers that be.

 

The time for talking has come to an end. It is now time to act. We're sick and tired of being persecuted for driving a modified car. Are you?

 

When we get the 10,000 signatures, we will send this petition to the relevant government departments as a demonstration of our solidarity and to send the message that we as a community have had enough. Add your name to the list today and ensure that all your car-loving friends do the same.

 

 

[sco_aus]

I couldnt possibly do it, im not a hoon, I drive sensibly and my car will be made legal, if I get pulled over by the police then its a good thing because they are trying to stop the fuckwits out there who have caused it.  And its not really the minority doing stupid shit, its a fair chunk of modified car owners doing it. Personally, i couldnt give a shit if someone thikns im a hoon cos my car can go fast, cos they are the morons for judging me before finding out the truth.  Not to mention the amount of illgeal mods going around.

I think its needed to help keep people in check.

Oh and they blame the government there, awsome, yeh its the federal governments fault that people are wankers.  Love it.

Dunno what the police are like down there, but the cops here use logic when pulling a car over.

Anyways, not a go at you dude.

[FuzzyDropbear]

Nah, that's fair enough. I understand completely where you're coming from. I'm not a hoon either, I drive within my limits and that of the roads (which are pretty good down here) and yeah, my mods will be done all legal like and if they're not legal, well then, I can't complain if I get busted hey?

 

However, I just hate being lumped in with the f00ly sik bogans that both modify and drive their cars in an irresponsible and dangerous manner. The petition, in reality, isn't even going to be looked at by any politician, unless there's some massive amount of people, but half of them will be idiots that think they're enthusiasts... but are just wankers.

 

I also think it's funny that the petition is being run by a commodore club... one of the biggest 'hoon' scenes in Australia  although they may be a Commodore club which actually teaches and enforces good behaviour on cruises etc. Who knows.

 

Cheers.

[sco_aus]

hehe yeh thats it.  I went on a street commodores cruise for charity in Melbourne a couple of years ago and it was huge (about 500 cars), and i only saw 1 burnt out the whole day which for 500 commies, that aint bad.  But yeh, they dont have a very good name, but then again if you think of skylines causing problems too, its not just a bogan thing if you know what i mean (though they seem to be the new commodore ).  Here in Canberra, the skylines australia crew are well known for their good behaviour and when have a meet, we get left alone.  Some of the other clubs have been targeted when they have a meet, so it does help to keep a good name as a group too.

[JP240z]

the ones that do dumb shit are fully sick muzzas or bogans.

there is no such thing as a fully sick bogan.

 

and you're right, the petition is pointless, i think the best way to solve this problem is to jail anybody who hangs out at 24 hour maccas.

[modular9]

I used to drive a black xb falcon coupe with a rumbling v8 under the bonnet. My average police stops per year were 8 - 10 for license checks , random breath checks and of course safety checks. The last time they stopped me i was pulling into my drive after tailing me for 4 kms for a breath test. Doesnt happen now in the zed though.

 

You'd think I'd be on this petition like flies on %^&% . No I am not. If the annoyance of me having to be stopped 8 or so times a year stops irresponsible hoons as well ( which it should ) then I am all for it. If you havent done anything wrong and you havent got anything illegal on the car then in most cases the cops are pretty damn good about the whole thing. Most of the times i ended up having discussions about flow figures on heads, extractor options  etc. Show them respect they show you respect.

 

If you drive a modded car or a non-conformist car then it is par of the course. I am sorry for the common-door community for what they feel is unwarranted police scrutiny but as it has been said in this thread... they are the most likely community to have the fully sick illegal BOV, cut springs,no bump stops, 29 inch wheels with crap rubber on them.

 

No I aint a cop either !