Nielegalne wyscigi w UK - wywiad z polakiem

The Fast and the Furious may be a Hollywood fantasy, but a new documentary reveals that the world of underground racing is alive and well in Britain too.

Young men from all around the country gather at giant race meetings to compare their cars, which tend to be affordable models which have been modified with extra lights and powerful sound systems.

The police are keen to crack down on the racing scene, saying it endangers both the drivers themselves and their fellow road users.

+13Boy racers: A new documentary reveals the world of secret race meetings where hundreds of people gather to admire super-fast cars.

+13Meeting: Police are trying to crack down on the gatherings saying they promote dangerous behaviour.

+13Danger: The cars often go well over the speed limit as they race each other on public roads

However, many of those who attend the meetings come from depressed areas, and claim that the work they do on their cars is the only thing that keeps them out of more serious trouble.

The hidden story of these passionate motorists is revealed in Boy Racer: Fast & Furious In The UK, a documentary made by Rhys James and Grant Armour for Vice.

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The short film follows both sides of the boy racer divide - a pair of policemen supervising a gathering in Essex, and a car fanatic from Tyneside who loves customising his car and racing other drivers.

At the late-night meeting in Essex, young men show off their cheap cars, which they paint in gaudy colours and deck out with flashy accessories.

One racer proudly displays his lit-up door handles and a strip of lights along the underside of his car - which he boasts cost just £11.50 in total.

+13Star: Much of the film focusses on Ollie, from Whitley Bay in North Tyneside

+13Thrill: He says the high-speed manoeuvres he pulls off are exciting enough to outweigh the dangers

+13Out in the open: The racers manage to avoid police attention despite racing in public

Another tells the filmmakers that he has covered his Vauxhall Corsa in 2,500 stickers, and installed a sound system which is powerful enough to make people's hair stand on end.

Much of the documentary focusses on Ollie, from Whitley Bay, who is proud to call himself a boy racer and frequently travels the length of the country to attend meetings

He admits that his hobby is extremely dangerous - but says that his hometown is so deprived that he has no other way of occupying himself.

'There's nothing much to do for young uns around here,' he says. 'I'd probably do what a lot of people are now- just go on the dole and go and get p***ed every day.'

He has a Subaru Impreza, painted 'burnt tangerine candy orange', and spends his evenings trying to avoid the police as he takes to dual carriageways and pits his powers against his brother, another keen racer.

+13Tricked out: Many of the cars involved are cheap motors with additions such as powerful sound systems

+13Skid: The film chronicles exciting but potentially deadly moments in races between competing drivers

The drivers are aware of the risks they face by racing on public roads, but they tend to blame motorists who are not as good at driving as they think they are.

One of Ollie's friends, who works in a scrapyard, tells the film: 'People that think they can drive but obviously they can't, and then they end up in here.'

The police in the documentary highlights the dangers by telling of the horrors they face when dealing with the aftermath of fatal accidents.

'You see the consequences and you see how much it rips apart families for what we'll call a moment of madness,' one says.

'It's horrendous having to go to someone's house and tell them that their son or daughter has been killed.'

+13Dangerous game: Models said to be popular among boy racers include the Vauxhall Nova, pictured (file photo)

+13Garish: The street racers often paint their cars in bright colours with modified bumpers and rear spoilers

+13Is that you, Batman? This car with vertically-opening doors was one of those at a 2007 show in Essex

+13Craze: Enthusiasts gather for a modified car show at the Arena-Essex Raceway (file photo)

+13Models like the Nissan Skyline, pictured, are given alloy wheels, spoilers and turbo boosters (file photo)

It's only only car racing that poses a high risk on public roads. A so called 'logbook races' have become increasingly popular in UK where people with overpowered cars and motorcycles race to win their opponent's vehicle at all costs. A group of police targeted motorcyclists called 'Riders of Havoc' are known for bringing all of the worst to Britain's public roads are clearly stating on their website they are unafraid of the consequences and are even recruiting.

We've managed to contact one of the former Riders of Havoc group members to give us an insight of what's really happening in Britain that we are not aware of and Police itself is quiet about just like the problem doesn't exist.

Why people actually race? This is dangerous, outrageous, what is the purpose?
'Money. Logbook racing provides a substantial earnings. One decent race vs fairly decent car can give you one-off payment lot higher than the average annual UK pay. All you have to do is to sell your prize.'

How much money can you actually earn from that kind of activity?
'Initial fee for controllers is anything between three up to twenty thousand pounds depending on the stakes. Both opponents have to pay and the winner takes both vehicles home and some part of the initial fee.'

Who are those 'controllers'?
'Controllers set up races. They often take about 20% of the initial fee for themselves.'

Why are they called controllers?
'Because they control everything. They are usually organized crime gangs, even mafias. In this business if you play fair you are not going to be targeted.'

How much racers win?
'There are more common and less common vehicles. There are twin turbo and nitro charged motorcycles, their value often exceeds £100.000. Cars like Ferarris, Maseratis, Mercedeses, Nissans. All sorts with all different values.'

What happens if you will not hand in your logbook?
'You don't want to know.'

Did you just say that cars race with motorcycles?
'Yes, that's very common recently. People in cars forget that overpowered motorcycle always wins with a car, these motorcycles are often reaching brake horse power exceeding 700 and I am not even taking nitro injection into account.'

I always thought top of the range car can easily outrace top of the range motorcycle.
'These are not motorcycles straight from the production line, if they would then you're right, they wouldn't stand a chance. They have gone through so many modifications that it's uncountable. These bikes always need a major investment and upgrade in order to provide substantial income for the racer, but it does pay.'

Isn't it very dangerous for a motorcycle racer? Not everyone is as skilled as a MotoGP professionals.
'MotoGP is just about circling around the track. Everyone can do that. Some slower, some faster. Controlling a motorcycle at speeds exceeding 500km/h is a hell lot of a different story. Motorcycle dynamics change a lot at higher speeds, this is how young and inexperienced riders kill themselves on straight lines as it's rather difficult to turn at 300km/h, not mentioning on higher speeds. It's very easy to speed up a motorcycle, it's only a matter of few seconds, but the first bend is really testing you out. It takes years of practice and a balls of steel.'

Where are these motorcycles being modified that way? That can't be legal.
'Of course not. Some professional garages can provide such service, however, that's very rare. Most of those things like turbos, supercharges, nitro injections are installed by racers themselves and tested plenty of times before they actually race. These bikes are not even registered, no tax, mot or insurance. If something happens at that speed that's the least concern.'

Would you say you are better than MotoGP champions?
'They will for certain beat me on their track, I will, however, beat them on a motorway. We have our own, but yet different natural habitats.'

Where those races normally take place?
'Usually M1 northbound or M42, also northbound. There are more places and controllers are fairly dynamic when choosing new spots to race.'

Why are cars racing with motorcyclists?
'Most of the car drivers are idiots. They watched few videos on Youtube and believe car can outrun a bike, but they forget these are not just bikes. Give them wings and they will fly. They very often come from very rich families and tend to come back with more very expensive cars. For some reason, loss of a £100.000 Ferrari does not bother them.'

Let me just quickly go back to figures as that concern me. How much can illegal street racer really earn a year?
'RoH leaders have millions on their bank accounts, villas, boats and jets all over the world. I think that gives you an insight into money involved in this business. They always have a car for sale, more or less expensive, but this goes on and on.'

Riders of Havoc members wear jackets with initials on their backs. What is this about because your jacket said 'MD' and I believe you introduced yourself as Lucas H.?
'These are not initials, they are markings of your rank in the group hierarchy. First letter is random, rider chooses it, second however is very important as it tells others who you are.'

Have you ever lost a race?
'Never. Ed Kretz, famous motorcycle racer from the past once said, that you only go for a total victory because anything else is a failure.'

Considering your foreign accent, where do you come from?
'Eastern Europe, Poland, all you need to know.'

And how much did you earn from your illegal activity?
'That's actually none of your business. Enough.'

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