Bridge from Petrolheads to Cops breaks records in Fairfield City

The number of young petrolheads mingling with local law enforcement surged to 150 on Thursday night, when the two camps came together to share some cheese-laden steak.

A record number of petrol heads mingled with law enforcement at Cheesesteak & Cars in Wetherill Park. Photo: Sam Law - 300C-PO

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The number of young petrolheads mingling with local law enforcement surged to 150 on Thursday night, when the two camps came together to share some cheese-laden steak.

They were participants in the eighth CheesestEak & Cars at Wetherill Park, a get-together organised by amateur racer and Senior Constable Steven Planinic.

A Highway Patrol car alongside a chromed Audi R8. Photo: Sam Law - 300C-PO

“We had people everywhere. The street was full with a good buzz and no drama,” Mr Planinic said.

“We had to knock back 30 or 40 people in the end” because there weren’t enough car spaces.

The event started with a focus on Japanese modified cars, but Thursday’s meeting saw the joining of locals with American muscle cars, Italian exotica and even German speed-machines.

Thirty reservations for spaces in the carpark of Frank’s Original Philly & Cheesesteaks sold out days before at $20 a piece. Those that missed out had to find street parking.

Mitsubishi Evolutions drive down the driveway as people gather around rows of worked cars. Photo: Sam Law - 300C-PO

Traditionally the relationship between police and petrolheads is a tense one, but it appears Mr Planinic has helped build a delicate bridge between the two communities in Fairfield City. The attendees even helped raise $1340 for Police Legacy, a charity that offers support to the families of officers who have been injured or fallen.

“All it would take is one person to do a burnout at the front and that would be it for the event,” he said. “By maintaining the size, we can control it more.”