Hoons turn Gold Coast’s most prestigious beachfront suburbs into drag strips after dusk

HOONS on modified motorcycles or in sports cars are turning the Gold Coast’s most prestigious beachfront suburbs into drag strips after dusk.

Hoons are racing down prestigious Gold Coast streets

HOONS on modified motorcycles or in sports cars are turning the Gold Coast’s most prestige beachfront suburbs into drag strip after dusk.

In the past 18 months only nine people have charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle and five with racing on a road under hooning laws.

Only 33 motorists were caught for making unnecessary noise or smoke

Angry Surfers Paradise residents want a crackdown on the nightly drag races, calling for signage on intersections to warn about fines.

A Surfers Paradise unit owner, who is gathering video footage, has complained to police after recognising the street racers on Harley Davidsons had removed bafflers from their mufflers.

Bikers riding on Gold Coast roads.

“They take the bafflers out of the exhaust which is illegal. I saw one on the road which was like something out of a drag race,” he said.

“He had sparks coming out the exhaust. The police should be pulling them over doing random testing with a sound monitor.

“If they continue to do it they should be locked up. They’re laughing in our faces.”

The drag strip is from Main Beach through Surfers Paradise and south to Broadbeach before the road racers head west to Carrara.

Residents are blaming light rail for increasing the number of intersections and potential road races, which attract not just expensive motorcycles but sports car owners.

While the road racers are only reaching estimated speeds of about 80km/h in the 60km/h zone, it is the blast and tyre screeching from the takeoff which is causing sleepless nights for older residents.

More intersections built on the light rail network in Surfers Paradise are encouraging hoons to road race.

Business leader Max Christmas revealed he has written to the seven body corporates responsible for hundreds of unit owners as part of a campaign to get the government to instruct police to launch a crackdown.

Mr Christmas told the Gold Coast Bulletin: “This doesn’t happen in Hong Kong and Singapore. It doesn’t happen in Carmel (in the United States). Remember Clint Eastwood (as the mayor). He got rid of it.

“They come out for a joy ride. They want to rev it up at the traffic lights. It’s a disgrace.”

Former city councillor Max Christmas is concerned about the city’s tourist image. Photo: Steve Holland

Pinnacle unit owner Jan Briggs said the noise from motorbikes roaring past was ruining the life of residents.

“We have a community area downstairs. You have to shut up and stop talking until they roar past,” she said.

Hells Angels bikies headed for Surfers Paradise.

Body corporate reform group leader George Friend confirmed the increased road traffic noise compounded by the passing trams had caused some residents to leave the tourist strip.

“It’s just the nature of traffic here now. I know people who have sold up at a loss because of the noise. You are losing your quality of life here because of the congestion,” Mr Friend said.

Mr Christmas believes a solution is signs being erected at the various intersections, and warnings that motorists will be fined for exceeding noise limits and disturbing the peace.

“I believe Queensland’s noise limit is 90 decibels and the police should be empowered by Queensland State Government to enforce that limit. Council can only follow the State Government’s directions,” he said.

Mr Christmas said hoons were targeting popular tourist haunts like Tedder Avenue, around the Southport Yacht Club area and south through Cavill and Orchid avenues.

Tedder Avenue at Main Beach is a hooning hot spot. Photo: David Clark

“This excessive noise could have a major influence on people’s home units and houses anywhere near traffic lights, in depreciating their values, and could also affect the value of council’s rate revenue as has happened in cities around the world where noise has not been addressed,” he said.

“It is a major concern for the State Government to address, as well as the Police Minister.”

A spokesperson for Police Minister Mark Ryan said the Gold Coast Road Policing Unit conducted regular patrols on hooning hot spots and gathered intelligence.

Residents were encouraged to report hooning offences to the 13 HOON Hotline, the spokesperson added.