Bogan car cruises to victory

Rangiora’s ‘bogan car’ is back in action after an extreme make-over which makes it even cooler to look at, but deadlier to drive.

The bogan car is used to teach young people about dangerous car modifications, and its extreme new look was unveiled at a South Island careers expo in early September.

Along with a new paint job, the low riding Mitsubishi Lancer now sports a new set of mag wheels, a noisy muffler, and a very loud, expensive car stereo.

Rangiora Sergeant Brent Register, left, and Canterbury Senior

Sergeant John Robinson with the low-riding, award-winning bogan car.

The car is the brainchild of Rangiora Police, Highway Patrol and the Waimakariri District Council.

It was created after the death of a local 16-year-old boy, whose illegally modified car spun out of control and crashed into an oncoming truck.

The initiative was highly commended at the New Zealand Community Safety and Injury Prevention Awards.

Canterbury Senior Sergeant John Robinson, says the bogan car is a magnet wherever it goes.

“It provides an opportunity for police to mix with young people and talk to them about illegal modifications and other road safety issues,” John says.

The car contains a large number of illegal faults, and several legal modifications. Young people - and their parents - are challenged to spot the difference.

“All the dangerous modifications are things police commonly see during vehicle checks,” John says.

“They include things like cutting the suspension springs to lower the car, taking off the seat runners, putting stickers over tail lights and adding dark window tints reducing vision.”

The bogan car was first launched in March 2006. It has since toured the district - by trailer as it’s never driven - and is in hot demand at local shows and events.

The car has also been taken around high schools, where students are encouraged to check it over and list its faults.

The car is accompanied by a static display providing information on how to correctly modify a car, the pitfalls of illegal modification, graphic photographs of crashes caused by illegal modifications and information on driver licensing.

The Mitsubishi Lancer was donated by Rangiora car yard Magnum Prestige, and the original modifications were done by students on a local youth employment course.

The latest makeover was done free of charge by staff and students at the automotive refinishing division of Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology. Panasonic donated the stereo.

John says the bogan car sends a clear message to young people that it’s OK to modify your car - so long as the modifications are safe and legal.