Boy racers are being invited to race up Princes St in Dunedin, in a bid to curb their need for speed.
Organisers of the Southern Festival of Speed Standing Mile Sprint on December 5 (4pm-8pm), are encouraging young drivers to compete in the festival, in which cars and motorcycles will race between the BP 2go Everedi and the Southern Sports Bar and Grill on Princes St.
"This is one way of keeping boy racers off the streets on the night," event co-ordinator Boyd Wilkinson said.
"We want to encourage them to join the Otago Sports Car Club which might encourage them to race their cars in a safer and more controlled environment.
"It will make it safer for the average Joe Public because the boy racers won't be racing around on public roads."
Mr Wilkinson said the event would also attract competitors from the Otago Motorcycle Club and the Otago Sports Car Club, and would feature V8 classic and late model cars.
The pre-Christmas event, held in conjunction with the Dunedin City Council Events Centre, was designed to give Dunedin motorsport enthusiasts an outlet for their "need for speed" until the next street race around the Oval to be held in February 2011.
Mr Wilkinson said the street race had been put on hold until the necessary upgrades of the circuit, which were required to meet Motorsport New Zealand's safety criteria.
