Dublin People - Mindless thugs destroy race track

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Mindless thugs destroy race track

Wednesday, 03 September 2008

THE future of a unique model car-racing venue on the Northside has been plunged into doubt after mindless thugs destroyed the track in a wanton act of vandalism.
On August 17, competitors from Northern Ireland and Galway were among those who arrived at St Anne’s for the sixth round of the Irish National Championship only to find their track damaged so badly that the race had to be cancelled.
The incident was reported to Raheny Garda Station who immediately sent gardai to inspect the damage.
This was just the latest in a series of attacks on the track since the beginning of the year, with vandals burning out stolen recycling bins and causing extensive damage.
Now the future of one of the Northside’s most unique attractions has been jeopardised, as racers consider moving to another location.
The track at St Anne’s is the only one of its kind in Ireland for model car racing.

It attracts serious competitors from across the country who race at speeds of up to 110 kilometres per hour, drawing large crowds of park users.
Ed Cooper, a local member of the On Road Radio Controlled Car Association (ORCA), told Northside People that if the vandalism continues they would have to consider relocating to a new track outside Dublin.
“Over Christmas there were eleven plastic bins burned on the track causing hundreds of euro worth of damage,” he said.
“Luckily, management and staff at the Dublin City Council’s parks department, pulled out all the stops to repair the damage in time for the racing season which began in February.”
The cars used in ORCA races are miniature Formula 1 models capable of travelling at extremely high speeds, and can only run on a dedicated track that must be fenced off to protect the public.
Costing upwards of e2,000 each, the model cars are aerodynamic and any bumps or damage to the track can send them shooting into the air, which would result in damage to the car and possibly causing injury to spectators.
“We put up nets around the track to ensure the safety of all the people who stop to watch,” Ed stated.
“But obviously we don’t want to be racing on a track where the tar is destroyed from fires; it’s too risky for our cars.
“Already we spend an hour before every race clearing cans, bottles, used condoms and even syringes from the area around the track to make it safe.
“The park is obviously being used by teenagers and others for drinking and more; we even have to clean off obscene graffiti some days.”
Ed said he doesn’t think people realise that these aren’t toy cars they are racing.
“They are expensive scale models of real Formula One racing cars,” he said.
“I obviously can’t afford to be involved in Formula One for real but for me this is the next best thing; it’s terrible that people try to ruin that.”
While Ed doesn’t think the damage to the track is maliciously targeted towards radio controlled car users, he has called for common sense to prevail, and for people to stop destroying the amenity.
“It would be a terrible shame for the Northside to lose this track but obviously things can’t go on the way they are, with us constantly having to ask the parks department to fix it,” he added.
“If it was fenced in then members of the public wouldn’t be able to watch and it’s always great to see families gather around in excitement.
“Obviously the gardai can’t have a constant presence here but if the security of the track can’t be guaranteed, we will ultimately have to move elsewhere, something none of us want to have to do.”
The damage to the track has affected many Irish racing enthusiasts who travel abroad to compete under the Irish flag.
Competitors, who must clock up hours of track time in order to ensure their skills and cars are at peak performance, have been missing out on valuable practice.
A spokesperson for Dublin City Council’s parks department told Northside People that incidents such as this are regrettable.
“The damage done to the track has been repaired at this stage and it is reopened for use," the spokesperson said.
For more information on when races are scheduled to take place at St Anne’s Park, visit www.orcaireland.com

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