Hundreds of tuned cars converged on the towns of Beerse, Turnhout and Wijnegem last weekend to race on abandoned lots. A tuned car is a vehicle that has been modified to achieve different performance targets than those for which it was originally designed. Drivers were encouraged to meet up via posts on social media. Participants travelled from as far afield as the Netherlands and the UK. The police are using cameras with number plate recognition to track the participants and check what offences happened.
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Police use number plate recognition to track down tuned cars that raced in Antwerp Province at the weekend (VIDEO)
Colin Clapson
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‘On Saturday night around 1AM we received a call about an illegal tuning event on the Gierlebaan in Beerse,’ says Thomas Peeters of Turnhout Local Police.
"The group reportedly started out from Brussels and travelled to the Kempen District via the A12. Police were quickly in Gierle. At our request, the drivers taking part quickly left, but they then moved on to Turnhout. We attended the scene and drivers then left there too. After that, they were apparently spotted on a car park in Wijnegem."
"They performed laps and possibly also raced on the street for short distances. Fireworks were set off too. It caused a nuisance and that is why local residents called us. Fortunately, no one was injured and there are no reports of damage."
"About 100 cars took part with number plates from the Netherlands and even the UK. We will now use number plate recognition cameras to find out who was present, and if we see violations, we will draw up official police reports," Peeters said.
The event was allegedly organised by Balkan Krew, a group that organises tuning and racing meetings. Images of the meeting are circulating on their social media.