The Boy Racers
Three young boys, all in their mid-teens, tell the Life section why they have no plans to give up motorcycle street racing despite the police crackdown under Article 44.
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Teen motorcycle gangs tear up quiet city streets on their modified rides, revelling in the thrills and danger. PORNPROM SATRABHAYA
This is an excerpt from a much longer story in today's Life section.
The Boy Racers
Yvonne Bohwongprasert
Looking for a race. PATIPAT JANTHONG
For the three dek vaans (เน€เธ”เนเธเนเธงเนเธ, young street racers) who spoke to Life, the band of brothers they found on the streets matter as much to them as the illicit joy of racing.
Arm, 16, said not having his single mum home often made it easier for him to decide to join his friends for a night out for what he terms “fun and games”. Street racing enables him to gamble while filling his free time meeting like-minded teens.
Odd, 15, opted to give street racing a go to kill boredom.
“There are no places to indulge in sports or other activities where I live, so street racing was a great outlet for me,” he said.
“We attend races held during the weekend which are buzzing with activity because everyone takes it seriously. As it is held in the early hours of the morning, we usually sleep during the day so we are well rested during races.”
Their reasons for breaking the law vary. Art said it was a challenge not getting caught by the police, while Arm talked about the darker allure, saying “the risk of getting hurt can be exciting”. Odd said he races to prove his machine has a more powerful engine than his competitor.
Senior dek vaans often hang out at the motorcycle accessory shops because one of the main points of honour is how loud your bike’s engine is — exactly why they’re despised by so many city people.
The risk of accidents is high. The teens talk matter-of-factly about a near-miss with a 10-wheeler because they dozed off while riding back home and an accident that nearly had Arm’s head squashed by an approaching vehicle.
None of them believe a motorcycle racing circuit will cause street racers to abandon public roads for a more controlled environment.
“We hate wearing a helmet, let alone the gear you are expected to wear in a controlled environment,” said Odd.
“There is so much more adrenalin pumping into you when you have no idea what to expect. Above all, the excitement of going against the law and not being caught is the icing on the cake. That is the thrill we seek.”
According to the three boys, there is little love and respect between the racing gangs and police. SUTHIWIT CHAYUTWORAKARN
When Art was asked what he felt when a traffic policeman who was hit by a dek vaan died, the teen said with a poker face: “Frankly, I don’t care. They treat us like rodents and give us no respect. If one of them becomes a casualty I don’t see what is wrong. When they disrupt our races, they often kick us off our bikes when we try to escape.
“They don’t have our best interests at heart because most of them are corrupt. For 100 baht, we are free to go.”
So what is the solution to this unfortunate phenomenon? The teens suggest having their parents spend more time with them.
“I would like my mother to take me for outdoor activities, maybe even the beach, but all she does is watch television when she is at home,” said Art.
“I would like to have a place to play sports where I live, so when I am bored I can shoot some baskets. We race largely because there is nothing more interesting to do,” said Odd.
Arm reflected a moment and then said: “If I can get to join a gym near my home and meet people who enjoy working out that would be a good start. Spending more quality time with my family might convince me to stay at home.”
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