Undie 500

[sparrow]

Falcon and his mates won this once. Needless to say, he is a strong supporter of the Undie 500 ... ;D

Unofficial Undie 500 may go ahead
Aug 20, 2008 7:48 AM
Police from Christchurch to Dunedin are gearing up this weekend for a possible unofficial Undie 500.

The annual event was cancelled earlier this year after failing to gain support from police and the Dunedin City Council because of riots that followed last year's drive.

The car rally event turned into a night of mayhem in Dunedin last year with police struggling for hours to restore calm as rampaging Otago and Canterbury students pelted them with bottles, torched cars and couches. More than 60 people were arrested.

Canterbury University Engineering Society president, Graeme Walker says there is a lot of talk that some students are still heading down after the end of term on Friday.

Police say they will be prepared for whatever happens this weekend.


Source: ONE News/Newstalk ZB

[sparrow]

Police prepare for rogue Undie 500 event
Wednesday, 20 August 2008
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Police are calling in extra officers from Canterbury, Invercargill and rural parts of Otago this weekend in anticipation of a rogue Undie 500 event.
The annual Undie 500, in which students drive from Christchurch to Dunedin in vehicles costing less than $500, would have marked its 20th anniversary this year.
The event was marred by disorder in 2006 and again last year.
Attempts to negotiate a revamped Undie 500 with authorities failed and organiser Ensoc (University of Canterbury's engineering society) cancelled the Undie 500 this year.
However, a rogue event has been talked about on social networking websites Facebook and Bebo and an email was circulated among Canterbury University students this week saying an Undie 500-style rally was planned for this weekend.
Clutha area police commander Inspector Dave Campbell said it would not be a good weekend for anyone to break the law, the Otago Daily Times reported.
Mr Campbell said police would patrol highways from Christchurch to Dunedin. Other measures would include checkpoints, hotel visits, policing liquor bans and having multiple officers on foot and in patrol cars in the North Dunedin area from 6pm Friday.
Police staff for "Operation Undie 500" would include highway patrol, traffic, tactical team and uniformed police staff who would be prepared for any eventuality, Mr Campbell said.
- NZPA

[kokonutwoman]

Interesting to note that the majority arrest was from Dunedin.

Students claimed that the trouble really started after the police turned up in riot gear