Saturday Night Live axed

Car enthusiasts in Melbourne have been dealt a blow after police have requested a weekly gathering at a BP service station on a major freeway be folded.

The Saturday Night Live event has occurred almost every Saturday night in Scoresby, not far from Melbourne, for three years. It started out as a few mates meeting up to talk shop and show off their cars and grew into something far bigger, regularly attracting hundreds of interesting cars.

Because of its rapid growth, however, Victoria Police, the BP franchise and the land owner, East Link tollway operators and local council, have decided the venues (on either side of tollway) are no longer suited to the size of the gathering.

Police said if enthusiasts begin to gather this Saturday night, they'll be asked to move along.

In a recent post on the Knox Police Service Area Facebook page, Eyewatch, Ringwood Police Acting Senior Sergeant Mark Rogers said:

"Police have been aware of the Saturday Night Live - Eastlink (SNL) gathering of motoring enthusiasts for a number of years and many of our members have attended and appreciated your vehicles.

"[But] There is no safe and expedient way of evacuating 3000 to 4000 people in up to 1000 cars in a short period of time should the need arise.

"A joint meeting was held between Victoria Police, the BP franchise, the building/land owner and East Link with input from the council. A decision was made that the number of people attending these meets had made it too dangerous for you, other motorists on East Link and all of our staff so we all jointly decided that both BP service stations on East Link can no longer be used for SNL."

Despite the cease and desist request, many long-time attendees of the event intend to defy the request. One long-time attendee, Peter McGrath, told the Herald-Sun newspaper that people will continue turning up.

"What are police going to do?" he told the newspaper.

"There's been no issue with hooning and it's a family-friendly event. It's not a bunch of kids assembling and causing a hoo-ha."

Many disgruntled attendees have vented their frustration on SNL page on Facebook, suggesting that if the event is shut down, it will only move to another location that would present far more safety risks.

Peter Christensen on the SNL Facebook page said: "Good work vic roads you have a 1000 people with modified cars who instead of peacefully congregating at eastlink every saturday will instead most likely be lighting it up all over the city. Real f**king clever ya d*ckheads."

Victor Coppa was also upset, commenting: "So - when I turn up there on Saturday night to fuel up, grab a burger and eat it in the car park while sitting in my chrome bumpered automobile - what law have I broken?"

Jason Smart said implored others to just turn up: "You fools. It's not about public safety nor "drinking in public". It's about control. As the community get together for something good, the police hierarchy shut it down. I say stand up, be counted and ignore their orders."

Photos: SNL Facebook, JGT Photography