It was like the Thunder Road race scene out of the movie Grease. The one where Danny (John Travolta) takes on Leo on the dry bed of a Los Angeles river.
A young woman in yellow slacks and with big hair lifts her arms skywards and two flash hot rods tear away. Despite dirty tricks from Leo, Danny wins the race.
The spectacle was repeated - illegally, and dangerously - in Wigan. But Greater Manchester Police were tipped off and broke up a meeting of 20 cars, some of which were racing after a young woman had stood between vehicles to wave them off.
The cars converged on Redgate Road in Ashton-in-Makerefield - a long straight road with industrial units on either side and a large turning circle at one end. Ironically it is close to the Three Sisters go-kart race track.
In a statement, GMP said: "Four vehicles were seized and approximately 20 vehicles were involved in the car meet with two at any time racing each other. The vehicles were using a turning circle to race up the road at extremely high speeds. There were spectators on either side of the road with a female stood between the cars signalling them to go."
The cars involved included Audis, a Golf R and Leon Cupra. GMP said many of the drivers had borrowed the vehicles from relatives or hired them. It is believed the gathering was a stunt intended to go on social media.
The seized cars will be stored in a police compound and the owners will have to pay several hundred pounds to retrieve them. In a post on social media, Wigan Police said: "Officers responded to reports of vehicles being driven in an anti-social and dangerous manner in the Ashton in Makerfield area.
"The vehicles were part of an unauthorised car meet. Numerous fixed penalty notices were issued and vehicles were seized as a result."
Police were alerted at 10.30pm on January 22 and four drivers were issued with Section 59 notices. These powers allow an officer to seize and remove a vehicle, which they believes is being driven inconsiderately or carelessly and causing, or is likely to cause, alarm, distress or annoyance to members of the public.
