Top image: Part of ‘The Automotive Life’ series. Photo by Aaron Leven

When is an ASDA car park in Doncaster, Yorkshire not a car park? When it’s a meeting ground and drifting circuit for hundreds of petrolhead fanatics, of course. Having discovered this after-hours underground tuning scene last year, UK photographer Aaron Leven felt an immediate pull towards this often-stigmatised ‘boy racer’ culture, documenting it for his series, The Automotive Life.

Predominantly photographed in Yorkshire, Leven would trawl through social media channels to find the next meet-up – “often events would be published with locations just an hour before, I’d just drop everything and go” – eager to document this petrolhead escapism from the 9-5 grind. “Boy racers seem to successfully resist the traditional confines; they customise their machine to the extent making it almost useless for the purpose it was produced for, transforming serial products into unique customised components.”

To the sound of thumping drum ‘n’ bass and the smell of burning rubber, these petrolheads gather to chat car mods, have rev-offs, buy and sell stickers and show-off their treasured whips. Here, Leven chats suped cars, burnt clutches and police chaos.

“The ‘Boy Racer,’ is probably one of the most notorious UK cultures of the last 30 years, they have become stigmatised and intertwined with notions of deviance and risk to other ‘respectable’ road users.”

Alex James Taylor: How were you first introduced to Yorkshire’s car modification scene?
Aaron Leven: The first meet I attended was in late November last year, in a packed Aldi car park. It was freezing cold, raining, and my ears were being blasted with the sound of revving engines and drum ‘n’ bass coming from a Kia Picanto with chrome testicals hung from a toe ball and a classic ‘boobies make me smile’ bumper sticker slapped on the boot; it was right then and there that I knew this was the project for me. 

Alex: As a photographer, what was the attraction?
Aaron: I’m eager to explore new worlds that you hear so much about but never experience. The ‘Boy Racer,’ is probably one of the most notorious UK cultures of the last 30 years, they have become stigmatised and intertwined with notions of deviance and risk to other ‘respectable’ road users. I was keen to see if this was true and accurately document what happens when they get together.

Alex: How did you get to know the people involved? Was it easy to become friends and get to know where they were next meeting?
Aaron: Initially it was hard to get to know the people involved, I was going on my own in my little Yaris with 197,000 miles on the clock, not a very sporty car and it’s fair to say I didn’t quite fit in. However, though talking to people about their cars I got to know a few of them who I would recognise. I would trawl through social media groups looking for car meets and try to join each one I saw. Often events would be published with locations just an hour before, I’d just drop everything and go. Fortunately I met someone through university and he would just text me and pick me up, alleviating the embarrassment of my inferior car. 

Alex: Did they mind having their photos taken?
Aaron: A lot of the people would be taking pictures for their social media groups anyway, so in that sense I would just join in. They’d always be looking for pictures of their cars after the meets, so I don’t think they minded someone going around with a chunky DSLR taking pictures.

“People would discuss the latest tips on car modifications, show of their latest parts and be with like-minded people, often there would be a fast food van and a sticker shop. For a short time derelict spaces would be transformed into social hubs full of noise and the smell of burnt rubber.”

Alex: Is it a tight-knit community? How many people usually turned up to each meet-up?
Aaron: People are part of different car groups, so if I was to attend a local meet then there would only be about 40 cars, at these meets everyone would know everyone and could really socialise. When the groups got together there would be times where they would completely fill a large retail park and a small part of the surrounding area. The biggest one I went to was a Paul Walker tribute, I was stuck in a queue for about an hour listening to revving engines, eager to enter a closed B&M at about nine o’clock at night, quite impressive I have to say.                               

Alex: So as much as the meet-ups are focused around their cars, they also social spaces?
Aaron: A big part of the meet-ups is the socialising aspect, and escaping the monotony of day-to-day working life. People would discuss the latest tips on car modifications, show of their latest parts and be with like-minded people, often there would be a fast food van and a sticker shop. For a short time derelict spaces would be transformed into social hubs full of noise and the smell of burnt rubber.

Alex: Do they have to be cautious about where they meet? Are the police quick to disperse them?
Aaron: A lot of the meets would be cancelled last minute because the police would block the entrance, but once people were in the location it was more hassle than it was worth to try and move them, you would need a lot of police to try and clear them out and I suspect they wouldn’t leave without a fight.   

Alex: Do you have any favourite stories from your time attending meets?
Aaron: Every time I went it was crazy, the pure absurdity of watching people do donuts, drifting and having rev-offs with the constant drum ‘n’ bass. Surrounded by pimped-out cars in an Asda car park, it was always funny to think that in six hours or so, Joe Blogs was going to come here to buy milk and a loaf of bread, these places transform at night. 

Follow Aaron Leven on Instagram.