Newcastle Supercars race prompts bitter opposition

Following a protest in Scott Street on Friday that saw clashes between demonstrators, the already tense debate surrounding the race has taken on another dimension.

Opponents of the race in Newcastle have accused the sport’s supporters of an act of vandalism that has left some East End residents without access to the internet for days.

On Friday morning, a resident of Zaara Street in the city’s east, who did not want to be named, says she saw a slightly built man wearing a dark navy worker’s uniform cutting an exposed black cable on the street.

The alleged act is understood to have taken place between 9.30 and 10.30am on Friday, and the witness said the man ran in the direction of Scott Street – where the anti-Supercar protest had been taking place earlier.

The protest last Friday was held by a group opposed to the Supercars street race. About 140 people attended the rally, which turned heated when a group of Supercar supporters showed up.

Joan Browning, a resident who opposes holding the race in the East End, said while she couldn’t link the vandalism to anyone, it seemed “coincidental” that it occurred just after the protest. 

“We can’t prove anything but I’m hoping when I get a chance we’ll be able to go through some of the videos from the event [and] see what that turns up,” she said.

It comes as the bitterness surrounding the race ramps up. The Newcastle Herald has seen dozens of abusive Facebook messages – many of them homophobic – sent to some residents who oppose the race.

Meanwhile, Supercar supporters have used social media to flare up outrage after Carolyn Taylor was harangued at Friday’s protest.

Ms Taylor, from Maryland, was one of about half-a-dozen Supercar supporters who showed up to give an alternative point of view at the protest.

During a noise demonstration, she was waving a chequered flag when she was confronted by a man with a walking stick.

Shortly after, David Blyth, convener of the Hunter Concerned Citizens group, approached her and shouted “shame on you, shame on you”.

Video shows Mr Blyth trying to cup his hand to Ms Taylor’s ear to be heard over the noise. He has been accused of “attacking a young lady” by a group called Novocastrians for Change, an accusation he vigorously rejects.

“I simply remonstrated with her … I'm a bit concerned about walking in certain places for fear of being attacked at the moment,” he said.

Ms Taylor told the Herald she was “gobsmacked” when Mr Blyth “shouted” at her, and said she was “a bit freaked out” by the incident.

“I was just there to demonstrate my passion,” she said.

“I cannot wait for the V8s to come, there’s going to be so much more money for the town and I don’t see why they [East End residents] are having such a hard time about it,” she said.

“If it’s too noisy they can rent their properties out and make money from it. I can’t understand why they’re having a go at us over it.”

She said that she’d been recognised a number of times since footage of her appearance at the rally was spread online. 

“I walk down the street and get high fives,” she said.

“People have been coming up congratulating me telling me I’m brave.”