An Aberglasslyn man accused of street racing on the Anzac Day long weekend has been disqualified from driving for six months.
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Zal McGurgan pleaded not guilty in Maitland Local Court yesterday to exceeding the speed limit by more than 45km/h .
The court heard McGurgan, who was driving a dark Holden Commodore, and a green Ford Focus took off from the lights at the corner of the New England Highway and Ferraby Drive at Metford about 1.10pm on April 26.
A witness said she was in her car behind the Commodore and Focus at the red light at the intersection before she saw them speed off toward Thornton, leaving a plume of black smoke.
She told the court she lost sight of the cars for about 45 seconds.
A highway patrol car that had been set up to detect eastbound traffic near the John Renshaw Drive overpass at Beresfield, clocked the green car at 175km/h.
The police officer told the court the Commodore was two or three car lengths behind the Ford Focus.
Officers pulled both cars over and, while they were stopped on the side of the road, the witness arrived and said: “You’re a bloody idiot, you could have killed me.”
McGurgan told the court he was 250 to 300 metres behind the green car and did not recall seeing it until driving around the bend near Beresfield Golf Course.
Magistrate Sharon Crews said she did not accept McGurgan’s version of events.
“This is the kind of offence where I would love to send you to the traffic offender’s program, but given your plea of not guilty I’m not willing to do that,” she said.
“You have an obligation to other road users to drive responsibly and it is known that on a long weekend there is more traffic on the road.”
McGurgan was also fined $1500.