Man bashed, car stolen

CULLEN SMITH | 24th March 2010

MOTORSPORT fan James Tapper will never forget the face of the man who bashed him unconscious and stole his distinctive $19,000 car as he left Woodford Glen Speedway near Kaiapoi on Saturday night.

The 35-year-old Burwood man was attacked from behind about 10pm, just as he reached his car on the outer edge of the parking area at the raceway.

A regular Woodford Glen patron, Mr Tapper said he hadn't realised Saturday night's racing started earlier at 7pm and arrived late to find the only car parking left was some distance from the track.

Normally he'd park his distinctive "collector's item" 1997 Subaru Impreza WRX hard up against the fence in the pits area.

He was leaving before the races finished on Saturday to get home early to his partner and son and said a number of people were making their way to the car park about 10pm.

He'd got his keys out and was approaching his car when he heard someone from behind call out "Oi".

"All I saw was a side view of this guy. I'm 5ft 9in and 86kg, but he looked taller and heavier than me," he said.

"At the same time I got hit on the top right-hand side of my head. It wasn't a fist. It was an object that hit me."

Mr Tapper said he must have blacked out for a couple of minutes and came to on his hands and knees, wondering what had happened.

He believes the distinctive model was targeted.

"I feel I've been watched," he said. "They've been watching the car and waiting for a chance."

Mr Tapper said he didn't notice anyone accompanying his attacker but he got a brief glimpse of the man's face.

"I'm never going to forget the face I saw," he said.

"If I come across him anywhere I might get into trouble."

He said he was "absolutely gutted" at losing a special vehicle he'd spent a lot of time finding.

"Aside from my son and my partner, my car was my pride and joy," he said.

Detective Tanya Drake, of the Rangiora CIB, said Mr Tapper's car was driven to the Skewbridge area at Flaxton, stripped and burnt. The wheels and rims on the Subaru were worth about $1300 each.

Detective Drake said it was likely more than one person was involved in the aggravated robbery and theft, as another car would have been required to transport the stolen wheels and the offender.

She said it was likely that the offender had targeted the distinctive Subaru, but unclear whether they had been waiting for Mr Tapper to return to his vehicle.

Detective Drake said Mr Tapper described his attacker as a male European in his mid-20s with a shaven head and wearing a dark jacket.

Woodford Glen Speedway Association president Glen Marsden said he was surprised to learn about the "unfortunate" incident and urged Mr Tapper to contact him

"We certainly haven't had any similar issue in recent years. This has come completely out of left field," he said.

Police are asking for any witnesses to the attack and anyone with information about the stolen wheels or the movements of the Subaru with the registration plates MQNGRL, to phone Detective Drake on 03 313 2682.