Fast cars, powerful stereos, souped-up engines. They are a common sight on many evenings in car parks and industrial estates around Worcester.

When you are waiting at traffic lights, they roar away with thundering engines, neon lights glowing under the chassis.

The 'boy racers' are fanatical about their cars and spend thousands of pounds modifying them to make a dream machine.

When they all meet up, it is called car cruising and tomorrow it will happen in Worcester on a massive scale.

Last month, two car-loving friends were killed in an accident on the A44 at Cotheridge, west of Worcester, shocking their close-knit community. In memory of Ross Hodgkins and Richard Harvey, hundreds of car cruisers from around the country will meet on the Blackpole industrial estate to share their passion and remember their friends.

Russell Bedford, Mark 3 Vauxhall Astra driver and organiser of the event, says Ross and Richard's deaths shocked the community.

"It does have a big impact on everyone. It makes you think, it doesn't matter how good a driver you are or how well you know the road, it's still easy to skid on a diesel spill or lose control."

But the tragedy will not stop them driving or spending every last penny on their beloved vehicles.

"We'll go to any expense to make our cars look the best," says 21-year-old Russell, from the Tolladine area of Worcester.

"Some people do say it's a waste of money, but I say, 'Would you prefer I spent it on drugs?' and that shuts them up." Perhaps what people who see the cars congregating on the car parks or cruising through the city do not realise, is that, despite the roaring engines and the blaring stereos, they don't actually drive that fast. They are too frightened of damaging their pride and joy.

"I barely drive over 25mph as I'm too scared a stone's going to chip the paintwork," says Russell.

"I'm really proud to show off my car. Sometimes people shout 'Fast And Furious,' after the film, others stop to say how nice the car looks.

"You do get others who put their nose up and say 'They're just boy racers'. I don't hate the term 'boy racer'. I suppose that's what we are.

"I must admit, you do get a few prats who buy an old banger and just race around dangerously, but that's not what we are about."

To the boys - and the girls (surprisingly Russell says about 40 per cent are female) - who spend all their wages on their cars and then show them off, it is no different from spending a fortune on designer clothes, or going out.

"On an average night down near McDonald's on Hylton Road, there might be around 10 or 20 cars and we're all just mates having a chat and a laugh," says Russell.

"It's doing what we enjoy doing. There's some people who like going down the pub and having a few pints, or going to the football. This is no different.

"Then on Friday evenings, when people are out in town, we might drive past them to show off our cars."

Two of Richard and Ross's closest friends, Ashley Grantham and Lee Irish, are into their cars too.

"It's about looking good, not going fast because you're proud of your car. You want to look after it like a baby," says Ashley, aged 18.

They both agree that tomorrow's memorial cruise will be a fitting tribute to their best mates.

"We were all interested in cars," says Lee, also 18. "To have a nice-looking car and drive around in it makes you really proud."

In fact, both boys are trying to deal with their friends' deaths by spending time tinkering with their cars.

About 1,000 vehicles are expected to gather in Richard and Ross's memory tomorrow, with the blessing of the police. Their families will also be attending.

The organisers hope that, through the untimely deaths of their good friends, some good will come and some of the barriers and misunderstanding will be stripped away.

SO EXACTLY HOW MUCH DO THEY FORK OUT TO MAKE THEIR MOTORS MARVELLOUS?

Name: Ashley Grantham

Age: 18

Job: Student

Car: £1,500 Metallic silver Vauxhall Corsa

Spent: £2,000 lowering exhaust, sound system and tinted windows.

Name: Lee Irish

Age: 18

Job: Metal worker

Car: £5,000 yellow MG ZR

Spent: £2,000 on sound system, single windscreen wiper, alloy wheels and an induction kit.

Name: Russell Bedford

Age: 21

Job: Kitchen fitter

Car: £1,500 red Mark 3 Vauxhall Astra

Spent: £12,000 on body kit, wide arch kit, bonnet vent, alloys and exhaust.

Name: Chris Smith

Age: 18

Job: None

Car: £300 red Vauxhall Astra

Spent: £1,500 on alloys, subs, amps, exhaust and induction kit.

Name: Darren Lewis

Age: 20

Job: Labourer

Car: £1,300 green Citroen Saxo

Spent: £1,500 on wheels, exhaust and lowering springs.

Name: Hayley Thomas

Age: 17

Job: Shop assistant

Car: £500 red Ford Fiesta

Spent: £1,500 on wheels, exhaust, body kit and window tints.