You’ve heard of the “Ghost Fire Boys” (鬼火少年, lit. Will-o’-the-wisp Boys), the small-town youth gangs who modify their 100cc scooters for street racing and night cruising. Recently, it has been reported that these small-town, or “county seat” (县城) youth in China have a new ride of choice: electric quadricycles, or “old timers’ delight” (老头乐).
These made-in-China electric quadricycles are small, fast and easy to park, require no license plate, no driving license and no insurance. Another main draw for these young people is how they look. For prices between 10,000 RMB (1,392.86 USD) and 20,000 RMB (2,785.71 USD), you can get your “dream car”, be it a Porsche or Aston Martin, just smaller. Like the Ghost Fire Boys, the “old timers’ delight” gangs also drive in hordes and cruise their territory for fun.
- #老头乐已经成了县城年轻人的新鬼火 old timers’ delight is now the new “ghost fire” for small-town youth: 15.51 million views on Weibo, ranking number 26 on the Hot Search list
Like the modded “ghost fire” scooters, these quadricycles are dangerous to the driver and those around them. Not only does the “car” appearance provide a false sense of security, but the diminutive size also makes it hard to spot among other taller automobiles. The cheap build quality and the driver’s tendency to ignore traffic rules don’t help. The underlying youth subculture resembles biker gangs or the hot rod culture of the past, but with a unique small-town Chinese flavour stemming from economic uncertainty and a more diverse society that values expression.