THE “VANZ BOYS”: AN ETHNOGRAPHIC EXPLORATION OF AN UNDERGROUND MOTORCYCLE SUBCULTURE IN THAILAND

Abstract

This study offers an ethnographic examination of the Thai underground motorcycle subculture known as the “Vanz Boys” (เด็กแว้น), with a focus on its manifestations in Greater Bangkok and Chonburi Province. Drawing upon participant observation and interviews with individuals involved in the subculture, we provide a comprehensive account of its practices, social dynamics, and cultural expressions, with particular emphasis on the ritualistic aspects of nocturnal street racing, including the central element of modified motorcycles with noisy exhaust pipes, and the gendered aspects of participation, such as the role of the “Scoy Girls” (สาวสก๊อย) as trophies. In addition, we conduct a critical discourse analysis of Thai media portrayals of the subculture, examining how narratives of delinquency, noise pollution, and public disorder construct the Vanz Boys as a social problem.

The primary objective of this study is to contribute to the limited body of academic literature on youth and biker subcultures in Thailand by offering a nuanced perspective, which also examines broader issues of class, gender, and youth urban marginalization in contemporary Thai society. This research not only enriches scholarly understanding, but it also serves as a potential resource for future studies, creative media production, and policy-making.