Shawn William Bailey, 23, of Churchill Avenue, who was driving a silver VT HSV Clubsport, and Ricky Speechley, 28, of Prince Street, who was driving a green Ford Falcon, initially pleaded not guilty to racing on the grounds of the definition of a race.

The men came to police attention at the intersection of Summer and Anson streets about 10.57pm on December 14, 2018, when police heard a motor revving loudly.

Police saw the Clubsport do a burnout with the back of the car sliding out as it turned into Anson Street and the cars travelled through the Kite Street intersection at high speed and continued traveling south well over the speed limit with the Falcon about 40 metres behind the Clubsport.

The Falcon, which was driven by Speechley, pulled over near Gardner Road and police continued following Bailey until he stopped in Jaeger Avenue and failed a breath test.

Speechley was stopped by other police in Elsham Avenue when he was a passenger in the car but admitted to driving and also tested positive to alcohol.

Both men were represented in court by solicitor Mason Manwaring who said the only point of contention was about the interpretation of a race.

"This wasn't the middle of the day it was late at night," Mr Manwaring said.

However, magistrate David Day said "it was extremely dangerous what Mr Speechley was doing."

Bailey was convicted and given a 12-month Community Correction Order with 50 hours of community service, six-month driving disqualification and 48-month interlock order for high-range drink-driving with a reading of 0.168.

He was also given two $1100 fines and two 12-month driving disqualifications for losing traction and racing, and he was fined $1100 for speeding 45km/h over the speed limit.

Speechley was given a six-month CCO and three-month driving disqualification and 12-month interlock order for mid-range drink-driving with a reading of 0.092.

He was also fined $110 and given a 12-month driving disqualification for racing and a six-month driving disqualification and $1100 fine for speeding 45km/h over the speed limit.

Speechley was also given a six-month CCO and three-month driving disqualification for driving while his licence was suspended on Peisley Street at 12.10pm on March 26, 2019.

Both men were suspending from driving at the time of their arrests.