Cars crushed in street-racing crackdown

[FastCarFan]

Check out the story below. I have never heard of anything like this, but if they were really street-racing, I have no sympathy.

What do others think?


Cars Crushed in Street Racing Crackdown
Wednesday, June 20, 2007 5:32 PM EDT
The Associated Press
By GREG RISLING

RIALTO, Calif. (AP) — Charles Hoang winced when the whoosh went out of the tires. Daniel Maldonado took pictures with a digital camera as glass exploded and rained down to the ground.

The cars the teens had so meticulously souped up and tricked out were crushed Wednesday as part of a crackdown on illegal street racing in Southern California.

"That's my heart, my dream," said Hoang, 18, of Chino, who was surrounded by friends as his 1998 Acura Integra was put into a compactor. "That's my girlfriend, the love of my life. The cops can crush my car, but they can't crush my memories."

Authorities destroyed six vehicles Wednesday at an auto graveyard, hoping would-be racers think again after looking at the mashed machines. Illegal street racing is responsible for or suspected in 13 deaths in Southern California since March.

The thrill-seeking, adrenaline-pumping activity is rampant in Riverside and San Bernardino counties east of Los Angeles where rows of tract homes line wide streets that attract racers. Nearly 1,000 people — drivers and spectators — have been arrested for investigation of street racing activities over the past two years in San Bernardino County alone.

Police said they have managed to reduce illegal racing and related fatal collisions, but know the underground hobby still thrives.

"We are making a dent," said Ontario police Cpl. Jeff Higbee. "But it's summertime and ... we expect to see more activity."

Hoang said he was caught late last year racing his prized car, on which he spent at least $10,000 to get into top shape. The 350-horsepower engine topped out at 160 mph, Hoang said, swearing it could beat a Corvette or even a Ferrari.

When police popped open the hood, Hoang said, they found a stolen transmission. Hoang flashed a receipt for the transmission he bought from his father who runs an auto shop and doubted the item was hot.

"Everything on that car was practically brand new," Hoang said as he watched his car get moved to auto death row. "They should take out the stuff that matters, auction it off, and give the money to charity."

Because racers put heavy stress on their vehicles, they often burn out or blow up parts. Higbee said the need for the expensive parts has created a "theft mill" where additional cars — usually Hondas or Acuras — are stolen and stripped of the necessary replacements.

Most of the cars police examine are illegally modified. Sergio Zavala, 18, was pulled over in his 1993 yellow Honda Civic for a broken tail light in December. He had purchased a B-20 Vtech engine with a double-overhead cam a couple months before, and after a police investigation, was told it was stolen.

Zavala, who admits he's been involved in street racing, estimates he and his mother spent about $10,000 on improvements to his car.

After watching his Civic demolished, Zavala is left without a car as he plans to attend a fire academy in the fall.

"It's heartbreaking to see this," said Zavala, who graduated from high school last year. "This is where all my time and money went."

Maldonado also said he put plenty of time and effort working on his 1992 black Honda Civic. He was stopped in November by police in what Higbee described as an area where racers gather.

The 18-year-old mechanic said a vehicle identification sticker apparently fell off and without it, police suspected some of the parts were stolen. Maldonado stood several feet away from his car as it was pounded into a heap of metal.

Maldonado said he has taken the advice of police by racing legally on one of several race courses around Southern California. For the money spent in fines and other penalties — on average about $5,000 for illegally modified cars — Higbee said street racers could compete about 250 times a year at a legitimate track.

"If you have to race, take it to a legal venue," Higbee said. "But as long as they keep racing illegally, we keep crushing their cars."

All three men who saw their vehicles destroyed said they believe illegal street racing will continue to prosper across the region.

"It will never go away," Maldonado said. "If it's in your heart, you will continue to do it until you can't anymore."

[the]

That's a crackdown, literally.

[450knotOffice]

These were organized street races, with a starter to drop the flag, so to speak, and dozens of bystanders who came to watch the "events". The kids were stupid and I have no real sympathy for them.

People die during these events. I have no issue with drag racing but they should've taken it to the track. I think this sends a strong signal to would-be street racers.

[Jays72T]

Really sad to crush someone's pride and joy but if the owners have to put innocent people at risk then they put thier car at risk as well. Go for it.

[azasadny]

Unfortunaltey, the drivers weren't in their "race cars" when they were crushed... they'll get another ricer and do it again... What about the thefts, do they ever got prosecuted?

[dd74]

Originally posted by FastCarFan

What do others think?

This has been going on in and around L.A. for a few years, though it hasn't seemed to deter street racing. People still do it, so I'm not sure its effective.

[island911]

How many smokers have died since March? Do we crush all stores selling the product? . .or just the lighters?

[TGTIW]

It's kinda weird, I'm happy to see their cars crushed, yet we romanticize the whole Mulholland era..

[dd74]

Originally posted by TGTIW
It's kinda weird, I'm happy to see their cars crushed, yet we romanticize the whole Mulholland era..

Not necessarily. Racing Mulholland is still as asinine as racing Sunset or Van Nuys or Glen Oaks Blvd. Unfortunately, that is realized either:
1) after you've grown up a bit.
2) after you've been in a wreck.

[island911]

By imposing such a penalty, the law is just asking for even crazier high speed pursuits. ..if you expect that your car will be destroyed if caught, one can really start risking damage while fleeing.

[Jims5543]

Originally posted by island911
By imposing such a penalty, the law is just asking for even crazier high speed pursuits. ..if you expect that your car will be destroyed if caught, one can really start risking damage while fleeing.

Exactly what I was thinking.

I love how everyone damns the streetracers. I guess it was fine 50 years ago, maybe even a right of passage.

Everyone smiles at this:





... and frowns at this:

[techweenie]

Originally posted by island911
By imposing such a penalty, the law is just asking for even crazier high speed pursuits. ..if you expect that your car will be destroyed if caught, one can really start risking damage while fleeing.

And the same argument applies to the lousy "3 strikes" laws that were passed all over a decade back. Go to prison for life, or go out in a blaze of glory.

[Jims5543]

Originally posted by island911
How many smokers have died since March? Do we crush all stores selling the product? . .or just the lighters?

No we do not, conversely, Ephedrine was banned in the USA because about 12 idiots thought taking ridiculous doses of it would make it work better and they died.

Yet smoking continues...

[the]

Originally posted by Noah
Why not create a market solution: Build some race tracks and drag strips out in the desert, and charge a small fee to let the kids indulge their hobby away from the public. The dumbest ones will removed themselves from the gene pool. Everyone wins.

there's several within an hour or 2 of where those kids live.

but there ain't no street cred racing on a track with rules and stuff.

[450knotOffice]

Streetracing wasn't OK then and it isn't OK now. Racing belongs at the track. There are, and always have been, too many variables involved in street racing which has all too often led to innocent, uninvolved people being killed or maimed. It's just too dangerous.

If these kids are so into racing, they should be doing it at the drag strip where it's legal and much, much safer for all involved.

[Jims5543]

I cannot wait until a cop catches a guy in Beverly Hills in his Lambo racing a CGT and they take the cars and crush them, that is gonna be.........


Like that would ever happen.

It will be mostly Hondas and old Mustangs.

[Jims5543]

Originally posted by 450knotOffice
Streetracing wasn't OK then and it isn't OK now. Racing belongs at the track. There are, and always have been, too many variables involved in street racing which has all too often led to innocent, uninvolved people being killed or maimed. It's just too dangerous.

If these kids are so into racing, they should be doing it at the drag strip where it's legal and much, much safer for all involved.

It was not O.K. neither was drunk driving yet, back in the day, when caught doing either you got sent directly home or maybe parked your car a driven there by the cops. Times have changed a lot, now you loose your license and get your car crushed. A little extreme maybe?

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally posted by techweenie
And the same argument applies to the lousy "3 strikes" laws that were passed all over a decade back. Go to prison for life, or go out in a blaze of glory.

Exactly. Next they will make street racing a felony, so the two time loser street racer will have no incentive to stop for anyone.

Yup, that's the answer. Jack up the penalties on just about every crime until the punishment is completely out of line with the harm done. The over-reacting, hand-wringing ninnies are winning this one. It's all for the children, I suppose.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I'll have to read the article again to be sure, but I don't recall ANYWHERE in that article having it say anything about the kids getting due process, a fair trial, and a conviction in court prior to the seizure and destruction of their property - only a presumption of guilt by law enforcement.

If so, that's pretty damn scary.

[the]

there was a full criminal process, and a full civil process, too, that happened before the cars were crushed.