Street racers’ souped-up cars crushed

AP via MSNBC ^ | 6/20/2007

[Ready4Freddy]

Nick Ut / AP

Manuel Hernandez reacts after his car
and other impounded vehicles were crushed
at Ecology Auto Parts in Rialto, Calif., on Wednesday.

Southern California authorities crack down on illegal hot rods, street racing

RIALTO, Calif. - 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 need a court order to destroy the cars. They must prove that the serial or identification numbers on a vehicle or its parts are removed, altered or destroyed.

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

[DJ MacWoW]

Any car wil at say 35mph. Destroying anothers property for doing so just on that fact (dangerous) is unjustified.

These kids know what they're doing (racing) is illegal. They know someone could be killed. You think they'll care if they lose their license? Or get tickets? Are you upset that they confiscate drug dealers cars?

My point was that the analogy was lame.

[endthematrix]

"They know someone could be killed."

Doesn't every driver know that over 60k die on US highways every year? It's not just dragracing.

"Are you upset that they confiscate drug dealers cars? "

What's considered a drug dealer today? A joint shared within the confines of an automobile?

[DakotaRed]

Granted, but what about people talking on cell phones that cause accidents? Why aren’t their cars confiscated and crushed as well? Why not everyone at fault in any accident?

Should we also burn down the home of anyone who smokes in their home as well?

How many more of our freedoms, rights and liberties are citizens willing to give away?

[longtree]

“But the Subaru WRX will out shoot any muscle car on the track”

They’re fast little cars (especially out of the hole and are easily modded) but they’re hardly the fastest cars on the track.

[Modok]

California hates testoserone. These racers would have made excellent soldiers.

[endthematrix]

It took over 400ci to push a 3000lb+ Mopar what a little four can do, and they have disk brakes and...cup holders!

[stevio]

I’m with you, this is extreme to take someone’s property for drag racing. Just getting us used to the tyranny I guess.

[GBA]

(in my best Steve Irwin) Wow! She’s a beauty!

[riverrunner]

Can we say full of stolen parts.

A lot of this rice burners are made from stolen parts with altered vin numbers.

[Flavius]

"When they start crushing illegal aliens, call me back to this thread for approval."

seems all of the "they" are leaving...

[KeepUSfree]

Funny thing about that, turns out that the "tube speaker" - known as "the bazooka" - which is responsible for most of the "boom box" effect was invented by my (now very rich) neighbor when he was 18. IT was his first business.

Other than that though, he's a real nice guy and a great neighbor.

Don't know if I'll ever forgive him for the Bazooka though.....

[Wolfie]

If it makes you feel better, pretend there’s some pot in the glove compartment.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

And I am incredulous at the dangerous idiocy of some of these punks today. Not to mention incredibly poor taste.

None of those cheap rice rockets compare to this:

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

I have one like this... and I love to eat Japanese cars...

[Jimmy Valentine]

Street racing in California started about the time cars were invented. During the late 1940's and early 1950's and right up through the early 1970's it was everywhere.

A lot of the aftermarket companies like Moon, Iskendarian, Micky Thompson, Edelbrock etc, rose up out of the street racing scene.

The cars are smaller, but the older cars had more horses and went faster and stopped slower too!

[usmcobra]

Crushing cars is so passe` They should use shredders.

[Nailbiter]

Is pictured ‘74 Datsun 240z??

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

“But the Subaru WRX will out shoot any muscle car on the track”

They’re fast little cars (especially out of the hole and are easily modded) but they’re hardly the fastest cars on the track.

The fastest car on the track is right here...

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

These ridiculous modified 4s are a far cry from the muscle/pony cars of our day.

A BMW E30 M3 will walk all over them... four cylinder stock, DOHC...

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

These ridiculous modified 4s are a far cry from the muscle/pony cars of our day.

Or, try one of these...