[shragon]

Cars crushed in street racing crackdown

By GREG RISLING, Associated Press Writer Wed Jun 20, 6:52 PM ET

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.

"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 week. "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."

[Juggs]

good. stupid ass street racers deserve it when they put the public at risk just to race their stupid riced out piece of shit fart can hondas. If they want to legit race, take it to a quarter mile track. Otherwise i am in 110% support of destroying their cars

[uhaulball]

repost


i dont find it funny though. that really sucks, all they did was buy illegal parts. there are plenty of un-riced out cars that drive like morons.

[335i4u2nv]

ya i dont know. ive put alot of money, time and emotion into past cars of mine. but to see them crushed and all id be destroyed. id flip out and who knows.

[schneid4323]

i swear to god. if they ever touch my car.................


(I think id lose my fucking mind and start killing people and blowing up shit, sorta like need for speed mixed with GTA [Id steal a dumptruck to ram shit with] and with several rounds of ammo, and some hand grenades, maybe an RPG. Basically there would be hell to pay)

[DasBlitz]

Originally Posted by Juggs

good. stupid ass street racers deserve it when they put the public at risk just to race their stupid riced out piece of shit fart can hondas. If they want to legit race, take it to a quarter mile track. Otherwise i am in 110% support of destroying their cars

I am sorry but someones property does not deserve to be taken away due to certain parts being illegal. Crushing those vehicles did nothing now they will street race even more.

[oneshare325]

OMG!! That sucks... Sucks their parts were stolen though!

[Ray]

That white Integra lucked out and didn't have to sacrifice a nice set of wheels like the others. Then again, he did lose his car.

I wonder if these owners learned their lessons or does this mean they have to start over again.

[darkcloud]

That's BS. The police should have no right in crushing someones personal property, that's just wrong. Why not put a bond on the car or something. Say 10-20K depending on the fine so atleast the person can try to get the car back, if it's worth it to them. Then the car goes on sale at a Sheriffs auction after a couple months, if not bought by the owner. Whatever money is made can go to making the community better. Going about it this way is only spending more of LA's tax payers money to crush, and dispose of these cars.

BTW, the bottom car looks like a E46 if I'm not mistaken:mad:

[Majick]

They'll just start over again, with something faster...

Cops can't fight the "speed bug", and the "upgrade bug"
It'll never die. It's been around forever, only difference is that back when hotrodders did it in the 50s and 60s, there weren't as many cars on the road and everyone was into it. I guarantee that half the judges in courts across the US, grew up racing or pulling donuts in local parking lots. Everyone with a fast car likes to get into it every once in awhile, if they didn't...they wouldn't make fast cars. They should spend the money, they are using to crack down on racers, towards opening tracks and keeping them open later for local kids to run on.

[Majick]

Looks like 2 Integra's, Bottom looks more like a Gen2 Eclipse, and that yellow one.....maybe a Del Sol

[MonacoBimm]

breaks my heart

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Majick

Looks like 2 Integra's, Bottom looks more like a Gen2 Eclipse, and that yellow one.....maybe a Del Sol

from top to bottom:

94-97 Integra
92-95 Civic HB
94-97 Integra
92-95 Civic Sedan
92-95 Civic HB (pay attention to to the corner lens shape and Honda Optional fog lamps )

[karliejai]

uhhh... g4y?

[NaTuReB0Y]

That's down my hood..........lots of 2 fast 2 furious. I was once a spectator.......

"The 350-horsepower engine topped out at 160 mph, Hoang said, swearing it could beat a Corvette or even a Ferrari."

V-TEC just kicked in yo!

[esbezee92]

i almost felt bad for them but then i read one of them say that his supposed 350horse civic (prolly not that much power) could "beat a corvette or even a Ferrari"