dmelton

iTrader: (2)

6 Confiscated Street-Racing Cars Crushed by Cops
Greg Risling, Associated Press - Jun 21 2007

[img=http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/3439/crushedstreetracersgh6.th.jpg]

Six vehicles were destroyed in front of their owners Wednesday at an auto graveyard as local law enforcement ramps up enforcement this summer after illegal street racing is suspected or responsible for 13 deaths in Southern California since March. (AP)
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 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.

“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 taillight 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.

Good Riddens to the Rice!!!

porksoda

iTrader: (39)

Him and his MOM spent $10,000 on a Civic!

BeavermanA

iTrader: (1)

Silly ricers haha. I remember when I used to go to the street races in Ontario, CA in my Z28. Smashed on so many integra's and whatnot when it was 100% stock. I had the chopper put its beam on me and a squad car directly behind me leaving the street to go to another location. Didn't do **** to me, but I always saw endless ricers pulled over sitting on the curb while cops inspected their cars. Always made me laugh; stopped going after I heard one night they blocked off both ends of a street, trapping everyone and giving them tickets.

DSGKB2.2

I didn't know you could stack **** that high

Creman

iTrader: (10)

it's fun to poke at the ricers, but I see a problem when cops can claim any part on your car is stolen or "illegally modified" and then take it to be crushed. It's funny, but some F-bods might be next.

From what I read, they caught the one kid racing, but the other was pulled over for a traffic stop. They had no reason to check the engine! "Sergio Zavala, 18, was pulled over in his 1993 yellow Honda Civic for a broken taillight in December"

Maybe I'm paranoid, but that is a little too much power in the hands of the police. I understand wanting to stop street racing, but you still have to follow some rules...

Z O SICK

iTrader: (1)

That sucks!

Silver02Z28

iTrader: (2)

Yikes!

I'm setting my rev-limiter to 3,500 RPM to avoid the urge to race on the street! It's hard to resist even a friendly stop light brawl with another fast car.

Instead of crushing cars, there should be a 15 step support program for us called Street Racers Anonymous. I'll take the first step, "Hello, my name is Mike, and I'm a race-aholic".

AWD PWRR

Pharm0r

iTrader: (17)

a-low

iTrader: (26)

CRZYPWR

Is this only in CA?

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

So then, 350hp>400, 350>500, 350>550+
Ummmm, how about no... I don't fvking think so.

So is CA the only state they can do it ? Destroying cars, that's rough.
But I guess, If You don't listen and learn, then this will stop someone from illegal racing. And if not, then next time You do it, they will crush the driver.
It isn't cars fault, it's the driver. I understand that some cars are just so damn ugly, that You might wanna crush them...

Fort Pierce

Why are they rice?

Gloveperson

iTrader: (9)

If a 93 Civic really had 350 WHP then it would destroy a Corvette. It would weigh about 800 lbs less with the same WHP.

Nice kill btw......

Fort Pierce

yes from a roll

chuck01

Unless they paid to trash those cars, I see lawsuit coming real soon.

CRZYPWR

Oh, it would DESTROY the vette, ok.. just making sure I got that right... it would get Destroyed!!!

How about a Ferrari?

the_merv

iTrader: (88)

Yea, that is private property and can't be claimed by the Police for any reason to be confiscated in that manner. Drugs are one thing..but the Impound is for the Cars, that is the way it is here.

Fort Pierce

Ferraris are mostly slow dude a bolt on LS1 can take MOST of them on the street.

CRZYPWR

Well, this is not about ls1's, I wanted to know if this civic could beat a 500hp+ Ferrari. From the roll, as You always mention.

Fort Pierce

Well yes, im sure theres a gutted civic hatch weighing around 1500 pound with some huge turbo that would beat a 500hp ferrari on the highway.