speedracer2169
07-15-2006, 09:55 PM
2 weeks late but real important info. And even though the majority of us don't street race the training does involve inspection for illegal parts blah blah blah
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_H_race15.84df73.html
Take it to the tracks,' street racers told
By LEEZEL TANGLAO
The Press-Enterprise
PERRIS - Take the need for speed to the racetracks and not on the city streets.
2001 / The Press-Enterprise
A CHP officer positions himself on Sharp Street in Mira Loma during a street-racing crackdown. Since 2001, four people have been killed in Riverside County street races. Illegal street racers face fines and having their vehicle impounded.
That's the message several Inland cities and law enforcement agencies want to emphasize before the release of a major motion picture about racing. "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift" premiers Friday and police are concerned it will spark interest in car racing on city and county streets.
Since 2001, four people have been killed in street races in Riverside County and an additional seven have died from street-racing incidents in San Bernardino County, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The cities of Perris, Moreno Valley and Riverside recently passed resolutions in support of legal alternatives such as going to local speedways for races.
"We're hoping to send the message that cars are cool but take it to the tracks," said Perris Councilman Mark Yarbrough, who races stock cars on circular tracks.
Perris Auto Speedway offers its 1.8 mile closed-course track for racing.
"It doesn't give kids an excuse, 'I don't have a place to go,' " said Don Kazarian, owner of the speedway.
Riverside police Sgt. Kip Showalter said racing at a speedway is the best alternative because it's a controlled environment and medical personnel are on hand.
"If there's not a place to race, they take it to the streets," Showalter said at the Perris City Council meeting Tuesday. "They need a place to race."
"It's not really that expensive in comparison to what a ticket costs," said Perris Mayor Daryl Busch.
A race at the Perris Auto Speedway will cost about $20, and another $10 for anyone who wants to watch, Kazarian said.
Consequences for illegal street racing can range from citations and fines to impounding vehicles, according to Jaci Parent, CHP spokeswoman.
The Riverside Police Department received a $400,000 state grant from the Office of Traffic Safety to fight street racing. About 250 officers from agencies countywide have received training under the grant, including officers from Moreno Valley.
Moreno Valley City Councilman Bill Batey said it was important that neighboring cities cooperate to fight the problem, so that racers won't just move from one city to the next.
Anti-Street-Racing Efforts
Batey said he had been working the anti-street-racing efforts for the past few months with Yarbrough and Riverside City Councilman Frank Schiavone.
"We can ensure that the streets are relatively safe," said Batey, a Riverside firefighter and race-car enthusiast himself. "There's no excuse for them to be out doing this on the street."
Moreno Valley Police Chief Bill DiYorio said his officers haven't seen large, organized street races like those in Riverside. In April, Riverside officers cited about 50 cars and impounded 11 vehicles during a sweep of targeted street racers. It started when police found about 150 suspected vehicles in a parking lot on Tyler.
"We are seeing an increase of small, sporty cars with modified exhaust," DiYorio said by phone.
Police officers routinely check the southern and eastern ends of Moreno Valley, where residents have complained about racing motorists, he added.
In Riverside, police plan to set up educational booths about the dangers of street racing at the Mission Grove, Riverside Plaza and University Village movie theaters.
The idea is to prevent impressionable moviegoers from attempting any of the stunts they see.
For anyone who doesn't get the message, extra officers will be on patrol around the theaters, said Showalter.
Constantly Patrolling
Anthony Ortiz, public information officer for the Ontario Police Department, said they are not doing anything different with the release of the film but are constantly patrolling the area for illegal races.
Ontario has become a popular place for racing on its many industrial-district streets.
"Kids want to show them (the cars) off," Ortiz said. "But they're not good racers. They crash."
Ortiz said he wishes that parents would be better informed of their children's whereabouts. He said many young people involved in the illegal races are from out of the area. "If we just catch one racer and save one life, it's worth it," he said.
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_H_race15.84df73.html
Take it to the tracks,' street racers told
By LEEZEL TANGLAO
The Press-Enterprise
PERRIS - Take the need for speed to the racetracks and not on the city streets.
2001 / The Press-Enterprise
A CHP officer positions himself on Sharp Street in Mira Loma during a street-racing crackdown. Since 2001, four people have been killed in Riverside County street races. Illegal street racers face fines and having their vehicle impounded.
That's the message several Inland cities and law enforcement agencies want to emphasize before the release of a major motion picture about racing. "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift" premiers Friday and police are concerned it will spark interest in car racing on city and county streets.
Since 2001, four people have been killed in street races in Riverside County and an additional seven have died from street-racing incidents in San Bernardino County, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The cities of Perris, Moreno Valley and Riverside recently passed resolutions in support of legal alternatives such as going to local speedways for races.
"We're hoping to send the message that cars are cool but take it to the tracks," said Perris Councilman Mark Yarbrough, who races stock cars on circular tracks.
Perris Auto Speedway offers its 1.8 mile closed-course track for racing.
"It doesn't give kids an excuse, 'I don't have a place to go,' " said Don Kazarian, owner of the speedway.
Riverside police Sgt. Kip Showalter said racing at a speedway is the best alternative because it's a controlled environment and medical personnel are on hand.
"If there's not a place to race, they take it to the streets," Showalter said at the Perris City Council meeting Tuesday. "They need a place to race."
"It's not really that expensive in comparison to what a ticket costs," said Perris Mayor Daryl Busch.
A race at the Perris Auto Speedway will cost about $20, and another $10 for anyone who wants to watch, Kazarian said.
Consequences for illegal street racing can range from citations and fines to impounding vehicles, according to Jaci Parent, CHP spokeswoman.
The Riverside Police Department received a $400,000 state grant from the Office of Traffic Safety to fight street racing. About 250 officers from agencies countywide have received training under the grant, including officers from Moreno Valley.
Moreno Valley City Councilman Bill Batey said it was important that neighboring cities cooperate to fight the problem, so that racers won't just move from one city to the next.
Anti-Street-Racing Efforts
Batey said he had been working the anti-street-racing efforts for the past few months with Yarbrough and Riverside City Councilman Frank Schiavone.
"We can ensure that the streets are relatively safe," said Batey, a Riverside firefighter and race-car enthusiast himself. "There's no excuse for them to be out doing this on the street."
Moreno Valley Police Chief Bill DiYorio said his officers haven't seen large, organized street races like those in Riverside. In April, Riverside officers cited about 50 cars and impounded 11 vehicles during a sweep of targeted street racers. It started when police found about 150 suspected vehicles in a parking lot on Tyler.
"We are seeing an increase of small, sporty cars with modified exhaust," DiYorio said by phone.
Police officers routinely check the southern and eastern ends of Moreno Valley, where residents have complained about racing motorists, he added.
In Riverside, police plan to set up educational booths about the dangers of street racing at the Mission Grove, Riverside Plaza and University Village movie theaters.
The idea is to prevent impressionable moviegoers from attempting any of the stunts they see.
For anyone who doesn't get the message, extra officers will be on patrol around the theaters, said Showalter.
Constantly Patrolling
Anthony Ortiz, public information officer for the Ontario Police Department, said they are not doing anything different with the release of the film but are constantly patrolling the area for illegal races.
Ontario has become a popular place for racing on its many industrial-district streets.
"Kids want to show them (the cars) off," Ortiz said. "But they're not good racers. They crash."
Ortiz said he wishes that parents would be better informed of their children's whereabouts. He said many young people involved in the illegal races are from out of the area. "If we just catch one racer and save one life, it's worth it," he said.