The Witch Hunt Begins ....

[Bluerauder]

The incident last week on Route 210 in Maryland that killed eight people has focused the region on illegal street racing. Maryland is considering legislation to make it illegal even to watch such races. In today's Washington Post "Metro" section was an article entitled ... "Shadowy Racing Culture Extends Across the Region". The Burger King in Manassas off Route 28 was cited prominently in the article as one of the local gathering places. Most folks show up there just to show off their classic car, muscle car, etc. Apparently, the later crowd may get involved in racing. Other gathering points were noted.

Expect to see an increased patrol presence and continued crackdown in this area on Illegal Street Racing. Ya'll be careful out there. Just a suggestion ... when the urge strikes ... Take It To the Track.

[bob6364]

Great i'm going to Chesapeake for Easter weekend bet I forget by then...wanna remind me :D

[sailsmen]

In the average lifetime 55K new laws are passed in the US.

Soon it will be easier to tell us what to do instead of what not to do.

[KillJoy]

Due to a recent death here in Columbus, the same things are occurring.

He was not even racing..... just speeding....

The local racing community took the brunt.

Keep it safe, Keep it on the Track.

KillJoy

[Breadfan]

It sounds like another over reaction for something that probably shouldn't have been happening in the first place. There's so much talk about how often those 210 races occurred it's amazing they were happening in the first place. When such a crowd of people varying in age from 6 to 60 is there I'm still surprised the local LEO's had no idea it was happening - the chances of that seem way to slim.

I do not feel bad about cracking down on illegal racing, but I agree we don't need a witch hunt. We don't need to start scoffing at people who are meeting to show their cars in a legal and constructive manner.

It's a shame BK is brought up, but I agree with you Charlie, it's most likely due to the after sun-down activities.

Years ago the BK cruise used to go late into the night. I remember friends of mine and I going there and staying until 10-11pm and checking out all kinds of muscle cars and hot rods.

Today by sundown they're all gone, and what you get are scions, civics, loud booming bass, and a smattering of mustangs and camaros.

The few times I was around there at night I saw a lincoln LS do a huge brakestand infront of the restaurant, and I watched a crowd of people yell at the proprietor of BK when he asked htem to tone down the music. We didn't stay long suffice to say.

Sadly that place changed as evident from people leaving. The thing is, during the day it's a great family event with a real variety of cool cars. At night it's a mess.

I have heard rumors that some of the people will go there and talk about their cars and plan street races, where those happen I'm not sure but probably on the backroads near the airport.

The local police don't want to deal with it, so I hope it turns out for the best - I hope whatever negative aspects are there don't end up shutting down the whole event.

[ctrlraven]

You can get up to a $500 fine here in MD for spectating an illegal street race/contest as the law stands now.

The MD SA (States Attorney) was just itching to fine all the people that came forward saying they were there but didn't to hope that someone that came forward would actually tell what exactly happen.

[Breadfan]

Is the investigation closed? Was there ever a clear determination of what the CV was doing at the time of the accident?

[Zack]

Charles Darwin is turning in his grave.

We are put on this earth and entitled to our own actions.

Just my .02

Murder is intentional and wrong. Street racing deaths are accidental. Racers die at the track as well.

[Mike Poore]

Zack has it right, it was an accident, tragic, yes, but still an accident. What happens when one of the Blue Angles flames out and plows into a crowd of spectators, or a tire flies off a Gran Prix racer and goes into the stands, or someone gets nailed by a foul ball at a baseball game? Yeah, you say, but those are sanctioned events. Did that make any difference to the dead or maimed? And, what about the race down in MD, does anyone think the cops knew nothing about what was going on? Side streets were blocked, race cars were trailered in, ...and all those spectators didn't just happen along.

Two years ago we were at the Street Rod Nationals at York, PA and encountered a couple of guys with the absolute nastiest '62 Vette, I've ever seen. Wheelie bars, roll cage, the works. The guys game up from Baltimore in it, and were wearing hearing protection. They came to race, for big bucks, and everyone who knew what was going on, and where and when it was gonna be.

This isn't a couple of kids in ricers, it's organized, and it's big, with big money involved. .....and it's been going on forever. You think Michael Vick was the only guy with a dog fighting facility?

There's a straight stretch of road just North of Hagerstown, MD, on Long Meadow Road. I remember the piece in the Hagerstown paper about it. There were photos of start and finish lines, with crossed flags and broad checkerboard boxes painted on the road, resembling the end zone at the Tennessee football stadium. They had Flagmen and guys at the end of the quarter with cameras to make sure there were no disputes after the race(s) Want to know when that was? .............1958

When something like this, or the dog fighting surfaces, we start howling for our politicians to do something ....and who's to say they aren't the ones doing the racing/betting?

Sure, they may legislate away some of the ricers and guys with their "drifting" contests, even toss a dumb ass like Michael Vick into the slammer; but when it comes to big money, they're pissing into the wind, and it ain't gonna stop.:twocents:

[SILVERSURFER03]

BTW it's now called duel hgy in hagerstown thats were you'll find a race

watching sould not not be illegal to do. like many have said it's not going to stop.

yes the loss of life is traggic ..for what reason would they be in street??

doesn't sound like a good idiea to me but thats just me