Thread: why not to street race

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I may have shared some of this before and if so, I apologize – Years ago, I lived in the San Bernardino mountains in southern California and “E Street” (in 'berdo') was the place to cruise. I had a 1957 Corvette and I thought I was just the “badest” kid in town. One night, a guy in a Goat pulled up next to me and one thing led to another and we took a blast down E Street right past two bike cops. E Street was (and probably still is) part of a State Highway and these were CHP bikes. I went right and the Pontiac went left and much to my dismay, a bike followed each of us.

I was written a monster citation for, “speed in excess of 75MPH in a 25 zone, reckless driving, failure to heed the audible hail of a police vehicle”, and some other stuff. My father was a reserve deputy sheriff and found this to be very, very bad. The keys to the Corvette were taken away from me and as a senior in high school I was made to ride school bus.

My father accompanied me to court and we sat listening to the judge hand out big time punishment to what were certainly lesser offenses. The guy in the GTO was called up to the bench before I was and he was foolish enough to sass the judge. I about died when I heard the judge fine him $500 and suspend his license for six months. I later learned that the judge was much harsher on him because he was over 21 and the judge believed his actions contributed to the delinquency of a minor.

When my turn came, I could barely stand before the bench as the judge looked down at me and very sternly lectured me. He then asked my father (whom he knew to be a deputy) to administer “punishment that fit the crime” and looked at me with a face that could have frozen the Mediterranean Sea and said, “young man – if I ever see you back in this court for anything close to this, you will never drive in the State of California. Understood?” I managed to eke out a “yes sir your Honor” and was fined $25 as his gavel slammed down and he called for the next case.

It made a huge impression – we were lucky and no one was hurt. I’ve told this story to my own children and informed them that there would never be a “next time” as I’d remove driving privileges as long as they lived under my roof. It worked – four kids and only one ticket during the time they lived at home.

Don't call these two clowns street racers....most street racers have enough sense to wait til after midnight and then on a deserted piece of road where no innocents are in jeporady... Call the guy in the Camaro and the guy in the Mustang what they are--IDIOTS!!!!!