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Volume 41, Issue 7
December 2, 2003
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December 2, 2003
Street racing shifts image
Scott Thomas
Mesa Legend
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Dennis Mikulich Mesa Legend |
| A popular model among street
racers, the Mitsubishi Eclipse. |
Nov. 13, Phoenix police coordinated what they said was the largest drag
racing bust in state history.
Ten people were arrested for drag racing, and 165 bystanders were arrested
for various other illegal activities such as underage drinking and trespassing.
Five days earlier on Nov. 8, Firebird International Raceway, Auto Trader
Magazine, and many other sponsors worked together to host an event intended
to provide not only entertainment for participants and attendees, but
also to help get drag racing off the streets and back on to the race track.
“Be fast. Look good. Have fun. Be competitive.
Take it to the track!”
That is the motto of Dragracing.com, a web site dedicated to street racing
and the integrity of the sport.
They are trying to give drag racing a better name by forming events at
real race tracks, instead of on the streets where it puts the lives of
racers, spectators and others at risk.
Timing could not have been any better to raise awareness about the dangers
and consequences for illegal street racing.
For $10 anyone could attend the event and watch some of the Valley’s
most dedicated car owners take their hobby to the highest level –
competitive racing.
For only five more dollars, drivers with up to six-cylinder engines in
their cars could race their car against the others.
Proving the popularity of the sport, the line of cars that waited to enter
the gates stretched all the way back to the freeway.
Many people waited over a half an hour to get inside.
Many drivers came to impress with lightning times.
Racers like Mike Fischer and Michael Maggiore were posting quarter-mile
times of 10.480 and 10.781 respectfully.
The real star of the night was Paul Coggeshan, who drove a quarter of
a mile in 9.992 seconds, setting the record as the first person at these
events to post a time under 10 seconds.
Coggesan called his car the “V-8 killer” in reference to his
belief that his car could beat any car with a V-8 engine.
Although the event’s purpose was to bring racers off the street,
the crowd in general still felt that drag racing will always have its
place on the street.
Racing fan Sean Kreuger said, “As long as there is a red light there
will be street racing. Curiosity will always win. A motor
head is always curious at what someone else’s car can do.”
Lionel Torres, Sports Compact Only announcer, brought an added spice to
the night over the speaker that couldn’t be replaced by just anyone.
Torres’s unorthodox ways of announcing, and at times, his plain
lack of professionalism was actually a recipe for entertainment. Dry
humor and an impressive overall knowledge of the vehicles added an important
touch to the night.
Owner of a 1991 Honda CRX and car enthusiast, Mario Locarano, admitted
to racing illegally on the streets, although he did not race at the Firebird
drag race.
“There is nothing like the rush,” Locarano said. “I
think this (SCO Night) is great. I think there should be a track
open 24 hours where people could go to race anytime legally. That
way it would not be putting the lives of others at risk.”
The past events that have been held on Saturday nights have been a success
and this one was no different, recording the best turn-out to date.
The next event will be held on Dec. 6.
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