Street Racing in Quebec City - CBC Radio Story

[MacPhail]

From the CBC.ca site:

DOCUMENTARY: RACEWAY BOULEVARD CHAREST Duration: 00:18:09
 
Ever since there have been cars, young men have trying to make them go faster. In the movies, risk and speed are sexy, glamorous. Think James Dean and his "chickies race" in "Rebel Without a Cause," or the cool high school dragsters in "Grease," or the motorheads in this week's new blockbuster "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.

In real life, it's very different. Street racing is deadly. Over the last six years, thirty-four people have been killed in the Toronto area alone. Four young men died in January in East Vancouver. On Thursday the Harper Government introduced a bill to make street racing a Criminal Code offence. On the same day, Ontario's Attorney General orchestrated a public crushing of two tricked-up Honda's to warn would- be racers that their cars could be impounded.

But strong talk isn't slowing down young men in Quebec City. And every year there are more and more of them. They use walkie-talkies and cell phones to choose streets and avoid the police. There are weekly parking lot hang-outs where drivers brag and strut and line up competitors. There are word of mouth rankings. And a website where the homegrown street racing videos can be seen.

On a recent weekend producer, David Gutnick got up close to these young men and their very fast cars. His documentary is called "Raceway Boulevard Charest."
 
 

[FieroBUZZ]

It's always been done like that.  These are real 'street racers'.  Not some wannabe in mom's car speeding thru residential streets.

Funny how that taxi driver in TO got killed by 2 guys driving Mercedes.  Think the lawyers would get upset if the cops pulled them over all the time in their MB's to see if they looked like they were up to something?   

[MacPhail]

The crushing of the cars by Bryant is pretty pathetic.  What message does that send other than the throwing away of an opportunity to raise some funds or have them donated to a worthwhile cause (like a driver education program/race track to teach people how to handle sports cars)?

Then again...he is a Liberal and it isn't like this is the first time he's done some bone headed, knee jerk reaction, vote buying PR stunt (banning pitbulls).   

Cheers, Derek
 

[MacPhail]

Further to my rant...

If Bryant wants to get tough on crime, how 'bout starting with pedophiles.  He has my blessing to do all the crushing (or castrating) he wants.

Cheers, Derek