REMEMBER WHEN

GOLD COAST BULLETIN Saturday, June 30, 2007

FORGET simply impounding hoons’ cars. Southern California found a novel way of crushing the hoons’ spirit to ensure they curbed their dangerous ways.

They crushed their cars. In a crackdown on illegal streetracing, authorities impounded six cars then crushed them, much to the distress of their devastated owners.

One, an 18-year-old, reportedly cried: "That’s my heart, my dream", as he looked at the remains of his 1998 Acura Integra.

"That’s my girlfriend, the love of my life. The cops can crush my car, but they can’t crush my memories."

The authorities did not crush the cars without good reason.

Illegal street racing was believed to be behind the deaths of 13 Californians since in the previous.

It was a novel idea according to Gold Coast car enthusiast Glen Crawford, who campaigned for a safe place for young drivers to muck around in their pride-and-joys, where they cannot kill themselves or others.

Mr Crawford said he thought such a place would not only provide a safe place for the young ones to test their cars safely, it could also be a place for other car enthusiasts to meet and discuss their loves.

He said it could be incorporated into the Indy festival.

He said crushing the cars was extreme, but it did make a stand.

Especially as California police also found illegal parts in the cars.

The 18-year-old who lost his beloved Integra had spent $10,000 to get it into top shape.