Officials propose street racing at Milwaukee Mile track

Another proposal would fine spectators of such illegal races up to $400

Milwaukee officials are fed up with illegal racing on city streets, and they have an unorthodox idea on how to stop it — move it to the Milwaukee Mile at Wisconsin State Fair Park.

Ald. Chantia Lewis said street racing in her district, and increasingly in other areas around the city, is wreaking havoc on neighborhoods and putting public safety at risk.

One of her proposals — to penalize spectators at illegal street racing events — was approved unanimously by the city’s Public Safety and Health Committee on Thursday.

“The drag racing and spectating issue has been something that we’ve been dealing with for almost a decade. I think ever since ‘Fast and Furious’ came out, it’s just been an issue,” Lewis said during Thursday’s meeting. “Predominantly, it has been isolated to the 9th District, but in recent years it has gone throughout the entire city.”

She showed committee members videos of illegal races, and spectators who laughed and clapped as cars sped along residential streets.

There’s even a YouTube channel dedicated to illegal street racing in Milwaukee, Lewis said.

Under the ordinance, any spectator at a street race could be fined between $20 and $400.

“If you can’t have people taking a look at what you’re doing, then it will deter the activity hopefully,” Lewis said.

The proposal now heads to the full

Common Council.

Hit-and-run crashes have been surging in the city. And last month, Milwaukee police officers, sheriff’s deputies and state troopers announced a new initiative to crack down on dangerous and aggressive driving.

Police have complained that it’s difficult to catch the fastmoving illegal street racers, but Lewis said spectators will be much easier to nab.

Lewis added that city officials have been working to enstarting courage those who feel the need for speed to race elsewhere.

“We have been actively searching for an isolated, awayfrom-the-neighborhoods location where you can drag race legally, off the city of Milwaukee streets, in a confined, controlled area,” she said.

One idea — encourage illegal street racers to try the Milwaukee Mile at Wisconsin State Fair Park.

John Yingling, chairman of the board of directors for Wisconsin State Fair Park, was surprised by the proposal.

“This is the first time I’ve heard about it,” Yingling said.

Yingling said the Milwaukee Mile can be used for drag rac- ing, but added that’s not “the best-suited type of racing for the track.”

“If you look at drag racing courses, they’re a lot wider than the Milwaukee Mile is, and they certainly don’t have concrete barriers so close to the cars,” he said.

But he didn’t dismiss the idea outright.

“We would always be interested in discussing how to bring events to the track,” Yingling said. “We do have a number of events that lay people can participate in.”

The effort to find a legal outlet for illegal street racers comes as a separate new monthly “street car” program is at the Milwaukee Mile. Gregg McKarns, a racing promoter who owns the Madison International Speedway, said the program started Tuesday night with 141 entries.

McKarns, who already holds similar events in the La Crosse and Madison areas, said those with “street legal” cars can participate.

Ald. Mark Borkowski slammed street racers, and said they should be kept completely out of neighborhoods. But he said he supports racing in a controlled environment, like a racetrack.

“Listen, if you’re into ‘Dukes of Hazzard,’ go back to the ‘80s,” Borkowski said.