Sideshows aren't going away, but could come off the street
Q
I agree entirely with
Nick Harrah. Punishment is not the best way to stop sideshows.
There is no difference between sideshows now and street racing of the '50s, '60s and '70s. It is just 20-something boys showing off their cars and their macho, as immortalized in “American Graffiti.”
Unfortunately, like the car that crashed and burned in the movie, many street racing kids crashed and burned, and some died. The solution was to build drag race parks to get them off the street and into a safe environment.
What's needed is a simple, paved lot with concrete barriers around it. Charge admission for participants and spectators. Provide an incentive for participants to get the shows off the street, just like they did in the drag race parks and destruction derbies, and like they do in race car tracks today. — D.G.
A
I understand the comparison between street racing and sideshows. The dynamics are different now, though.
With cellphones and texting, participants can quickly draw the large crowds they want to locations where they think police will not be patrolling.
Q
While I think police should take their cars for a month, they should also give them a list of legal places to perform. Did you ever mention Wednesday night Drags and Drift at Sonoma? Or SCCA Autocross? — Joanne Clare, Danville
A And …
Q Nick Harrah's idea has been tried and was a success at the Pomona Raceway in Southern California. It was shut down because neighbors complained about the noise from events that were not on the National Hot Rod Association drag racing schedule (a whopping two events per year) and those additional events were shut down.
In Santa Clara County, we could try something similar with the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds. It used to have a racetrack and host all kinds of auto and truck-related events, but was shut down by neighbors living near the fairgrounds who didn't like the noise.
Like Mr. Harrah, I'm a longtime racing enthusiast as a spectator and as a participant. We won't get a non-law enforcement-related solution to sideshows because of the NIMBYs of the Bay Area. — Chris Bracher, Campbell
A And …
Q I like 1) legal places for sideshows, low income with equitable access, and 2) longer vehicle confiscation, with a chance to see the vehicle sold for enforcement costs after multiple offenses.
The punitive approach will attract the most support because outsiders don't “get” the draw or understand the family impact of confiscation.
A
I don't disagree, but the reality of having legal places for these events is more challenging than people may realize.