Associated Press
SPOKANE — Spokane police are trying to shut down a thriving street-racing culture among the area’s youths.
About 50 people showed up at a meeting Wednesday that sought to get the racers off the streets.
In good weather, Spokane’s street car culture lights up after dark on Friday and Saturday nights. One hundred blocks of N. Division Street crawl with customized Hondas and Toyotas.
Cars do 70 to 80 mph between traffic lights on Division as drivers challenge one another, teen-age drivers said at the forum.
Other drivers are there to have fun and flirt with the opposite sex. Then there are the troublemakers, fighters, drug dealers and underage drinkers.
"I’ve seen ‘Fight Club’-style fights in the Toys R Us parking lot," said Spokane police Sgt. Joe Walker.
Business owners have complained of damaged asphalt from drivers burning rubber in "power burns."
Can that culture be moved to Spokane Raceway Park at Airway Heights on Friday nights?
At the meeting at Rogers High School, raceway owner Troy Moe announced his plan to offer a venue for kids to race. Every Friday night all summer, Moe will open the track to kids. Admission will be $5. Cars and drivers will undergo safety inspections. No alcohol, Moe said, and no drugs.
"This is going to be the place to hang out," he said. "When you’re stopped at a light on Division and the guy next to you brings up the tach to 4,000 and lets out the clutch, you can say, ‘See you at the park Friday night,’ and you can settle your differences there."
The idea is endorsed by the Spokane Regional Health District, which put on the forum through its $250,000 teen safe driving grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Car crashes are the leading cause of death of Americans ages 15 to 20. In Spokane County between June 2000 and July 2001, there were 269 motor vehicle crashes involving teen drivers.
Police records show that of the teen-related traffic fatalities, speed was the primary factor, followed by alcohol and not wearing seat belts.
Police plan to start a motorcycle patrol of N. Division on Friday and Saturday nights in May.
A speaker who identified himself only as Mike endorsed the Spokane Raceway Park idea.
"We’re tired of $480 tickets," he said. "We’re tired of getting our cars impounded."
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