AzMotorNews

Professional drag racers visit Phoenix high school
The Arizona Republic Friday February 27, 2004
by Quynh Tran

Two of the country's professional drag racers made a pit stop at a west Phoenix high school Thursday to warn students about the dangers of street racing. 
    "There are no safety standards on the street," said Phil Burkhart, a top 10 Nitro Funny Car racer from New York. "The street is not the place for testing your car out." 
    Burkhart and fellow drag racer Del Worsham of California spent the lunch hour talking to students and signing autographs next to a race car.
    At least one student from the packed auditorium said he no longer attends the street racing competitions.
    "I stopped going because I think of my son Angel," said student Efren Favela, 19, who planned to celebrate the 2-year-old's birthday later Thursday.
    Favela said he fears crashing -or worse.
    "If I was to be in one of those races and won, the guy who lost could have a gun and shoot us," he said.
    So far this month, street racing is blamed for at least three traffic deaths in the valley. 
    Two weeks ago a father was killed in Tempe when he collided with a driver who police say was racing another vehicle.  In a separate incident, two youths suspected of street racing died on Loop 101 near Warner Road when their Honda crashed into another motorist. Police believe they were also racing.
   This week, David Omar Vasquez, 19 was indicted for sending eight people to the hospital in a Feb. 6 racing incident in Mesa.
   Souped-up Hondas, Toyotas or Saturns with powerful engines and road-gripping tires are the choice of speedsters.
   Street racing isn't the only consequence of the idle youth activity in souped-up cars, said Sgt. Scot Gillespie, who is in charge of Phoenix's cruising and drag-racing enforcement squad.
   Gillespie said street racing can lead to other crimes including trespassing, violating curfew, graffiti, alcohol consumption and drug activity.
    Last year Phoenix police issued 13,000 traffic tickets, including 7,500 citations for cruising and street racing violations.
    An illegal street racing conviction carries up to a year in jail and fines of $2,500 or more.  A fatality resulting from street racing could lead to a felony murder charge.
    Burkhart said those who want to race should stick with legal strips such as Firebird International Raceway in Phoenix or Speedworld Motorplex in the West Valley.
    Frank Sandoval, 19, a senior at the school, said it could cost about $2,000 to buy a cheap car and an additional $6,000 for the improvements.
    "It's fun being in a car going fast, beating the car next to you," Sandoval said.  "But it's not worth getting into a wreck."