For the vast majority of us, drag racing is but a dream. However, when we found out that a bunch Hongkongers had been arrested in Shenzhen for partaking in an illegal drag race, we were somewhat relieved that the Fast & Furious lifestyle is still just the premise of a bunch of bad movies for us.
Thirteen luxury-car-owning Hongkongers, driving a fancy assortment of McLarens, Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Porsches, were arrested on the mainland last week for taking part in an illegal racing event that reached speeds of 251km/h.
Shenzhen police have described the feat as the city’s biggest-ever street racing event in terms of “scale, number of vehicles involved and potential dangers”, the Southern Metropolis Daily reports.
The Vin Diesel and Paul Walker wannabes, ranging in age from 38 to 62 (slow down, granddad!) averaged speeds of 214km/h on the 100km/h-limit S3 highway that connects Shenzhen and Guangzhou.
The drivers were nabbed at the border when attempting to re-enter Hong Kong, with police identifying the vehicles according to witness descriptions.
Rather amusingly, the detained suspects said they chose to race in the mainland because the streets are “flat, wide and straight” and they “didn’t know law enforcements here [in Shenzhen] is as harsh” as those in Hong Kong.
The suspects are now facing criminal charges for dangerous driving, possible fines and short-term imprisonment of unspecified amounts.
Li Minghui, the deputy manager of the company that monitors the S3 highway, said drag races take place on the road nearly every weekend and often involve vehicles with Hong Kong licence plates.
In an attempt to reduce the number of accidents, Shenzhen police are offering rewards ranging from HKD2,520 to HKD25,200 for information regarding illegal racing and pertaining events.
Good shout. If you can’t beat them, make money out of them.
Photo: Baidu. Source: SCMP.
