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Petti Fong

Vancouver
Vancouver's most famous racing driver isn't even known by name or face. He is known by a number, however: 240.
That's the speed in kilometres per hour he reached in his silver Honda as he raced past familiar Vancouver landmarks, recording the whole thing on video and brazenly posting it on YouTube.
Police are now hunting the Honda driver, along with other young street racers he filmed. Their antics were revealed on CBC news last week.
'That's so slippery, dude,' said one driver as he leaned out the window to talk to the other driver filming their race.
The issue of street racing is a particularly sensitive one in Vancouver.  There is a perception that it is mainly young Chinese or South Asian men who indulge a passion for custom cars and race down suburban streets as a hobby.
A number of high-profile tragedies have stuck in the minds of many.
A few years ago, Irene Thorpe, a middle-aged woman out for her regular evening stroll, was hit and killed by street racers. Two young South Asian men were charged with dangerous driving, and one was later ordered to be deported following a lengthy court battle to stay in the country.
In another fatal case, a New Zealand tourist was run over and killed by a speeding car driven by a young ethnic Chinese man.
Thorpe's sister, Nina Rivet, said it seemed for a while that the young drag racers had been scared off the streets.
'I was floored to see this come up again,' said Ms Rivet, who has become an activist for stricter penalties against dangerous drivers since her sister's death. 'It's going on because courts aren't holding drivers accountable and police need to have more tools to take away these cars and stop these drivers.'
Ms Rivet said the latest version of street racing in Vancouver was a dangerous game called Chasing the Rainbow. Drivers meet at a set location then fan out to separate spots across the city. A text message is sent out simultaneously and drivers have to race to reach the designated spot, where the winner gets a prize.
Vancouver police Constable Tim Fanning said there were ways to trace the racing driver who posted the video and investigators were starting to gather evidence.
'If we get enough evidence from those videos, we will proceed,' said Constable Fanning. 'We will bring it to the superintendent of motor vehicles and get the driver suspended.'
Others are seeking a broader approach to the problem.
Last summer, hundreds came to grieve at the roadside spot where Dilbag and Dakhshish Badh were killed. The couple, who had been married for 41 years, were  killed as they drove home from their daughter's engagement party. An Acura  that was allegedly racing a Camaro  ran into their car.
That investigation is continuing and no charges have been laid. Not satisfied, the family has launched a petition on Facebook to change Canada's criminal code to include a new category of vehicular homicide, beyond the current criminal negligence or dangerous driving causing death. Hundreds of people have signed up.
They are also trying to change laws that protect vehicle owners from having to disclose who was driving at the time of an accident.
The days of anonymity may soon be over for Vancouver's infamous speed racer and others like him.
Tomorrow: New York



Street racers leave death and anger in their wake