Skip to content

Downside of burnouts

Letters

Editor:

I wish to respond to the article entitled “Collector cars roll on the Coast” in last week’s edition. Unfortunately, the following quoted comments about “burnouts” by an individual being interviewed says it all:

“Prohibition makes it more appealing,” speculated the individual, “who along with several others on the side of the road, pumped their fists while shouting ‘burnout’ to encourage passing motorists, a handful of whom acquiesced. ‘That seems to be the best part. The fact that you’re not allowed… Everybody wants them done, [it’s] that little edge you know?’”

“Burnouts” are classified as “stunting” under the Motor Vehicle Act and offenders are subject to fines and vehicles can be impounded. The ultimate downside of burnouts in our very popular annual Rod Run could be that an individual is injured or in fact killed. While this would be an ICBC, driver and injured party issue, don’t think that the organizing group, the Coasters Car Club, might not be negatively impacted. This could be the end of the Rod Run and the Coasters Car Club. A few who encouraged and did the “burnouts” would have been instrumental in denying the vast majority the future viewing of the Festival of the Rolling Arts and the annual Rod Run, which next year celebrates its 25th anniversary.

Mike Shanks, Chairman, Sleepy Hollow Rod Run and Show-n-Shine