“We learned that the cars of luxury had crossed the border and descended at full speed speed, between the cars, along the AP-7″, recalls Joan Miquel Capellwhich until 2004 was in charge of the Trànsit division of some Mossos d’Esquadra who were preparing their coming-out in Barcelona. “We decided to stop them at the Martorell toll,” she continues. And the most shocking of that illegal race of cars, a ‘rally’ of the rich and famous who made the roads of all their particular competition circuit, he remarks, is that there was one of them who was carrying a briefcase with 500 euro bills who wanted to pay all the fines and continue the March.
“We considered that we could not let them continue, because if all of them had agreed to break the traffic regulations, and planned to continue driving at full speed, dodging cars, they put the safety of other drivers at risk and we could not allow it“, he explains. On that occasion, all the drivers were arrested, the cars sent to the current Sant Feliu de Llobregat police station, which was filled with vehicles such as Ferrari, Porsche or Rolls-Royce. When going to court, however, all were released. Nor was it possible to support a case for serious crimes because for this they needed testimonies from drivers whose safety had been at stake due to their overtaking. And they did not have them. But the notice, the second notice in a few months that the police Catalan gave to organizers of those races, such as gumball either Cannoball Europe Runserved for something.
Rich and famous
In those ‘rallies’ that had passed through Catalonia, celebrities such as the actor Adrien Brody, the singer Jamiroquay or the top model Joddie Kid participated, according to this newspaper in 2014. The price for registering for that race, which had an itinerary that linked Paris, Madrid, Marbella, Casablanca, Barcelona and Cannes, was about 40,000 euros per participant and the plan included five-star hotels and exclusive parties at the end of each stage. It was possible to calculate that one of the pilots traveled a Catalan section of 200 kilometers at 252 km/h. “It is a miracle that they have not caused any accident,” said inspector Agustí Migó at the time.
Current races
Without the glamor of those years, and with the lesson learned after sleeping in the dungeons instead of doing it wrapped in the silk of luxury hotels, this type of ‘rallies’ continue to be held in Catalonia. In the last intervention carried out by the Mossos, a few months ago, Sergeant Rafael Aguilarboss of Central Accident Investigation Area, explains that they controlled the speed of the cars and subjected the drivers to alcohol and drug tests. But they only put some fine. Especially since some were driving well above the speed limit. Although, unlike previous years, no one was arrested because they did not commit any criminal offence. “The pressure of 2004 paid off,” explains Capell.
In recent years, with more awareness of traffic accidents, there have been fewer cases in which the opulence of the rich has played with the safety of the poor for fun. Although there have been episodes of illegal group behaviour, such as a recent gathering of T-MAX motorcycle lovers who arranged to close a section of the A2 and do wheelies occupying all lanes. “We knew they would do it and we set up a device that had the support of riot police and the Trànsit helicopter,” explains Aguilar. The operation allowed to impose about fifty sanctions.
Nor do the races that had been held clandestinely on a road like the Rabassada road that connects Barcelona with Sant Cugat now pose a danger as in the past.
Concentrations in polygons
What has been increasing after the pandemic are the concentrations of cars in polygons, especially in the metropolitan area, to drink, listen to music, show off tuned cars and, sometimes, very few, also end up “making bets with ‘shots’ Aguilar added.
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If there are no ‘launches’ – two cars in line that leave at the same time and whoever completes a route that is usually in a straight line first wins – or ‘drifting’ – skids – these illegal gatherings are not a crime. “If the local police ask us for help, which are the ones that should take care of it if there are no crimes, we can set up breathalyser controls, for example,” Aguilar details, admitting that the Catalan police are not aware of all the concentrations of this style that take place. they give in Catalonia.
Last year, however, the broadcaster of Ruby Radio revealed that in one of these concentrations serious crimes were committed against the safety of the attendees by spinning and skidding among the public. At that time an investigation was opened and 5 or 6 drivers were arrested. And last month, in another of these concentrations, a 19-year-old boy died in an accident caused by one of the attendees at a meeting held in a polygon in terrace. “In many cases, it is the organizers themselves who ask for caution and warn that these criminal behaviors are prohibited,” Aguilar stresses. But in other cases, crazy things are done.