TRENTON—Peter Conroy has no respect for anyone clocked at 170 km/h on the 401 but that customized 2009 Dodge Challenger was “somebody’s baby.”
The tow truck driver and his helper spent half an hour gingerly inching the low-slung black beauty onto their vehicle’s deck at the side of the highway Thursday afternoon.
The “absolutely extraordinary” vehicle, which Conroy estimated to be worth $100,000, was impounded for stunt racing by police on the prowl for exotic cars heading to Toronto for Gumball 3000. The annual rally from London, England, to New York in seven days is an opportunity for celebrities and other rich folk from around the world to showcase their flashy chariots.
“No chains, no way,” Conroy said as he admired the silent beast tucked safely away in the garage of Larry’s Towing on Friday. “We weren’t going to leave a mark on it. We used ramps and straps and two men, which we’ve never done before.”
That might be some comfort to the owner, a California man who was en route to Gumball’s Thursday night parade through ritzy Yorkville. Well-heeled though he might be, unwheeled is his status now after police suspended his licence for seven days.
The Challenger was stopped around 5 p.m. for doing more than 170 km/h in a 100 km/h zone between Brighton and Trenton, about two hours east of Toronto.
Ontario Provincial Police wouldn’t release the driver’s name, but it’s unlikely he could claim unfamiliarity with Ontario’s speed limits as his defence. Two hours earlier, he was given a ticket and a tongue-lashing after being stopped near Marysville for travelling at 140 km/h, police said.
But the motorist showed no remorse over the highway hijinks as Conroy hoisted the Dodge “ve-r-r-r-y slowly — one foot every 30 seconds, watching it every inch of the way.”
The man, in his 30s, “didn’t care,” said Conroy. “He was in a totally great mood. Maybe it’s a badge of honour to be going so fast that your car is impounded.”
Friends were taking pictures of his “heroic moment” by the car with his thumbs up, he said. “Even the police officer couldn’t believe his cavalier attitude.”
The man just piled into another car with his buddies and took off, Conroy said.
But the unknown driver’s loss is Trenton’s gain — for another six days anyway.
“Every time someone came in today, their jaw just dropped when they saw it,” Conroy said.
It’s being kept inside rather than out in the compound because “anyone creative enough to get these wheels off would make a fortune,” said Conroy, figuring there was $10,000 worth of chrome and rubber. “Someone sank a lot of money into this car.”
Covered with a fine layer of southern Ontario dust, the car was crying out for a bath, Conroy sighed. But fearful of using the wrong shampoo, he settled for a few swipes of the wheel rims with a ShamWow as he aimed some harsh words at the Gumballer.
“It’s irresponsible. I don’t care how good your tires are, how good your engine is. Going 170, you’re a rolling accident.”
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