We have seen some rough launches at the drag strip before but when a guy on a motorcycle can take out the tree, the scoreboards, and nearly kill the starter all in one fell swoop, that’s a new one for us. In this case we travel to La Paz, Bolivia and we’re at what appears to be an organized drag racing event being held on the street. We’re going way out on a limb here to suggest that this is “legal” street racing because they have a tree, and the digital scoreboard hung on a ladder.
There are a few people looking on and the road seems to indicate that this is a regular spot for racing to take place, judging by the marks and rubber on the road. There’s an initial problem with the tree that delays the launch and then, as the starter is turned with his back toward the motorcycles, the tree fires and the dude in the right line instantly reminds us why we cannot have nice things.
As the tail of the motorcycle misses the starter and his computer by about an inch, the Christmas Tree and the ladder the scoreboard is on are not so lucky. The dude straight up hip checks those items and despite an instant and valiant effort by the starter to save the stuff, it all crashes into the ground. Disgusted the starter just kind of waves his arms in the “we’re done” motion.
We’re hoping all their stuff was not busted and they are able to continue racing. We’re also hoping that the guy on the motorcycle decided to disappear into the mountains after this.
