The dozen witless wonders who decided to turn a Twin Cities interstate into a racetrack last weekend no doubt can afford the fines that should soon be coming their way. But Minnesotans who have to share the roads with these idiots can hope the dollar amounts are sufficient to deter any future life-threatening stunts by this group and other owners of exotic cars.

In case you missed it, the drivers of a group of 12 cars that included two Lamborghinis, a Ferrari and a Maserati were stopped by the Minnesota State Patrol Saturday afternoon after they were clocked at speeds of more than 110 miles per hour on Interstate 394 just west of Louisiana Avenue in Golden Valley. Drivers of another 12 or so cars that were part of the pack have yet to be cited.

One can only guess what goes on beneath the thick skull of someone who would endanger not only themselves but also innocent motorists by turning a major interstate into their own version of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Very little, we would guess.

The positive takeaway from this story is that the State Patrol stopped the dense dozen before anyone was hurt. It was more than a little troubling, however, to learn that troopers have seen this type of organized stupidity before.

Interstate 394 as well as Hwy. 280 in St. Paul are hot spots for owners of fast cars who want to test their limits — and the safety of other motorists, said patrol Lt. Tiffani Nielson. She speculated that the group used Facebook to organize the dangerous cruise and that it planned to post live video of it on the site before troopers spoiled the fun.

The 12 men, ages 24 to 66, were cited for reckless driving, and they will have to appear before a judge to answer the misdemeanor charges. It’s a shame that Minnesota’s restrictions on cameras in the courtroom would likely prevent anyone from shooting video of those appearances.

The 10 Twin Cities-area men and two North Dakotans — some of whom were members of an invitation-only club called Minnesota Exotics and Supercars — violated the Midwestern sensibilities of two states on Saturday. Our hope is that the next time they get behind the wheel, they’ll keep in mind that “Racing in the Streets” is a Bruce Springsteen song — not a way of life.

 

—  Minneapolis Star Tribune, April 25