Featured Driver

Kevin Shumaker

Myname is Kevin and I love building, modifying, and racing cars. Some of you may recognize me from the Tucson episode of PINKS-All Out! I was driving a white Mitsubishi Mirage that had been converted to All Wheel Drive using drivetrain parts from an Eclipse GSX. Getting on PINKS was one of the most amazing experiences Iïve had in my life, however, the journey that I took to get there had a couple of twists in it.

For a number of years, I raced on the streets. I would go to the regular meeting spots and go out to the Illegals. I loved the rush, and it was convenient (didnt have to worry about whether the track was open, it didnt cost any money, and I didnït have to wait through Tech). I went out to the Illegals off and on for a number of years. Once in a while I would hear stories about some one I knew getting into an accident. Then one night a guy who was a big part of the street racing community died when a truck pulled in front of his CRX going 90mph.

I thought to myself, that wouldnt happen to me, I keep control of the situation; and anyway, it my life and I worked hard to take my car out. I kept street racing. Once in a while a police officer would see me racing and turn his lights on. I would run because I knew my car was faster and they stop chasing me.

One night I was out with my girlfriend in my 12 second Talon. I was racing an M3 and a police car pulled up behind us after we slowed down. He turned on his lights and as usual, I sped off. I thought I lost him, but then another police car spotted us and started to chase me. I sped off again reaching VERY high speeds on city streets. I ran stop signs and red lights; things that I never thought I would do, but the adrenaline had taken over. I thought I had escaped. I pulled into an apartment complex to lay low for a bit. A few minutes later when I went to leave, more than ten police cars filled the parking lot from every direction. Their guns were drawn and pointed in my face. I was dragged out of my car and taken to jail. It was truly frightening.