Paul Walker Tribute Gets Too Fast n Furious

Paul Walker Tribute Turns Into Near Riot

What was supposed to be a tribute to the late Paul Walker turned into everything the car community tends to avoid being seen as in the non-gearhead public eye. The incident happened in West Covina, California at a shopping mall parking lot on September, 12th.

A group of enthusiasts gathered to pay tribute to Walker on his birthday; it’s been five years since his unexpected and tragic death. A film based on his life as an actor, person, and car guy is set to debut later this year.

The trouble didn’t start until a select few started doing burnouts and ripping donuts for a social media audience. Like dropping a lite match into a pool of gasoline, all it takes is one little flame to ignite an inferno. Security guards tried to restore order and were met with a rowdy crowd who pushed them around and one guard was greeted with five fingers curled up in a fist. Thankfully, others in the crowd jumped in to prevent adrenaline from taking it too far and the guards retreated to their security truck. Chants from the crowd called to tip the truck over, but the order wasn’t followed. One did jump up to stomp the windshield into submission before the cops came and caused the crowd to scatter.

This is the Part where I switch from an Automotive Journalist to an Auto-Writer

A disgraceful display in what was supposed to be a tribute to someone they admire. We are living in the dusk following the midnight of self-driving cars. Once they are here it won’t be long until campaigns calling for bans on driving in cities or altogether start popping up. They will use events like this as ammo.

This may be an unpopular opinion to many, but I’ve never bought into the Paul Walker worship. I do think he was a real car-guy, and driver, but not to the hero status many see him as. I think it’s because I consider the franchise that made him famous to be garbage put to film. The Fast n Furious movies are to car culture what Transformers movies are to robotic engineering. There is something to be said about a series of so called “car movies” where the most famous line of engine jargon is about pizza. It amazes me how they destroy real cars to make the fake car chases, and they are still making these films!