Yellowknife (Aug 22/01) - Drag racing may be thought of as something from the 1950s but much to the RCMP's displeasure it has been resurrected along a straight stretch of Highway 3.

The Yellowknife detachment has been receiving complaints of high-performance vehicles racing along the pavement.

"There have been a few recent movies that glorify street racing," said Staff Sgt. Terry Scott.

"I think it has been ongoing for a while but more and more are going out there and performing ... they should be praying everything is mechanically sound and that it stays that way."

Scott said most of the public's complaints have come from people on the golf course where Mustangs and Camaros whiz by while golfers stroll the fairway.

Two people have been stopped so far and charged with stunting.

"It's a macho thing, I believe," Scott added. "But I don't need to go to someone's house and tell their parents or wife they died in a needless accident because they were goofing around."

Veterinarian Dr. Tom Pisz lives on that section of road at the North Country Stables.

"Every night I hear them," he explained with annoyance. "It's the place they test their vehicles."

Pisz said there is a horse-crossing sign posted there. He worries about the safety of horses and riders since already several dogs have been hit there.

The speed limit is 70 kilometres per hour.

"They should reduce the speed to 50 or something like that," he said, referring to all drivers.

The vehicles said to be spotted travelling far above 70 kilometres per hour near the sandpits and airport are usually sports cars, but all types of vehicles have been reported.

"Fortunately nobody got hurt yet," Pisz said about riders at the stables. "There is absolutely no need to go that fast."

RCMP are issuing a zero-tolerance policy on the activity. Any person caught may receive heavy fines, demerit points, licence suspensions or criminal charges.

RCMP are also beefing up their patrols of the area.