Packard had a huge barn stocked with a full service chop shop, which was seemingly self-serving for himself and the gang. This costs money, much more than just jacking a few townies for their used cars could net.
There is no evidence in the film that Packard is dealing drugs or weapons, or even dealing in stolen vehicles. Where are they getting all the money needed to supply the chop shop, eat, buy fuel, etc...?
Packard's gang had to be into something more than pinks
Yeah. He likely wasn't all that into Sherilyn Fenn's pink after all, and more intrigued by the stink between a young Charlie Sheen's cheeks
I wondered why they even bothered staging fixed races, anyway. Why not just steal the cars?
If their victims were too scared to go to the police to report being forced to be in a rigged car race while the gang holds your girlfriend against her will.
They could just carjack the cars and save some time? I think a carjacking might actually be less a crime than forcing a woman out of a car, holding her, and threatening to hurt her if the guy in the car doesn't do what they want.
cos then we'd have no movie ! its in the script !
(jk , i hate those posts)
If i had to to find a reason I'd sat its to muddy the waters in court.
"Look your honor -he says we jacked his car , fact is he bet the car on the race and now he wants to back out because he lost"
This costs money, much more than just jacking a few townies
nah, they lived in the middle of nowhere , big unused barns must be two-a-penny.
then you just get a few tools .
Buy a few cars to do up to make some cash
the odd repair for people in town
... and use the rest of the barn for pool and beer sesh