January 25th, 2008 Royce Posted in Magazine Articles | Comments Off
Let’s face it, police officers are allowed to exceed the speed limit. But Royce Branch, a 60-year-old background investigator with the Redondo Beach Police Department, definitely pushes the envelope. In fact, when he’s not running background checks on new hires, this police officer is often found trying to break speed records of his own. His secret weapon is his land-speed racecar — a 1988 Mazda RX-7 with Lamborghini-style doors and a painted exterior that looks just like a standard, city-issued police vehicle. In August, Branch had his car at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah — where he was focused on a very specific mission.“I was trying to hit 200 miles per hour to set the land-speed record for the fastest police car in the world,” explains Branch. “The current record is 191 mph and that is held by a $435,000 Lamborghini police car in Italy. Last year, I hit 189 mph in third gear, right before I blew out one of the slave cylinders, so I had to try again in 2007. Unfortunately, I only hit 147 mph this year because of poor track conditions following rain; but I’ll definitely be back next year to try again.”In addition to his RX-7 racecar, Branch also has a 1982 Mazda RX-7, which he turned into a convertible; a 1932 Ford Victoria with a rotary engine that is painted magenta on the front and blends to a candy purple in the back, a 1922 T-bucket Harley and a speedboat.“I’ve been interested in racing for a long time,” says Branch. “I love cars and going fast has always been a great thing.”His love for speed, however, is only part of what drives him.When Branch isn’t working or racing, he volunteers his time driving his car around Southern California — showing it off to kids in elementary schools, Boy Scouts clubs and other civic events while promoting the merits of safe driving. For 11 years, Branch was also the original editor and contributing writer to the Rotary Rocket, the official publication of the RX-7 Club of America. Writing since 1983, he’s also contributed articles to Mazda Sport and Turbo magazine, Car and Driver, and Road and Track. He also shares his passion for cars and racing with troubled individuals he’s met over the years. He often brings ex-convicts and disadvantaged teens to his racing events — making them an honorary part of his racing crew, teaching them how to fix and adjust the car and treating them to a fun vacation in the process.“I get a lot of gratification doing what I do,” he adds. “My dad always helped me work on cars as a kid, and I enjoy returning the favor with people who wouldn’t normally have the chance.”Apparently, the spectators at the races have just as good a time.“Just before we get up to the racetrack start line, I affix the police-light bar, turn on the siren and lights and blast the song ‘Bad Boys,’” says Branch. “We take it all off for the actual race, but we always get a lot of comments — and compliments — from what we do. I just love it.”
