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GREENSBORO — Looking for a cool ride for an even cooler price?

Keep a lookout for an auction of formerly souped-up cars used for street racing that were ordered forfeited by the courts this year.

The first eight vehicles — Mustangs, BMWs, Honda Civics — brought in about $64,000 last month, said Guilford County District Court Judge Tom Jarrell . Sales ranged from $2,000 to $3,000 for the small Civics to $20,000 for a 2006 or 2007 Chevy Trailblazer .

Part of the money will go to pay off liens for the vehicles, and the rest will go to Guilford County Schools, Jarrell said.

More vehicles could be sold this month, he said. He’s waiting for cases to be settled in Forsyth County before approving the next auction.

Jarrell ordered the vehicles forfeited this year during trials and plea hearings in the aftermath of a Highway Patrol investigation of street racing in Guilford and Forsyth counties.

At the time, he warned defendants that street racing can be deadly. Several promised they would never race again.

The vehicle forfeitures, allowed by law for cases of pre-arranged racing, were a rare move, Jarrell said. Most charges are reduced as part of plea deals, allowing the accused to keep their vehicles.

“Now there’s an additional risk,” he said. “The risk of losing your car, losing your driver’s license for three years and possible jail time.”

In all, troopers seized 34 vehicles and filed 188 charges , the Highway Patrol said after the sting.

Troopers mounted the sting after receiving complaints of street racing on North Main Street in High Point and U.S. 311 in Guilford and Forsyth counties. The patrol used undercover officers, confidential informants and hidden cameras. The planned, three-month sting was cut short because the volume of races was deemed too dangerous.

Some vehicles were too modified to be turned back into legal street cars and were given to law enforcement. The majority were sent to be auctioned.

Jarrell said he hasn’t heard of any more issues with racing in the area. “I can tell you, the Highway Patrol’s keeping an eye on it,” he said.

Contact Jennifer Fernandez at 373-7064 or jennifer.fernandez@news-record.com