Street Racing

[D1SR240]

I know this has been discussed a lot but, for my speech class i am doing an informative speech on "Illegal Street Racing", now I have most of the info but if anyone has any good sites or books or anything i'm open for suggestions. Anyways i wanted to know your guys' opinions/personal experiences/views or anything relating to street racing.

thnx in advance

Please note that the speech will be informative, it will not be for it or against it just basically facts, because most people already know how dangerous it is but i wanna separate all that F&F fake crap and actually show the real side of it.

[The Mic]

Go to your local book store and check out Initial d: Volume 1 ha-ha

I will share my first scary road race experience back when I was a stock racer:

It was 3:00 in a sunny Friday afternoon. My friend, ill call him Kevin, calls me up to check out a new mountain pass. I go “ok, I guess I have enough time before my date’’. So imp planning to get back like at 5:00 or 6:00 at the latest. He says, “should pick up Kate?" it was my friend and he wanted to take her. “no, I don’t want any liabilities" I tell him. So we leave in separate cars (my s13 and his AE86) and travel there. After about 20 min of driving, we finally arrive at Glendora mountain road/ pass (to those of you who live in So. Cal, it’s the road you take to get to Big Bear).

So we go uphill for about 20 min of cruising and we stop at a turnout to check out the scenery. We see a couple of 240s there too, an s13 (later on we find out he’s sr20'd) and a real s15. So then we start to head back because I had a previous engagement. (5:30 pm) On the way back my friend decided he wanted to lead, I had no problem so I let him go ahead. He starts to push it a bit but I hold back, being it’s my 1st time on that mountain. While were going downhill, he pushes it more and pulls out of sight be of the sharp corners. So I keep my pace and after the next corner I see my friend going pretty fast on a 90 degree corner. right then I thought "****, he’s not going to make it" he starts to drift but then he counter steered too late, so he starts to swerve and the 2nd time he swerved, SMACK!! His whole passenger side smacked right on the canyon wall, he is scraping the wall for like 3 seconds and then he swerves again but pulls a 180 degree turn. I brake immediately and get out of my car to help my friend. He and his car stopped on the oncoming lane facing opposite towards me and they are both about 1 yard away from the cliff of the mountain from falling to their horrible demise. My friend is in shock so I quickly get him out. then he realizes what happened and he asks me to drive his car onto the turnout, so I do and when we check out the car, the canyon rocks cut into his rear right fender, cracked both of his rims, cracked his rear axle, slashed his rear passenger tire, and his front passengr tire was knocked out of place so the air was leaking, all on the passengers side of the car. “Good thing we have a no passenger policy" I tell him. Well turns out he forgot his spare tire (yeah, what a dumb ****). After I smack him for forgetting it, I get out my spare and replace his rear tire (hes still shocked and didnt help, jerk). (6:45) Then i proceed to fix his passenger front tire but it kept getting deflated, after about 45 min i give up.

So we wait for some time, while it’s getting colder and darker, for someone so we can call for help, but no one came..... until! Ta ta dada!!!! 240s to the rescue!!! the 240s we saw earlier were heading back and were heading our way, they see our emergency lights and pull over. they start to ask whether we were injured and if we needed help . Well we explained our dilemma and the one with the s13 offered us his spare, so we used it and my freinds AE86 is running on 2 spares. Well i asked where he lived so i can give him back his spare but he said " dont worry about " so im like, cool. well i get home like at 8:25pm and i have a voicemail. its the blood curdling voice of my date who said i stood her up and that she cancelled her plans with her friends to go out with me and yada yada yada blah blah blah.......... anyways, i just open up a can of Mountain Dew and call my friend to see if she was doing anything, so she walks to my house and turns on the tv to FOX asks... "So.. Whatd you do today?"

Moral of the story: Dont go fast ur 1st time , and dont take passengers if you plan to drive more agressive than usual

[Mr1der]

my feelings on street racing, it's dumb. Plain and simple

you gotta think about things like like kids running out in front of you, the conditions of the roads and things like that.

I've been known to do it, but I've never claimed to be smart, but the thought of hitting a kid or nailing an unseen pothole at 90 worries me.

[Phax]

Any race done on the street has to be done respectfully.

There are times when the public roadways are depopulated enough to drive at high speeds. Yet even at those times, there are still cars whose space you need to respect.

In the truest sense of the word racing, the streets aren't setup to do it. On a race track, you're either at WOT or standing on the brakes. Street driving conditions are more varied than that. On a race track, they have runoff lanes and tire barriers incase you miscalculate a manuever. On the street, you have a concrete divider and who knows how many other cars you're going to hit if your suspension binds at the wrong point, or your tires slip under a little too much braking.

Stoplights are fun. Especially when the streets they are placed between, are spaced far lengths open space away from each other. Even then though, there are always driveways that people come out of.

On most surface streets, you can only really get up to 3rd (~60mph) gear legally... and (~100mph) 4th gear within the limits of handling insanity.

My thoughts on the subject deviated away from the original intent of respect. It all comes down to that there are many dynamics on the street. If you're going to be pushing the limits of what you're driving, you need to make sure that the guy next to you respects that. Because if he's going to be cutting you off or worse, it's not worth it.

[The Mic]

leave racing to the pros

[AceInhole]

leave racing to the pros

no. that's why there's such a thing as Grass Roots Motorsports, and even a magazine with that title.

Autocross, Timetrials, Performance Rally, Improved Touring, Spec classes (Spec Miata, Spec RX7, etc), even bracket racing. They're all racing venues at an amature level. There are a hundred ways to race legally, thus there is NO reason to resort to street racing.

Someone is going to say "it's too damn far". I've driven 6 hours one way just to go to a drift event (DOW with DGTrials.com). I drive 3 - 5 hours to hit up NHIS for autocrosses and HPDE's virtually monthly, and 2 - 3 hours for autocrosses in MA (i'm a CT resident). Epping Dragway is a good 4 - 7 hours (you hit traffic a lot). If you really wanna race, you drive that far to do it.

Someone is going to say "it's too damn expensive". So, a speeding ticket isn't? How about your car impounded for street racing? Either one will cost more than 2 full days of track racing.

But, whatever. Some of you will choose to use less braincells than the rest of us and continue being a public nuissance, making it harder for us real racers to enjoy real racing.

[The Mic]

thus there is NO reason to resort to street racing.

yeah there is, LAZINESS.

before i was involved in road racing i was a kart driver from age of 13 1/2. Ive entered numberous tourneys and endurance matches bc of my dad. So i say (focusing on majority ppl who want to race just for a rush) leave racing to the pros on the track. And many people who race only do it as a hobby, they dont take it seriously enough to drive a distance to race. And the people who would like to race on the strip, sometimes cant afford to so they resort to public streets invlolving innocent bystanders whom god forbid become speedbumps.

[AceInhole]

yeah, well LAZINESS is not a reason to resort to street racing. It's a reason to change your entire hobby and go sit on a couch playing video games for days on end contemplating if you can really smell your own stench or if it's that old bag of nachos rotting out.

I'd say the people who race as a hobby are VERY willing to drive great distances, because they enjoy doing it. I used to know a couple from Canada that used to drive down to MA just to autocross for a day, because the NER group is just a great group to run with, and they enjoy racing there more than with the local clubs where they live. The guys I know that run ITA drive all over the east coast just to compete. My friends in Spec Miata do the same. These guys are all amatures. They're no different from me hoping do a couple days worth of driving to hit Solo II Nationals next year just to compete. And just because we're sponsored, doesn't make us anything close to a real pro.

For those who can't afford it: if they can afford a tank of gas, they can afford to spend $10 to go bracket racing for a night. They're the lucky ones who don't have to spend hundreds just to get onto a track for a day.

Finally, for the rush factor: nothing beats the roadcourse. Even doing a paced track tour is more of a rush than ANY street racing.

But, I guess that's just my .02

[The Mic]

tell that to the average joe racer whose idea of racing is a stoplight and a long stretch of road

[AceInhole]

well, i apologize for having faith in people to "see the light".

this was my attempt to:Quote »tell that to the average joe racer whose idea of racing is a stoplight and a long stretch of road[/quote]I figure it's better to tell them where they can go and why it's a much better idea to go there, rather than give advice like "leave it to the pros", to which you and I both know they won't listen.

[The Mic]

apology accepted,

if i person asks me, " hey, where can i go to race, i hear therez some bad azz long roadz round hea!!"

- id say " leave racing to the pros" than explaining and debating why they shouldnt race on public roads and where can they go to race and that its 10 times better a legal track rather than a public road. they wont understand, theyll feel like your telling them what to do and wont listen anyway. hell be like " SCCA? whats that a place for parts?"

[AceInhole]

Yeah. I was able to convert 2 people out of the hundreds I've probably told that whole speech to, and to me, that's worth it. If I can get a couple more people to get addicted to organized racing, then I'll keep telling them the alternatives.

lol.... I think it'd be more fun to tell them about a NASA HPDE... - "yeah, you get to sit in the rocket ship :ylsuper "

[Rockenreno]

a couple threads to read:

http://www.nissaninfiniticlub....orror

http://www.nissaninfiniticlub....+sign

street racing = teh sux0r

[HolyShiznit]

Well, I had to have raced nearly half the people in my town. I know it was dumb and everyone will probably have a comment for me but: The local street races are held at a place around 15-20 minutes drive out of town. It is on a straight stretch of 2 mile road off of a back road. It is straight and has little to NO bumps. There is a marked 1/4 as well as a parking area. This is the ONLY place that I have raced at. I NEVER race on city roads....risk is just too high...I couldn't live with myself if I hit a kid. Anyways, just remember you take a HUGE risk with yourself or even other people when you do it.....ANYWHERE.

[The Mic]

yeah, picture this: 2 ppl agree to race each other and right across from them is a stop light and a straight that ends in a 1/4 mi exactly. And these are your average joe racers who think that nitrous is the key to everything. Think theyre gonna take the time to go to a legal track?

[AceInhole]

yeah, picture this: 2 ppl agree to race each other and right across from them is a stop light and a straight that ends in a 1/4 mi exactly. And these are your average joe racers who think that nitrous is the key to everything. Think theyre gonna take the time to go to a legal track?

Yeah. I know. That's why my first post ends with:Quote »But, whatever. Some of you will choose to use less braincells than the rest of us and continue being a public nuissance, making it harder for us real racers to enjoy real racing.[/quote]And now that NER is looking for another autox site, I'm sure that the town council will relate those 2 idiots crashing into each other with SCCA racing. It's a beautiful life, isn't it..... Oh well. That's why there are those of us who are glad when the penalties for street racing get tougher and tougher.

[Phax]

There's a difference between racing, and seeing how fast your car is.

S13Guy brought up a good point with karting. That's as close as you can get to real, F1 style racing. The dynamics of driving a go-kart are nearly identical to F1 cars.

As someone else mentioned, speeding tickets and impounded cars are expensive.

Karting is somewhat less expensive, but the last time I checked a no joke go-kart cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $8000. Then you factor in tires, fuel, etc, etc and the cost goes up.

[The Mic]

well since the street racing scene has been cracked down on in my county, i hear most ppl are going to the mountains " to learn how to drift" . when fatalities begin surface from all the cars lost in the abyss of the cliffs i guess can expect the next thing the media will blame is Initial D.

reporter: "Initial D, a racing cartoon from japan that has swept america by storm, IS WHY PPL DIE AND FALL OFF CLIFFS!! DAMN YOU TOKYOPOP!!!!"

[The Mic]

I go to Dromo 1, its $25 per race there and they give you kart, the suit, gloves, head mask, and a helmet and even a briefing with an instructional video if its ur first time. The race lasts about 15 min and they give you a statistic sheet to see how you did and faired against others and what place were you in. a while ago i battled R.J Devera (guy from f&F in the white car playing gt2), i got 4th place and he got 1st Im going this saturday to battle my friends for $50. another strut bar for me

http://www.dromo1.com

[Altiman94]

I've done the cart thing in indy. It was pretty fun, but road racing is alot funner.

[Supafly]

i don't consider what i do "street racing" although from a legal standpoint it would be. if i get next to a friend of mine or some riceboy wanting to show me up with his fartcan, and the conditions allow it (no wet roads, pedestrians, other cars, etc) then i will give them a run up to about 60 and back off.

there are always lots of "what if's" that will be asked in these situations, but if both people are using at least part of their brains then it's generally pretty safe. i used to attend a local organized street race with a bunch of mustang/camaro owners as well as a few fellow import owners about 4 years ago. in the 2 or so years i attended these races never once was there a wreck or even a close call from anyone. they had a set of rules just as a racetrack does and they ran in a very secure location (business park with only one road in/out) so they always knew who was coming and going. if anyone broke the rules they were politely asked to leave and not come back and if need be they were persuaded to leave by some of the guys who dubbed themselves "bouncers". occasionally a cop would drive through and ask if there were any troublemakers. this wasn't FnF style BS, it was a group of automotive enthusiasts that loved to have a run and a few laughs in the process and we always did. there was no fights, no gamb|ing, no drugs, no alcohol (unless it was in the gas tank), and absolutely no idiots aka ricers as they are so fondly known now.

the fun all ended when the local riceboys started having their own get togethers which involved lots of burnouts in crowded mall parking lots and racing on busy streets, thus causing the inevitable wrecks and deaths of countless civics, non turbo eclipses, and cavaliers/sunfires. the cops would no longer just ignore what we were doing because of this. it's all been down hill since then.

so basically, street racing doesn't bother me, it's the people that think it's an "any time, any where" event and that it's all about "earning respect" that bother me. no, they truly piss me off.

[Altiman94]

if you don't start out as an amateur in the amateur venues, how do you ever become a pro?

[Guffed]

Eh, I highway race people when its ok to do so, but I try to stick away from street racing, ive seen too much injury and death at my work( EMT).

[zombieman]

I use to street race also like most of you folks here but it got boring after 1 year.

I don't do that crap where a whole bunch of people gather in one area and race each other....it's not only boring but it increases your chance of getting caught.

I like to race anybody i see on the street or highway that look like they are worth racing (meaning no people with altezza, chrome, some underglow on the bottom of there car, etc...)

I would race in any condition, whether it's raining or windy (I live in Socal so that's pretty much the only bad weather we face here) at night or day. Even when the road were crowded with cars.... My model was to do anything to win as long as it's safe for the driver to make it.......

[BB Turbo]

Eh, I am not going to say anything on the subject because I have the feeling I know where this is going. Just stay on subject and help this guy out. Not pointing fingers to anyone.

[D1SR240]

thnx for all the input guys, and i'd love to haear any more opinions or whatever else you have to say on the topic.

[Onizuka]

There is nothing holding people back from the track except for lazyness sure, but its that a adequet excuse?

"Sorry mrs mother-of-three, I'm too lazy to go to the track for a whole day for only $15 (for drifting, dragging, autoX, whatever), I would rather put you, your family and myself at risk of death and serious injury"

Shenanigans in a parkinglot is safe, drifting next to cliffs and rock faces is posibly the most dangerous (and stupid) thing you can do with your car. Have some common sense.

If someone revs me at a stoplight on a vacant street I might take bait and race to 40 or 50 mph, 1/4mile street races are not a good idea i think because you are reaching speeds in access of 80-90-100mph on small streets.

[Silent Drifter]

Ive experienced the best of the best from geo metros goin at it down the main road from light to light to e30, tt supra, nsx doin a 40-140 roll down across a bridge. Main reason ive heard for not goin to the track is the track for us is over an hour away cost money an isnt open everyday. Yes its still not worth it if you consider the fines or jailtime or death that could happen but ppl do it. Ive never witnessed a death but have spoken to plenty who have had friends die from racing. Its only dangerous when people become careless an have no respect for the cars or road. And yes theres people that say take it to the track an there normally towards the older crowd but they did street race when they were younger an have just grown out of it. An people who are totally against have once in there life street raced. If you really want to get opinion just go out to the local races an get an opinion for yourself. An where I go out to the races its pretty much just like F&F. But not every car runs 10's an has over 30k into it. Most car are sleepers or people just runnin with couple bolt ons. Yes you do get your sub 12 second cars, an some very nice show cars, an luxury cars, but majority are just teens with just enough money for a lil sports car with minor work down. Its just a bunch of people out having a good time, but there is no question if its right or wrong. Its illegal therefor wrong. If you wanna no anything else just ask.

[BB Turbo]

Well, I will reply then. Read your profile and noticed your birthday is 3 days after mine, oh well anyways.

I have been going to the street races for a little over 3 years, on and off, when I lived in Atlanta, when I lived in Dallas, and where I live now, which is Houston. I have seen a pretty good bit, but, like Silent Drifter said, it's like F&F. Only reason I have been able to go is because of my brother and dad. Yes my dad goes occasionally and he enjoys it very much. He's a dumbestic freak so he likes the turn out of all the dumbestics. From his stand point, he thinks the street races are pretty good, well organized and thinks we're just there to have a good time. We go out in the land yacht of a Cadillac STS and watch from there. Okay, well one story is very well known through out what you might call the "street racing scene" or "underground" is what happened in June or July of this year, can't remember that. Well, first night I had actually seen some sport bikes come out and they were putting on a good show for the crowd, you know wheelies, stoppies and the like. Then they started racing. 1 on 1 of course, and this was a sport bike group of at least 6 people. Well, a few high speed races go by and then you get to the one that'll stay in my mind like it was yesterday. 2 guys were racing down the road, which is in an industrial part of town, and about halfway through, some high or drunk guys come out of the parking lot with his riced out gold Accord and, the guy who is winning (on the left side of the road) smacks head on, the losing guy sees the collision and and just turns the bike to the side and slides on his side (hips, left leg, ribs) he wasnt wearing a helmet but, luckily he didnt get hurt to bad. The winning guy that smacked head on, well, it was something out of a movie. His bike flipped over the Accord, of course, debris just shot out everywhere and injured some spectators, and his body flew up in the air about 10 ft. He lands, and his collar bone is at his shoulder, wrist bone poppin out, and he is foaming at the mouth and is breaking into seizures. Of course, lots of guys (about 60) that were spectating run to the scene, me and my brother included. And we watch this happen. We yell call an ambulance and what not, and so are other people. But, some of my bros friends are shaken, me included and we leave, since, being like all street races, know that the cops are gonna come and will be handing out tickets. We leave, I find out later that the guy died on the spot, and only a fire truck came, no ambulance. When we got home, me and my brother just looked at each other with the glazed over, what in the hell did I just see look. We talk about it, and I fall asleep with this memory forever. Thats the only wreck I have seen at the street races, and the only death I have seen first hand. Keep in mind I am 15 yrs old.

Street races can be cool, they bring out a little bit of a rush when the cops come and you gotta run, but nothing big. Yeah, cool cars pop up, Z06's, 03' vipers, older vipers, supras, nsxs, FD's, and what not, lots of em have FMICs, or radiators as I have heard some people call em, haha. I have seen some unique cars. Cool cars, w/e.

Needless to say, street racing can be fun when I guess controlled, but, someone is gonna quote me somehow, like in the past and try to tell me off. I havent been to the races in about 4 months, since July. Dont really want to either. It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt. Sad thing is, it's when people get killed. Oh well, kinda late on typin this so you won't be able to use it for your class. Sorry for the long post. Also, I hate it when kids ask me abiout the races and they always ask if it's like the Slow & the Irritating. Whores. anyways, i need to go to bed cuz i have school.

[The Mic]

[quote=" Silent Drifter but there is no question if its right or wrong. Its illegal therefor wrong. [/quote]

- Just because its illegal in the eyes of the law, doesnt make it morally wrong .

"Street Racing is Safe"... that statement is as true as saying: "this sentence is false"

it doesnt matter whether its an adequate excuse, do you think a murderer would ever have a justifying excuse for doing what he did? and over here the only speedway nearby is Irwindale which is about 25 min from where i live (Pomona) away and its only open Thurs & Sun, and they close early. So leave racing to the pros