Street Racing, This isn't an "I beat that thread" Options

[darksecret]

I've noticed that since that d*** movie came out that everyone with a Corsica and an Autozone muffler feels they should race. Charlotte isn't a big city, about the size of Orlando or Baltimore, street racing has been around for decades here and most other places. My problem is that now that the population is growing faster than the city we have more people thinking they can race, now there are no rules to who can race what but when you're riding on a donut with a dry rotted tire, don't even try. In the real street racing world there are certain guidelines that are used to keep people safe and still have fun. I remeber seeing the NHRA street racing statistics, h*** I have them on my Desktop and they are the biggest crock i've ever seen. First it's outdated and they still try to use it, then the only big number they could provide were the citations. For the people who haven't seen these stats here they are and my opinions afterwards:

In 2001, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that police listed street racing as a factor in 135 fatal crashes. The total was up from 72 street-racing-related fatalities reported in 2000. (135 fatal crashes related to street racing nationwide compared to the thousands that happen yearly)

According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, more than 800 citations for illegal street racing were issued in 2001. (As stated above, the real big numbers)

In San Diego, where the street racing problem has been termed "epidemic," 16 deaths and 31 injuries were directly related to illegal street racing in 2001. The city's attorney's office prosecuted 147 illegal street racing cases in 1999, 161 in 2000, and 290 in 2001. (16 deaths causing street racing to be epidemic, during 2001 in Charlotte there were 10.4 murders per 100,000 people, the population was 546,000 then, but murder wasn't an epidemic)

In Florida in 2001, 7,216 citations were issued for racing on the highway. (above)

In 1999, the Florida Department of Highway and Safety for Motor Vehicles reported 28 accidents related to illegal street racing, with 2 fatalities and 27 injuries. In 2000, the agency reported 39 racing accidents, with 1 fatality and 55 injuries. In 2002, there were 48 racing accidents, 1 fatality, and 60 injuries. (It's sad to see fatalities but you must consider that many probably happen a night due to drunk driving)

According to the NHTSA, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for people between the ages of 16 and 20. (Three words Motor Vehicle Accidents, not street racing related accidents, i'm 21 and could die crossing the street and that would be a motor vehicle accident)

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says 5,749 teens died in the United States from motor vehicle crash injuries in 1999. (Just like above not street racing accidents, and this comes from the IIHS, they will give big numbers to justify high premiums)

Nationwide statistics show that 49 people are injured for every 1,000 who participate in illegal street racing. (4.9% of participants get injured, i've had my hand slammed into a door at a race once)

I'm not here to condone street racing, the less the better IMO, but it shouldn't be treated like the worst thing since Polio and either learn to race at a track or somewhere else safe and keep it off the highway. I will say I race, i've been doing it for 5 years, I learned at the track and on a back road, it took me 1 wreck and a lot of practice to get where i'm at, I will also say that when I organize a race if you don't want to play by the rules leave because you won't run on my strip.

This post has been edited by darksecret: Apr 21, 2005 - 4:05 PM

[Coomer]

Your strip? As in a public road?

[shin]

good info... but yea... you have your own strip?

[boosted_K2]

what exactly are people trying to prove by street racing??

1) that they've spent every last dime they could possably muster on their half-ass vehicle and cant afford and are too freaking lazy to participate in a sanctioned race albeit drag, autocross, rally, road course or other.

2) that their car is such the piece of **** and improperly tuned that they realize it would get absolutely obliterated in any form of sanctionized racing, so they must take out their frustration on other people in the same situation and/or any form of road going vehicle.

3) similar to #2, only instead of their car being the POS their driving style leaves a bit to be desired.

4) That mommy and daddy gave junior all the money to "pimp out his tyte whip" and junior in return attempts to make everyone else in his city jelous of his wiked fast ride and his mad driving skillz.

5) That said "street racer" has much to compensate for.

6) said "street racer" really has no idea how to properly drive a vehicle, but enjoys mashing his foot on the pedals so all his friends can watch in excitement as he burns up his $200 per corner tires.

7) said "street racer" enjoys making everyone else in their 20s with a halfway decent car pay rediculus insurance premiums

8) most likely still compensating.

[Mr2_Joel]

i like ur definitions boosted K2......those ppl annoy me. I've almost been run off the road several times by people that see I have an exhaust and have to race me, or they aren't a man(or woman). Really pisses me off. I'd rather beat them at the track, where I can get good footage of me winning, plus a bunch of ppl in the stands can watch too. Plus, they can't talk made up **** about "oh my car wasn't tuned", etc. Even if I lose, it's still more fun at the track. Little more exciting waiting for the lights to drop and all. Maybe just me, buy my .02

[shin]

well said boosted_K2, speaking of which.... i don't normally speed on highways proably 5 - 10mph faster than the limit.. but most of the time i stay at my limit. will nvr speed on locals. did a couple of races but was when it was late at around 3am midnite when there's no cars.. there was this old school integra yesterday who was trying to race me, but i ignored him lol... he then speed up and cut two lanes and almost hit a biker lol.. he'll be guilty for the rest of his life if he did hit the biker..

[StreetRacing10PS...]

i am going to have to agre with boostedK2 on this, street racing is stupid. why risk getting your license taken away so you can race some kid in a honda with an ebay muffler. if you wana race go to a local strip and try and get your self noticed, by sponsers and not the cops.

[juBz86]

i like racing fed-ex trucks at red lights!!

[StreetRacing10PS...]

UPS trucks are better, haha

[darksecret]

Your strip? As in a public road?
[right][snapback]275722[/snapback][/right]

As in the place that I choose to hold the races at, whoever organizes the runs sets the rules, if you don't obey the rules you are asked to leave.

[darksecret]

what exactly are people trying to prove by street racing??

1) that they've spent every last dime they could possably muster on their half-ass vehicle and cant afford and are too freaking lazy to participate in a sanctioned race albeit drag, autocross, rally, road course or other.

2) that their car is such the piece of **** and improperly tuned that they realize it would get absolutely obliterated in any form of sanctionized racing, so they must take out their frustration on other people in the same situation and/or any form of road going vehicle.

3) similar to #2, only instead of their car being the POS their driving style leaves a bit to be desired.

4) That mommy and daddy gave junior all the money to "pimp out his tyte whip" and junior in return attempts to make everyone else in his city jelous of his wiked fast ride and his mad driving skillz.

5) That said "street racer" has much to compensate for.

6) said "street racer" really has no idea how to properly drive a vehicle, but enjoys mashing his foot on the pedals so all his friends can watch in excitement as he burns up his $200 per corner tires.

7) said "street racer" enjoys making everyone else in their 20s with a halfway decent car pay rediculus insurance premiums

8) most likely still compensating.
[right][snapback]275775[/snapback][/right]

That is also one of the reasons i'm ranting on these 17 and 18 year old kids who the only experience on any form of road is the trip mom takes to the grocery store. I don't use public roads that are populated, if it's a stoplight run I don't even give half throttle if it looks like someone might pull out in front of me, as far as strips go they are blocked off industrial ways that the only way you have to worry about oncoming traffic is somehow someone decided to take the back way in which it means they would have to open a gate of some sort. I don't know how the rest of the US does it but here we have rules and we have safe spots, I don't ever recall anyone ever getting hurt in an organized street race in Charlotte, I know of people that got hurt playing around on the highway, though. I don't know if you were directing it towards me about compensating, but i've done both worlds of drag and if you use similar rules in street as track you stand a better chance.

[boosted_K2]

no nothing was directed at you or anyone else on this site personally, just generalizations about 99% of people who "street race" especially locally.

[darksecret]

I know that a track is an option and I wont give that it's not close enough excuse, but this isn't about track racing everyone knows they can race at a track this is some information for the people that do participate in street racing. Here's some of the rules that we use:

We don't spraypaint a starting line no need for messing up good asphalt, you line two cars up on either side and use them as guides.

We don't do quarter miles, usually there isn't enough room and it's all about out accelerating the other racer.

Nobody is allowed in front of the starting line or allowed to make a return trip when the cars are lined up, most of us sit about 10-15 feet behind the starting line.

No passengers allowed, some organizers don't use this rule but i'm not going to be liable for their friends life.

No needless showing off, people came to race and not to waste time because someone blew their motor trying to make a Honda Civic pop a wheelie (joke), but seriously no stunts, find a parking lot.

These are a few we go by and different organizers have different methods, but people will race regardless so people like me try to keep it as safe as possible. I would prefer tracks be all over the place, but the closest to us is some 1/8th mile in South Carolina where the only rule they use is you must wear some sort of a full helmet (even dirt bike helmets, seriously) other than that they have 4 second cars with no roll cages and no fences just a concrete barrier separating the stands from the track. We have Rockingham, but it's a 1 1/2 hour drive at the speed limit and has limited days you can race since it's NHRA sanctioned. Like I said before that isn't my excuse because if The Rock was a hour closer I would still race.

[Supersprynt]

Tim you've honestly never shown someone on the high way or a road what the 2 can do?

I see alot of ppl preaching, and how many of you actually refrain from street racing? I dont go to a meet looking to race, nor do I do the stuff DK is talking about. I have however, shown some what the Celica can do. I dont prolong it, I know when not to, when to stop, where not to. Then again I've seen 50yr olds with twin turbo Chevelles doing way dumber things than I ever would.

Theres also another problem. Yes, the fact that there are no local tracks is an excuse, because the closest one to me, is over an hour away...and then you get 2 maybe 3 runs in because its packed. That doesnt fulfill the desire of everyone to hinder any less street racing.

My point is, its not going away, it never will. Its been around a helluva long time. I mean people used to race towards cliffs and see who was the last one to dive outta the car before it toppled over the edge. Rebel Without a Cause anyone? It happened.

If ur going to do it, do it as safe as possible. Its not safe at all, but try. Dont be stupid(er) than you already are. Im not denying I havent been stupid, but Im also not going to pretend that things are going to change.

This post has been edited by Supersprynt: Apr 21, 2005 - 8:47 PM

[boosted_K2]

anyone who says theyve never pushed their car is either lying or has cateracts. 10 over is basically the worst ive done... im very mild with it outside of the autocross and drag strip confines, i do give people rides but the crazyness ends at the end of the on ramps where we'll be comfortably going 70-75 and merging onto the highway. my friends get extremely pissed about my driving habits because they tend to be a little on the crazier side... well quite a few of them are maniacs quite frankly, i cant stand some of the stuff they do, its pretty funny to watch but they always expect me to join in. I live a very delicate balance between 2 cars, paying for school, and paying to have atleast a little fun... any kind of ticket would make my situation FUBAR.

and yes im not saying ive never been stupid either, im 19 with quite a performance machine, for the most part though im very subtle, ive played around with a RX-7 and RX-8, thats my one and only stupid move in the MR2, i was MUCH worse when i had my celica.

[Jdog1385]

street racing is a problem by me but its highway driving thats the worst.

when some idiot ricer sees you driving on the highway, he automatically starts to drive faster and tries to run up on you. then he starts to weave in and out of traffic thinking that you're going to follow that jackass.

[Kwanza26]

I've been racing since I before I had a driver's liscense... It's all fun and good to run once in a while on the street, or on the backroads against a buddy or something... but as soon as you have a gang of people to occupy your "strip"... it's trouble brewing. I live in a small college town (~60,000 people)... and my family owns a shop and we build race cars. We do cater to performance swaps, builds ups, etc... and I assure you, street racing is a dangerous and foolhardy epidemic that can only be cured with *age*...

[97sccelica]

street racing now adays is nothing like what it used to be

people now will try to go as fast as possible no matter what time it is or what the conditions are.

real street racers have set times and places, and only run their cars when money is on the line.

the "street racing" problem will never go away. people will grow out of it, but it will never go away.

Compton has real street races. coupld weeks ago i helped install a GM turbo 350 trans in a supercharged notchback mustang that was supposed to race that night. compton is where they took the car to race.

[darksecret]

People don't out grow street racing, street racing has been around since cars were invented. Real street racing doesn't have to involve money but we do have set times and places. Street racing is just an excuse for cities to increase the size of their budget, and for insurance to increase premiums. Like I said before i'm not trying to condone it, but some people today are just reckless and will do anything to win, so rules need to be set to help keep it safe and keep us out of the news. If it wasn't for street racing there wouldn't be an import scene though.