NationStates Jolt Archive

First of alll let me say I hate Street Racing. Its the most ignorant and obnoxious and irresponsible thing you can do with a high-powered car. The only person whose life you are allowed to waste in the pursuit of speed is YOUR OWN DAMN SELF. Thats why we have Races at Race Tracks, or on a predetermined course through the outback. If you fuck up, you do your best not take anyone else down with you IF you can. If it does happen, and another man dies as a result of your judgement, well he has to sign papers before each race agreeing that he bloody well knows he might die during the race.

Assholes like the ones in this particular Street Race (http://sympatico.msn.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/06/07/drag-racing-death050607.html) in Winipeg, Canada should be locked up for vehicular manslaughter and sentenced 25 to life. While I do indeed break the speed limit on a daily basis (Italian Sports Cars need to be driven that way) But stufff like this is just a callous disregard for the life of your fellow human beings, especially those of the Innocent Bystander variety. I know the area this race happened and beleive me the odds are they were going twice the speed limit, at least. Its a LONG road.

When I race, I want to race against someone who actualy knows what their doing and consents to the danger to their lives in the race the minute they don their helmets and start the engine of the race car. Guys like these street racer schweinhund just give more ammo to the Granny Driver Brigades in their Evil mission: "To Slow Down Everything, Dammit!" and senselessly take the lives of both people they've never met, themselves and their best-friends lives.
If they can afford those godawful spoilers and cheesemuffin neon, they can afford the fees for race track access. Of course they would have to pass competency tests....and anyone ignorant enough to think the streets are the best place to race has difficulty comprehending the test. I say lock 'em up for at least 20 years, 15 years with no parole. What do you peoples think?

Theres a fancy little poll doo-dad with this post, it came free with a clue that people told me I had long ago lost. Please click on it as you see fit. It even has the exotic "multiple choice" feature installed, featured at no extra charge.

But I'm sure there are lot of people willing to share their opinions on Street Racing, Speed Limits....wherever Cars and Government collide (with a hideous squeal of tires abruptly terminated by a loud crash) .

:rolleyes: I'm a little red right now, my Lithium has been working too welll....forgive my verbitude :rolleyes:

I don't know the conditions in Winipeg. Street racing is as old as the car itself (almost literally. I believe the first time two met, they where raced.) So it's inseprabable. Not that that fact excuses the racers responsability. Like you I don't believe it is up to someone else to risk my life for me.

Again, don't know how things are in Winipeg (as I understand it if you are a budding driver Canada is a fantastic place to be. You know, all around Canada seems like a fantastic place to be. Seriously. Hire me. I want to move to Canada...anyway...) but there is a lack of tracks even here in California. Access needs to increase a little. There probably is some formula where you max out track time and mimimize illegal racing. Even if you open the track 7 nights a week they will still race illegally.

In NorCal they started just pulling over showy cars and giving them roadside inspections for safety etc. They officers have been briefed on the codes and can find something on just about every car that isn't bone stock. Really that has cut down on the number of garish wings and increased the pressence of 'sleepers.'

I guess it's a long way around saying that it's a problem you can only minimize, not get rid of. There is a romantic 'wild west' nature to stoplight battles, and I have to admit when I had the big chevy and the li'l Porsche I did a little of that. I was young (and my cars really weren't that fast because I'm poor-the Porsche was a beat up 914...)

i dont understand what makes these guys think they have a RIGHT to drag race on city streets. its a big problem in albuquerque. they had to send out special patrols to stop drag racing on major streets at night

then they demanded that the city HAD to provide them with a drag racing strip. like that isnt a HUGE liability even if every one does sign a waver.

if you want to race, make your own track and pay for your own insurance for it. it doesnt belong on city streets.

I don't know the conditions in Winipeg. Street racing is as old as the car itself (almost literally. I believe the first time two met, they where raced.) So it's inseprabable. Not that that fact excuses the racers responsability. Like you I don't believe it is up to someone else to risk my life for me.

Again, don't know how things are in Winipeg (as I understand it if you are a budding driver Canada is a fantastic place to be. You know, all around Canada seems like a fantastic place to be. Seriously. Hire me. I want to move to Canada...anyway...) but there is a lack of tracks even here in California. Access needs to increase a little. There probably is some formula where you max out track time and mimimize illegal racing. Even if you open the track 7 nights a week they will still race illegally.

In NorCal they started just pulling over showy cars and giving them roadside inspections for safety etc. They officers have been briefed on the codes and can find something on just about every car that isn't bone stock. Really that has cut down on the number of garish wings and increased the pressence of 'sleepers.'

I guess it's a long way around saying that it's a problem you can only minimize, not get rid of. There is a romantic 'wild west' nature to stoplight battles, and I have to admit when I had the big chevy and the li'l Porsche I did a little of that. I was young (and my cars really weren't that fast because I'm poor-the Porsche was a beat up 914...)

Very good point you make about it being an offense that can only be minimized and not eradictaed (most laws are like this). Its fairly easy to get a Licince in Canada, but you have to take courses from gov't and private business driving schools. In Ontairo they have something called graduated licencing that starts a new drvier off with several restrictions: Must have liscensed passenger in car, no night driving 1st. year, etc. etc. until they restrictions disappaer as they get their full licence. I didn't have to put up with it and understand it kindof0sort0f-matbe works Learning to drive & getting my licence in Ontario was a pretty painless process, given that I was still 15 when I took (and passed) the exam. I had to wait a month and a half until my 16th birthday to drive my dads car (an integra no less) Yeah, its heaven for young drivers up her.

Very good point you make about it being an offense that can only be minimized and not eradictaed (most laws are like this). Its fairly easy to get a Licince in Canada, but you have to take courses from gov't and private business driving schools. In Ontairo they have something called graduated licencing that starts a new drvier off with several restrictions: Must have liscensed passenger in car, no night driving 1st. year, etc. etc. until they restrictions disappaer as they get their full licence. I didn't have to put up with it and understand it kindof0sort0f-matbe works Learning to drive & getting my licence in Ontario was a pretty painless process, given that I was still 15 when I took (and passed) the exam. I had to wait a month and a half until my 16th birthday to drive my dads car (an integra no less) Yeah, its heaven for young drivers up her.
In California at 15 1/2 you can get a learners permit that has a lot of those restrictions (Liscenced drivers in the car, other conditions) and then a test to get the liscence itself. Under 18 there is a different set of penalties for violations and it keeps getting easier for them to lose that liscence.

I was (am) a big fan of Jaques Villenuve(sp) and read a lot about how 'easy' it was for Canadian racers to get on the track, certainly made it sound easier than it is here-though it's not impossible. There is the SCCA, NASA (the other NASA), the NHRA and I think a few more import drag racing bodies. There are opportunities. But not everywhere and not enough.

Increased fines maybe can pay for new tracks.

But there is only so much space, one of the only things that I think is really different from now and the 'hey day' of the hot rod-the O.G. hot rodders had a lot more empty spaces and abandoned air fields to take their aggression out on (though they still had stop light battles and accidents involving non-participants). Modern street racers are usually in business/office parks which are often blind and not as empty as they had hoped, making it a little more dangerous. Otherwise, the import cars aren't any faster and they have modern safety features over the old school hot-rods.

Not that that last part was really part of the discussion.

In California at 15 1/2 you can get a learners permit that has a lot of those restrictions (Liscenced drivers in the car, other conditions) and then a test to get the liscence itself. Under 18 there is a different set of penalties for violations and it keeps getting easier for them to lose that liscence.

I was (am) a big fan of Jaques Villenuve(sp) and read a lot about how 'easy' it was for Canadian racers to get on the track, certainly made it sound easier than it is here-though it's not impossible. There is the SCCA, NASA (the other NASA), the NHRA and I think a few more import drag racing bodies. There are opportunities. But not everywhere and not enough.

Increased fines maybe can pay for new tracks.

But there is only so much space, one of the only things that I think is really different from now and the 'hey day' of the hot rod-the O.G. hot rodders had a lot more empty spaces and abandoned air fields to take their aggression out on (though they still had stop light battles and accidents involving non-participants). Modern street racers are usually in business/office parks which are often blind and not as empty as they had hoped, making it a little more dangerous. Otherwise, the import cars aren't any faster and they have modern safety features over the old school hot-rods.

Not that that last part was really part of the discussion.


Well, there is a LOT more open space in Ontario than there is in Cali. There are several good tracks 5 hours and less away from me. We also use the vast coroporate and Univiersity parking lots for gymkhanas. MosSport in Barrie was designed by Stirling Moss...its an absolutely world class track but nothing truly huge like F1, CART or NASCAR Races. Lots or rolling hilly sections like Nuebergring (sp?) but whit out such deadly corners and anti-cambred turning arcs that made the Nuebergering such a suicidal course to race.

My dad raced from '60 to 74' in the SCCA, semi-pro as a Co-driver/Navigator for a privateer in Targas and Rally-raids, lots of ice racing. He did a lot the more extreme stuff you you could do with a car back then, and I've heard most of his "war stories" often enough to know them almost word for word. When ones father is German, you just indulge their little insanities. It was MUCH different time. Thank God its gotten so much safer. My dad quit racing the day they found out my mom was pregneant, with ME. So I didn't get to expercience nearly so much of the racing life as I'd like to have, but my dad is alive and in 1 piece (mostly)

Up here where I live in Eureka CA. (right next to Oregon) Every Saturday night, we have drag races down at the track where racers can buy raffle tickets to race the cops in the department's souped up cars and all the proceeds go to local charities. I personally consider it a win-win situation as well as being quite entertaining and a great compromise.

then they demanded that the city HAD to provide them with a drag racing strip. like that isnt a HUGE liability even if every one does sign a waver.
Welcome to the entitlement culture.

Up here where I live in Eureka CA. (right next to Oregon) Every Saturday night, we have drag races down at the track where racers can buy raffle tickets to race the cops in the department's souped up cars and all the proceeds go to local charities. I personally consider it a win-win situation as well as being quite entertaining and a great compromise.
Now THAT is a bad ass idea...and creative, too! *thumbs up*

Caltrops tend to discourage them racing down your street. Just remove them when they're done, like when their charred corpses are pried out of the burning wrecks that used to be their silly cars.

That's the problem with stationary weaponry, they don't always hit the ones you want them too.

Up here where I live in Eureka CA. (right next to Oregon) Every Saturday night, we have drag races down at the track where racers can buy raffle tickets to race the cops in the department's souped up cars and all the proceeds go to local charities. I personally consider it a win-win situation as well as being quite entertaining and a great compromise.

That sounds like a really good idea! (Which is of course why people do such things in first place) I love seeing & hearing about that kind of thing. The drama is easily on par with that of Nascar, 'cept the people having a good race or bad race are your friends & even a few enemies. Now thats entertainment!

Well, there is a LOT more open space in Ontario than there is in Cali. There are several good tracks 5 hours and less away from me. We also use the vast coroporate and Univiersity parking lots for gymkhanas. MosSport in Barrie was designed by Stirling Moss...its an absolutely world class track but nothing truly huge like F1, CART or NASCAR Races. Lots or rolling hilly sections like Nuebergring (sp?) but whit out such deadly corners and anti-cambred turning arcs that made the Nuebergering such a suicidal course to race.

My dad raced from '60 to 74' in the SCCA, semi-pro as a Co-driver/Navigator for a privateer in Targas and Rally-raids, lots of ice racing. He did a lot the more extreme stuff you you could do with a car back then, and I've heard most of his "war stories" often enough to know them almost word for word. When ones father is German, you just indulge their little insanities. It was MUCH different time. Thank God its gotten so much safer. My dad quit racing the day they found out my mom was pregneant, with ME. So I didn't get to expercience nearly so much of the racing life as I'd like to have, but my dad is alive and in 1 piece (mostly)
We have a lot in common. My grandfather was a professional driver before WWII racing sprints, bikes, landspeed-whatever he could get his hands on. (My dad has a picture of him on his landspeed car he did 111 in (I don't know what class) and that just looks shakey...). He, too, quit when my dad was born (he had tried to restart racing after the war). The difference is I think he always was kinda pissed at my dad for having to give that up. My dad and my aunt raced but really never matched his expectations.

My dad tried to make up for it when I was 5, putting me in the seat of a quarter midget. My brother almost made it, but had a falling out with dad. I was competitive but not focused enough. Now I drive a VW Bus to keep out of trouble.

In NorCal we have Laguna Seca and Sears Point (now Infenion), the latter has a drag strip. There are a lot of dirt tracks speckled around, a handful of drag strips. (Dig this idea-Super Drag. It has a kink at the eighth mile mark that make the drivers have to brake and turn, then accelerate again.)

Sears Point is great-no straights. (almost) And Laguna Seca has Turn 8, but it's a federal park so it has limited access.

There is also Thunder hill (I think thats what its called) in the Sac Valley that is all amatuer access. A lot of the magazines do thier road tests there.

Organized parking lot matches are a great idea. Unfortunately unused parking lots in California aren't that easy to come by.

Up here where I live in Eureka CA. (right next to Oregon) Every Saturday night, we have drag races down at the track where racers can buy raffle tickets to race the cops in the department's souped up cars and all the proceeds go to local charities. I personally consider it a win-win situation as well as being quite entertaining and a great compromise.
I'm gonna join the chorus. Though I might be nervous if I beat the cop car...

But having races available makes things better all around.

Anyone stupid enough to drag race shold be charged with atempted manslaughter because of the high risk of death and when released sent to a mental instatution. Its not that hard to legally race.

Its a tough situation. I'll be honest, I used to street race alot. I don't now for 1) sold my car to pay for school 2) Learn that its alot more fun to do it @ the track. Like its been said, street racing has been around foreeveerrr and will never stop. But I do believe more awarness should be made about the benefits of racing at a strip and hopefully some kids will stop living their Fast & Furious :headbang: dreams...

BTW, beating the heat races are fun, especially when you run a 7.4 to their 7.6 in front of the home crowd, they are just out having fun.

I'm gonna join the chorus. Though I might be nervous if I beat the cop car...
Hell no! I'd be gloating like a bastard. :D

Hell no! I'd be gloating like a bastard. :D
After getting pulled over and having my car searched once a week, I'm a little more leary of attracting attention to myself by giving them something to have a grudge about.

i dont understand what makes these guys think they have a RIGHT to drag race on city streets. its a big problem in albuquerque. they had to send out special patrols to stop drag racing on major streets at night

then they demanded that the city HAD to provide them with a drag racing strip. like that isnt a HUGE liability even if every one does sign a waver.

if you want to race, make your own track and pay for your own insurance for it. it doesnt belong on city streets.

Well, don't organizations have to pay to have a road closed for a parade?

Couldn't groups do the same for a street race? It wouldn't cost as much to a city to close a street at night (in terms of business inconvenience and such) and there are probably a few cities that could help solve their budget shortfalls with the revenue that drag racing groups would provide.

I understand there is money to be made at drag racing, so some of it would go to the city in exchange for putting up a few traffic pylons.

As far as the comments about 'not enough parking lots in California'

There are more than monthly drift days and autoX events all over Southern California. Northern California might be a different story. As far as all this talk about 'getting the aggression' out crap. Its bullshit. the kind of 'street-racing' talked about here is not an organized illegal streetrace. This is hot-heads in lightly modified cars and body-kits doing high speeds while swerving through lanes or impromptu stop-light drag races. You do not stop those by putting up a drag-strip.

When it comes to problems on the road, I'm less worried about the impromptu racers and more worried about people drinking steaming coffee, talking on their cellphone while taking notes and driving with their knee.

I'll save the speed-limit bitching for another thread.