Street racing vs. Track racing

[konkman]

There has been alot of talk recently around my place about street racing.  Radio, news etc.  "Don't do it, go to the tracks."

How the #### are all the racers ever going to make the track.  With only one operational in my area once per week allowing only 300 cars per night, where is everyone else going to go???

Should we wait, or take it to the streets???  And can you street race "safely?"

[tanabs]

So the same stuff is happening where you live too?  In Hawaii there was in accident allegedly caused by gang racing that killed a woman.  For the past few days it has been the headlines on the news and there have been many discussions on the radio and the internet.  The cops are also going to target modified cars and have even told the public they are going to use a "decoy" vehicle (a modified car driven by a cop) to "apprise the situation".  Sounds like entrapment to me.  Anyway, the consensus in the racing community is that racing belongs on the track.  Hawaii is not like the mainland US or Vancouver and does not have wide open country roads to race "safely".  However, Hawaii also only has ONE track that is in pretty bad shape.  I think one solution is to construct a new track where people can race in a controlled environment.  That should alleviate SOME of the racing on the street.  Maybe stiffer fines for speeding might help.  Regardless, I also feel that racing belongs on the track, no matter how tempting it is to race a Honda that is revving right next to you.

[tanabs]

BTW, if any of you want to get into this discussion and provide some helpful comments to some Hawaii folks, check out www.speedhawaii.com.  The "chat lounge" and "race scene" sections are filled with these issues.

[LanceS13]

I think racing belongs on track, but...
you can't always go to the track.  Now, racing within city limits or on the hwy/interstate is kinda asking for it; but the few races in which I participate are planned and arranged at a nearby country road that is wide open so any oncoming cars can be seen and there's no cops or pedestrians.

[Jeff240sx]

I am all for street racing, but there is a certain point when I say "OK.  I'm going fast enough and he's not gonna catch me untill I hit the limiter" and I brake three times to signal I won.  
There are no tracks around me, just 2 and 3 lane not busy roads.  Seriously, the fastest I have gone was 85 in a 55, and I was racing a Mustang 5.0 just to make sure he wasn't gonna catch up.
I also think that people that get into wrecks have bad planning, or just bad cars.  
-Jeff

I think that no matter what anyone builds, promotes, or discourages,  there will always be people street racing. The bottom line is that guys have testosterone, and those who "claim" that they don't street race are liars. I used to think, hey, I'm only going to take my car to the track. Yeah right, by the time the third ricer was revving his engine at the light I was smoking tires.  It's an unnavoidable temptation that any person with a modded car will fall into sooner or later. As long as there is pride, jealousy, envy, testicles and cars, there will always be street racing.

[misnomer]

Racing DOES belong on the track, and there really is no reason for street racing. Regardless of how skilled you may actually be, it is #### dangerous. Streets are random, another car or pedestrian could come out from nowhere. That said, you've gotta be brain dead to resist smoking that honda next to you. Luckily, the Kingdom of Rice hasn't gained much ground outside of Reno yet, and there are too few hotshots in my town, odds of landing at a red light on the outskirts of town are unlikely <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>

Oh for the days when there were no speed limits on Nevada highways. . . .

well i gotta say it depends on 2 things where you race and how good a racer you are. &nbsp;obviously you should race on empty roads (although its kinda hard to find one of those these days) &nbsp;oh one more thing. &nbsp;if you are willing to take the risk of having a crash i think its aight if you race on the street. &nbsp;i wont really start doing that till i get my 12 point roll cage installed.

[my240likenoother]

over here we have a track 1 hour away and every wendsday they have a test night were every1 can test and race ther car
but if you dont have the track than go to a empty parking lot and drag there its safer than streets you dont have a car come around a turn and you have to swerve out and lose it
and the highways r very drangerous you reach higher speeds and there is always a car on the highways

[misnomer]

You are forgetting one thing about street racing: You aren't the only one taking the risk. Other people on and near the roads are also put in danger, not just you and your car. A skilled driver would know to keep it on the track. Sure there really isn't a way to stop street racing, it happens, we all do it <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'> Anyhow, I'm not here to preach. So g'night.

Sometimes, no matter how good of a driver you are, other people will do stupid things, and unfortunately we can't control them. I really think street racing is a lot more exciting than track because well... I don't have to tell you guys, I think most of you agree with me. I mean, it's nice to go to the track once in a while, but I enjoy my anti-honda attitude on the streets a little more.

[tanabs]

I agree. &nbsp;Racing is tempting and I know I have done my fair share, but there comes a time when you just have to &quot;grow up&quot; (not to be too harsh) and resist the temptation. &nbsp;Here in Hawaii, not only the risk of hurting someone is high, but the risk of getting caught and losing your car (yes, they are thinking of passing a law to impound cars that &quot;race&quot;) is even higher. &nbsp;Maybe the key is to just race to a certain point; i.e. enough to beat the lame Honda but not too fast to get yourself a ticket. &nbsp;Whatever the case, deep down we all know that street racing is not &quot;right&quot;.

[my240likenoother]

ya more adrenilin(spelling??) runing through you because of the risk of getting caut and the fear of crashing

I really don't like the fear of crashing, and I don't ever let it &quot;creep in&quot;, so... that part I ignore. Getting caught is another story. The adrenaline rush is definitely a big benefit, as well as seeing a honda in my rearview mirror (more often than any other car).

(Edited by s13grl at 7:18 pm on Sep. 1, 2001)

[lunatik]

I don't go out looking to race anyone, but it's very hard turning down some idiot in a civic huge ass wing, and racing stripes's offer to race. &nbsp;though i worry that there may be a cop down the road to catch my ass. &nbsp;So I will get ahead, and unless it close I let off when I feel confident I won! sometimes I go watch my friends race at the track. &nbsp;My car is not fast enough for the track racing thing. &nbsp;Someday maybe it will be! &nbsp;

[Jeff240sx]

See. &nbsp;I do that exact same thing. &nbsp;The only problem is:
Some mexican (sorry, I just really don't know his name) worked with a friend. &nbsp;He had a 12.5 second mustang. &nbsp;He always wanted to race my Corvette. &nbsp;I found him, and we both lined up at the light. &nbsp;My girlfriend started telling me not to. &nbsp;I did anyway, and the light dropped. &nbsp;I jammed the gas and let out the clutch. &nbsp;In a few seconds, I was going 88 and 5 or 6 cars ahead. &nbsp;My girlfriend started hitting my chest, and yelling, so I shifted into 3rd and then fifth. &nbsp;I hit the brakes, and he blew by me at 90-95 mph. &nbsp;And for a long, long time, he has always said he stomped me. &nbsp;Then my Vette caught fire, and now I can't go and show him again.
So, I do go until I KNOW I won. &nbsp;But some people are dumb I guess.
-Jeff

No offense, but sometimes I really don't get girls who freak out when driving fast. I never really had that problem. If we're in an area where there is no cops, I'm more than happy to sit in my boyfriend's car and look for cars to race. Some nights, we actually go driving around and each of us silently prays that we'll find someone. :)And people usually turn up. I don't have that much luck, most guys don't want to race me, or if they do, they get really offended and swear at me if I win. But this is all way more fun than the track!

[96SEChick]

I agree with you s13grl--I don't understand girls that are scared to go fast. &nbsp;I was w/ my bf in his WS6 when we raced his brother's C5 Vette. &nbsp;It was awesome!! &nbsp;We won (his bro had an auto, and my bf has an 6-speed and spun while shifting into 1st, 2nd &amp; 3rd). &nbsp;We kicked his ass! &nbsp;I loved it! &nbsp;I congratulated him and told his brother it was a good race. &nbsp;Although I don't want to promote street racing, these guys did it on a very low-traffic road and whoever made it to the end of the lane, won (it was a 2-lane road and the right lane ended in about 1/4 mile). &nbsp;His brother tried to make all sorts of excuses, but we knew we beat him &quot;fair and square&quot;--our windows were down and I was in the car, adding an extra 135lbs and the TA was already heavier than the Vette, and we still won. &nbsp;I wouldn't do it myself, but it was fun to ride in a street race.:)

[lunatik]

Last night on my way back from the bars. Some idiot freshman (no offense to any freshmen out there) in a crx with gay ass black lights, and disco balls on his rear view, oversided, and out of place wing, lots of rust and some Nice rims pulled up next to me at a light. &nbsp;Revs his engine like a fag with his boy in the passenger seat taunting me. &nbsp;I got pissed, took him off the line, and all the way to sixty, i was just pulling away from him, and decided he had enough so I let up. &nbsp;We get to another light, and I'm behind a mustang 5.0 that looked modified. &nbsp;he revs for the guy in the mustang, (what an idiot) &nbsp;Of course he got blown away. &nbsp;After the guy in the mustang decides to let up, the idiot flies by at probably 80 or so. &nbsp;A guess since i was going 60, and he was gone. &nbsp;about a couple of miles down the road the fag got pulled over. &nbsp;my gf is out the window yelling and laughing at the moron as we went by. &nbsp;What an idiot. LOL. &nbsp;I thought you guys would find it amusing! &nbsp;I know we did!

[matic 240sx]

if you are just riding around and your at a light and some ricer revs up at you and you race him... just do it to the speed limit on that road... dont be stupid and run 60 in the 35... im the president of a car club on the coast and me and my friend mike organize street racing... we all go out at about 3am to this part of the beach and pull over.. the first 2 cars that want to race sit at the exit of the parking lot. 2 other cars are sent out ahead of time with radios.. they radio us and let us know about traffic and cops... once we know we are cleared for the first 2 lights we send them out. thats how everyone should do it... the most anyone could even get by the 2nd light is 110 so far... on a straight clear road thats nothing... its close to a 1/4 mile and we havent had any problems yet...

[Big Carbon]

I street race. I cannot lie about it. I love it too. Nothing like the rush of it. But at the same time i dont do it on roads where its packed and theres alot of traffic. We usually go block of an old road, goto an old mill entrance, take to the highway, or hit up the peachfields. I am not the one to say i turn down races but i pick and choose my races carfully. When some dumb ass ricer in a stickered up piece (and theres more rice other than honda out there folks) I laugh at him. A good time to street race is when you have something to win...like when some money is up for the takes, or when you can take out a car that is supposed to be faster than you. Its fun riding around in my hatch cause people think automatically its another honda...WRONG. But all in all i hate to see people racing in 5pm traffic. It Sux cause i have had friends get seriously hurt from other people being stupid. Be fast and be safe!

[Jeff240sx]

This is way off topic.. but I have to mention it.
When I had my Corvette, it was an 11.2 second car with me driving it. &nbsp;In all my street races, I never lost in it. &nbsp;Never even had someone try keeping up. &nbsp;They just fell behind. &nbsp;I even raced a Camero with a 327 '68 Vette engine in it. &nbsp;And stomped him.
But. &nbsp;My story. &nbsp;It was a sad day.
I went to DeSoto Dragstrip in my Vette. &nbsp;And waited in line. &nbsp;And next to me was a '80 Malibu. &nbsp;Tubbed out with drag slicks in the back, right next to the wheelie bars.
And the saddest thing to see is what used to be the fastest car you've seen yet losing.
I ran the #### out of my car, with a 11.35 @ 135 ish. &nbsp;He ran a 8.87 @ 175ish. &nbsp;Anyway.. by the time I crossed the line, he had his parachute out and was almost stopped. &nbsp;
(Later I talked to him and he had a 600 horse 454 built for the 400 fogger shot of NOS. &nbsp;And a 2 speed powerglide. &nbsp;He claims 140 in 1st gear. Ouch.)
-Jeff

LOL, I'm sure your ego was happy.
I haven't raced anyone in a few days. I keep revving my engine at people, and all the guys just go like: &quot;nice ride, but I don't want to race&quot; I'm like... OK. One idiot screwed me up in a civic DX. I asked him if he wanted to race, he said no. Then he launched full throttle. I caught up with him right away even though I dropped my clutch and was wearing high heels, but still.... thank God for imports and performance products. I'd go crazy otherwise.

[mike240sx]

s13grl, what modifications have you done? &nbsp;Maybe they are intimidated by the sound of the engine, and the chance of loosing to a girl. &nbsp;I've lost to girls before, because I don't expect them to take off. &nbsp;But now, I give chicks no mercy. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>

[lunatik]

I love girl racers,
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;I haven't encountered to many though! &nbsp;S13girl I think an aggressive girl intimidates men a little. &nbsp;Who wants to lose to a girl? &nbsp;I've only had one girl challnge me, I was driving my friend brad m3 back from a party because he was too wasted! &nbsp;She was driving an integra (not a type r). &nbsp;Needless to say it wasn't a fair race, that beemer hauls ass. &nbsp;We pulled in to a gas station she was pretty cool! &nbsp;

[tanabs]

Sounds like a good way of meeting women. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'> Lol, I just found this topic. I only have an Injen intake, GReddy cat-back and some wires and plugs. Nothing else. No cosmetics, no decals or stickers. Trying to save money to maybe do all the rest next year perhaps incl a paint job.
I think it's sweet you guys don't make fun of girls who like cars <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>. Thanks!

Irena

[LanceS13]

Make fun of girls who are into cars? &nbsp;I wish the women/girls in my life understood my passtime. &nbsp;Sometimes, I think my grandma is more supportive than my mom and my g/f....lol :biggrin:

Lol, that's real scary. So take your grandma for a drive sometimes <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

[LanceS13]

The funny thing is she don't even know how to drive...hehe. &nbsp;Maybe I should take her to my next autoX...lol:biggrin: &nbsp;