Street Racing

[Gary Lashinsky]

The movie "Fast and Furious" opened this weekend and was a box office hit. As much as I like a good sanctioned drag race at an NHRA or IHRA facility, street racing is for idiot's! Just read about the terrible accident in Long Island last weekend where two where killed and one man is charged with manslaughter. They say inmitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Lets hope this movie does not bring out the jerks from under the rocks to play hero with their lives and someone elses. We have reserved the Gainsesville International Raceway for our racing involvement for next weeks "Regional Rendezvous". This track is probably one of the best in the US. If you want to race, do it on a safe and controlled track with safety crews and EMT's. Don't be stupid and
take you life in your hands on the street!

 

[viperprowler1]

I totally agree with what Gary has just posted! It needed to be said and I'm glad that someone with Gary's prominence in the Viper Nation said it. There was a piece on Good Morning America this morning that reported on the Long Island incident and then tied it into the import street racing scene in L.A. Basically it was knocking drag racing but what the two guys on Long Island were doing was weaving in and out of traffic at high speed which is not drag racing. A lot of posts in this website discuss street racing and even though it is a thrill and we've all done it, those of us who have survived this foolish activity have matured enough to realize that racing in any form belongs on the track and not on the street. We need to protect our automotive hobbies by being good citizens so we don't run into the same politically correct thinking that almost killed high-performance cars back in the early '70's. I was selling Dodge high performance cars at that time and I can tell you from personal experience that when the insurance industry put their foot down, we could sell cars and get people financed but when they saw the insurance premium, (assuming they could even get insurance) the deal was off! Please think twice before you mash the loud pedal on the street. When you drive a Viper, you need to prove nothing to anyone. They all know what you've got! Nice feeling, don't you agree? Thanks for letting me sound off! And again, thanks to Gary Lashinsky for broaching the subject!

 

[Serious Eric]

Saw Fast & Furious last night. Sat in the back row and was more entertained by the audience than by the movie. A real dog IMHO, but I'm compelled to see car flicks regardless of quality.

The audience was large and the rows of heads in front of me were mostly covered with dyed blonde spiked hair and/or backwards ball-caps. Trying to be objective here ... really don't know any more about them than that. It was pretty easy to tell how the movie affected them though ... the street racing scenes were punctuated by loud shouts of "Hell Yeah!", "More Nitrous!" and pumping fists in the air.

Hollywood has clearly got a hit on it's hands. A perfect new synthesis of the image drug that goes straight to the cerebral cortex of the "dying to be cool" crowd (and die they will). Will they emulate what they see? Anyone think this generation of callow youth is any different than the one before it or the one before that?

Brace for an onslaught of sticker laden, import street-racers. The only cure for it will be Darwin, the cops and hopefully maturity.

 

[Gerald]

I TOTALLY AGREE,

However, the ganster movies, drug lord movies, and cowboys shooting them all up had much more violence in them and some say that they have already degraded our society by showing our youth how to deal drugs, run from the cops, pick up a gun.. take it to school, etc....

Society has placed entertainment at the top and will pay any price to be entertained. Being entertained by watching murders everyday on TV, Rapes at the Movies and TV, Pornagraphy on the streets, is the price we pay. However, watching a movie where an underground crown likes to street race is in a totally different catagory and you should really lighten up and look at the big picture and quit being sticks in the mud...

When some idiots go weaving in and out of traffic at 100+, is idiotic. So is shooting herion in your arm and dealing drugs as portrayed in movies and TV shows we watch and support everyday, so is having a gun in your home and leaving it unlocked. So is letting your kids watching wrestling on TV. This could go on and on...

I think there is noting wrong w/ seeing a bike on an empty road and hitting a quick burst to 100 in a straight line... Of course if there is traffic, that is a BIG NONO.. If I get a ticket.. I deserve it..


Gerald

 

[JonB]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Gerald:
I TOTALLY AGREE,.............
If I get a ticket.. I deserve it..
Gerald
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Is this the same Gerald that us all strategizing to help him beat a ticket just a couple weeks ago?!
[Heehee...could NOT resist!]

ps...how did that squeeler ticket come out??

 

[Kid97GTS]

Oh come on, the argument that an adult cannot observe an activity such as movie violence, cartoon violence or reckless street car racing (the Horror!) and not make a reasoned decision as to whether that activity is something they want to participate in in real life kinda takes everyone down to the lowest common denominator.

I've felt more uneasy on the road next to a woman talking on the phone and putting on her makeup while driving a 5000 lb SUV at 65 mph that I have next to some kid in a 250 hp Civic with a fart can trying to get me to run. And a little history lesson might be in order - the death of the muscle car had about 10x more to do with a small thing called the gas crisis that occurred in the early '70's rather than insurance companies finally seeing past the 350 stated hp rating of an LS6. As long as car makers can make a 500 hp ULEV rig, it will likely be for sale at a dealer near you.

BTW, Gerald - what's wrong with a little *********** in the streets? Bring the gerbils out to the light of day!!!!!

 

[Mark Young]

Hmm, here's a thread I feel compelled to weigh in on. Regardless of how you feel about street racing, the fact is that it exists and will continue to do so just as it always has. Here in nor-cal there's plenty of souped up imports buzzing around with teenage kids at the wheel looking to show what they've got.

So, what do you do about it? I grew up in a small town and there was *nothing* to do as a teenager. So what does everybody end up doing? One or more of... liquor, drugs, sex (hopefully not all at the same time). I think its great to see these young guys with such an interest in something. Some of these guys have a lot of effort/time/money in their cars. Thats effort/time/money that could have been spent in one of the three areas I already mentioned, but it wasn't. So what do communities do? Throw up decibal limits, curfews, and general harassment/intimidation by local law enforcement. Why?

Kids have energy, they either release it in a positive way or a negative way but it gets released. The good thing about "The Fast and the Furious" is that it has the whole country talking. I hope we get some constructive dialogue going rather than let the media turn it into their usual, "see, kids saw a movie and did xxxx" bandwagon. Communities should be looking to foster such positive outlets for kids instead of stamping them out. I wander if there's anything we as a car club (with other car clubs) can do.

Its been done in some places. Get the local cops and citizens to allow an "organized" event. Have it every friday night on a blocked off section of road or something. Hell, we have a empty airfield here that would be perfect. Its safe, gives the cops a chance to show themselves in a positive light, and gives the kids a chance to let loose and have a good time.

Oh, and I feel obliged to mention that the movie very carefully depicted the street being blocked off by the "kids" to hold their race - not just open street racing.

Comments please. Maybe this should go into Off-Topic but I'd like it to get the high traffic here if the moderators can leave it be for a bit.

 

[slaughterj]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Gerald:
so is having a gun in your home and leaving it unlocked. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Nothing wrong with that either, I need that quick access!

 

[Maverick The Electrician]

Street racing in any kind of trafic is bad. I go out and hit the local scene, but it is out in the middle of nowhere, where a bunch of people meet up and there isnt any traffic, side streets etc...

 

[BurnR8]

I know that I am an adult....I know that I can be influenced by Hollywood.....I saw StarFish(Swordfish) last week and I really want to go out and sleep with Halle Berry...BAD!! Those four seconds changed my life.........

 

[Gerald]

Hey JonB,

yeah, that was me you remembered on the
"Exhibition of speed ticket"
Upon leaving a light going uphill sharply and to the left, I released my parking brake and coasted backwards sharply. Upon seeing the car in my rearview, I was slightly more aggressive on the clutch and my left rear wheel "chirped" for a 1/2 second. Cops on the other side of intersection had a "*****" for me i guess. Issued me a 83 dollar ticket and points against my lisence, insurance hike, etc.
I asked for advice on the board and some said fight it and some said please guilty. I would not plead guilty as I wasn't guilty.

Long story short, took it to court and ticket was dismissed as cop knew it was a bogus ticket and never showed up to court..

_______________________________________________________
If I get a ticket I deserve it
_______________________________________________________

I didn't deserve that one, beat it, haven't had a ticket in about 4 yrs, 1 Vette and 2 vipers later, still no ticket. you've just got to use yer head.
Gerald

 

[JonB]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Gerald:
Hey JonB, yeah, that was me you remembered on the
"Exhibition of speed ticket"......Long story short, took it to court and ticket was dismissed as cop knew it was a bogus ticket and never showed up to court.........Gerald
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


Good On Ya ! All's well..........

 

[9 seconds]

Obviously street racing in traffic is a bad deal. No doubt. Think about this, though. Maybe street racing will/will not increase because of the F&F movie but definately street racing will make a better news story because of the success of the F&F movie.

Just a thought.

 

[Bill Pemberton Woodhouse]

Lots of good comments, and I imagine our parents said the same things after we went and saw , " Bullit, Vanishing Point, Death Race 2000," etc. Let's hope we take Gary's advice and go to the tracks to get our high speed fix, because though I agree whole-heartedly about Kid 97's comments about the makeup applying, phone jabbering SUV driver, INSURANCE COSTS did kill the Muscle Car industry, and history often repeats itself.

Death of the Muscle Car - generally accepted as 1971, though some folks will go to 1973.

Gas Crisis 1975 and beyond.

 

[Tenney]

'71 was the year GM dumped the compression ratios to a 9.0 to 1 maximum. Ford and Mopar followed suit the following year - also killing off the Hemi. I'm sure insurance rates were sky high but the gas situation (quality/quantity) and 'modern' emissions regulations were the nail in the coffin.

 

[HogWhisperer]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Bill Pemberton:
......... INSURANCE COSTS did kill the Muscle Car industry, and history often repeats itself.

Death of the Muscle Car - generally accepted as 1971, though some folks will go to 1973.

Gas Crisis 1975 and beyond.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


You sir, are correct.....

 

[viperprowler1]

Thanks Bill Pemberton for verifying my previous statements regarding insurance costs killing the muscle car era. By the time the gas crisis of 1975 came along, the so-called muscle cars that were still being sold were mere shells of their former selves, de-tuned , de-powered and "de-stroyed"! I was there to witness one of the greatest eras in automotive history fade into oblivion. Until...1989 when the "four fathers" decided that Americans might be ready for a cute little red sports car they affectionately named VIPER! ..."and the rest is history!"

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

It all contributed. Insurance, emissions, energy crisis, impending doom was looming in the early 70's.

 

[Tenney]

While I realize that insurance costs were an issue (Don Yenko lobbied to have COPO LT-1 small block Novas built to help circumvent this), to claim this as the sole cause for the death of the muscle car is incorrect, I think.

Here are two additional important contributors:

Fuel Quality. The manufacturers had a tough time building a performance motor that would run on anything other than hi-octane leaded premium. The last muscle cars, IMO, were the '73-'74 SD Formulas and Trans-Ams. The plug was pulled in '75 when every new passenger car required unleaded fuel.

Fuel Quantity. The OPEC oil embargo and resulting rise in fuel prices began around '73-'74, I think. Nobody wanted gas guzzlers. Good muscle cars were available cheap because not only were they tough to insure, they were expensive to feed.

Eventually, the cost of fuel caught up with the rate of inflation and there was again a market for muscle cars. It took slightly longer for the factories to figure out how to make a car run strong within the constraints of emissions regulations and lousy fuel. A decent 5.0 Mustang (with a 4bbl.) showed up around '83 or so and by '86 there were (fast) Grand Nationals and muscle cars had returned. Chips and throttle bodies replaced headers and Holleys - but these were muscle cars all the same, IMO.

Now what about the whole insurance thing?

Well, somewhere along the way, street racing must have stopped for a while and the perils of the performance automobile in the hands of America's youth simply slipped the collective minds of insurance adjusters nation wide. Or not.

 

[Supercharged Vipermad]

I recal back when Iwas 18 and racing at Laurel hill in queens, or connecting highway..I recall the adrenaline rush, like I am going to beat the system. I recall that I got this adrenaline rush on the street compared to going to english town. Not because I wanted to risk anyones life, but it was so incredible lining up and having all he traffic stopped, and then you go..Then your mind was on a million different places, racing the car, trying to beat the guy, and looking out for the Man..Thats what I think is happening, more like I dare youto catch me style going on..Kids are braver these days, and more dumb...I can't talk for everyone in this room, but for myself i loVED AT ONE POINT TO RACE..It was between 19-25..I had my 72 Satellite with the 440- 6 pac going, looking for a run.. It took me a long time to get it out of my system, but I grew up, I have my family and look at my kids..an say to myself, another time Tony..not worth it..Even though I would love to blow away the guy, I hold back and smile it off)