Posts: 2199
Joined: 3/31/2003 From: United States Status: offline
Well since I just don't seem to have the social concious and a great way with words, I'm going to cut/paste an article from a guy named Dustin Peglow in Goldsboro, NC.
His paper was about illegal street drags. An interesting side note about this: "Presentation is on December 4th it has to be 5-10 minutes...The day after my court day for my racing tickets i got ...kinda changed my views on alot of stuff, when you got about 6 cops around you and he just writing away at tickets....Learned my lesson its said and done... "
Illegal street racing is becoming a big problem in towns and cities after the production of the import-racing movie The Fast and the Furious. Since the release of the movie, car accidents caused by street racing have been on the rise. It is not longer a hobby for people with hotrods; it has become more of a game to the younger generations. Racing cars that were not even meant to be racing causing accidents, and hurting and killing innocent people or themselves. Police have started to try to stop street racing. Instead of going and doing a drug bust police would rather break up a group of organized street racers. There is a time and a place for street racing, the local drag strip, NOT THE STREET. The consequences for street racing can be greatly devastating. Included in this paper, will be direct quotes from owners of hotrods and their thoughts on street racing. And also quotes from newspapers on accidents, busts and deaths due to street racing. There is also a group called S.M.A.R.T.S, Sports Machines Against Racing on The Street, that is organized to reduce street racing.
There as been a lot about Illegal Street racing being written in newspapers. Racing went on a rise after the release of The Fast and the Furious. It in a sense set examples for teenagers as to what street racing is. But with these kids have no clue, as to how to drive there cars, just cause problems. They all gather at a local hangout and go and race their cars that were not meant to be racing. (ie: Civics, Camrys, Saturns, Neons, and Family Cars). They have no idea how handle car at excessive speeds, and choose the wrong places to attempt these stunts. These kids always seem to try to race in town on busy streets where they’re putting everyone’s lives in danger. What ends up happening during one of this organized street races is two people line up at a starting point and agree on a finishing point. A person lines both cars up evenly, and flags the drivers to begin. The first person to the finishing point wins, who ever has the faster car. People these days are doing this in the wrong place at the wrong time. Also they’re taking the races to speeds excess of 100 MPH and putting the drivers and spectators in danger. If you are to lose control of a vehicle at a speed over 100 MPH is almost a guaranteed death. Teenagers are getting little family compact cars and spending hundreds of thousands of dollars modifying the car to make it faster and look better. Although it is a safer hobby to get into, there just ‘testing’ there hobby at the wrong place. It is better for someone to spend money on a car than drugs or alcohol. The consequences of street racing can carry a heavy charge. In North Carolina when you are caught Street Racing you are charged with Willful competition of speed between two motor vehicles which is a first class misdemeanor and four points on your license, and your charged with Careless and Endangerment to persons or property which is a second class misdemeanor and another four points on your license. Which is then followed by a huge increase in insurance price and the possibility to lose your license for three years and loss of your car. All of this is definitely not with the risk.
There are a lot of car enthusiasts that share the same opinion on street racing. Here are a few quotes from members Stangnet.com on the thoughts and views of street racing. “I do not condone street racing at all anymore. When I was younger, yes I would have "**** the police" decals on my windshield, etc. But the magic was lost for me when there was just too many idiots out and about. I have NEVER liked racing on open public streets, being a totally different thing in my books, the last thing in the world anyone should be doing is seeing who’s car is faster weaving in and out of families coming home from church. My biggest beef is how street racing is now treated. When I was a kid, street racing was accepted as a taboo thing, but also held a certain level of respect by car enthusiasts... a couple of guys out cruising, run into each other, nice little race to see what the other has type of thing. Now, street racing is on the same level as rape and murder, to me, there is more important things to be worried about. My advice to kids that participate in organized street racing... is it’s just not worth the consequences. I'm sure you love the adrenaline and the excitement of running cars out on the street. --But that all goes away when your pulling a girl from a rolled over WRX that is covered in blood while she screams at her boyfriend that has his head smashed between the steering wheel and roof.” This was written by a well-known member of Stangnet.com (JadeFalcon Stangnet.com). These are his personal views of street racing. Also another member says “There is Illegal Street racing in Detroit and it has been getting real dangerous over the past few years. People don't show respect and are very careless. Over a year ago some guy in a mustang killed a lady that was watching when he lost control of his car. It made huge headlines over here. The last time I went to the races, someone fired off some shots because he got beat in a race. Let me tell you that was the last time I will ever go down there.” (Lefty44278 Stangnet.com) With just these two quotes, it gives you an idea of how big street racing really is. And also how dangerous it can be.
Since street racing has been becoming such a big problem, there has been a group formed called S.M.A.R.T.S., which stands for, Sports Machines Against Racing on The Street. Their goal as a club is to minimize street racing, and try to save lives that have been lost due to careless driving and racing. S.M.A.R.T.S. has an oath and guidelines you’re asked to follow to be part of the club and their motto is “Take it to the Track”. Taking racing to the drag strip minimizes the risks of racing. It is done in a controlled environment where everyone has a good head on his or her shoulders when the racing is taking place. To help take it to the track, on their web site www.streetsmartsusa.org, they have a list of local tracks to go to. (Street S.M.A.R.T.S.)
With Street racing on the rise, it has been in the news headlines more and more often. Below is just a brief article that appeared on news channel 11 on September 2nd, 2003. “Police in Spalding County believe street racing caused a crash that killed two men early Monday morning. An investigation revealed that the driver of a red Pontiac Firebird and the driver of a red Nissan 300ZX were racing at speeds above 100 mph. The two cars collided and the drivers lost control. The Firebird hit a telephone pole and flipped, killing the driver and a passenger. The 300ZX also crashed, but the driver escaped serious injury. He is behind bars charged with vehicular homicide, reckless driving, and DUI.”” (Tracey Chirstensen, News 11). This just shows how people can be killed street racing, and other charged for manslaughter.
Street Racing is just not worth the risks you take to participate in racing on the street. As started above, you are charged with a class one and two misdemeanor and a chance of loss of license for three years and loss of your car. You heard the opinions of owners of muscle cars and the views on street racing. Yes, everyone might have a quick sprint to see who can re
Posts: 2199
Joined: 3/31/2003 From: United States Status: offline
Never know johnny....you weren't there and neither was I. Conclude what you want, but realize that even in the most perfect situation to most people (long straight road, no side streets, ect..) bad s**t happens, and not just to the offending parties.
Hell....think if that family was sleeping in that corner of the house....
Team MF Member #420 Posts: 14532
Joined: 7/24/2003 Status: offline
Great report.
It's sad, just wish I wasn't so ignorant to go out tomorrow night looking for a race.
A couple members here should REALLY take this to heart, they brag about reacing speeds of 120+ mph...sorry but that's just plain ignorant.
I have never seen over 80mph in the city, I did take both my Iroc-z & Mustang GT to 110 mph on the interstate in NY once each. Other than that, I have raced several cars from a traffic light from 0-60 and occasionally 0-80. I would NEVER risk my girlfriends life for my own selfish thrills...ever. If competing car besides me has a passenger I will not race. I've been called a p**** several times for this, but I won't do it.
I do have one gripe with the webpage containing the photo's of the wrecked 2001 SS. The parents should have researched about the car more before they commented about the air bags. Why they would believe front impact air bags would go off when the car doesn't have a head on collision doesn't make any sense and it really makes the car sound like it's an unsafe piece of trash
looks like the guys ran off the road and over corrected..or sumthing broke look at the tracks he wasn't on the brakes very hard....just to bad....the waeving get me pissed has that happed to me sunday..the guy got a big scare what I put a tire rub on his car..nice black doughnut....
Posts: 2199
Joined: 3/31/2003 From: United States Status: offline
Here's the saddest thing of all I think.
The kid in the blue shirt and the one in the red hat in the photos are his brothers. The junkyard where the car was being held closed down the yard so that they could talk about the accident and hopefully get young kids that looked up to this guy to quit racing. Pretty much anyone with a kid that was remotely interested in cars took their families to see it.
Posts: 87
Joined: 11/21/2003 From: United States Status: offline
R.I.P.
i believe he froze if you look at the pic the car went str-8 off the road it didnt swerve he did a poor job trying to avoid the tree, he had lots of space on the side roads, it was meant to happen for some reason, again i believe he froze (zoned out)
i feel the worst for the girls side becuz her parent never thought this would happen, on the other hand the boys parent knew what things could have happened knowing that their son was a racer.
People be smart when you speed or race and it would always help to have some kind of support bars in your cars
Posts: 2199
Joined: 3/31/2003 From: United States Status: offline
It also helps to have immediate medical attention on hand in case if something horrible happens (who knows, a squirl could have ran out and got caught underneath his tires, and going that fast could have caused him to loose control).
Races NEVER start at tracks unless an ambulance is on hand, even if it takes 45+ minutes to get there after the gates open (trust me, it's happened to me, lol).
That, and there are cement barriers to keep the cars on the track, clean up crews, better traction, and you are garanteed to know who won the race (none of that "No, I won! if it's a close cal)
Posts: 189
Joined: 9/28/2003 From: United States Status: offline
That is a terribly sad story... no doubt. But what do you expect at 136 mph? I will street race... if done properly and wisely then there is no problem. Anything can happen at 140 mph... Hell, you race from a dig or a small roll from red light to red light... or an 1/8th on a back road. You won't be hitting 140 mph and stuff like that will be avoided.
Posts: 2199
Joined: 3/31/2003 From: United States Status: offline
So.....yo'ure telling me that going 60 and racing side by side in an uncontrolled enviornment nothing will heppen eh? I've seen some pretty nasty wrecks just going 50 mph happen in front of my eyes....and believe me, they were just as bad.
Posts: 189
Joined: 9/28/2003 From: United States Status: offline
You can wreck at 60mph.... Will something like this happen? Hell no... This was a combo of WAY too much speed, ignorance and bad luck. It's horrible what happened to this kid and his gf.... But what do you expect at 140mph with a kid at the wheel on a back road?
Printable Version
Well written senior paper... - 
...kinda changed my views on alot of stuff, when you got about 6 cops around you and he just writing away at tickets....Learned my lesson its said and done... "
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