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 First it's outdated and they still try to use it, then the only big number they could provide were the citations.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

[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.