wolf_9782

the road was paved 4 years back since there was supposed to be a construction project on building new homes out there for newcomers but that fell through and they moved it to the vicinity of the new high school. the road is wide enough for 2 cars however you may feel some pressure because it is somewhat of a tight fit but both cars still have a couple feet in between and another few from the fences. it was pretty narrow but they widened it out since it was expected that people would be livin out there. if you're not careful you could very well scrape the side brush and the fence so we always stress to the drivers to race fair dont try to side swipe and keep a straight line.its wide enough for imports and the like but say if 2 guys were to race trucks then it would be a tight squeeze for sure with very little room to breathe. people say we are overly cautious since we also dont allow anybody buzzing on any drug or alcohol to participate but thats their stupidity since it is an absolute MUST that a straight line be taken or risk messing up your paint job on the mesquite branches or even bump the other guy accidentally. but anyways the road isnt finished...it only goes 3/4ths of the way before cutting off into dirt and by that time our guys gotta finish the deal by then or risk hitting the gravel at 125+ i would say the distance is about 2 - 3 miles to the ranch with the last quarter or so being dirt. also you made a good point about the state DOT because i will honestly say they dont fix it or maintain it at all. in fact its only a matter of time before the road begins to deteriote and form various indentations that will bring danger. as expected there are blemishes already and the sides of the asphalt have chipped or broken off. the center of the road is also in OK condition with just blemishes from our adventures and the like with no potholes or anything but when you reach the end the road gets rough so by that time we have to have slowed down a great deal to stop safely. so far so good with our luck around here with no casualties or any incidents and we're going to enjoy these times while we still can before we lose the road to safety measures (when that happens im off to the track). also your assumptions are indeed reasonable and i would have had the same questions myself.

DamonB

I never thought of that but I completely agree with it. I see people every week who think they can drive and then show up to the track and find they can't. I can say that; I used to be one of them. When somebody else at the track driving a much "slower" car than you is kicking your butt you have to be honest and admit you've got much to learn.

cpa7man

iTrader: (2)

Wolf, What was that? An english paper from school.

Damon and others, good points. It takes a lot of seat time to become a good driver. Something that just can't be accomplished on the street. I'm on the bottom side of the bell curve myself and struggling to learn how to drive fast.

MPM

wolf - How can you consider any of what you said(except for the drugs and alchol thing) to considered safe racing? A couple of feet between them and a few more to the fence? That, by my definition, is stupid. There is nothing safe about where you race. Your just asking for trouble especially if you actually do race up to 125+ MPH. Compare where you race to your average drag strip. How far apart are the cars and how far are they from the fence(or barrier)? What type of fence(or barrier) do you see at many of the drag strips? Cement retaining wall is common.

You guys need a dose of reality and a little common sense before something bad happens.

domesttuner

I've only raced a few times, and one time I almost got caught (cop going by the other way, couldn't turn around in time to get me) and that scared me enough to keep it to a few hard stoplight pulls to mess with ricers. I've seen too many stories of how street racing kills people and too many wrecks to want to do it full time. It is a shame that movies are being made that really glorify street racing, beacause they make ricers think their DOHC fart cans can do the same, which only means people will get hurt.

wolf_9782

there never was a perfect place for street racing nor will there ever be. its good to know your concerned about us but we take the risk ourselves out there. besides would you rather us use that or race in a populated area?

Redwood

I've always found a track pretty ideal, anyone else?

Turbo23

iTrader: (4)

i think everyone no matter who they are has engaged in a "street race" Sometimes just do see what your car can do, or for fun. Im not saying allll the time, but even the pro's i bet have alittle fun once in awhile with a nice stop light drag

Turbo23

iTrader: (4)

just to note im not a avid street racer, and prefer controlled events

FDreaming

[rant]
Stephan Papadakis, Ari can't spell his last name, Jeremy Lookofsky, Erik Agular, the list goes on. Some of the biggest names in sport compact drag racing all got their starts on the streets. Go listen to a Beach Boys album. Street racing has ALWAYS been around, since they invented the wheel people have raced. Yes people die doing it, no there is now ideal or perfectly safe way to do it, but then again it's not like racing on a track is foolproof. Everyone, I don't care who you are, or what you drive, everyone has raced someone on the street. I've seen minivans throwing down against metros because they thought it was funny. Whether everyone likes it or not it's always been around, and it always will be. People that race aren't going to stop, and people that don't are lying. Threads like these are alot like organized religion they are good for inflating egos and starting fights. Let's all just drop it.[/rant]

Louis M

this topic is serious... so you can't just blow it off because tons of people die... thats why i'm totally against a lot of forms of street racing, i.e. where its just an accident waiting to happen... for example, when its just two people racing down a street or a highway, its better than when fifty cars line up and down a street allowing about a foot of room on either side with people lining the streets.... you just look at it and its only a matter of time

twokrx7

iTrader: (1)

This thread is stupid, but entertaining.

Street racing has risks but street racing is not stupid. Folks aren't doing it because they think it is safe. They are assessing the perceived risk and making a decison to accept it. Suspect these folks have not fully assessed the risk, especially when they take it to a crowded highway or surface street.

Same with road track "racing", although most track events I've been to are not racing I found them an unbelievable experience. Throw in a few curves and other cars when going 150+ and I doubt few have fully assessed the risk. I will not go back until I add a cage, fire supression system, accept risk of totalling my car, breaking my body, or drivetrain damage/wear.

Autocross is possibly the lowest risk event I have been to, but again it's not "racing" when there's no wheel to wheel action.

Flame suit on.

DamonB

Street racing doesn't hurt nobody!

I find it funny that the guy is lucky to be unhurt and yet what's his first thought? I gotta take pictures of this and show them to everyone!

eriksseven

iTrader: (6)

when I race on the roads I usually feel like crap; before, during and after. It might be a rush, but I know that in no way is it the right thing to do. I just feel crap, crap, crap. No joy, because pride doesn't=joy. I also don't like having to look over my shoulder out of fear of fines, and/or imprisonment. I race sometimes but I think I'd have a lot more freedom (from the law and these feelings) at the track.

Wargasm

Real racing is definitely way more fun but there are a couple problems...

1 - far away
2 - expensive
3 - not always available

I do drive fast on the street, but I NEVER "street race" where you line up and go for money or whatever. I avoid that whole scene.

Brian

rynberg

I avoid doing any racing through town, but I won't lie. I've done a few improptu stoplight drags or runs from a low speed roll in "city" streets, late at night. Did the race go into triple-digits? Hell, no. Was it stupid? Yep. Do I condone it? Nope. But I certainly don't participate in any form of organized street racing, which is amazingly stupid.

I have raced several times on the freeway, late at night, WITH NO OTHER CARS around. Still dumb, but hey, I figure it's still safer than the typical inattentive SUV-driving idiot....

What I never do is weave through heavy traffic at high speeds, like all too many idiots I see. Now THAT is dangerous behavior.

Re-Speed.com

iTrader: (3)

First off, The streets are different now than they were in the sixties. Try population increase. 87,253 Million drivers in 1960 up to 190,265 Million in 2000!

Here is the problem with street racing. When you engage in racing on the street or track, other people are at risk. The guys on the track with you understand this and have chosen to be there. The 32 year old woman with her 3 year old little girl that burn to death in the accident a moronic street racer causes, I am sure did not choose to be there.

That is the bottom line. You can not argue against that.


-billy

Oh Yea..... My source
http://fhwainter.fhwa.dot.gov/ohim/onh00/line5.htm