On the news over the weekend, it seems Los Angles has done it again. a guy who was a spectator at a street race gets popped. 1200 bucks possible 10 days in jail.
yea i know all about the saftey issues it compromises, and that all racing should be done on a sanctioned track, but how far is this going to go?
lets face it we all have either been a participant or a spectator in a street race. it makes you wonder what punishment will be handed out for other
" crimes".

 

Not to be too much an old fart but...... if you also were aware of the death and destruction thees clowns are causing on the city streets, then you could understand that the law enforcement folks are getting a lot of HEAT form CITIZENS demanding that the cops take back the streets.

As a younger man I did a LOT of "street" raceing... our crowd almost always did short light to light romps and usually got our fair share of tickets.

Real important grudge matches were usually "settled" out of town on a county road and posed no real danger to "citizens" except the racers. Most cops left us alone unless we got real stupid.

Local drag andcircle tracks came out of this street raceing.

I now hold the opinion that following the safety rules, wearing the safety equipment, and raceing only on a safe track is the best way to show off your skill and beautiful fast ride.

 

i agree that something needs to be done. i campained a alcohol dragster that ran 6's at 230 in the quater mile. with all the safety issues in a controlled envirement. but to end up doing 10 days in jail for being a spectator is BS when a first offense dui gets off with no jail time and ard program.

 

It doesn't look like anything the are doing is stopping street racing. I think they just need to give them somewhere to race legally. Close off a industrial park road or something, and let them race under semi-controlled conditions. It's like pot, it might be illegal but you don't see anyone stopping. To them it is worth the risk.

Just my $.02

 

Two distinctly different "cultures" at work with this issue in the LA area...

American Graffiti, portrayed Hot Rods and evening/night street life form a teenage, chopped car perspective and gave us/them some exposure that ultimately ended up good. Such as, more guys "rodding" cars, and a whole aftermarket performance parts industry. A down side (depending on perspective) was the increased sensitivity of the cops, (portrayed as inept), stepped up screwing with the street cruisers.

Fast and Furious was loosely based on another aspect of the street scene of LA and had a MUCH greater impact! Most of the real High Tech imports that are REAL fast are EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE.

Mostly the top cars are part of a Gang's identity and because of the coolness of the movie there is a critical mass explosion of wannabees who have no job and somehow manage to cruise the streets in $40,000+ modified Hondas etc.

I spent some time on the left coast this spring at Camp Pendleton and made a point to go screw around some of my old cruising areas of LA and try to catch a glimpse at this "new" craze.

Wish I had brought a gun !
I'm retired Army, still pretty good shape, not much fear of anything, and in this situation I was immediately aware that these thugs, were dangerous!

Not the cars, not the racing, this is a very serious GANG thing and theft, drug sales, turf is what it is all about. I got the hell out, and carry no shame that I literally ran to my rental car and boogied out of there.


I don't think your typical middle class, high school B student, is in any danger of spending 10 days in jail for watching. They (the cops) are finding "creative" ways to make the citizens think they are doing something.

But effectively controlling the Gang is never going to happen. These folks have better weapons, cars, radios, and have figured how the cops have to play the game.

 

Forbidden fruit always tastes better.

They should set up some drag strips for these kids to do it legally.

I am glad to see that they're doing something slightly constructive, instead of tv and playstation.

 

if it truely is gang related there is no establishment that is going to do squat for the street racers. ihra and nhra tracks have rules that must be followed. #1 is no alky and drugs. that would rule out the gangs. besides with all the money they are making thru their dealings let them get their own place to race. legitimate people have places to race.

 

I am just trying to get them off the street. The drugs and all that other garbage is a completely different story. Maybe the police should sponsor a drag race - as a sting - and nail all the dealers and crooks.

 

Back when I had my Z28 LT1, if I happened to have someone pull along side me at a stoplight that thought their car was the stuff, I absolutely would run them in a heartbeat. That happened every once in a while.

But these kids are going out to a specific location and racing over and over again on purpose. That is extremely dangerous and is down right stupid. And yeah, the movie is throwing fuel on the already hot fire. In fact, I am surprised to even see a sequal coming out for it after all the flames it started last time.

 

I'll drink to that. That movie is just more fuel to the fire. Neither one should have been made. Either that or all the characters should have died to present the point of how dangerous it is.

 

its all about money, look at the aftermarket industry. a few years ago hondas were basic transportation. movie makers are making tons of money. stereo sales are sky high. you name it someone is making money on it.
sorry but i dont see anything that really can be done about it. street racing has always been a part of kids growing up, and always will be. some get smart and do it leagally. others dont. so when they cause an accident and kill or mame someone, then the general public gets concerned. maybe there should be some justice to it when they do kill. but then we're violating someone elses rights

 

I smell conspiracy. The auto and music eq. manufacturers are attempting to sway our youth to evil to make money and promote products. But then again, we Ford guys just know how to speed and get away with it.

 

The absolute best racing tracks are mostly just outside of the big cities that had, (in the 60s & 70s) fairly large populations of hot rodded cars. Every major city I can think of has several circle tracks and at least one good drag strip.

Friday and Sat grudge racing is inexpensive and thousand of teenagers are at the track every weekend. Many police department participate as community relations and it is real fun to "kick the MANs ***" on the track.

Actually the editors of some California hot rod magazines are solely responsible for the drag racing we know today.

These guys (LA gangs) do go to the tracks and race for brag rights and Cash.

There are many legitimate race teams that are NOT part of this gang culture.

Complex issue, I stick by my idea that 10 days for spectating, is not what we, non-LA citizens, think it is.

Just another reason for my book "why I don't live in California" anymore

 

I agree with every thing said 100%... However I like street racing, dont do it so much anymore- but i am more of a spectator.
I think they should all go to an area out side of town like said earlier under a semi controlled enviroment.

It is very dangerous indeed I have been in a few that have raced and i'll tell ya what... its just like what you see on the Fast and Furious everything all in slow mo super speed. This is because i was a rider one day and i ended up on the starting line with my buddy (I had no idea) and just like that were doing 120 in less than a quarter in his Camero. IT was freaky but it was a rush at the same time.

I have also seen crazy guys going for it all and sliding right through stop lights at over 80 mph... i have also seen the police show up and break it up...

Street Racing is an animal of its own.... this all took place in San Diego.

No offense to be taken please... just an experience i have had.. and now sharing with you all.

 

Street racing is deadly. Stupid in a populated area. The driver is the danger to him/herself and to the bystander. Therefore the drivers or racers are the ones and the only ones who should face jail time or lose their licence or pay up.
Arresting and punishing a bystander or a spectator is an act of comedy..Ca'mon,,,arresting a citizen in the "Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave" for pointing their eyes at a noisy specticle. There is nothing in the "free world" to compare that to.
I DECLARE: If I see a street race, I WILL keep my eyes pinned to it!! I want to know when it's time to get out of the way of an untrainned out-of-controll wannabe A J Foit!

Endangering the lives is a 'crime', not looking.