Street Racing Question

"zeontestpilot" (zeontestpilot) 07/07/2014 at 13:09 • Filed to: None

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So I've been watching Initial D, and besides the obvious question of 'where in the world are the cops in this series', I have another one.

Street racing is illegal, right? It puts fast cars onto roads where pedestrians and other cars roam freely. And I bet street racing does occur, because it's impossible to say it 'doesn't exist' simply because I have never seen it go down.

So my question is this, is street racing a common thing? Does it happen at night when I'm in bed? Or does Initial D, Fast & Furious, etc; exaggerate how common it is? I have no idea. And is there a 'scene' for racing, or is it just two dudes who race to the next light?

Any information would be appreciated. Also, I'm not looking to join it. It's reckless and endangers everyone. I'm just curious as to how true these depictions of street racing really are.

mr_gofast > zeontestpilot 07/07/2014 at 13:13

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In ottawa where i am. going back to when FF came out, street racing was around just not really done in the major streets. Around my neck of the woods are alot of country roads with 2 lanes, no lights and lots of corn or what have you around. also no cops. however about 8 yrs ago the local car meeting spots were shut down by the owners of the lots due to garbage and some really really stupid punks doing donuts in accords with scorcher tires :( After that Ottawa has no street scene at all, we have shows and thats about it..no races or aggresive driving and whoever is still in teh scene so to speak usually drags their cars at proper tracks.

djmt1 > zeontestpilot 07/07/2014 at 13:16

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Tracks days.

Why drive your car at 5/10th on the street with the potential of crashing, prison and Gary from D wing when for 100 quid you can drive your car at 10/10th while meeting other people who share your passion.

Milky > zeontestpilot 07/07/2014 at 13:16

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Detroit has a pretty solid street racing scene from my understanding.

Highways in Detroit go un-patrolled so there are a lot of roll races, and there are even a few drag spots. Hell one night I had a friend in a 600hp Corvette race a "stock" Mustang and they just shut the road down (video is on facebook so I don't know how to link it).

People want to race, so they will.

EDIT: maybe this will work?

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10…

Shake-y potate vid, and not my voice btw. But if you can see the video, you can tell from the ground that lots of drags happened there.

Alfalfa > zeontestpilot 07/07/2014 at 13:17

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I've seen it a few times, late at night, with varying degrees of intensity and organization, always with douchey ricer cars. A friend used to live in a shadier area of town, and they used to gather across the street. They would have one or two drags, but would mostly hang out and rev their little straight piped engines. Nothing close to what you see on the screen, though.

Dusty Ventures > zeontestpilot 07/07/2014 at 13:18

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I know in the Springfield, MA area, where I live, there's a pretty strong street racing scene, with "organized" races every week or so. Never participated or attended, but I know they're happening.

zeontestpilot > mr_gofast 07/07/2014 at 13:18

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Huh, curious. It sounds like something that could happen here then, since I'm in the country.

zeontestpilot > Dusty Ventures 07/07/2014 at 13:19

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And there's another question, do you just go or is a like a 'fight-club' type of group? Also, do cops ever stop them?

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > zeontestpilot 07/07/2014 at 13:19

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Woodward Avenue. It was used to race 50 years ago and it still is today. The cops have all but given up on trying to stop it. They usually just hang back until things start to get out of hand. As proof, here is a pontiac ad from I believe the late 60s.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > zeontestpilot 07/07/2014 at 13:20

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in my experience street racing happens on any road with more that two lanes when you notice the guy next to you also drives like an asshole. Then a down shift to third, or second and who ever backs off first, or ends up a few car lengths behind, loses. But I've never got involved in any organized street racing.

However I've also never lived in a town of more than 8500 people. So I can't speak for those that live in major metropolitan areas where that shit does actually go down.

Oh I did get to see an S4 and M3 blow by me on the freeway outside of Hartford CT at 10 am of all the times to do it. Those guys were weaving through traffic at speeds I'd never even think of.

Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura > zeontestpilot 07/07/2014 at 13:20

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It's an awful anime.

zeontestpilot > Milky 07/07/2014 at 13:22

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I'm in Detroit right now, and I can agree with the whole 'unpatrolled' thing. I've been traveling here since the last week of May, I've only seen 1 cop car, and 2 ambulances on M-10 so far.

mr_gofast > zeontestpilot 07/07/2014 at 13:23

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ppl im sure still do runoffs in the country, however at 2am when there is no light except starlight or moonlight to see - its very dangerous to race.

zeontestpilot > djmt1 07/07/2014 at 13:23

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I'm not even sure if they have something similar in America, no less Michigan. I would LOVE to take my car around a track, but I think most of the places (if any) would be drag strips.

zeontestpilot > Alfalfa 07/07/2014 at 13:26

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So were most of the cars FF then? And the screen is pretty dramatic, Hollywood style content. I sort of expect it to be exaggerated....

Dusty Ventures > zeontestpilot 07/07/2014 at 13:27

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Those I can't answer

Milky > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 07/07/2014 at 13:29

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Except now the R.O. cops are shutting everything down and all the white suburban kids are too scared to come into Detroit.

Otherwise, yea.

KnowsAboutCars > zeontestpilot 07/07/2014 at 13:30

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I'd say movies definitely exaggerate street racing but it still happens, maybe not as much as it used to but it definitely happens. In Japan for example they still drive the high speed runs Wangan is famous for and Kanjo racing is still a thing. There was some illegal drag racing going on between 70's and early 90's in my home city. From what I've read it was somewhat similar to the Stockholm open which is still held nowadays.

djmt1 > zeontestpilot 07/07/2014 at 13:31

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I see then it depends where you draw the line at street racing. Here we have a few abandoned industrial areas and a lot of abandoned airfields which are often used for events focused around speed, though technically illegal it isn't hurting anyone.

zeontestpilot > mr_gofast 07/07/2014 at 13:32

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No doubt, especially with deer, and especially when you don't know the course.

My house is about 10 minutes off the main road, 3 minutes of it on dirt. I know the way like the back of my hand. Anything north of me, on the back roads, I'm very wary of driving on it at night. I don't have it memorized, many turns, plus I have to keep extra alert for wild animals. It's exhausting to drive it. I usually stick to main roads then.

DSMraver > zeontestpilot 07/07/2014 at 13:32

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Zeon, there are many tracks within driving distance in Michigan. Gingerman, Waterford Hills, Grattan for road course, Milan Dragway and Lapeer Dragway for 1/4mi racing. And yes, there is a lot of street racing in the US, and Detroit specifically.

zeontestpilot > Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura 07/07/2014 at 13:36

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I'm curious, why do you think that?

Flavien Vidal > zeontestpilot 07/07/2014 at 13:37

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Get into the japanese mountains at night... you will quickly understand that there are absolutly nobody except them lol... Even during the day, most roads are empty. On some roads I know there, on a good day, you see one car per hour...

So yep, cops pretty much don't care :)

mr_gofast > zeontestpilot 07/07/2014 at 13:38

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in my case there are no curves - these country roads are like 7 blocks long and straight and narrow. Animals are still a big issue.

Milky > zeontestpilot 07/07/2014 at 13:39

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Yupp. I actually crashed my car drifting one time and a cop rolled by my car broken in the road and then kept going. #Detroit #ReverseRacism

Saw I wasn't hurt and must of had more important things to do.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > djmt1 07/07/2014 at 13:39

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Good luck having a track day open when you want to race. It's not like they're theme parks where you just walk up, pay an admission fee and drive. You often have to wait for a group to go in and rent out the track and then you follow strict timelines for who is on the track and when. It's still a ton of fun but it isn't like Top Gear showed where you and two friends can just "rent" some time on a track for a few bucks. Some track days cost in excess of 200$ depending on how many people go, what track, what time of the year. Oh and let's not forget that quite a few of the lower cost days are during the week when you're usually working.

Again - not saying track days aren't fun or viable, but the beauty of street racing is the immediacy of it. It's much more about the adrenaline rush than actual competition.

Alfalfa > zeontestpilot 07/07/2014 at 13:39

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About 50/50. There's a regular gathering at a gas station near me, I was motioned to come join them once in my T-bird. I laughed and continued on my way home.

zeontestpilot > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 07/07/2014 at 13:40

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I can understand 'why' they race on roads. It certainly is appealing, with the curves and straight-aways, but the risk of hurting others is too great for me.

If I became rich all of a sudden, I would buy an abandoned town, and just hold street races there. In a safe, isolated environment.

zeontestpilot > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 07/07/2014 at 13:42

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Huh, that's a couple of blocks away from me...

zeontestpilot > Alfalfa 07/07/2014 at 13:44

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Probably a good idea, :)

djmt1 > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 07/07/2014 at 13:44

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Hmm, expensive in the states but I guess your country isn't covered in old air bases. That said if you want to straight up race the street in a place with corners, the street is your only choice. Still a dumb thing to do but if you are all I say is find an abandoned industrial estate.

zeontestpilot > Milky 07/07/2014 at 13:45

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Dude, that's pretty bad...about the cop and the car.

Desert Dweller > zeontestpilot 07/07/2014 at 13:48

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It happens A LOT in metro Phoenix. Mostly on the smaller highways in byways leading out of town, or in new development areas where the homes and businesses are still empty/half complete. But, on the major loop 101 around the city people will do it past midnight. On any given night, if I close at work, and drive with windows down, I'll hear engines howling in the distance. Hell, I used to some races. I stopped that very quickly though when I passed by a meet and watched squad cars and the offending cars get towed away, decided to not chance it, and I don't want to get struck by a car driven by someone who thinks they can "handle it, bro." Most of the guys doing it are rich douches from Scottsdale in BMWs mommy and daddy bought and are flunking out of ASU. Some are just regular village idiots with mom's old Altima.

zeontestpilot > mr_gofast 07/07/2014 at 13:48

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Bummer, the curves make it for me. Plus, since it's country land, you see a lot of interesting things. I forget the town, but some guy has a either a bmw e21 or e30, or some type of old bmw sitting in his drive way. Along with a couple of tractors, and such. Its really cool to see.

zeontestpilot > Flavien Vidal 07/07/2014 at 13:49

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I sometimes feel like the 1 car per hour thing applies to me driving in the country where I live.

zeontestpilot > DSMraver 07/07/2014 at 13:50

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Thanks for the list, I'll be checking them out! :)

zeontestpilot > djmt1 07/07/2014 at 13:52

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Despite the whole 'being illegal' thing, I really don't mind it. It's away from people who might get hurt, and that's the biggest downfall of street racing.

Milky > zeontestpilot 07/07/2014 at 13:53

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Yupp, but the point that Detroit cops don't care (or are too busy) stands true.

Alfalfa > zeontestpilot 07/07/2014 at 13:56

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These guys in particular never raced, it was on the corner of two pretty busy roads. The biggest risk would have either been my urge to just punch someone in the face, or make fun of their cars until they wanted to punch me in the face.

zeontestpilot > KnowsAboutCars 07/07/2014 at 13:59

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Did they just block a highway for drag racing?

zeontestpilot > Alfalfa 07/07/2014 at 14:01

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But it's a thunderbird, right? You would of made the classiest get-away.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > zeontestpilot 07/07/2014 at 14:01

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Bad taste I'm sure, Haha. I enjoy it very much, there is even some legit racing technique discussed in Initial D. As a car guy, I appreciate it...but some don't.

I would not seek out the street racing scene...though it is real. Like other's said; track days are great and have lessened the need for street racing. There are plenty of race tracks in America, but most track days take place in parking lots with cones as guide lines. I have never driven at one; I would personally only enjoy driving on an actual track.

Just get with a local car club...maybe there is one for the specific car you drive? Then just go from there as to how far you want to go in terms of racing and moding your car for said racing.

zeontestpilot > Desert Dweller 07/07/2014 at 14:04

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Ugh, I cannot appreciated over-privileged kids whose parents buy them a car. Anyone who buys there own car, junker or not, are awesome in my book.

And those village idiots, I approve of them. Sometimes it takes guts to show up knowing you're gonna lose...

Alfalfa > zeontestpilot 07/07/2014 at 14:06

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This is true. And none of them could have caught up to me, because my engine could have eaten any one of theirs for breakfast.

thebigbossyboss > mr_gofast 07/07/2014 at 14:09

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If you really wanna go fast go out to dunrobin.

zeontestpilot > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 07/07/2014 at 14:11

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Well I figured it probably is real, but like I asked, how common is it. I was curious about learning it, not participating (I know better). I am also concerned that, if street racing is as popular as it is in the movies, when should I be super careful on the road driving, at what times, etc. Basically to keep my wife and daughter safe. I didn't mention this in the question because I wanted to keep it short and sweet.

I drive a PT Cruiser, which I love purely for the fact it's my first car. Though lately driving it has become a tad bit...boring...I would love something new/else to drive.

zeontestpilot > Alfalfa 07/07/2014 at 14:14

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That makes it all the more magically....

Alfalfa > zeontestpilot 07/07/2014 at 14:18

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And of course, there's one more thing that mine could do that none of theirs could. Opposite. Lock. On dry asphalt.

zeontestpilot > Alfalfa 07/07/2014 at 14:20

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I tried to give you 2 stars, but it took one away. So just have 1 star I guess?

Desert Dweller > zeontestpilot 07/07/2014 at 14:24

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Don't get the wrong idea. The guys with the hand-me down Accords are equally as douchey, and appear to suffer from a variation of little man syndrome I call "slow car/street racer" syndrome. They are not to be friends with. 60% of the cars that legitimately race are teendults like me, in cars their parents gave them, M5s, GTis, G35 coupes, Genesis(es), Camrys and once, a Range Rover. They're all a horrid lot, the other 40% are other young guys who actually bought their Mustangs or Civics, but even then, are confident Mustangs/Civics are somehow the end-all and greatest things ever, and everything else is BS. The worst part is that no one ever accepts defeat, it's always "nah bruh you started early" "there's no way I could lose to (insert car they'd of course lose to)" or whatever, and they race 50 times before one finally accepts his 80's SOHC Civic lost to a 5 series. All of them also hate on anything they don't agree with, stance, trucks, automatics, etc, but in a cruel and degrading way.

TL;DR: Almost every single (car) street racer I've met or heard of in my gigantic city is a douchenozzle and not people to be associated with. The bikers are gentlemen racers though, if not a little insane for threading through traffic at 180.

CPT Speedbump > zeontestpilot 07/07/2014 at 14:25

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Go look up the Midnight club videos (not the movies, the video's/documentaries) and the Osaka racing of Honda Civic's, they did infact race- a lot. However, it was more back in the day, when the cops didn't have cars or technology fast enough to touch them, also, in the case of the Osaka guys, they'd out number the cops, and chase them off with their Honda's. The cops in Japan have come a long way now though, and gotten read of most of the bigger street racing groups. Also, I'm sure gangs don't help either (I've found documentaries before about how street drifters would get chased out of Gang territories)

Alfalfa > zeontestpilot 07/07/2014 at 14:30

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It's the thought that counts. This reminds me of a funny story, though. I was giving a friend a ride to a party, and we ended up a little early. I jokingly turned to her and said "well, we could find a good parking lot and do donuts! "

She looked at me stupidly and said "but there's no snow" I informed her that with with copious amounts of torque to the rear wheels, one did not need snow. At this point, my joke became much more serious. I found a good lot, did a quick spin and hi-tailed it out of there. She was scared to death. It was hilarious. And reckless. But it was for the sake of education.

zeontestpilot > Desert Dweller 07/07/2014 at 14:35

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Huh. See, I know my '08 PT Cruiser isn't the best racing vehicle. It's automatic, downshifts a bit too late in my opinion, and can probably get from 0 to 60 in >10 seconds. I'm willing to admit this, but that's just me though,.

zeontestpilot > CPT Speedbump 07/07/2014 at 14:36

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I will, thanks.

Desert Dweller > zeontestpilot 07/07/2014 at 14:43

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If only street racers were your kind of people, I might not hate them. The only thing they were remotely cool about was respecting me not racing my '01 Explorer Eddie Bauer with 175k on the clock for obvious reasons. I also never get in a street racer's car, they will mash the throttle e v e r y w h e r e. I used to be best friends, like, total ride or die, main man, with this kid, got into street racing, now I don't want to ever talk to him, I talk to just his parents more. Street racing scene turns ok people into total douche people.

The street racing in Texas and Florida, where all the 1000+ hp Lambos and GTRs and Vettes live, seems cooler though.

zeontestpilot > Alfalfa 07/07/2014 at 14:44

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Did she scream/squeal and/or hit you?

If I pulled anything like that, my wife would give me a lecture, which is much...much worse....

Alfalfa > zeontestpilot 07/07/2014 at 14:48

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No, it was just the silent wide-eyed look of horror.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > zeontestpilot 07/07/2014 at 14:54

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I can't say that I have ever been driving at any time (day or night), where I had ran into a street lined with cars set for street racing. I live in Ohio and get around to other areas. I think while the 'street racing scene' with moding cars and such is main stream; the actual street racing is done by only a few idiots here and there. I wouldn't worry about it anymore than objects falling from the sky in terms of the safety of your family.

When you no longer enjoy driving your car; I feel it is time to move on...but only of course, if it makes sense financially. I recently sold my jeep after 7 years (it was just time to move on). I bought a miata after looking at different sports cars (mainly japanese) for a while. I love it, it is soo much fun to drive...I find myself looking for excuses to drive sometimes! Being that it is my only car; there are times I wish I had more space and I'm sure I will miss 4wheel drive when the winter comes. I don't think a miata would be an ideal family car lol.

zeontestpilot > Desert Dweller 07/07/2014 at 15:07

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Ha, I have never really met anyone remotely like me, so you may be out of luck there. Plus, I'm too stubborn to actually conform to anyone or anything. I've spent years fine-tuning what kind of person I want to be, its a continuous process of me being someone I can be proud of, lol. And I aim to be consistent. Who I am online is exactly the person I am in person and at work, :)

I, personally, would love to test the limits of my cruiser. I feel like to fully understand/learn about your car, you need to try driving it at various speeds to know how long it takes to react to breaking, accelerating, turning, etc. I like to understand what I drive, and what it can and cannot do. But I am broke so tracks are a bit expensive for me.

What part of Florida? I lived in Fort Myers for a couple years; only saw a few lambos, a Ferrari, and a lotus (i begged the guy to show me it).

zeontestpilot > Alfalfa 07/07/2014 at 15:09

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Ah man, that isn't as enjoyable. Did she talk to you afterwards at least?

Alfalfa > zeontestpilot 07/07/2014 at 15:14

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Like immediately afterwards, or ever again? To the first one, short of saying that she was scared, no. To the second, yes. A little to my dismay, actually...

bob and john > zeontestpilot 07/07/2014 at 15:21

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In my area (toronto) it happens every fri and sat. its not quite to the level of F&F, and its mainly going to an industrial area at like 1am when no ones around, and drag racing. ive yet to see the F&F style races.

zeontestpilot > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 07/07/2014 at 15:21

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I told my wife the Miata should be our retirement car.....whenever that happens.

I've been driving my dad's '05 corolla (he left it at my place for the summer), and that's a blast to drive. The acceleration is touchy, the brakes react so quickly, there really isn't a dull moment driving it, unless I'm stuck in rush hour traffic coming home from Detroit. This week I'm renting a ford focus for work, so I'm curious how 'fun' that car is going to be. The Nissan Versa last week was severely lacking in the fun department.

I've had the cruiser for nearly 4 years now, with about 1.5 years left in payments. It's worth about $3000. The biggest curve ball is that somehow the title is in my dad's name, so unless the title is transferred, I'm stuck with it. He's visiting in a few weeks though.

Whats frustrating about getting a different car, is trying to figure out what I need in a car. Plus my wife and I differ in opinions of what the car should have. I know that I need a car that will fit my family, but the whole 'fun' aspect needs to be there since I am the primary driver of the car, and I use it to commute daily. *sigh* there's other variables too, but I won't get too deep into details.

zeontestpilot > bob and john 07/07/2014 at 15:23

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I think F&F would be more truthful if a bunch of cops busted all of them.

zeontestpilot > Alfalfa 07/07/2014 at 15:29

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Well, pranks are fun to pull. I like to do them to my wife, though she doesn't find them very funny...I find them hilarious.

I also like to mess with my mom, but she has become immune to it, -_-. I called her up one time, and told her I got my girlfriend pregnant. She immediately called me a liar.

Desert Dweller > zeontestpilot 07/07/2014 at 15:35

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Miami and Orlando, good lord, every time I visit those impossibly flat and straight roads people in fast cars scream down them. There's also numerous high-end tuning shops in the states of Texas and Florida.

bob and john > zeontestpilot 07/07/2014 at 15:36

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I'll admit i went to watch a couple of times. usually something nice shows up, and it intresting to see an R8 pull up to the "meet" with 4 bikers as an entourage. when the cops come thgouh..it is a scramble EXACTLY like the F&F2. just more intense because you are actually there.
I dont run. no reason to. but its funny to watch them do in all the different directions

zeontestpilot > bob and john 07/07/2014 at 15:38

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Dude...I want to see them scramble. It would look exactly like a bunch of cats scared and running. Maybe video tape it, put some yakety sax music to it, it would be perfect....

zeontestpilot > Desert Dweller 07/07/2014 at 15:39

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The roads in Florida are no fun. Actually, I don't even like straight roads. I prefer the ones where I currently like, in Livingston County, MI. The back roads are the best.

bob and john > zeontestpilot 07/07/2014 at 15:45

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its really really funny. I'm not gunny lie. but its not long. they are gone (100 or so cars) in 10 seconds. not long enoguh for yankee sax music

zeontestpilot > bob and john 07/07/2014 at 15:55

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All I need is 10 seconds of the sax playing and I'll be content. Maybe some extra footage of them running in a bunch of doors in a hallway, just for kicks.

yamahog > zeontestpilot 07/07/2014 at 16:07

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Serious??? Nothing in Michigan?? Off the top of my head:

Grattan: http://www.grattanraceway.com/schedule.html

Gingerman: http://www.gingermanraceway.com/event-calendar…

Waterford: http://www.waterfordhills.com/

Milan: http://www.milandragway.com/

Putnam (in Indiana): http://thextremexperience.com/tracks/putnam-…

And Mid-Ohio is more expensive, but there you have it.

zeontestpilot > yamahog 07/07/2014 at 16:15

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In my defense, I'm new to the car world. I may of grown up in MI, but before I couldn't tell you the difference between a GM or a Ford. Thankfully, Jalopnik and Oppo have taught me much in the way of cars.

Essentially, I'm always learning something new about cars. It's why I like to ask questions on stuff I don't know, :).

yamahog > zeontestpilot 07/07/2014 at 16:19

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No problem, now go enjoy! I just did a track day at Grattan this weekend (albeit on two wheels) and it was AWESOME.

zeontestpilot > yamahog 07/07/2014 at 16:29

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I'm gonna look into them, thanks!

KnowsAboutCars > zeontestpilot 07/07/2014 at 17:02

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Yeah

bob and john > zeontestpilot 07/07/2014 at 17:40

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hmm. I'll see what I can do.
doing this for you mr.zip.

I will need at least 2 weeks though

zeontestpilot > bob and john 07/07/2014 at 18:52

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I sort of want to watch the scene in F&F2, using the same treatment...

Makoyouidiot > zeontestpilot 07/07/2014 at 19:41

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Welcome to Texas....third beep means go.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search…