I don't understand the wide approval for the Gumball Rally.

"AntiSpeed" (AntiSpeed)
05/05/2016 at 14:35 • Filed to: None

Street racing is universally despised by car enthusiasts, and rightly so. It puts innocent people at significant risk, because the perps are too cheap/lazy/whatthefuckelse to go to a real race track. But when really rich people do it with high-end exotics, suddenly it’s ok? Especially since these guys can easily afford to race in well-funded, properly sanctioned racing series. They’re deliberately choosing to be reckless.

What the fuck?

DISCUSSION (36)

Rainbow > AntiSpeed
05/05/2016 at 14:36

Couldn’t agree more.

BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. > AntiSpeed
05/05/2016 at 14:37

It’s not every participant. A select few assholes tarnish the reputation of the entire event. Also, it’s not street racing.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > AntiSpeed
05/05/2016 at 14:38

Because people are stupid.

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > AntiSpeed
05/05/2016 at 14:41

I feel like nobody on oppo approves of it

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > AntiSpeed
05/05/2016 at 14:41

Street racing from a dig and/or on well-travelled streets is dumb and reckless. That being said, if you’re on an empty and straight country road at night with fields on both sides, have spotters, and want to do some rolls with your buddies, then it isn’t that bad.

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest.
05/05/2016 at 14:41

But people do race on streets. Just because it’s doesn’t look like a typical race meet doesn’t mean it isn’t street racing

BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
05/05/2016 at 14:45

That’s what I mean. A few do break the speed limits and race, but the majority of the participants are there for the drive and follow the law.

Gone > AntiSpeed
05/05/2016 at 14:46

Generalizing....

Most are probably not good enough to even be drivers that pay for their seat. Also, they think they’re special because they have money. Surprise, they’re not.

Ash78, voting early and often > AntiSpeed
05/05/2016 at 14:50

I guess because you can go a lifetime without ever seeing a Gumball participant, but street racing happens every day, all over the world. Sheer numbers.

AntiSpeed > Gone
05/05/2016 at 14:52

If you’ve got enough money, there’s always a place to race. Ferrari Challenge and Porsche Cup cater to the more-money-than-talent market.

Aaron M - MasoFiST > AntiSpeed
05/05/2016 at 14:54

The point of Gumball is to fuck around with expensive cars during the day, and party at night, all with other people who have a lot of money. It has nothing to do with racing per se, and even if it did, road rallies are technically supposed to be run at or around the speed limit.

AntiSpeed > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
05/05/2016 at 14:56

You might be right but their facebook page has over 600k likes, articles on Jalopnik and other places that seem to cast it in a positive light, and I don’t see people calling them out very often.

interstate366, now In The Industry > AntiSpeed
05/05/2016 at 14:56

I don’t get it either.

AntiSpeed > BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest.
05/05/2016 at 14:57

What is it supposed to be? Just an organized casual drive?

Gone > AntiSpeed
05/05/2016 at 14:57

True. Ferrari Challenge is a joke and would seem right up their alley. They’re really just idiots then. If they would only endanger themselves, I wouldn’t care.

Bytemite > AntiSpeed
05/05/2016 at 14:59

I’m fine with other people street racing. Just as long as they keep it sane and sensible. Like a little 0-60 race at a stoplight at 1 am isn’t going to hurt anybody.

BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. > AntiSpeed
05/05/2016 at 15:04

Yes. There’s a bunch of events like it, it’s just this one seems to attract a bunch of idiots.

AntiSpeed > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
05/05/2016 at 15:06

I guess it’s not *that* bad, but I still think it’s taking unnecessary risks. You never know when someone will be driving home from the graveyard shift. And anyways being on a track or drag strip would be more fun. That way you can concentrate 100% on performance, and you don’t have to keep an eye out for cops or other people.

EL_ULY > AntiSpeed
05/05/2016 at 15:08

douche lambo gym bro festival of speed

Bytemite > AntiSpeed
05/05/2016 at 15:08

Because tracks an d drag strips aren’t in your backyard and aren’t open at midnight and aren’t free. Why is this so hard to understand for some people. Have you ever been to a track? You don’t just get up and go.

for Michigan > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
05/05/2016 at 15:10

No.

Take it to a track.

samssun > AntiSpeed
05/05/2016 at 15:34

“Street racing” is universally despised by people who enjoy loudly disapproving of things on the internet. The rest of us can tell the difference between opening it up on open roads with artificially low limits, and drifting through neighborhoods.

And when you’re in high performance cars with chase helicopters and two-way radio coordination up and down the road, I imagine the risk is even lower.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > for Michigan
05/05/2016 at 15:48

You do realize that the main reason people street race is because they’re too far from the track or can’t cough up money for it, right?

for Michigan > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
05/05/2016 at 15:58

Doesn’t make it any less reckless.

Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
05/05/2016 at 15:59

This has been proved wrong time and time again. Most people are too lazy/don’t want to follow rules at the track.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > for Michigan
05/05/2016 at 16:00

I agree, but when done with some precautions, it’s no worse than doing 80 on a 55 two-lane in daylight.

Berang > AntiSpeed
05/05/2016 at 16:22

Because it’s rich people getting to do what they want, and fuck everybody else. But “everybody else” is perhaps dumb enough to think it’s “fuck the system” instead. Confusing this for canonball type shenanigans, unfortunately.

GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo > AntiSpeed
05/05/2016 at 16:35

I find it pretty funny that nearly everyone on here and the FP find a way to stand on a soapbox and shout about how speeding is bad. Seriously, I would love to look at the data and see how much excessive speeding actually happens on a rally.

TheJMan92 > Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes
05/05/2016 at 17:11

Eh, I don’t know. I don’t street race, but I have been trying to get some track time. My nearest tracks are about an hour and a half drive one way, and track time sure isn’t cheap. Most I’ve considered want something like $65+ for what may be half an hour of track time. Don’t forget that most places require a helmet as well.

It’s great if I have a weekend and some cash to dedicate to driving out and just hanging around the track all day waiting for my run(s) but so far that hasn’t happened. I’m not saying street racing is a good alternative, but I wouldn’t necessarily say tracks are easy enough or cheap enough to utilize.

Liam Farrell > AntiSpeed
05/05/2016 at 17:11

There are a few good drivers in the event, but most are just there for the party. I know there are/were some actual good drivers such as Alex Roy, Lewis Hamilton and Jon Olsson, but most are just rich people with expensive cars. I think it would be fun to experience once, but I think people would just get pretty annoying with their big egos.

TheJMan92 > AntiSpeed
05/05/2016 at 17:12

Hot Rod Power Tour? We participated last year and that’s exactly what is was. We never saw anyone racing or terrorizing the streets. I’m not saying it doesn’t happen, but that’s a large gathering of gearheads that seems pretty under control.

Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes > TheJMan92
05/05/2016 at 19:56

While what you say is true I think the biggest factors are equipment (like helmets which you could argue has to do with the money) and problems with insurance.

moejr > BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest.
05/05/2016 at 20:28

Its just a bad 98% that makes it bad for the rest of them.

for Michigan > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
05/06/2016 at 04:11

Which is idiotic...

pImpOfThePerverse > AntiSpeed
05/06/2016 at 07:29

I think it’s technically a rally, and therefore not incompatible with best practices. That said, it is still the height of vulgarity and in the worst possible taste.

TheJMan92 > Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes
05/06/2016 at 13:02

Absolutely, helmets aren’t cheap! That is a good point, there is a not insignificant upfront cost to an activity that includes purposefully putting your car at risk. Add the expense of track day insurance and you do have quite an investment for your first AutoX/HPDE.

I’ll get there, hopefully soon, but I can see why some people (including some of my acquaintances) take the “eh, just go beat it on a back road” view.