It's about damn time

[Gfaules]

Check out the following news article that explains how law enforcement in Souther Cal is attempting to curb street racing by confiscating cars and taking them to the car crusher. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19339955/

 

 

While some may feel this is too strong of a punishment I applaud it. Now keep in mind I'm not talking about talking someone's car who got caught for a speeding ticket or too loud of an exhaust but rather those who choose to show absolutely no respect or concern for others on public highways. And furthermore this is not just a So Cal problem either as we see it on a daily basis here in Nor Cal as well.

 

For those who have a heavy foot and love cars if you want to pay the price when going a little too fast I don't have a problem with it. But for those who are willing to put everyone's life at risk so they can prove how fast their car is or how cool or macho they are I have no sympathy whatsoever. I ask myself how would I feel if I got a call from the CHP asking me to come down to the morgue to identify one of my children's body because someone was street racing and ran them off the road.

 

Like any other young person with a fast car I can remember what it was like to "take chances" but today's youth can now afford to take speeding and street racing to a whole next level with regards to speeding not to mention the highways are far more crowed today than they were some 30 years ago.

 

It's simply too bad these kids cannot be persuaded to take it to the track with originations such as NASA where the racing environment gives us all a safe place to enjoy going fast and learn car control. The next time you have a chance do yourself and NASA a big favor and those whom you care for... invite a young adult who has never been to the track for the day. Considering the never ending popularity of the Mustang eveyone will enjoy themselves. Take them for a ride and let them bring a friend to help around the pits. Hand them a stop watch and make them feel important. Before long they will bring a friend along and then say a few well thought words to tell them how smart it is to go fast on the track and NOT on the public highways. After all, we all know coming from a friend it sounds cool but coming from a parent it sounds stupid. As drivers we can make a difference and even if it only makes a difference in a small percentage that's huge.

[swhiteh3]

If it was only aimed at obvious chronic street racing, I might support it. But I've seen people get citations for "street racing" for a quick tire chirp, or simply shifting at too high an RPM... Time will tell how badly this law is abused...

[ajobrien]

All the cars looked like honda's. I live in norcal and it is ths same thing here.

 

I don't even like to drive my track car to the gas station.

[JWL]

An interesting point in the article is that all of those cars had faulty VIN's or hot parts on them. The excuses the kids involved gave all sounded like "dog ate my homework" stuff and I hope at least some of them learned a lesson, although I somehow doubt it given some of the asinine comments.

 

So, what can we do? Just as Gary said. Invite the kid next door or across the gas station island from you to a NASA event or for that matter any sort of sanctioned competition where they can see how fun it can be doing it the right way. Hopefully we can save a few lives and populate the next generation of racers who will take over when us old guys are sitting around talking about how fast we were.

 

-JWL

[swhiteh3]

But John... those young kids will NEVER be as fast as us, so why would they want to come out and be embarassed!...

[JWL]

...spoken like a true 'bout-to-be-old guy.

 

-JWL

 

"Remember back in Ought-Two when we used to race them gas burners?"

[Gfaules]

...spoken like a true 'bout-to-be-old guy.

 

-JWL

 

"Remember back in Ought-Two when we used to race them gas burners?"

 

Twenty three skidoo. Move over you kids or I'll run ya both over and believe me you have no idea what damage is until you have been ran over by an old man and his walker. Why I've got moves the likes of which neither of you have ever seen.

[V8cobra99]

This post does not belong in the AI forum.

[Gfaules]

This post does not belong in the AI forum.

 

Why not. Are you saying it's beneath the mustang crowd to get involved with anything that helps the community or to help promote NASA? Or are you suggesting I should have posted it in some forum where it would not have received the attention I felt it would have. I posted it here simply because in my opinion the American Iron group are an open-minded, community conscientious group that would take the subject to heart. Racing isn't always about racing. Sometimes it's about helping others and some groups seem to be willing to do more than others.

 

Director of NASA Mentor Program

Edited June 24, 2007 by Guest

[nape]

It's simply too bad these kids cannot be persuaded to take it to the track with originations such as NASA where the racing environment gives us all a safe place to enjoy going fast and learn car control.

 

I'm probably still in that age group (23), so I'll throw in my $.02.

 

Just like everything else in life, it's all about money. I used to street race and hang around with guys that did because it was too expensive to take it to the drag strip and that was only $40-50 for the close track on a Test 'n Tune night. Do you fill the nitrous bottle or pay the entry fee? Running it on a dark 2 lane in the middle of nowhere was free (and you got to prep your lane however you wanted ).

 

Oh, and you have more money for parts because there's no safety gear required. Want to run a 10 second car on the street with no helmet or cage? It's your brain!

 

None of my drag race buddies understand why I switched over because of how much more money it is. Hell, the travelling/hotel/entry fee budget alone for a season is close to $4k and that's not counting consumables, parts that break, the initial cost of the safety equipment, or keeping the tow rig in shape. Imagine trying to race and live on $20-25k year gross, it doesn't leave much for anything other then racing. Most people can't handle that commitment and won't make the sacrifices.

 

How did I originally rationalize it? A drag racing ticket costs more then a DUI around here. How do I rationalize it now? I don't, I just can't put the go-fast crack pipe down.

 

There you go, the ramblings of a former street racer turned track addict.

[Gfaules]

Nape,

 

Very good post and thanks for the integrity and honesty.

 

I am sure almost everyone here can relate with your post and honestly we all came from those exact same backgrounds. But there are some major differences in that when we were your age, there was not even half as much traffic as there is today or at least in the major metropolitan areas we are talking about. If we were talking about making a pass or two on some out of the way street where nobody was in harms way that would be a different subject but we are not. The major street racing concerns that are most pressing is those idiots that are doing 120 miles per hour while weaving recklessly in and out of rush hour traffic. I have no remorse whatsoever should they get their cars crushed.

On the other hand I used to use the very same reasoning as you just made, cost, time, etc and now as an responsible race car driver I feel it partially my responsibility to put forth an effort to get young people like you out to the track and off the street and even members of NASA.

 

If I told you that you that if you helped out my team in the pits on weekends that I would help pay your weekend entry fee and help you out with some spare parts wouldn't you be interested? By being around the track this is exactly what could happen and then you could then have your cake and eat it too. This is just the point I think we as NASA members could make to potential members such as you. This takes you off the street, puts you in a safe environment and grooms you as a future NASA member. Besides, if Murphy's Law nipped you in the butt and you only hurt or killed one person, could you then justify the savings?

 

When you crunch the numbers as to the value of a dollar when I was your age (early 70's) as compared to today the entry fee for a weekend at the track is the bargain of the century. Then if you consider what a speeding/racing ticket cost and then add on the increase in insurance you can't even begin to tell me you are saving money. We haven't even touched on the topic of actually learning proper car control from a "knowledgeable" instructor let alone being responsible yet. When I started I assumed I knew it all. It didn't take long before even the NASA gals were putting me to shame. (Am I beginning to sound like your dad? LOL)

 

What better crowd to learn from than the American Iron crowd.

[nape]

The major street racing concerns that are most pressing is those idiots that are doing 120 miles per hour while weaving recklessly in and out of rush hour traffic. I have no remorse whatsoever should they get their cars crushed.

 

I guess street racing has a different definition to everyone, but that's not street racing to me. That's being a freakin' ricer retard. Street racing is a drag race, from a stop (not a stoplight), to whoever gets to the mark first. Period. "Real" street racers hate those idiots more then you do because it draws attention.

 

If I told you that you that if you helped out my team in the pits on weekends that I would help pay your weekend entry fee and help you out with some spare parts wouldn't you be interested? By being around the track this is exactly what could happen and then you could then have your cake and eat it too. This is just the point I think we as NASA members could make to potential members such as you. This takes you off the street, puts you in a safe environment and grooms you as a future NASA member. Besides, if Murphy's Law nipped you in the butt and you only hurt or killed one person, could you then justify the savings?

 

That's a noble thought, but we aren't racing for money. There aren't paid crew positions (if there are, sign me up!). This is amateur road racing. We race for Winner stickers and plastic trophies. Most do their own wrenching, design, and fabrication. Don't get me wrong, I try to bring anyone I can along to get a feel for it, but it's hardly realistic to pay for a weekend entry fee for crewing. NASA doesn't even have that good a deal for volunteers.

 

As far as Murphy's Law, it's the "it won't happen to me" mentality. I'm the anomaly, not the standard.

 

When you crunch the numbers as to the value of a dollar when I was your age (early 70's) as compared to today the entry fee for a weekend at the track is the bargain of the century. Then if you consider what a speeding/racing ticket cost and then add on the increase in insurance you can't even begin to tell me you are saving money. We haven't even touched on the topic of actually learning proper car control from a "knowledgeable" instructor let alone being responsible yet. When I started I assumed I knew it all. It didn't take long before even the NASA gals were putting me to shame.

 

Having a better value of a dollar or not, it was still a week's worth of take home pay per event when I started 2 years ago. You are saving money racing on the street, until/if you get caught.

 

(Am I beginning to sound like your dad? LOL)

 

What better crowd to learn from than the American Iron crowd.

 

Nah, my dad used to tell me we should go run dirt. Now he says we need to get an AI motor and some brakes on this hot rod

 

I owe a lot to the guys running Firebirds in the MW region. If not for them saying to come check it out, I'd probably still be running around on the street.

[Gfaules]

"I owe a lot to the guys running Firebirds in the MW region. If not for them saying to come check it out, I'd probably still be running around on the street."

 

In that case you are the perfect example of how NASA can contribute to getting young people to the track by setting an example.