fellow TCer's,
i just thought i would share my experience with everyone that i had this weekend.....
I used to think that street racing was cool and fun, well not so much anymore! this weekend i was with my friend riding in his integra (i know its an import but it was a ride since my velle isn't done yet) and we were just generally being stupid all night. well it was about one in the morning and we were racing this other guy (forget what type of car it was, but it was an import too) and i told my buddy that maybe he should slow down because i saw a 35 mph corner coming up and we were doing around 90. well he didn't slow down and we took the corner going WAY too fast spun into a ditch, hit a tree, then the car rolled over. It wasn't any fun at all, but luckily no one was hurt, except for a couple of bruises and scratches, since we were wearing our seatbelts. the car was completely totalled and this was my friends third ticket....he only got 55 in a 35 and reckless driving. he got off lucky. sorry this is so long i just thought everyone could learn from my mistakes....
hope anyone who street races gets something out of this...KEEP IT AT THE STRIP, its not worth getting hurt, or even worse wrecking your chevelle!!!
-jay

Originally posted by 69chevelle355:
I used to think that street racing was cool and fun... No offense, but I stopped reading after that part. You might get more attention in the Bench Racing forums.

Go back and read it Mike! The key words used are "use to"!! Jay I don't have to tell you how lucky you and all involved were. Glad nobody was hurt and that you are around to tell your story and pass on some good advice to other. You said "we were just generally being stupid all night" It took me a long time to realize that's what my buddies and I did every night for what seems like forever. I have no doubt your experience will keep you from doing as many stupid things in the future. We often have members clip something from a local paper and share but when it's a personal story maybe it has more impact!! Take it to the track...

sorry dudes....
i guess i should of posted it in bench racing, i just thought people could learn a valuable lesson from that story.
-jay

Jay, for sure. Don't mind where it goes as long as its read. Rolling a car isnt any effing bench racing. Almost did it myself at 17 with a hopped up Nova, cop on my tail and I knew it wouldnt make the turn ( all jacked up and handled like ****).

Its one thing putting your own ballz in a vise, but not others around or the three buds in the car with you. I stopped, cop got me, nobody hurt.

No more, ever. Figured I was lucky. ONCE.

Its a good story no matter where its posted, good lesson also. Ive been in a roll over myself. I hope wheni get my chevelle done i can hold off on racing it till i can make it to the closest track. then again i am 22 and still young and stupid.... hope i can be a good boy...

Jay, sometimes the difference between learning something important or not has to do with living through the experience. Glad to hear you both learned and lived.

Being young and stupid and a slow learner once upon a time I can admit that on separate occaisons: I triple rolled a car, spun out around a few corners, laid down a few motorcycles on the street, missed a corner at speed on a motorcycle and ran into a barbed wire fence (OUCH!), and other assorted madness. I'm pretty sure it was the motorcycle into the fence that changed my outlook. Many years and many responsibilities later I am now a fairly conservative street driver.

Thomas

Honestly guys. You need a story to prove the liekly outcome of street racing?

I can share some.
Oh no, wait, mine would glorify the concept and get banned.

Here's a topic: "Don't be stupid, your integra can't corner at 90MPH".

And I did read the story. It had nothing to do with racing an "oponent", rather the driver's inability to control his car. The other car being beside him may have fueled his anxiety causing lack of judgement... 'eh never mind.

-Jay, I am sorry for sounding overly rude to youa nd your friend. :(

That is a good story in that I'm rebuilding an engine in my first chevelle and for the little while i did drive it, it was'nt hard to get me to run a little and this is a good reminder of what not to do especially if it is a ricer.Thanks graemlins/thumbsup.gif
John

Here's another object lesson for you. Stop reading now if you are squeamish.

Back in the days when The Dukes of Hazard was on the air, a friend of mine had a quite sobering experience. He lived on a small side street three doors down from an intersection with a major boulevard. About 70 yards previous to his intersection, the Blvd. intersected another major road and that intersection was 50 feet across. The approach to that intersection was a small hill which formed a ramp. Well 5 teens in a high performance Chev decided to immitate the fqamous scene in Bullet. They are estimated to have been going about 100 when they hit the top of the small hill and witnesses report they were about 15-20 feet airborne as they sailed over the intersection. When they landed the car began to disintegrate, and the pieces slid to a stop at the small intersection where my friend was. He was on his porch having a beer, and hearing all the noise, he ran to the sight of the wreck. He said the engine and axles were all torn out but the main hulk of the body was right there in front of him. There was a girl's leg caught in the slightly ajar door. Thinking he had to help, he ran right up and yanked the door open. He instantaneously violently puked up his dinner when a wheelbarrow full of hot stinking, stemaing guts came pouring out around his legs. And he was wearing shorts! All he could do was walk away. They were all dead.

I yanked a door open on a horse trailer once and a wheelbarrow full of horse crap fell out!


Rocky

That dukes of hazzard story is pretty sobering. I do admit to driving stupid occasionally. I try to make it a point to be sure NOBODY else is on the road and I DON'T carry passengers when doing it. They put thier life in your hands when they get in your vehicle and you should respect them enough to take that responsibility seriously.

I have street raced alot in my younger days, but we had a long straight stretch of highway with fields on each side, and we NEVER ran a car with a passenger. I am not glorifying street racing, as I try to advise teens against it.
Worst we ever did was tear up some fence, and let the farmer's cows out! (Yes I do live in a rural area)
It was almost like American Grafitti, where Milner says "Paradise Road" and everybody knew where to go.
I agree with BB Mike though, common sense should have come into play.

Just my .02
Virgil

My 14 year old son watches my old street racing videos of 20 years ago with much attention. One particular run was against a 70Nova SS running a tunnel rammed LT1 with a muncie and 4.56s. I got the Nova on the big end but only because of driver error--it ran real strong. Last year I found that Nova less engine and bought it for my son. We've been building the car as time and funds permit but I often get a bad feeling wondering if this is the right thing to do. The kid has alot of interest in the old muscle cars and he gets straight A's in school-much more responsible than me when I was his age. He's heard all of my old stories about all of the mistakes I have made street racing etc. but I hope he doesn't end up wrapping this car around a tree. I guess in all reality though, it doesn't matter what kind of car, muscle car, compact, suv, truck--carelessness and reckless driving cause accidents. Anyways, it's been a fun project, the kid wants to be an engineer for GM.
Sorry, I got alittle off topic hear. Interesting if/after you survive the careless years you worry your about your kids making it through ok. Personally I still like to drive alittle on the wild side, nothing compared to years ago though :cool:

I don't street race, but I saw some pics on the web of some poor bastards who wrecked a Ferarri somewhere in Mexico, and that was enough to make me nervous just doing the speed limit. Bits and pieces of them everywhere. The human body isn't very durable when it's being ground up by steel and asphalt.

Originally posted by ZZ69chevelle:
I don't street race, but I saw some pics on the web of some poor bastards who wrecked a Ferarri somewhere in Mexico, and that was enough to make me nervous just doing the speed limit. Bits and pieces of them everywhere. The human body isn't very durable when it's being ground up by steel and asphalt. I seen that one too,i think it was on rotten.com

Originally posted by 69chevelle355:
we were just generally being stupid all night
i saw a 35 mph corner coming up and we were doing around 90 Good post Jay regardless. I think the main problem isn't street racing... it is stupidity which you have admitted to in the following two statements. Combine this with more cars on the streets, less unpopulated and industrial areas to race in, then add to the scaracity of race tracks and the prices some of them charge and it doesn't surprise me that people street race. I just wish they would have a little more brains... find a solid mile straight way outside of town and line em up in the wee hours of the morn when almost no one is out. Is it 100% safe... of course not, but alot safer racing by a curve or with traffic.

Here in MN we have 8 second cars that line up on the street if you are in the know. 10-12 second cars are pretty normal. Sadly the remote street racing spot that has been used for decades was closed down with baricads early last summer. Combine that with the closest track to us is an hour plus away and the guy charges double or more then most other tracks around with prep work that is terrible. Many hook better with a radial on the street. A new track was proposed last fall to be built about 40 minutes south of Minneapolis only to get slaughtered by the "Not in my backyard" folks. With this said... It becomes quite a bit tougher to "Take it to the track!". I put the car up on the trailer and go, but not everyone is that lucky or that motivated.

Good post and thanks for reminding all of us how dangerous racing can be in an uncontrolled environment. Glad you're OK. ;)

Originally posted by CaptCrunch:
I think the main problem isn't street racing... it is stupidity Street racing is stupidity

Baddbob 71, I too am restoring the 72 SS for my son who is 13 and wonder the same thing. Although I did allot of street racing I was never hurt, but quit when my brother was a passenger and now has wire and crap holding his cheek bones together, thank God he is alive. I hope I am doing the right thing and use every chance I get to show him examples of stupidity and carelessness. My wife wants me to install an airbag in the 72 SS, at first I laughed....but then thought "could it be done?"

Make him pay for most of the car like I did when I was 14-16 and he should respect it more. I paid for everything including insurance.

Did I still get tickets, yes, but the majority of the time I took it to the track.

Give a 16 year old a car with a big block which he has none of his own money in and you can just about guarantee it will be abused. I do believe in keeping the engine pretty tame to start with. I thought my 14 sec car was super fast when I was 16. If I had a 12 second car then I probably would have gotten into a lot more trouble. Any kid is going to mess around. I'd rather it be with 275 HP than 500 to start with.


I really feel for people that have no track close. That is just begging for problems, young and old.

My local track has 2 tnt's that kids can race at every week for $10. Doesn't get much better than that.

Make him pay for most of the car like I did when I was 14-16 and he should respect it more. I paid for everything including insurance.
I totally agree, I worked hard for everything I owned when I was a kid. Never had Mom and Dad's insurance either- which was good for them. My boy has been parting cars on ebay to pay for the Nova project. He has been learning alot-much more than I new at his age. He's been really responsible and if the grades stay up I'll support the project 100%.
With all the work he's putting into this I'm sure he will take care of it. graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Clays72ss


posted 01-28-2004 10:45 AM
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Baddbob 71, I too am restoring the 72 SS for my son who is 13 and wonder the same thing. COOL, glad to here another kid is into these old cars. I plan on detuning this car for awhile to let him get used to the car and show reponsibility. Bob

so i guess im still a kid, huh? :D
im only 16 and ive been working on my velle for over a year now. my parents havne't payed a penny for it and i have to pay insurance and gas money as well as anything else i need when i get my license. glad to know im not the only "kid" who has to pay for his own stuff amongst a parking lot of bimmers and porshces at my school.

Its' not just cars, if you can go fast in it you will. Coworker who is a dolt, was advised by all not to buy a certain snowmobile. He being the big stupid macho moron he is bought the fastest sled out. With no previous experience riding he totaled it out in 40 miles by hitting a tree not once but twice. It wasn't his fault he still claims it was the sleds poor steering. :rolleyes:

Street Racing is stupid....period.
I do not buy the " the closest track is an hour or more away. So we street race" argument. There are MANY people on this site that live 2-3 hours from a track and still take the responsibility to load up the car or drive the car to a sanctioned track. I know personally 4 or 5 members here in Georgia that drive in excess of 1 hour to the closest track (Commerce) and 2-3 hours to the other track in the area (Silver Dollar). I bet you'll never see Kjett, Billscamino, Georgia69, vonswanko, and I KNOW you will never see USFATL in a street race.....

Sorry to ramble on. Street racing really pisses me off especially when it is usually the innocent that get hurt.

Regards,

Here's another story to help enlighten the young and physics deficient that happened just this past year in Denver. Two friends who ran a small performance garage in a warehouse district in North Denver decided to test out their '70 SS 454 on the 3/4 mile acesss straightaway drive to the compound. The straightaway was terminated on the far side by a row of standard height solid concrete loading docks These were not kids, they were in their 30's. It is assumed they thouht it perfectly save to open 'er up as the access road had chain link fence on either side so no traffic would suddenly show up from the sides. Somthing went terribly wrong. Throttle stuck, Hot wired ignition made it where they couldn't shut her down, brake fade?? All anyone really knows is that they hit the loading dock head on at what was probably over 100. On the 9News station, you could actually see impressions into the concrete of the grill and headlamp rings. I heard that the car had compressed down to only 7 feet with the engine and trans shoved into the trunk along with food processed parts of the dudes. These guys supposedly knew what they were doing, but things can still go bad. So remember the basic formula regarding kinetic energy. One half Mass times Velocity squared. Which means that the impact force at 100 MPH (100 x100 = 10.000) will be 25 times more violent than breaking to a collision at 20MPH (20 x 20+ 400) I have been told that anything beyond 1500 for the MPH velocity factor will generally tear open a sack of potatoes. I think the same is probably true for potato-heads as well.

Originally posted by 69chevelle355:
so i guess im still a kid, huh? :D
im only 16 and ive been working on my velle for over a year now. my parents havne't payed a penny for it and i have to pay insurance and gas money as well as anything else i need when i get my license. glad to know im not the only "kid" who has to pay for his own stuff amongst a parking lot of bimmers and porshces at my school. Even if it annoys or makes you angry now, some day you will be glad you had to pay for it yourself. It keeps you in the real world and you will repsect the car a lot more. I know too many people that are 25-30 that still think mommy and daddy have to pay for everything (and many of the parents still do).
My parents are not too happy that I am sinking money into an old car, but I moved out and have paid my own way since I was 20 and got out of college so there really isn't much they can say.

Let 'em have their bimmers and porches. Your car is way cooler and you don't need a street race to prove it.

Originally posted by daveseitz:
Its' not just cars, if you can go fast in it you will. Coworker who is a dolt, was advised by all not to buy a certain snowmobile. He being the big stupid macho moron he is bought the fastest sled out. With no previous experience riding he totaled it out in 40 miles by hitting a tree not once but twice. It wasn't his fault he still claims it was the sleds poor steering. :rolleyes: Its hard to steer with the ski's in the air. :eek: I bet the problem was what was attached to the handlebars graemlins/clonk.gif

Originally posted by USFATL:
Street Racing is stupid....period.
I do not buy the " the closest track is an hour or more away. So we street race" argument. There are MANY people on this site that live 2-3 hours from a track and still take the responsibility to load up the car or drive the car to a sanctioned track. I know personally 4 or 5 members here in Georgia that drive in excess of 1 hour to the closest track (Commerce) and 2-3 hours to the other track in the area (Silver Dollar). I bet you'll never see Kjett, Billscamino, Georgia69, vonswanko, and I KNOW you will never see USFATL in a street race.....

Sorry to ramble on. Street racing really pisses me off especially when it is usually the innocent that get hurt.

Regards, I hear ya and I take 10+ hour trips out to Joliet, Mid-Michigan, etc. Any race enthusiast will travel an hour plus to race. That is no question. The problem is the people who race often are not a race enthusiast much of the time. Why drive 2 hours and pay 70 dollars for a crappy T&T track with no VHT when you can drive 10-30 minutes and race for free? I personally don't street race anymore... my car is way too much for racing on the street and the power can't be controlled on most DOT's matted to the street. Add in if you get caught... bad bad things man. Then of course there is the danger aspect... I no longer think I'm invincible like in my days of being 17 and 18 LOL (I wish I felt as good now as I did then LOL... damn this getting older) But I'm also not so far removed from the days of having a 12-13 second car, not much money, and a group of friends wanting to have a little grudge match racing as many folks are. It is simply my opinion if a local area wants to put an end to street racing it needs to do more then say "take it to the track". A local area really needs to concentrate on givingthese people a place to perform these activities in a safe enviroment.

Street racing is like smoking cigerettes... it is dangerous to the smoker... it is dangerous for the people around it and to many innocent parties... yet you can still smoke in most places and still buy a pack of smokes on every corner.

A classic case of a stupid moron kid that thinks he's a good driver because it looks easy on tv. Street racing always happens, even if there was a free track weekly in every city, it would still happen. I believe that there is such thing as responsible street racing. Street racing is stupid, but one could argue so is taking a car with no role cage past the drivers limits on a road course and rolling it. As I was saying, if one is gonna do a race on the street, do it where there are no cars, no intersections, no cross walks. No people standing on the shoulder of the road. If the roads are wet, gravely, or snowy, dont do it. And when all things are clear, u dont need to take it up to 130 mph or more. Shut it down early.

90 mph going into a 35 mph corner, is your friend seriously that stupid? I may be coming off a bit harsh, but you see so many times on the news about "street racing causing accidents". When really its dumbasses like this that cause them. I'm glad he didnt kill you or anybody else when he crashed, but at least he wont do something stupid like that again. And I'm sure u wont push your chevelle past your own limits on the street when u get it on the road.

Don't worry about paying for everything for your car 69Chevelle355.....the other guys are right, you will appreciate it later. (I'm only 19, and have had to pay for every penny of my car and what went with it) When I bought my 71' I payed just shy of $7,000 for it, and then about 6 months later (3k miles) it ate up two camshafts and I had to completely tear the engine apart. It sat there for 2 years, not running, unfortunately outside, as I was still paying it off. I finally have saved up enough money to get her going again (the engine should be going in within the next month :D ) but it's going to cost me $2,000 now. I guess my point is that you really do appreciate it more when you do your own work to it and put YOUR own money into it. A real man builds his own car, and THAT is what deserves respect. graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Sorry this is soo long......i'm glad to hear you're ok. You should kick you friend's a$$ for that one. :D

Beautiful car USFATL.

haha, horse crap... nice rocky graemlins/beers.gif haha, damn thats funny. im on this post late im going to read the rest. Buckle up fellas :eek:

ever notice how the street racers tend to have underpowered, unsafe turds that would not impress anyone at the track?