Is a well performing car a thing that you can "let it hang out" on the street. BS. I have only seen a few posts that say they take their cars to a Drag Strip. Are the others afraid to take it to the local "strip"? My age may now be over the hump, but I never belived in street racing, but I would still take my El Camino to the strip. May be because a lot of people owen "show and no go".
Al, this should start a interesting few days.

One problem around here is a lack of places to (legally) run your car. I don't condone street racing but I understand why it happens. Kids (and adults) are going to race no matter what. If a strip isn't available, the street is all they can use.

Kurt

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The 68 Chevelle info page. [last updated Nov. 30, 98]
www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Garage/6873/Chevelle/68_Chevelle_Info.html (http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Garage/6873/Chevelle/68_Chevelle_Info.html)
Email: Kbyfield@terracom.net
A.C.E.S. #1352

You bet! We tryed "lett'in it all hang out"
off the street but you can imagine the problems! what with the rocks and armadillos poping up at a hundret miles an hour. The track is 120 miles away, ok for
settleing arguments saturday nites. But for
that daily jolt of adrenalian its either the street or the Wal-Mart parking lot ( space
to get going but not enough room to stop ).
Note: Most of the serious runners around here are old dudes like me 45 going on 15.
I didn't build these monsters to look at, I built them for near death experences and to
keep the tire manufactures in expensive suites.
Harley

I got caught street racing when I was 17 and as it turned out, we could've ( a car load of guys)got hurt or wiped out. It wasn't the fine, or the classes, or the ass whippin' I was threatened with, it was the fact that IF I had made that last turn ( I decided to take on the officers Mopar after he caught me decimating a friends GTO with my Chevy - way bad move )my three buddies and I would've been tumbling end over end through the field in a Nova. And no we weren't drunk or high, it was just the adrenaline. Reminds me of the ZZ Top song "Master of Sparks".

I didn't buy a '67 Chevelle to put my old 427 in so I can show it around town. The thrill for me is the mechanical beast that roars. But, on the street, there's just too many things that you can't control, like kids and dogs. So a couple of buddies on a backroad highway, maybe. But I'm with Patrick. And your perspective does change when you become a parent.

Like I said, I am building my '67 SS427 to run. Show and no go is BS. Therefore I'll be obliged to take it down to the local 1/8 once in a while, but also to find a quiet back country road with my buddy in his 509 Camaro too. But lightin it up " in front of the 7/11 " just isn't cool or safe.

My 506 Camaro buddy loves to hop on it when I ride with him and the way he does it requires wicked good brakes, redline in 1st, shift, brake,. I think it gets to about 50-55 and then back down to the speed limit. It's kinda like meeting the woman of your dreams, naked, with a keyless padlock on !

Anyway, back to work....

Sometimes you just can't help it. You don't leave the house thinking "I'm gonna street race today" but,There you are,sitting at a red light minding your own business when some joker in his Ford Rustang pulls along side you and looks over and revs the engine. Sure,you can try and ignore him but,hey man, you're driving Chevelle! You didn't put the baddest engine your town has ever seen in your car to get shown up by a Rustang.Light turns green and look out! In just 30 seconds you went from cruising to racing.We all know street racing is wrong but,Sometimes that thing called pride overpowers your ability to think straight.

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JoeS
"67 Malibu"

pat
when i hit the streets at 16 us street racers were like modern gun fighters,nothing like a saturday night gunfight. gotta cut your teeth somewhere.but it got out of hand.i agree. the strip is where to do it.but some of the best came off the street.garlits.force.earnhardt.w.j. today it should be done on the strip,nothing should show without go!

Yes it can be helped. How would you feel if someone killed your child because it "just couldn't be helped. One death could ruin your life.

Someone said the strip is 120 miles away. I understand this can be a problem, but go to your local police, tell them the problem before you street race, it's a little harder to tell the problem when the MAN is leaning in your window with that "I got you" smile.
Any old airports around? AF Base? I even seen the police shut down back roads for this reason.

Yup, I've done it, street racing that is but it's on a far off back road with no other traffic "safe" area . I will not go for it on busy public streets with every 5.0 that wants to race (what for there too slow anyway) But I am known to run out first gear a time or two.But to steet race with traffic all around you is not the smartest thing to do nowadays .I live in San Diego Ca. there is Not a drag strip around yes there are old airports naval bases ect,ect, and there have been several KIDS killed lately from racing on the streets but nobody is willing to build a drag strip around here. I hear that somebody puts on a 1/8mi. set up every once in awhile but mainly for the younger crowd all but 50 or so entries have to be under 25 years old well that leaves about every body that I know out, there are a lot of "older guys" out here that love to race also and generally have the faster cars..

That's it! We'll call them "DRAG PARKS" and it'll be complete with food stand, 1/8 mile (or 1/4 if you got the room) strips, race gas, chicks on roller skates serving shakes ( no beer if you're drivin'!), good clean fun.

You have to staff 'em well and the liability insurance would pretty much blow your profits , but what a blast.

Old AFB's are fab. How do you hookup on tarmac? Probably awesome "air gap" launches.

Patrick, What do you think the police are going to tell you when you go to them and say, "Hey Mr. Officer, I want to race this guy, but there are no Drag Stips around"
What ever should I do???? Do you think they are going to snapp their fingers and boom a drag strip will apear.
Everything has a time and a place. I see nothing wrong with heading out to a country road that is safe, and having a little fun with your friends. Racing in town is flat out stupidity.
I understand you concern as a parent, but there are an aweful lot of things that can kill you. I had a class mate die in a wood shop accident in my high school. It really just goes to show, you never know when you are going to go. I don't live my life in fear of death.
But seriously there is a time and place for street racing. With out it our hobby would have never gotten to where it is today.

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RYAN REEVES
rreeves@lightspeed.net

oh boy, ...street racing has been around since the invention of the automobile. Is it safe? No.Is it smart? NO.but,it will always be around. I personally , haven't dragged on the street since I was 17.That is when my father,brother and I got into Bracket racing.We continue to race at Numidia Dragway in Pa. For the last few years I've been driving our r.e.dragster small block 355/PG at 8:55/160 mph every weekend in the summer months . So, I get no thrill out of speeding on the street. In fact. when I drive my 67 I usually drive kinda slow. call me vain but, I like when people stare at my car and the thumbs up I get. People can't see my car if all they see is a red blur. I think as long as there are teenagers and young adults with 450+ hp under their foot ,there will be street racing.and yes!, I know its wrong, wrong, wrong.but, I really don't see how we can stop it. a real shame. Also, unless I am misunderstanding the comment "show and no go" is that a bad thing? whats wrong with a finely restored chevelle with a six cylinder? They all didn't come with big blocks.So, now that I've written a short novel I want to say I agree with you , I don't belive in street racing. unfortunately it will continue

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JoeS
"67 Malibu"

well here on the east coast were lucky ive got a track close by. had the malibu to the track saturday. 11.50's 119 mph. not to bad still have a few tricks up my sleeve. as for someone saying the old guys in there 50's.
the guy who got me into cars is in his fifties. still has his 67 chevelle. it's these guys who inspire todays youth into muscle cars. back to street racing. it pretty much died around here in 83. still a place back in the mountains where they race on saturday nights. used to go there as a teenager. never had any problems or anybody get hurt. but there's just to many cars on the road now to go in town and let it hang loose. but when a 5 zero pulls along the malibu the roar of my small block usually backs them down.

You guys are absolutely right. Street racing is a dumb and dangerous way to find out who is the fastest. Bit, where else can it be done when the nearest dragstrip is 30+ miles away.

I live in Syracuse NY.
Last winter, I atempter to get a drag park started in a secluded part of town that was centrally located and easy to get to. It would have kept the 130+ mph races off of the public roads. But when I brought this up, I was laughed at.

As long as there are no places to race, there will always be street racing.

You guys are absolutely right. Street racing is a dumb and dangerous way to find out who is the fastest. But, where else can it be done when the nearest dragstrip is 30+ miles away.

I live in Syracuse NY.
Last winter, I atempted to get a drag park started in a secluded part of town that was centrally located and easy to get to. It would have kept the 130+ mph races off of the public roads. But when I brought this up, I was laughed at.

As long as there are no places to race, there will always be street racing.

I dont have too much of a problem with a little light to light "fun" on main street but I agree anything more than about 1/4 to 1/2 mile on street/hiway or in residential areas is just plain stupid.. also I have noticed that many of the local deaths/wrecks due to street racing were kids who had powerful cars and didnt think there was a limit to what the car and or road could handle.. its 95% common sense. There will always be injuries and deaths, in just about anything.

Mike

Anyone who street races is a MORON. Period! Nothing embarrasses this hobby more than the idiot in a muscle car who has to prove he has the biggest dick on the block. Racing on back streets, dirt roads, light to light, freeways, etc., is NEVER justifiable.

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Robert

www.classiccarlot.com (http://www.classiccarlot.com) (15% discount for my fellow Chevelle owners!)

Not entirely true. While I have one of the the fastest cars around here,We are all sure that Gordon has the biggist dick (and the slowest vett I have ever seen). Amoung our gang include busniss owners, college grads and some professionals. I always thought that most of the MORONS where tied up in government jobs.

Street Racing is plain stupid and there are "no accidents", because you are taking the risk. Accident's are unexpected events not planned stupidity. I lost two very good friends who got into a "once in a blue moon" street run. They hit a screwed up man hole cover and lost the wheel... The rest you can figure out. One lived for 3 days, the other one was decapitated on the spot.

I live out in the country and there are several places to let the horses run and be safe about it. We also have a track not too far, if you need to prove the testosterone levels.

On occasion, you'll get a 5zero or a MonteSS come up and "wag his tail" at ya, and so you let the Super Turbo's let'm know what's what. They usually do back off, and the kids who don't, don't get far if you don't play!

It's better to live long and have pride in your ride than to have pride and not live long.

Sorry about the length of this... But it's close to home.

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The proud owner of a Canadian 64-SS. :D
ZZ4 Powered with real attitude ! :)
Team Chevelle #37 - Gold Member

Harley: Are you implying that all Gov't workers are morons?


Kurt

------------------
The 68 Chevelle info page. [last updated Nov. 30, 98]
www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Garage/6873/Chevelle/68_Chevelle_Info.html (http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Garage/6873/Chevelle/68_Chevelle_Info.html)
Email: Kbyfield@terracom.net
A.C.E.S. #1352



[This message has been edited by Byfield (edited 06-18-99).]

Drag Strip 30 miles away. Hell, you drive that far on a SAt. nite for Pizza. That's a poor reason to street race.

Degraded right to the level of penis envy. Geez, does that mean my tripower is my way of wishing I had 10". Pretty rare for a white boy anyway.

Skunk, I'm disappointed to hear that you actually tosssed the drag park thing out and got laughed at. Unfortunately too many people wander through life never seeing sunshine, CAUSE THEIR HEADS ARE UP THEIR..

I went to school in 'Cuse, never knew of a place to race except Erie Blvd. ( this is a loong time ago!)

Not all, anymore than are all street racers.
Harley

Thirty miles distance from the strip sounds like heaven to me! There are two strips "near" my house. One is Indianapolis Raceway Park, which is a good 30-45 minute drive. The other is in Kokomo, IN and takes about an hour or more to get to. I used to go to Kokomo every weekend. They give you money when you win! Why would you want to race a (most likely) dead stock Crustang? Challenge 'em to show at the strip and you got a piece of paper that'll say you beat 'em and quite a few witnesses.

I know there are some Indy-based 'Velle owners. If you go to IRP on Tuesday nights for the Street Race series, then we'll see you there as soon as we get this damn '67 runnin'! Motor should be assembled this weekend! My bro is chompin' at the bit to throw shifts on that Muncie.

Street racing: not a good idea. If you wanna wax yourself, fine, but the idea of killing or seriously injuring an innocent bystander should keep your foot off the mat. And even if no one is hurt, if you get caught it'll be hard to drive your Chevelle while it's on the impound lot.

Sorry for the soapbox. I worry about kids even if I don't have any of my own.

If/when the circumstances dictate I will stomp my 69 El Camino in 1st gear for full power launch all the way to 6000 rpm - 45 mph, slam shift to second all the way to 6000 - 75 mph.

Then lift --- now if that makes me a street racer then I BEE a street racer.

Most of the people just going to work in the family Biscane drive that fast.

John
Huntingtown, Maryland
Southern Maryland Street Racer

Here in Southern California we don't have the luxury of Drag strips open every weekend nor do we have many back roads in LA. Pomona is the closest track and it is open a dozen weekends a year(not enough), but here is the kicker. You can be at Pomona ALL DAY 7am to 6pm and get 3 runs maybe 4 if you are lucky. There is just too many people. I have been at Pomona where I only got 1 run in by 1pm and I left, I was so upset that I was waiting since 7am and thats all I got. And they don't run at night.

They closed the Track I went to when I was in High school (needed a place to store dirt)Brotherhood Raceway. So what do the young guys do. Well there is half a million yahoos with quasi-performance cars in LA. And nowhere to go.

I didn't buy my Chevelle to look cool. I didn't spend all the money on speed to take it to a show. I want to race, what do I do?

They are taking about building Brotherhood again (in a different location, they still need somewhere to store the dirt). But until then, what do I do?

I hate going to Pomona, Test and Tune is impossible there. Just Cant get the runs in.
I could go to Palmdale, I suppose. But that is really far. Over 100 miles away.

My only option is STREET RACING. Sorry guys, I have to. A bunch of guys thought that having a racetrack open to the public just isn't profitable here in LA. Land is just too valuable to let is waste away as a dragstrip. They rather build office buildings, shopping centers, or dirt storage(I am not kidding, they just store dirt where Brotherhood Raceway used to be).

Street Racing is a problem. But I don't do it because I want to prove I have the fastest car. I enjoy it. My car wasn't always as fast as it is now. And all you old guys with your fast cars didn't always have a car that was that fast. Didn't you every enjoy racing. Why does it always have to be a competition. I love cars and I love driving. And if that means I have to wring it out on the street I will.

Sorry, I didn't mean to go on for so long.

Dave

WAIT A MINUTE!!!!

I never said I race down residential streets. That is diffenent. On main street, yes. On the highway, yes. But not where kids play.

Just thought I should clarify. Sounds like you guys only think street racing happens in neighborhoods.

Insert Head Hung In Shame Here: X

I got pulled over at 143mph in a 45mph zone. Since then my "street racing" has been held to no exhaust pipes and holding it pegged at 30mph http://www.chevelles.com/forum/wink.gif sounds like the mouth of hell, looks like a Chevelle should and helps me sleep at night knowing I won't owe NYS more money that I need to. All in all I have a real problem with the "little boys" how take a track only type of car out onto the street and pretend they are John Force. I have no problem with taking your beast for a walk but god damn use the leash!

And in case you are wondering how I still drive; I got a lecture to end all lectures, I didn't mouth off, I told the truth and ment it and it was nearing a shift change.

Never assume the cop will be "your friend" A MN cop had my car towed and impounded because I didn't have the updated insureance card with me http://www.chevelles.com/forum/frown.gif

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Francis Taracido
Sniper0666@aol.com
Proud Patron of Quadzilla

GUILTY! Not that I a hyppocrite or a lyin sack of s%#t, but if what Jholp does is street racing then I do it often ( less so now factory warranty is up) in my daily driver. It has a slick all alum V8, 4 valves per, and shifts @6000 if you hold it in first. Pretty cool. My 509 Camaro buddy drove the car and claims it'll wipe a Z or stock 5.0. Like to "chirp" second coming out of the toll booths all the time.

I don't really consider that street racing. So let's define street racing - it must include racing with another car. Because that's where your adrenaline, your base primal instinct to conquer, come into play. And that can F - you up bigtime, or worse, someone else, cause you ain't careful when the "switch is flipped on". All that matters is the task at hand.

Did you see those clips of folks in, I can't remember whether it was Korea or Brazil freaking out and trying to bump and catch cars doing donuts and racing. Geez, and I thought running of the bulls in Pomplana was too wierd.

Now we are making progress!?? Does it take two cars or more before you are street racing?

At the drag strip you are racing against time - the clock. If you don't think so then how can there be a single pass where only one car runs? AND the guy that wins just got there first if two cars are involved.

Or is it speed? If it is then everyone in Southern Maryland, Norther Virginia, and Washington DC is a street racer because everyone speeds!

Or is it accelerator pedal relative position? If you are mashing the carpet with the accelerator are you racing?

I am getting very confused. I am going back to my old beliefs (street racing) = light changes, Chevelle/El Camino smokes off the line leaving Ford behind - race is over when Ford lifts, seen in the rear view mirror!


John

For me the solution to the problem was to sell the hi perf Malibu and build my 64 with a mild 283/glide. If the horses are under my right foot, I'll use them. I started driving in 66 and it just seems natural to push my Chevelle to the limit, so I lowered the limit. If I was to build a "race" car I would not license it. The temptation would be to much to handle. Philip
My wife asked me once why I smoked the tires when shifting and I told her" because I can".

[This message has been edited by 64elcamino (edited 06-18-99).]

jholp, ditto on everything you've said.

Mike Reeh
Gold #34
1970 El Camino

I don't do much street racing these days, for the same reasons already stated, but when I was a kid (I know what you're gonna say Gene!)I had a 69 Malibu that ran 11.90's. It had a guh-narly little three-two-seven with a tunnel ram and 4.88's with a spool(Buried an 8 grand tach). I got a ticket one night for racing a really fast 69 mach-1 (the hood scoop said four-two...sumthin). After the cop was done writing the ticket, I said "I had him, didn't I". He said..."You were all over him" as he walked away. That was all that mattered to me back then. I took that ticket to a party that night and showed all my buddies. I had the fastest car AND the biggest penis that night. Hey rstoltz, I'm sorry your life turned out the way it did, being a used car salesman with the smallest penis on the block and all, but do you have to take it out on us? You have a valid point, but geeez! Take it easy Chum! http://www.chevelles.com/forum/wink.gif

[This message has been edited by Glenn Kent (edited 06-18-99).]

Glenn Kent -- who told you that I have the smallest penis on the block? Damn...the secret is out! Time to move...again. Also, I prefer the term "previously owned" over the word "used."

Sorry, but street racing is something that really gets under my skin -- especially lately. About a month ago, while towing my two-year-old-daughter in her bicycle trailer, we were hit by a guy showing off how just how fast his car was. Though he swerved at the last moment and barely hit us, the trailer and bike flipped upside down instantly. My daughter is okay now, but my injuries are taking sometime to heal. Hit and run. No chance to get a plate number. But I have seen the car around a few times before. Hopefully, I'll see it again.

Maybe it wasn't the guy's fault though. Because there's no race track around here, maybe "street racing was his only option." Or maybe he was doing it just because "he enjoys it." Seems to me the common thread street racers share is that their desire to do what they want far outweighs their obligation to public safety. Time to revoke their licenses, I say.

Ya know, there's no shooting range around here; maybe I'll just target practice in my backyard. Hope my neighbor's aren't home. Doesn't really matter though, because I enjoy shooting my pistol and that is the urge I feel right now. Besides...I *never* miss my target, so where's the harm?

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Robert

www.classiccarlot.com (http://www.classiccarlot.com) (15% discount for my fellow Chevelle owners!)

rstoltz I am really sorry that happened to you, but you can't blame the world when s___ happens. Everyone has a story, I have some of my own. But, it isn't right to point fingers at people that were not involved.

You are using the same logic my mother uses when she tells me why I shouldn't ride a motorcycle.

I would like to add clarification too:

Like anything else in the world, if people are being responsible and are "playing safe" then by all means. Too many times, people fall into the "it was just the moment". If you gotta race then go out to a clear 4-lane or go out into the outskirts and do it. If the other guy really wants to "race ya" then he'll go, otherwise don't bother.

No one builds a 350+hp car to use it to go get milk at the corner store. If You/I build it to enjoy it then Enjoy it, you should! But that doesn't mean racing everything that wag's it's tail at ya. Pick the battles and win the war! I have a saying: "The More Smiles per Miles, the Better". Let's face it, it's great to cruise and have everyone admire your car, it's also great to be able to from 0 to 80 in a blink and see jaws drop.

Ever been pulled over by a Mountie just because he wanted to see your car ?? That's the way it should be... Pretty good feeling too!

rstoltz: I am a master marksman and have been for many years. Please don't be practisin' in your back yard. (I like your analogy) Go to the range or do it hunting.

If I can look out my front door and see you racing, then you shouldn't be there! I, as a part time street racer, have never done anything besides be loud in a residential neighborhood. I also think that if you wanna go zooming around on my street you had better remember: "Caltrop's Work!"

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Francis Taracido
Sniper0666@aol.com
Proud Patron of Quadzilla

Its good to see you guys are lightening up a bit. Nobody ever condoned 100mph past the pre-school or in the residential areas, etc. There is also a difference between USING horsepower and ABUSING horsepower. Some people dont know how to USE it.

Mike
Gold #34

David - Believe me, I'm not blaming the world for what happened to me (see 5 posts up from this one). But give me a break, who in their right mind can honestly condone street racing? (Street racing is illegal, by the way. Doesn't that matter to anyone in this forum?!) To me, your logic says, "Hey just because that hoodlum mugged you don't point fingers at the rest of us hoodlums. We didn't do anything to you." (That is not to say that street racers and hoodlums are one in the same, mind you. Just making an analogy here to illustrate my point.)

The guy who ran over me and my daughter surely didn't plan on doing it; but he was a typical street racer in that he acted on an impulse. There is simply no way to guess what may happen around the next corner, through the next intersection, or on the road ahead -- be it any road. Because of those unpredictable situations, street racing should be frowned upon. How can anyone debate that logic with a better argument?

To me, defending street racing is like defending drinking and driving. I guess slamming down a few before climbing behind the wheel is okay as long as you can handle your liquor by driving extra carefully and staying away from any kids, right?

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Robert

www.classiccarlot.com (http://www.classiccarlot.com) (15% discount for my fellow Chevelle owners!)

Will the drivers that never street raced or never broken the speed limit please raise their hand?

That's what I meant the "impulse" that Robert talks about. It can f- you up, or worse, someone else. Sure I did it when I was 17, I was young , dumb , and full of ...

Now, I have responsibilities, a professional license, etc ( and alot of insurance so I'm very "sue-able"), so I can't afford to truly screw around. Thank God. But a WOT blast on the Thruway, sure.

As responsible gearheads, we should try to promote safe speed every chance we get.

Robert, you're a more tolerant person than I. I would've been in jail by now if some local dude did that to my 2 yr old and I. But that just means you're a better man than I. Hope she's healing well.

[This message has been edited by Gene Chas (edited 06-20-99).]

[This message has been edited by Gene Chas (edited 06-20-99).]

Joe 454 -- I wouldn't equate breaking the speed limit on the freeway with street racing. I've sped on the freeay just like anyone else, but I've never street raced.

Gene -- I'm sure the punk that hit us will get caught someday but, for his sake, I *sincerely* hope that I am not the one to catch him.

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Robert

www.classiccarlot.com (http://www.classiccarlot.com) (15% discount for my fellow Chevelle owners!)

Street Racing doesn't have to mean you drive like a maniac. Who said I condone flying through blind intersections.

rstoltz, did you ever have a beer when you were in high school? Who hasn't. I guess we are all criminals.

I am restoring a 66 Chevelle with a 500 HP LS-6. I drove the car last summer, and yes! I got the urge, but I could not bring myself to be that foolish. It's all a matter of will power. To me, if you can out will someone and not race, you are the stronger person. I am a motorhead, but I am not a drinker. Poeple may think I am strange for never going out with the guys and just getting wasted. I've worked in all sorts of places, where I was pressured constantly with drugs and alchohol, not to mention high school, but I never caved in. I am very proud of that. I want to have this car a long time, I certainly don't want to cause injury to anyone else because of my own ignorance and end up in jail. I know street racing is cool and all that, but I think its time has passed. You may have been able to get away with it years ago, but It's just not something I can condone nowadays. In today's world, you must be responsible for your own actions, and be willing to pay the consequences if your not strong enough to fight the "urge". I am 25 yrs old.

here in missouri everyone is at the track and the street racing. I myself race at the track and on the street. But on the street i never get up over 55 mph its usually just a 1st to second then let off, usually you can tell who was gonna win by 55 mph.. now remember when i say street racing i mean on a 4 lane road where there are a bunch of other street racers at 10:00 pm or later and there are NO kids running around. There are also a lot of races on the highway at about 1:00am or later when there is no traffic. we have the 1/4 mile marked off and pull over in the shoulder until all the cars are off the 1/2 mile stretch of straight highway, we then do our burnout and race. Threre are some bad ass cars up there that run 8s and 9s.. How or why is that any more dangerous than a race track?

I live in the country and 1 mi. from the strip and I still have to watch so called street racers . They race side by side to the track and after they leave they race back. I guess there will always be people out there who think the law is for everyone but them. I also dont think there is anything wrong with someone who has put $25000 into a resto.to show and not go. The idea of spending all that money and time to find parts just to brake it raceing 30 year old iron.

David -- To answer your question: No, I never drank in high school.

If I read you correctly, you are lumping all illegal activity into one big category and using that argument to make your actions and the actions of others (whatever they may be) equally wrong or equally right. By doing so, you make street racing just as illegal and as harmful/harmless as, say, jay walking, for example. (Both are “criminal activities,” right?) Your argument is not a very convincing way to justify street racing. The main problem I have with your argument is that you ignore the varying degrees of criminal activity. Not all of us are criminals.

Also, street racing almost by definition *is* driving like a maniac. Anytime a person seriously speeds just for the rush of it, that person has decided to place others in jeopardy. (Why do street racers feel they have that right?) The bottom line is that if street racing were okay if wouldn't have to be done it secret.

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Robert

www.classiccarlot.com (http://www.classiccarlot.com) (15% discount for my fellow Chevelle owners!)

Steet racing would be two vehicles competing in a contrlled area on a secluded road out of town and the only persons in danger are the two drivers. All spectators if any remian well behind the vehicles.
What burns me up is when the media calls a highway speeder that lost controll a drag racer, or when residents call a irrisponsible driver that lays posi or drives 55 in a 25 a street racer instead of a jack ass. Street racers are not maniacs that jepeordize others saftey, those who do so are just that,maniacs or idiots. people who chose to race on the state roads use the term street race and don't want to confuse it with the sport drag racing. So to be pollitically correct drag racing is not street racing and street racing is NOT being a maniac. Though the media can't even get it right niether will society. The NHRA has done a great job with the sport of drag racing, but the sport has become so expenive that not everyone can compete so they take to county and state roads, because today we have more people, less race tracks,and less racing events. society will always have trouble with reckless drivers that are not "racers" sreet racing occurs when the world is asleep, not at 2pm when shcools out, through the nieghborhood. Anyway Patrick let it all hang uot do it wise. GM doesn't sell the corvette and dodge didnt build the viper to abide the speed limit.

[This message has been edited by 1bad67 (edited 06-21-99).]

[This message has been edited by 1bad67 (edited 06-21-99).]

Show of hands -- How many street racers out there strictly use only back roads for their racing? Most street racers I've known or met prefer the back roads but don't use them exclusively.

Seems to me the negative image associated with a street racer in not one created by the media or by the non-racing segment of society, but by the street racers themselves. Every group has its bad apples and, based on my experience, the street racer group has more bad apples than most other groups. Those bad apples are the ones who act on impulse and don't take their race to the back roads. In my neck of the woods (Sacramento, CA), most street racers are bad apples because of their behavior. How do street racers behave in other parts of the country? Just curious...

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Robert

www.classiccarlot.com (http://www.classiccarlot.com) (15% discount for my fellow Chevelle owners!)

Robert-

I think that it varies among drivers, no matter where they are located. I live in Northern Virgina, close to DC, but I don't see a difference in the way driver's act just because of the area they live in. Sometimes it is a bit organized, like fellow musclecar fanatics will talk to their rival at the local restaruant and say "I'll race you on Route 7 by the parking lot at 8:30". Other times it will be the classic "Woodward Avenue" style where we just pull up next to each other at a light and go at it. I myself would rather take it to a backroad, as their is the danger of hitting other cars and getting caught by the fuzz. But a lot of people I know don't care and will do it on impluse, which I think is what makes these people the "bad apples" of street racing.

72 El Camino SS

I was just trying to illustrate a point. Sorry bad example. For your info, I didn't drink in high school either. But underage drinking is widely accepted and therfore I though I could use that generaliztion to make a point. Bad example I guess

I agree with 1bad67

Stoltz, by your definition I am not a Street Racer. But I consider myself to be a Street Racer. I have my own little car club made up of a dozen or so friends. We are not maniacs as you put it. I never put the windows up in the car, except to park. I love to cruise around.

We enjoy driving, maybe thats because we never had to say "you kids shut up back there or I'm turning this car around... I'm not kidding, one more peep out of you and no more ice cream!"

David -- Not to beat a dead horse here, but I think your comment "underage drinking is widely accepted" illustrates my point on street racing, to a certain extent. Underage drinking is not generally accepted; in fact, the opposite is true. At its very best, underage drinking is tolerated. Toleration and acceptance are not one in the same (sometimes the two are at polar opposites). I think street racing, however it is defined, is not “accepted” but rather “tolerated” by those other than street racers. And, perhaps, that is what street racers don't fully realize. Sometimes I think that because they fully accept their actions, they are under the misconception that the public does so as well. Walk up to a non-street racer neighbor, stranger, co-worker, etc., define street racing and ask them for a thumbs-up or a thumbs-down on the topic. You'll get a thumbs-down more often than not, I predict. A more interesting discussion might be to have one of those "outsiders" define street racing; I think street racers would gain a better understanding of how they are not accepted (but maybe tolerated) into the folds of society.

Also, I think the love of driving has absolutely nothing to do with street racing. If there were a highway to the moon and back I'd be on it because I *love* to drive my Chevelle. However, I have no desire to street race the car. After I built my 350, I took it to the track to see how well it would do. It did better than I expected and I’ve no reason to race it on any street.

One other thought (while I'm rambling on): If the racing is done *strictly* on back roads in an organized manner, I think it should be called something other than street racing, because the term "street racing" has such a bad image, due to the maniacs who speed through city streets and cause harm. I would strive to separate myself from that motley bunch if I were a "street racer."

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Robert

www.classiccarlot.com (http://www.classiccarlot.com) (15% discount for my fellow Chevelle owners!)

[This message has been edited by rstoltz (edited 06-22-99).]

I've been reading these posts and i think that there is no reason to street race at all if you can help it. People who say the track is too far away... i have a 15 second car, nothing to show off and i still drive 2 hours (one way) to go to the track. Distance shouldnt be a problem (unless of course you gotta drive like 5 hours or something) Of course, i understand that people want to see what there cars can do, but for me, i am happy just mashing the gas through the gears on the on ramp or going WOT UP TO THE SPEED LIMIT then backing off.

I am not against safe racing, i think if someone wants to go out and race in the middle of the night and put only themselves and the other driver at risk then that is their decision. Just make sure nobody else is going to jump out of a side street to get hit.

The truth is, there is no safe street racing or racing at all. The track is the safest because of the emergency personel on hand so if you want to race try and do it there, i would hate to see a fellow chevelle owner, or anyone for that matter get hurt.

An aquantace of mine was racing down a four lane road with another guy, nobody else on the road late at night and he spun his trans am into the wall, he, luckily was ejected out the back window, i say luckily because the car blew up. The guy is in a comma and his insurance has ran out, the family is strugling to keep him alive. Dont let this happen to you or someone you know. Just be carefull and you should be fine but you never know.


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Jon, 66 Malibu Sport Coupe
Fremont CA, Birthplace of many a Chevelle
Team Chevelle Member #80
members.tripod.com/jon66bu/jon1.html (http://members.tripod.com/jon66bu/jon1.html)

I am a hard core Dragracer and I can't condone street racing. Sure I've done it before and it doesn't mean that I am stupid. How many of you have tried or are doing drugs? Thats much worse than street racing out on a open road. Street racing is dangerous. I lost a real close friend in a car that I had tuned on the day before. You don't know the guilt I've had to live with. People are going to do whatever they will and we can't change that. Not only are you putting yourself in danger put the people who go and watch as well. If you feel the need to go out and street race and it can't be avoided, don't do in in front of a bunch of idiots. If someone wants to do (whatever) that gives them that rush, then more power to them. But so long as it doesn't affect others, who gives a crap what they do? Just think about the people around you and how it might affect them if something did go wrong.

[This message has been edited by Aug98 (edited 06-22-99).]

This is a pretty long string here. What is the record on Team Chevelle.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT...

There was a lot less street racing around here when we had a track open every day. That track is gone now. Since then, street racing is on the rise. What do all of you think about that?

That was a nice track too. I was on the ocean and they ran at night, cars ran really good there.

Dave

I just got in on this thread, JHolp, I agree with you philosophy. On the street with no one else and just let 'er rip!!!! Wind her out and feel the horses. What a rush!! Who are you racing but yourself?