*coughBULL****cough* On the street, regardless of how much you concentrate, you CANNOT anticipate another car traveling into your path or any other happenstance when you are careening down a street in a race that will net you absolutely NOTHING if you win.

Originally posted by turbulence
There are no APPROPRIATE conditions on which to street race.

Just my thoughts. wink

 

That's all well and good, but who's seen a sanctioned drag strip lined with parked cars, with oncoming traffic in the other lane, pedestrians, cross traffic, and potholes?

Don't street race, it's stupid.

 

I guess I'm stupid and a retard... or use to be one I should say. I did it a long time ago. Only on deserted open areas though. The only reason I think I stopped was as time went on, didn't have the same appeal as it use to. That and seeing numerous accidents and deaths, plus some people doing some crazy $#!t on the roads. After awhile, you get a better understanding of the risk you put yourself in. With that said, I do miss watching the street races. People can say how bad it is, but most of the time, the street racing isn't the main reason people come to the races. Mostly its just a gathering place for like minded people to talk and relate about a passion they have. Of course, there are better avenues to express such passion, but that's another discussion. My condolences to your shipmate Hootie.

 

i would be satisfied if those who are agains street racing would agree that talking on a cell phone, eating, puting on makeup, looking at a map, etc..., all while driving, are just as dangerous as street racing. i don't expect all of us to agree, especially on street racing, but can we at least agree on the other distractions being just as dangerous?

 

I'd feel much safer following behind a overland truck driver who's been up 10 hours at night, talking on his cell, changing the radio station, getting a hummer from a lot lizard, while trying to put ketchup on a hot dog than I would on a street with 2 amatuer street racers weaving in and out of traffic.

Do you know what the latest reports regarding the cause of most accidents is, (CNBC report)? It's not cell phones, putting on make up, changing the radio, etc. It's DISTRACTIONS OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. dunno

 

Distractions are all dangerous but none are quite so dangerous as wanton foolishness and out of control behavior. I wouldn't equate street racing with distractions such as cell phones and the like, but more along the same lines as drunk driving.

FYI, turbulence... if you hit a child on a bike, you going 5 under the speed limit, your chances of killing him or seriously injuring him are very slim... especially if said child is wearing a helmet. Even if he isn't, you are more likely to break his wrist by him using it as an impact deterrent against the pavement then hurt him in any other way. That being said, I never go the speed limit on side streets where there is even the slightest bit of child-play around the road. Children are notorious, even the most street wise/best road safety educated ones, for making mistakes like running after a basketball into a street. I have AMAZINGLY fast reflexes but I would feel eternally guilty for hurting something that is so precious and ignorant as as a child.

Not sure who to direct this one to:

As for your arguments, there are other things that hurt/kill/have a negative impact, those are all issues we deal with on a daily basis and if you can be SO callous as to make them seem like light issues, then I can see why we are all in trouble. Our hemisphere has a serious case of selfishness and me-itis. I am glad that I think more globally than you. You and the likes of you will be the cause of all of our demise. I compare the condition of things of now compared to when I was a teenager and I am filled with sorrow and rage. We are self-destructing and no one who has the power is willing to stop it. ( Did you know yesterday was Earth Day? Did you care? Did you change anything? )

But all of that is a rant for another day, another topic and maybe another forum where I will encounter more enlightened people who are perhaps older and more mature than you. Look back at your posts when you are closer to 30, or when you start to have children of your own and see just how juvenile your responses are.

Try to argue with me, and I will counter you with just the same response you see here.

THere is a reason why the majority of "older" people don't street race... it isn't because they are boring or don't like speed, but because they are wiser and have seen more than you have. THey have a better idea of cause and effect and have more respect for their lives and the lives of others... not just out of sheer and simple regard, but also because they are not so ignorant. Now, before you misconstrue the word "ignorant," it doesn't mean stupid.... it implies lack of knowledge. We are all ignorant in some way or another. I am particularly ignorant when it comes to the young male mind.

Okay, final point... infringing on the right to street race!?!? WTF! That is the stupidest thing I have ever read in a public forum. You and my governement are infringing on my right to kill my neighbour because he pisses me off. You are infringing on my right to own my ideal home theater because you don't pay me enough. gawd!

[ April 23, 2003, 09:41 AM: Message edited by: TibGrrl ]

 

Okay folks you are either being intentionally stupid, or arguing just for the sake of arguing.

Mike Free-
Yes, wild animals do get onto 'real' drag strips, but again, it happens about 10000000 times LESS often at REAL drag strips than on the street.
Yes, cars veer into the others lane at 'real' drag strips, but again, it happens about 100000 time less often at REAL drag strips that on the street.

Nothing in life is risk free. NOTHING. Wiping your *** has a risk of rectal infection. NOTHING is risk free. However, the point is. Who decides the risk.

Turbulence-
When you street race, you are risking the lives of yourself (okay, you decided to do it), and the other race(okay, he decided to race you), but you are also risking the life of EVERY OTHER person watching the race (okay, they decided to be there)...but, you are also risking the life of every other person on that road. regardless of if they knew/know there is drag racing going on. You have NO RIGHT to make that risk decision for them.

If you race at a real drag strip, you remove the ability to take/make risk decisions for others. Everyone at that event is there by choice, who went there knowing that drag racing was going on. They went there knowing what the risks are.


Again, there are Always risks, and ANY TIME, ANY TIME you take the risk decision away from someone else...you are wrong.

Your lame attempts at "justifying" street racing disgust me. I mean really f-ing disgust me. Honestly. You are really disgusting. For a nights fun, you are willing to risk others lives that don't know what's at stake. That's disgusting, and pathetic.

You somehow equate going 5 miles over the speed limit to street racing? No. Not even close. Take any freeway. ANY freeway. Go 5 mph over the speed limit. Worse problem? Speeding ticket, possible accident, 1 in 10,000 chance of a fatality. (Check your statistics)

Okay, not take a 2 lane road. Put someone in the "other" lane going the wrong way (2 cars lined up)...now put speeds 40-80 mph OVER the speed limit. Problems? Street racing tickets, reckless/careless driving tickets, speeding tickets, possible accident 1 in 10 chance of fatality. (when speeds are significantly over the posted limit, fatality stats go through the roof).

Now...tell me again how your street racing is harmless. Tell me again what a "conscientious" street racer you are. Do you tell your insurance company you street race? I didn't think so. Do you realize that if you get into an accident street racing, not only can your insurance company drop you, they can refuse to pay for the damages and medical expenses? That means you, and your family will be financially responsible for paying off your car loan, your medical bills, the cost of the other car you hit, and the medical bills of the other person, or their funeral expenses. Not comes the civil suit. Now the "other" family has the right to sue you and your family for MILLIONS in damages for hurting or killing their family member.
All that for a night of fun.

You ****ing disgust me You really do. You careless, self centered, egotistical bastards. You want to take the risk of ruining 2 families. One through injury or death, and the other financially just for one night of fun.

You have no right to make that decision for others, or your families. And if you think you do have that right, you are even more pathetic than I thought possible.

 

Link isn't working for me...

Street racing is stupid, IMHO. I drive "spiritedly" but never illegally. I don't run against others, I don't go fast. I will take it up to the limiter in first and maybe second, but, I am still only going the speed limit, and I don't do it against other cars or even if other cars are around. Interstate on ramps work for me. I get to 70 and take it easy from there.

All I can say is take it to the track. Controlled environments are the best place to test your abilities against someone anyway.

I hate to take my car out on a Friday or Saturday night because I have people coming up next to me and revving all evening. What a PITA. Don't they see that I have someone riding with me? Even if I did street race, never ever would I do it with someone else in my car. It is my choice to endanger my life, but not anyone elses. Well, I have rambeled enough, someone let me know if the link gets working again.

 

Problem is that when you race on public roads, everyone on the road who isn't a part of your race is in danger.

This topic is dumb, trying to prove that street racing is so safe at the right times in the right places is pointless.

flaming_

 

hehe......i just saw that. man i wish i had my bin laden "death to america junior" pic now dunno