Jun 01, 2008 - What is Street Racing?

In some form, street racing has been around since automobile first met road. Something exists within the human spirit that fuels a desire to improve upon everything – as a species, humans are always trying to outdo themselves, and as individuals we are always trying to outdo each other. Street racers are no different – we desire to be kings or queens of the road, constantly redesigning our vehicles to be the fastest and most nimble hunks of metal and plastic on the road. Whether it’s a spontaneous race or an organized event, there’s something about the thrill of watching another vehicle disappear in your rear-view mirror or the disappointment of watching someone escape the clutches of your grasp that draws millions of people together in this common interest. It’s that competitive aspect of the human spirit, combined with our desire for the ultimate freedom, that fuels many of us with the desire to be top dogs of the pavement. This is the common bond that unites all street racers, and it supersedes skin color, ethnicity, nationality, gender, and class.

Different types of street racers

Saying that all street racers are alike is akin to saying that all Canadians, Americans, or Germans are alike. Whether it’s the 16 year old guy pimping his mom’s Corolla, or the man/woman in the muscle car that raises hell at every stoplight, or the organized group of people with $70,000 rice-rockets tearing through the city, or a 40 year old executive with an exotic car traveling two or three times the speed limit on the freeway – just like your favorite beverages, street racers come in all different shapes, sizes, and flavors. Some of us, myself included, prefer the spontaneous, impromptu races that occur while cruising back roads, traveling highways, and sitting at stoplights. Some of us prefer organized street racing events in empty industrial zones with gambling or prizes. Some of us prefer outright reckless and stupid behavior (which I do not take part in nor condone). Some of us prefer all of the above, and/or everything in between. One thing is certain – while all street racers have certain traits in common, we are all individuals with our own thoughts, hopes, feelings, and desires.

Different types of street racing

Just as there are many different types of street racers, there are also many different types of street racing. I apologize if I left something out, but here are the basics of street racing:

• A “dig”, also known as a drag race – In this type of racing, all vehicles involved start from a complete stop and travel in a straight line. They are usually lined up evenly side-by-side, but sometimes a vehicle may be given a head start of an agreed-upon distance. The most common place that digs occur is at intersections, when two or more vehicles are stopped side-by-side at a traffic light. In an impromptu traffic light race, the vehicles usually race up to the posted speed limit or a bit beyond, and then back off for safety reasons. At an organized street racing event, participants usually stay on the throttle until the designated finish-line.
• A “roll” – This type of race is similar to a drag race, except the participants are already moving. Some rolls begin at 5 miles per hour (8 kilometers per hour), and some begin at speeds in excess of 60 miles per hour (about 100 kilometers per hour). The most common form of spontaneous rolls occurs on freeways and highways.
• Touge – Touge racing, pronounced “toe-gay”, originated in Japan. This type of racing occurs on mountain roads – participants line up at a starting line and race along treacherous, elevated roads until they cross the finish line. These races are often repeated until someone wins in a “best 2 out of 3” fashion. Touge is one of the most unsafe forms of street racing, but it provides intense thrill and excitement for those involved.
• Cannonball Run – A cannonball run is an illegal point-to-point race that can span dozens, hundreds or thousands of miles/kilometers. These races generally take participants from one side of a town, state/province, country, etc. to the other. Courses often include a mix of city, highway, freeway, and back road driving. Most cannonball run participants are wealthy individuals driving expensive and exotic vehicles. On many occasions, a winner is declared, but usually the overall goal of a cannonball run is to have fun and push a vehicle to its limits.

Why people participate in street racing

There are many different reasons why people participate in street racing. Several of these reasons are listed below but there are probably more – people are motivated by many different sociological and psychological factors.

• Excitement of breaking the law – Ever since laws have existed, people have enjoyed breaking them. There is a certain thrill or rush involved when someone knows they are doing something that is considered wrong. Perhaps this is confined to certain cultures and civilizations, or perhaps it is a natural human trait.
• Boredom / Thrill-seeking – This is probably the main category that applies to me. Some people like bungee-jumping, some people like building model trains, and some people like street racing. For me, there is no thrill or enjoyment involved in racing at a track – the controlled environment takes all of the excitement out of it. Street racing provides me with an activity I enjoy – some might even consider it a hobby.
• Prestige – Some street racers enjoy people knowing how fast their ride is, and like having others look up to (and sometimes despise) them.
• Opportunity to win money – Many organized street racing events award cash prizes to winners through a form of gambling. Street racers who are motivated by this factor can become addicted to it, much like a poker or horse-racing addict.
• Social Interaction – Those who participate in organized street racing events are often brought together by common goals and interests. These events provide a community or sub-culture of similar-minded individuals.

Consequences

All actions in life hold the potential for negative consequences – and street racing is definitely not an exception. While street racing is illegal almost everywhere in the world, punishments vary according to location. Some jurisdictions simply issue traffic tickets and fines to street racers, some revoke driving privileges altogether or impound the vehicles involved, and some provide a jail sentence for first-time offenders. Some areas of the world, such as Malaysia, not only punish the street racers themselves, but also punish spectators. This may seem absurd in North America since spectators do not have any direct involvement in the breaking of motor vehicle laws, but it can serve to discourage an audience from forming at illegal street racing events. Aside from negative legal consequences, street racing activities also have a chance of damaging or destroying life and property, which can result in a criminal, civil, and emotional nightmare for all involved, both directly and indirectly.