Street racing question
 

So I post on a bodyboarding message board that only has like 200 registered members. Someone asked about street racing in San Diego and I replied with this question and nobody answered and so I look to you OOT to enlighten me...

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I don't really understand street racing. Isn't it just whoever spends the most money wins? Couldn't I buy like a ferrari and just smoke everyone. Or buy a civic and just put a V12 into it? Can you even beat someone who has a better car than you? It seems like its just whoever owns the best car and should hardly be considered racing.


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Re: Street racing question
 

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So I post on a bodyboarding message board that only has like 200 registered members. Someone asked about street racing in San Diego and I replied with this question and nobody answered and so I look to you OOT to enlighten me...

[ QUOTE ]
I don't really understand street racing. Isn't it just whoever spends the most money wins? Couldn't I buy like a ferrari and just smoke everyone. Or buy a civic and just put a V12 into it? Can you even beat someone who has a better car than you? It seems like its just whoever owns the best car and should hardly be considered racing.


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There is more to it then that, but in general you are right, whoever spends more usually shouldd have the faster car and therefore should win. However there is some skill involved.

Re: Street racing question
 

There's some skill involved esp. if there are cuves on the course.

I [censored] hate street racing. I don't care if the racers die... they should just shoot themselves in the head to begin w/ but they kill random innocent people. When I lived exactly in San Diego, some car w/ 2 people in it was rammed by a street racer. At least one of the people in the non-participating car died. (I think 2 or 3 yrs ago).

[censored] street racers.

Re: Street racing question
 

most of the poeple that get into street racing are modifying their cars extensively. The main issue is that there are a million different ways that you can go about it. In the end the faster car will win (unless the driver is really terrible).

For instance, you can take the same car and have one person move to a bigger engine, a second person uses the same engine but puts in a crazy turbo. The third person puts in a slighly larger engine and uses nitrous. Which one is fastest? Racing is the best way to find out.

Re: Street racing question
 

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There's some skill involved esp. if there are cuves on the course.

I [censored] hate street racing. I don't care if the racers die... they should just shoot themselves in the head to begin w/ but they kill random innocent people. When I lived exactly in San Diego, some car w/ 2 people in it was rammed by a street racer. At least one of the people in the non-participating car died. (I think 2 or 3 yrs ago).

[censored] street racers.

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Way to stereotype all street racers there.... For the most part the street racers that kill people are not really into the scene all that much, and are racing light to light. Also there are no curves in most street races, you might be mistaking street racing with drifting. Most street races take place in industrial areas, just so people won't get hurt.... and also it makes it less likely the cops will be called.

Re: Street racing question
 

I'm no street racer but I think there's more to it than just who has the best car. Driving skill in general, shifting gears properly, even little things like reaction time and probably even just plain balls have to play a part. Whether or not they can make up for having a lesser car I couldn't positively say but I'm sure they must at least sometimes.

Re: Street racing question
 

my street racing experience- there have been many times where i'm chilling with my cousin in his car and we randomly find/meet up with someone and the next thing i know i'm going ~90mph on a two lane highway in an illegal street race. all that said, it definitely takes skill, there have been times when i knew he smoked the guy and times where his skill wasn't on point.

Re: Street racing question
 

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Way to stereotype all street racers there....

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Are you really this ignorant? Even in industrial parts of town a worker doing over time or whatever other person who happens to be at the wrong place at the wrong time can get killed. The point is a race course is a controlled environment, but even here spectators sometimes get hurt, so if you take a race into an uncontrolled environment, people will die.

I know people try and make sure no one's around, but you just can't out on the street.

It's not a stereotype to say that street racers are brainless, ignorant, egotistical, piece of [censored] good for nothing [censored]. It is a judgement based upon their actions. Judging people based upon their actions is not stereotyping.

Re: Street racing question
 

[ QUOTE ]
So I post on a bodyboarding message board that only has like 200 registered members. Someone asked about street racing in San Diego and I replied with this question and nobody answered and so I look to you OOT to enlighten me...

[ QUOTE ]
I don't really understand street racing. Isn't it just whoever spends the most money wins? Couldn't I buy like a ferrari and just smoke everyone. Or buy a civic and just put a V12 into it? Can you even beat someone who has a better car than you? It seems like its just whoever owns the best car and should hardly be considered racing.


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Psh, c'mon, haven't you seen The Fast and the Furious? Paul Walker totally owned that guy in the ferrari with his souped up little Supra. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: Street racing question
 

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Way to stereotype all street racers there....

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Are you really this ignorant? Even in industrial parts of town a worker doing over time or whatever other person who happens to be at the wrong place at the wrong time can get killed. The point is a race course is a controlled environment, but even here spectators sometimes get hurt, so if you take a race into an uncontrolled environment, people will die.

I know people try and make sure no one's around, but you just can't out on the street.

It's not a stereotype to say that street racers are brainless, ignorant, egotistical, piece of [censored] good for nothing [censored]. It is a judgement based upon their actions. Judging people based upon their actions is not stereotyping.

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Am I really this ignorant? Apparently so, but at least I make judgements based on things I ACTUALLY KNOW ABOUT. I know you want to base your opinion on one crash in one street race at one time, so feel free. However I was in the street racing scene for over 4 years, and not one person died, there was 1 crash out of 4 years of racing. I understand you want to blame all street racers, but for the most part the people that are racing light to light, getting into crashes and killing themselves or others etc. are looked down upon by the rest of the scene. Street racing on the street in the right enviroment is still relatively safe whether or not you believe it.

Re: Street racing question
 

[ QUOTE ]
So I post on a bodyboarding message board that only has like 200 registered members. Someone asked about street racing in San Diego and I replied with this question and nobody answered and so I look to you OOT to enlighten me...

[ QUOTE ]
I don't really understand street racing. Isn't it just whoever spends the most money wins? Couldn't I buy like a ferrari and just smoke everyone. Or buy a civic and just put a V12 into it? Can you even beat someone who has a better car than you? It seems like its just whoever owns the best car and should hardly be considered racing.


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Money does not = speed. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Re: Street racing question
 

There's more to launching than just rev and dump, but it's not terribly difficult.

In the end it's not just who's the fastest, but it's also about customization and maximising a car's potential.

It's also a very DIY industry. A lot of complications come with modding your own car and if it's something rare or new you're going to have to DIY.

But like Fatt Albert says, there's lots of different ways to achieve the end goal. Every forced induction/naturally aspirated setup has its own advantages/disadvantages.

Re: Street racing question
 

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So I post on a bodyboarding message board that only has like 200 registered members. Someone asked about street racing in San Diego and I replied with this question and nobody answered and so I look to you OOT to enlighten me...

[ QUOTE ]
I don't really understand street racing. Isn't it just whoever spends the most money wins? Couldn't I buy like a ferrari and just smoke everyone. Or buy a civic and just put a V12 into it? Can you even beat someone who has a better car than you? It seems like its just whoever owns the best car and should hardly be considered racing.


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Psh, c'mon, haven't you seen The Fast and the Furious? Paul Walker totally owned that guy in the ferrari with his souped up little Supra. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

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It's way better to see something like this in person. I saw a mustang saleen (735 hp) conversion up here absolutely destroy some idiot in his gallardo.

Re: Street racing question
 

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So I post on a bodyboarding message board that only has like 200 registered members. Someone asked about street racing in San Diego and I replied with this question and nobody answered and so I look to you OOT to enlighten me...

[ QUOTE ]
I don't really understand street racing. Isn't it just whoever spends the most money wins? Couldn't I buy like a ferrari and just smoke everyone. Or buy a civic and just put a V12 into it? Can you even beat someone who has a better car than you? It seems like its just whoever owns the best car and should hardly be considered racing.


[/ QUOTE ]

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Psh, c'mon, haven't you seen The Fast and the Furious? Paul Walker totally owned that guy in the ferrari with his souped up little Supra. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

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It's way better to see something like this in person. I saw a mustang saleen (735 hp) conversion up here absolutely destroy some idiot in his gallardo.

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I'm guessing they didn't go around corners.

Re: Street racing question
 

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So I post on a bodyboarding message board that only has like 200 registered members. Someone asked about street racing in San Diego and I replied with this question and nobody answered and so I look to you OOT to enlighten me...

[ QUOTE ]
I don't really understand street racing. Isn't it just whoever spends the most money wins? Couldn't I buy like a ferrari and just smoke everyone. Or buy a civic and just put a V12 into it? Can you even beat someone who has a better car than you? It seems like its just whoever owns the best car and should hardly be considered racing.


[/ QUOTE ]

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Psh, c'mon, haven't you seen The Fast and the Furious? Paul Walker totally owned that guy in the ferrari with his souped up little Supra. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

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It's way better to see something like this in person. I saw a mustang saleen (735 hp) conversion up here absolutely destroy some idiot in his gallardo.

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I'm guessing they didn't go around corners.

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Of course not, are you kidding me? I'm just saying the look on the guy's face was priceless when he realized the car he spent a couple hundred thousand on was getting destroyed by "good ol fashioned american muscle" as the owner of the Saleen said. It was quite hilarious.

Re: Street racing question
 

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However I was in the street racing scene for over 4 years, and not one person died, there was 1 crash out of 4 years of racing.

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Thats 1 crash too many and for what? So you bunch of wannabe racers can say, "man I smoked that idiot"? [censored] that.

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I understand you want to blame all street racers, but for the most part the people that are racing light to light, getting into crashes and killing themselves or others etc. are looked down upon by the rest of the scene. Street racing on the street in the right enviroment is still relatively safe whether or not you believe it.

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There is no safe street racing. There is no way it can be safe unless you are racing in a controlled environment such as a track. As long as its street racing its not safe. Its not possible for street racing to be safe because its not a controlled environment. People are going to use those streets.

If life was fair the cars of street racers would immediately explode killing them and everyone in them whenever they tried to street race.

Re: Street racing question
 

sponger,

you do not address the passion and excitement in your OP. it is like decribing sex as "inserting the penis into the vagina. you do it till your done. what's the big deal?" the difference is that everyone here knows the thrill, pleasure, etc. associated w/ sex, but most don't know what it is like to really be in a race, with the sound, speed, danger, pride.

money is part of the equation, but integrating your modifications, and utilizing them correctly is not a guaranteed thing. also, there is some intrinsic benefit to doing something yourself, and seeing it work. kinda like setting your own schedule and working out, eating right. you could pay a personal trainer, hire a dietition, take clenbuteral, build a gym in your house, whatever, but you might actually get less respect in bodybuilding circles. same w/ buying a ferrari vs. building a supercharged miata.

and mentioning the fast and furious is pretty much going to trigger a backlash from the people who will be most likley to give you a real answer to your question, if you are even interested.

sorry for the randomness, did that help at all?

Re: Street racing question
 

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So I post on a bodyboarding message board that only has like 200 registered members. Someone asked about street racing in San Diego and I replied with this question and nobody answered and so I look to you OOT to enlighten me...

[ QUOTE ]
I don't really understand street racing. Isn't it just whoever spends the most money wins? Couldn't I buy like a ferrari and just smoke everyone. Or buy a civic and just put a V12 into it? Can you even beat someone who has a better car than you? It seems like its just whoever owns the best car and should hardly be considered racing.


[/ QUOTE ]

[/ QUOTE ]
Psh, c'mon, haven't you seen The Fast and the Furious? Paul Walker totally owned that guy in the ferrari with his souped up little Supra. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

It's way better to see something like this in person. I saw a mustang saleen (735 hp) conversion up here absolutely destroy some idiot in his gallardo.

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Crappy car beats a good car (NSFW ads on the sides)

Re: Street racing question
 

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sorry for the randomness, did that help at all?

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Yes it did thank you. I was actually hoping I would get some more info into street racing over what I had actually asked but I didn't really have a specific question for.

Re: Street racing question
 

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Couldn't I buy like a ferrari and just smoke everyone.

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A Ferrari could smoke most cars, but there are much better platforms for straight line speed. It's not terribly difficult to put 1,000hp into a Supra. All of the parts you need are mass produced.

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Or buy a civic and just put a V12 into it?

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That's at the opposite end of the impractical scale as the Ferrari. But I get the point you're trying to make, it's not hard to build a fast car, especially if you have cash.

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Can you even beat someone who has a better car than you?

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If the difference is not that great, someone who is very good might be able to beat some guy who has no clue every time. Other than that, only if the guy driving the faster car makes a mistake. Michael Schumacher wouldn't stand a chance if he was driving for Super Aguri.

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It seems like its just whoever owns the best car and should hardly be considered racing.

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That's pretty much it. You can still consider it racing, because whoever goes faster wins. It's just not very competitive. There are plenty of reasons why someone would still want to do it, a lot of them have already been discussed. For a guy who's spent months working in his own garage, smoking a car that was twice as fast as what his car used to be could validate all the work he's done. There's still a certain amount of respect some people get for having a faster car.

Re: Street racing question
 

That porsche have any trouble hookin up? [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

For all the "take it to the track or you deserve to die" people:

Drag strips are not dime a dozen, sometimes people have to drive hundreds of miles to find their nearest track. A trip to the track can take the entire day. Which can be done, but not on a regular basis. Also, it's extremely easy to create a controlled environment. A drag strip is about 3/4 mile stretch of pavement and two cars going down it. This can be replicated on many desolate streets, its not that difficult to keep innocent bystanders (if any) away. Whether or not these racers decide to take these precautions is up to them. And yes, street racing is dangerous, but ALL racing is dangerous, this should be obvious.

There is also alot of pride on the line, you might not understand it, but that doesnt mean its wrong.

Re: Street racing question
 

d10,

Thank you for that post

Re: Street racing question
 

the forums over at grassroots motorsports are like the "varsity OOT" that has been proposed for the street racing crowd. not a lot of 16yr olds though.

if you would like to know how to extract more performance from your current car, i would browse around there for a while. there is less variance w/ strait line street racing, but for going around turns, driver skill is 90% (arbitrary number, but you get the point).

Re: Street racing question
 

i hear if you get a 96 civic, put a bad ass spoiler, a couple of exhaust tips, and some insanse sick stickers you have a race car...

Re: Street racing question
 

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i hear if you get a 96 civic, put a bad ass spoiler, a couple of exhaust tips, and some insanse sick stickers you have a race car...

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i also heard that if you neg, you are a PUA.

every group has its trolls. it just so happens that most americans own cars too.

Re: Street racing question
 

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i hear if you get a 96 civic, put a bad ass spoiler, a couple of exhaust tips, and some insanse sick stickers you have a race car...

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i also heard that if you neg, you are a PUA.

every group has its trolls. it just so happens that most americans own cars too.

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come on now, everyone knows each sticker is good for about 10 horsepower. [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

Re: Street racing question
 

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i hear if you get a 96 civic, put a bad ass spoiler, a couple of exhaust tips, and some insanse sick stickers you have a race car...

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i also heard that if you neg, you are a PUA.

every group has its trolls. it just so happens that most americans own cars too.

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come on now, everyone knows each sticker is good for about 10 horsepower. [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

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only if it is related to nitrous oxide [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: Street racing question
 

To answer your question, obviously mismatched cars will be handicapped. Extra carlenghts, no nitrus, etc, same as on that crappy MTV show, Pinks.

The reason why most 'street racers' don't like to go to dragstrips is because the official timer screws them over. (If everyone knows your car runs X.XX in 1/4 mile, then you will only be challenged by someone who can run X.XX - .01.)