stop someone from racing?
January-26th-2006, 11:03 AM
#31
Matty's Lead Scrumpet!!
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Ok City
Posts: 3,143
It's hard...I know!
My hubby hasn't been to the track in quite some time and it's showing...he's gotten pulled over twice recently...to the tune of 180 dollars in fines...in the Crown Vic, no less!
What can I say? He's a boy, and he just won't listen to me when I tell him to slow down.
My hubby hasn't been to the track in quite some time and it's showing...he's gotten pulled over twice recently...to the tune of 180 dollars in fines...in the Crown Vic, no less!
What can I say? He's a boy, and he just won't listen to me when I tell him to slow down.
January-26th-2006, 04:58 PM
#32
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Jasper , TN
Posts: 1,735
Originally Posted by FlyinHawaiian071
I want to agree, and tell you to do all you can to stop the kid, but then I would be a hypocrite. I still street race, well at least if my car is working. I recieved a "Negligent Driving" ticket last summer because I was taking turns too fast for the cop's liking. It was at night, no one else was on the road, and I didn't notice the Crown Vic a half mile behind me. I got off the ticket because I have a good driving record with only a 9 mph-over ticket on it, but it's slowed me down on the highway: I barely go 6-9 mph over the limit, which is slow for the DC area. On the other hand, I'll still drop it into 3rd gear on a twisty back road, or have a mini-race from a rolling start on the highway with a little civic like your roommate's bro's.
Does that make me a bad person?
So I am still slightly immature, but that I am also a driving enthusiast, who here isn't a little bit of both?
Who here hasn't felt the rush when some other kid flashed his lights at you coming up to a deserted stoplight? Your palms sweat, your heart races, and you stare at that red light, feeling that it's taunting you, waiting until that unexected moment when you're blinking to turn green, costing you that precious moment of advantage. Your left foot is holding the clutch to the floor and starts to shake from a combination of strain and adrenalin; your right bliping the throttle, keeping the RPMs at that crucial launch range, waiting. Who here hasn't felt their heart skip a beat when that light goes green and you mold with machine: Throttle to the floor, clutch feathered to keep the wheels locked with the pavement; right hand on the stick, left countering the torque steer? 6,525 RPM: Shift - 2nd gear. You're pressed into the back of the seat, the engine is straining to pull your car as fast as it will go, the noise growing at an ever increasing pace. All eyes are straight ahead, concentrated on the road: Looking for unexpected obsticles, looking for cops. Out of your peripheral vision, you see the tach reaching redline again, the speedometer almost reaching the magical 60 mph, you strain to locate your opponent, see if his (or her) shifts are as crisp and fast as yours. The release doesn't come until there is a clear winner, weather it be 1/8th, 1/4, or even a whole mile later, and then you lift and the excitement of the last 15-30 seconds comes at you in one rush.
Sure you get a rush when you take it to the drag strip, its the same race as I just described. But the alure of the street scene comes from everything that makes it dangerous and "wrong": The unknown variables, the contours in the pavement, manhole covers, the danger of getting caught.
Personally, I don't race from stoplight to stoplight if there are innocents on that strip. 1) You have no idea where they are going or how they'll react to your sudden presence & 2) Witnesses are never good when trying to keep it on the D/L.
As for the danger, I think it's fairly equal whether you take it on the street or if its on the drag strip. A sudden blowout can still send you out of control. A "Jersey Barrier" hurts the same whether you hit it going 100 mph on the street or 100 mph on the track.
I know I am going to get flames shot up my 2.5" exhaust for this post, but my opinion. If it makes any difference, I analyze the dangers before hand and don't race (or back off) if there are too many or unnecessary risks. My advise to you is to help educate him on the risks, what to look out for and other alternatives. Telling him NO is going to make him want to do it more.
As for his car, help enducate him on how to effectively tune it. Tell him the realities of how the car works, and what will make it really go faster. Nurture his enthusiasm for cars. Don't make fun of him becasue he didn't know how to tell if a car was turbo'd or not. It's ignorance, not in the bad way, but just in the fact that he just plain didn't know.
Sorry if it's not what any of you wanted to hear, but there's a lot of truth in what I say. Put yourself in the kid's shoes and remember back to when you first started your love affair with the automobile.
Does that make me a bad person?
So I am still slightly immature, but that I am also a driving enthusiast, who here isn't a little bit of both?
Who here hasn't felt the rush when some other kid flashed his lights at you coming up to a deserted stoplight? Your palms sweat, your heart races, and you stare at that red light, feeling that it's taunting you, waiting until that unexected moment when you're blinking to turn green, costing you that precious moment of advantage. Your left foot is holding the clutch to the floor and starts to shake from a combination of strain and adrenalin; your right bliping the throttle, keeping the RPMs at that crucial launch range, waiting. Who here hasn't felt their heart skip a beat when that light goes green and you mold with machine: Throttle to the floor, clutch feathered to keep the wheels locked with the pavement; right hand on the stick, left countering the torque steer? 6,525 RPM: Shift - 2nd gear. You're pressed into the back of the seat, the engine is straining to pull your car as fast as it will go, the noise growing at an ever increasing pace. All eyes are straight ahead, concentrated on the road: Looking for unexpected obsticles, looking for cops. Out of your peripheral vision, you see the tach reaching redline again, the speedometer almost reaching the magical 60 mph, you strain to locate your opponent, see if his (or her) shifts are as crisp and fast as yours. The release doesn't come until there is a clear winner, weather it be 1/8th, 1/4, or even a whole mile later, and then you lift and the excitement of the last 15-30 seconds comes at you in one rush.
Sure you get a rush when you take it to the drag strip, its the same race as I just described. But the alure of the street scene comes from everything that makes it dangerous and "wrong": The unknown variables, the contours in the pavement, manhole covers, the danger of getting caught.
Personally, I don't race from stoplight to stoplight if there are innocents on that strip. 1) You have no idea where they are going or how they'll react to your sudden presence & 2) Witnesses are never good when trying to keep it on the D/L.
As for the danger, I think it's fairly equal whether you take it on the street or if its on the drag strip. A sudden blowout can still send you out of control. A "Jersey Barrier" hurts the same whether you hit it going 100 mph on the street or 100 mph on the track.
I know I am going to get flames shot up my 2.5" exhaust for this post, but my opinion. If it makes any difference, I analyze the dangers before hand and don't race (or back off) if there are too many or unnecessary risks. My advise to you is to help educate him on the risks, what to look out for and other alternatives. Telling him NO is going to make him want to do it more.
As for his car, help enducate him on how to effectively tune it. Tell him the realities of how the car works, and what will make it really go faster. Nurture his enthusiasm for cars. Don't make fun of him becasue he didn't know how to tell if a car was turbo'd or not. It's ignorance, not in the bad way, but just in the fact that he just plain didn't know.
Sorry if it's not what any of you wanted to hear, but there's a lot of truth in what I say. Put yourself in the kid's shoes and remember back to when you first started your love affair with the automobile.
January-26th-2006, 11:58 PM
#33
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: DC metro area
Posts: 866
come to find out his dad is the one helping him install these parts. my roommate assures me that he gives it a once over before letting his son put the part on. that really doesn't make it any more comforting. sure the part can look fine, but its no indication of what how well it'll hold up or what kind of R&D went into it to make sure it fits the almost 15 year old car. performance parts are still made today for lots of classic cars but not for $8 on eBay.
i'm not making fun of the kid because he's inexperienced or doesnt know about 1 mazda model, i'm just showing how uninformed he is and how arrogant his attitude can get when he thinks he knows it all and is invincible at the same time. its that kind of thinking that ends up being the death of these kids.
does street racing make you a bad person? depends on who you ask. look at the top japanese race kings. almost all of them got their start illegaly racing their beaters in the touge in their teens. most of the nascar legends got their start in the grassroots of country racing whether its in a dirt bowl or a backroad. and his dad probably did the same thing when he was his son's age. but that doesnt make it any safer or any more legal. i dont think its hypocritical because saying one thing and doing another is not hypocracy. hypocracy is creating a standard for other people that you don't have to follow. if you come to the realization that what you were doing was/is wrong or unsafe (or whatever conclusion you come to), consider it a lesson learned. i just dont want him to learn that lesson in a wheelchair.
even properly sanctioned racing is a dangerous sport. i agree that its hard to beat the thrills of a race, but at least the kid should do it with regards for the law and safety for himself and others. something the scca and ndra can provide. you lose the "romance" thats involved in street racing, just like graffiti, what makes it partly alluring is the fact that its illegal. but there comes a point where you should make the decision whether these thrills are worth the risks. in his case, the sooner the better. i'm not his parent so i cant force him, but his parents dont seem to realize what exactly he does with these parts they help him install, and his sister (my roommate) just ignores it, its all the ingredients for a disaster waiting to happen.
i'm not making fun of the kid because he's inexperienced or doesnt know about 1 mazda model, i'm just showing how uninformed he is and how arrogant his attitude can get when he thinks he knows it all and is invincible at the same time. its that kind of thinking that ends up being the death of these kids.
does street racing make you a bad person? depends on who you ask. look at the top japanese race kings. almost all of them got their start illegaly racing their beaters in the touge in their teens. most of the nascar legends got their start in the grassroots of country racing whether its in a dirt bowl or a backroad. and his dad probably did the same thing when he was his son's age. but that doesnt make it any safer or any more legal. i dont think its hypocritical because saying one thing and doing another is not hypocracy. hypocracy is creating a standard for other people that you don't have to follow. if you come to the realization that what you were doing was/is wrong or unsafe (or whatever conclusion you come to), consider it a lesson learned. i just dont want him to learn that lesson in a wheelchair.
even properly sanctioned racing is a dangerous sport. i agree that its hard to beat the thrills of a race, but at least the kid should do it with regards for the law and safety for himself and others. something the scca and ndra can provide. you lose the "romance" thats involved in street racing, just like graffiti, what makes it partly alluring is the fact that its illegal. but there comes a point where you should make the decision whether these thrills are worth the risks. in his case, the sooner the better. i'm not his parent so i cant force him, but his parents dont seem to realize what exactly he does with these parts they help him install, and his sister (my roommate) just ignores it, its all the ingredients for a disaster waiting to happen.
January-27th-2006, 12:54 AM
#34
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Maryland/Pennsylvania
Posts: 531
I think you're right to be concerned. You're right to care and to not want to see this kid get hurt. As you said, you can't change his mind for him, you can only educate him. Personally, I am not one to believe that "things happen for a reason" ie: you have a pre-determined fate. If you do, then you know that there is nothing you can do to stop him. If you are like me, and feel that you make your own destiny and that every choice you make is yours and your alone and his is to make on his own as well, then you can try to inform him of the dangers and consequences and even help him from getting into too much trouble.
Although street racing and any form thereof is illegal, it does not necessarily make it that much more dangerous than cruising on the highway. Especially when you're talking about CRX's, Civics and Protege's, most (if any) street races from a standstill never get above 70 mph, and any of the ones that do never reach the century mark. Point being, it isn't really any faster than an aggressive merge onto the highway.
If what you're worried about most is him getting in trouble with the law, which, frankly, is what most people first think about, well that's not really a big deal. Fines can be paid, tickets can be resolved. It's a pain in the ***, I realize, but "it's only money." If what you're worried about is him getting hurt, and if he doesn't want to quit, help teach him to be able to steer his way out of too much trouble:
I spent $1,300 at the Skip Barber Driving School to learn how to save my *** from disaster. Although I got driving experience there to re-enforce what they taught us, I'm happy to pass on the information I learned that has saved life in more than one instance:
----------------------------------------------------
Never overreact - If there is a problem with the car such as a blowout or any other catastrophic event, do not slam on the brakes, which can be a natural reaction. Downshift and gently apply the brakes and don't lock up. Remember smoothness is the key. If your wheels are locked-up, you can't:
Counter-Steer - Most already know this but remember to turn into a skid, make sure your wheels are always pointed in the direction you want to be headed, aka where the momentum of the car is taking you. This might be an unnatural reaction if you're heading for a tree (car, telephone pole, etc), but you have a much better chance of avoiding that obstacle (or a direct collision) if you are in control of the car. NOTE: If the car's nose passes through 90 degrees in relation to the direction of the car's momentum, the car is un-recoverable and you re in a spin. In this case, forget rule #1 and lock the brakes up because you're already screwed up being smooth. If you're in a manual transmission car, or even not, remember this: "In a spin, two feet in!"
Prep the car - Before racing, or even before driving period, because all of these tips are great, make sure the car is in as perfect working condition as you have control over. Check the fluids in the engine, especially the oil and coolant. Check the tire pressure and the tread wear. Check the brakes as you leave the neighborhood and perform an emergency stop. It's funny (not really), but as a private pilot, I always preflight my aircraft before I took off to make sure that everything was in perfect working order. How many people "preflight" their cars? I know I don't all the time, yes on occasion, but never on a regular basis.
----------------------------------------------------
Pass on these words of advise, but these are here for everyone to learn from. These primary principles have saved my life and my car on several occasions, and almost every time was driving normally, at a safe speed in a safe manner.
I think the perception that adolescents and younger adults have a feeling of invincibility is a misnomer. It's partially immaturity and ignorance by not considering the consequences ahead of time. It's also kids just trying to have fun and express their passions. Everyone knows that they are mortal, that is why we bleed, to remind us. No one thinks that they can escape that in the long and/or short run. But the illegal racing, the romance as you said, is to remind us of our mortality; to go to the edge, take a peek, and step back again. It's unfortunate that some people, some kids, step to far and fall over, but if you feel strongly enough about it, you can help you're roomie's brother find that boundary, feel it, and gain a healthy respect for it.
Although street racing and any form thereof is illegal, it does not necessarily make it that much more dangerous than cruising on the highway. Especially when you're talking about CRX's, Civics and Protege's, most (if any) street races from a standstill never get above 70 mph, and any of the ones that do never reach the century mark. Point being, it isn't really any faster than an aggressive merge onto the highway.
If what you're worried about most is him getting in trouble with the law, which, frankly, is what most people first think about, well that's not really a big deal. Fines can be paid, tickets can be resolved. It's a pain in the ***, I realize, but "it's only money." If what you're worried about is him getting hurt, and if he doesn't want to quit, help teach him to be able to steer his way out of too much trouble:
I spent $1,300 at the Skip Barber Driving School to learn how to save my *** from disaster. Although I got driving experience there to re-enforce what they taught us, I'm happy to pass on the information I learned that has saved life in more than one instance:
----------------------------------------------------
Never overreact - If there is a problem with the car such as a blowout or any other catastrophic event, do not slam on the brakes, which can be a natural reaction. Downshift and gently apply the brakes and don't lock up. Remember smoothness is the key. If your wheels are locked-up, you can't:
Counter-Steer - Most already know this but remember to turn into a skid, make sure your wheels are always pointed in the direction you want to be headed, aka where the momentum of the car is taking you. This might be an unnatural reaction if you're heading for a tree (car, telephone pole, etc), but you have a much better chance of avoiding that obstacle (or a direct collision) if you are in control of the car. NOTE: If the car's nose passes through 90 degrees in relation to the direction of the car's momentum, the car is un-recoverable and you re in a spin. In this case, forget rule #1 and lock the brakes up because you're already screwed up being smooth. If you're in a manual transmission car, or even not, remember this: "In a spin, two feet in!"
Prep the car - Before racing, or even before driving period, because all of these tips are great, make sure the car is in as perfect working condition as you have control over. Check the fluids in the engine, especially the oil and coolant. Check the tire pressure and the tread wear. Check the brakes as you leave the neighborhood and perform an emergency stop. It's funny (not really), but as a private pilot, I always preflight my aircraft before I took off to make sure that everything was in perfect working order. How many people "preflight" their cars? I know I don't all the time, yes on occasion, but never on a regular basis.
----------------------------------------------------
Pass on these words of advise, but these are here for everyone to learn from. These primary principles have saved my life and my car on several occasions, and almost every time was driving normally, at a safe speed in a safe manner.
I think the perception that adolescents and younger adults have a feeling of invincibility is a misnomer. It's partially immaturity and ignorance by not considering the consequences ahead of time. It's also kids just trying to have fun and express their passions. Everyone knows that they are mortal, that is why we bleed, to remind us. No one thinks that they can escape that in the long and/or short run. But the illegal racing, the romance as you said, is to remind us of our mortality; to go to the edge, take a peek, and step back again. It's unfortunate that some people, some kids, step to far and fall over, but if you feel strongly enough about it, you can help you're roomie's brother find that boundary, feel it, and gain a healthy respect for it.
January-27th-2006, 06:51 AM
#35
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Maryland
Posts: 999
Again, well stated.
The reason for the strong response against racing is the image of the idiot (non-age-specific here) swerving and weaving in traffic and causing the good citizens to slam on their brakes or swerve. And ofcourse, who is immune to the tragedy EVERY SUMMER of the teens driving recklessly (but, sadly not Wrecklessly) and wrapping the car around a tree and snuffing three young lives.
Point?
It is all about your point of view. I can't control others. I can only control my own behavior.
It is up to the 'idiots' to learn from a close call and change thier ways.
Or die.
Either way - problem solved for the rest of us!
The reason for the strong response against racing is the image of the idiot (non-age-specific here) swerving and weaving in traffic and causing the good citizens to slam on their brakes or swerve. And ofcourse, who is immune to the tragedy EVERY SUMMER of the teens driving recklessly (but, sadly not Wrecklessly) and wrapping the car around a tree and snuffing three young lives.
Point?
It is all about your point of view. I can't control others. I can only control my own behavior.
It is up to the 'idiots' to learn from a close call and change thier ways.
Or die.
Either way - problem solved for the rest of us!
January-27th-2006, 10:05 AM
#36
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: DC metro area
Posts: 866
like i said before, i'd rather see him in cuffs than in a stretcher. in the end he'll have to be the one to wise up to his own self.
thanks for your feedback, & i know you're not promoting street racing. i agree with you that driving is already a pretty dangerous activity, and its no less dangerous that street racing. majority of reported accidents happen at intersections and highway accidents are among the deadliest. but he doesn't need to put other people in danger. trying to have a conversation with him is near impossible. he always starts and ends his sentences with "you wanna race?" maybe i can teach him something some day on a proper track, when the warranty on my car expires and he gets a helmet.
thanks for your feedback, & i know you're not promoting street racing. i agree with you that driving is already a pretty dangerous activity, and its no less dangerous that street racing. majority of reported accidents happen at intersections and highway accidents are among the deadliest. but he doesn't need to put other people in danger. trying to have a conversation with him is near impossible. he always starts and ends his sentences with "you wanna race?" maybe i can teach him something some day on a proper track, when the warranty on my car expires and he gets a helmet.
January-27th-2006, 04:22 PM
#37
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Jasper , TN
Posts: 1,735
or...like most...
Let 'em grow out of it...
in races or "runs" 90% of the time they get scared of the "rush" anyways and slow down...rarely hitting any dangersouly high speeds..
or if they do, they usually get into trouble by the "po-lice"
this idiot in a CRX thought he was hot **** and for the past week always "flies" off as he leaves the high school parking lot...
Well...yesterday ended his "glory days"
me and my friends said he needs to get a ticket one day...
Ironically, my step dad stopped him one day and gave him a speeding ticket for....50mph in the 15mph school zone....
so hes probably going to lose his license now...
so thats how most eventually learn..
Let 'em grow out of it...
in races or "runs" 90% of the time they get scared of the "rush" anyways and slow down...rarely hitting any dangersouly high speeds..
or if they do, they usually get into trouble by the "po-lice"
this idiot in a CRX thought he was hot **** and for the past week always "flies" off as he leaves the high school parking lot...
Well...yesterday ended his "glory days"
me and my friends said he needs to get a ticket one day...
Ironically, my step dad stopped him one day and gave him a speeding ticket for....50mph in the 15mph school zone....
so hes probably going to lose his license now...
so thats how most eventually learn..
February-10th-2006, 02:28 PM
#38
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: DC metro area
Posts: 866
hmm, i think the kid has wised up to my antics. i'm sure he still races, but he nor my roommate will talk about it around me. neither of them will tell me where he races so that i won't be able to tell the cops anything. but i'll catch them off guard one day and find out where he's racing.
-meGrimlock
-meGrimlock
February-19th-2008, 10:37 AM
#40
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: DC metro area
Posts: 866
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/02/16/drag.race.deaths.ap/
old thread, but relavent story. this easily could have been the kid i was talking about
old thread, but relavent story. this easily could have been the kid i was talking about
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
red-protege
1st gen/323/GLC Engine and Drivetrain
0
January-16th-2005 01:46 PM
kyo
3rd Gen Protege/MazdaSpeed/P5/MP3
18
September-26th-2003 11:35 PM
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)