Street Racing: Alive and Well

Street Racing Culture: Alive and Well
By: Michelle M. Jones - Sonoma State Univ.



It’s 11:30pm and the parking lot in front of the Starbucks in the Raley’s shopping center in Fairfield, California is packed. No, it’s not a huge amount of people craving caffeine in the late hour, it’s something much bigger. The parking lot is filled with over a hundred major car enthusiasts with the need for speed and the passion to drive. This is just one meeting point in the area for the illegal activity known as street racing.

Street racing has been around for decades dating back to the Model-T on up to today’s highly modified “tricked out” cars putting as much as 500hp to the wheels. These high speed races and crowded meeting places are notoriously known as an activity carried out by reckless, adrenaline junky kids, but it’s not just something to do, but is and has been a way of life.

To the many participants and spectators this activity makes up a whole other culture, one that focuses on a love of cars and passion for speed. These thrill seekers take chances that some say is a total disregard for life, why’ll they feel completely otherwise. A man, 22, of Vallejo wanting only to be known as Racer X says, “ When you go out to race, you know there is going to be cops and that’s part of the thrill, but its much more. It’s seeing all the cars and what they have under their hoods and seeing if all your hard work on your car has paid off”. This statement coming from a street racing veteran who has been in the street racing scene since he has been able to drive.

Adrenaline, defined as a hormone secreted in the adrenal gland that raises blood pressure, produces a rapid heart beat, and acts as a neurotransmitter when the body is subjected to stress or danger is exactly what these racers and even spectators are after. Raised levels of adrenaline are one of the main reasons these people participate. These levels are caused by the thrill of the race and of course, the big cat and mouse chase with the police. Sometimes these levels of adrenaline can be a good thing, providing an outlet for young people that is creating a culture where there are no color lines and where as long as your passion is strong you belong. The only real defined lines are between “imports” and “domestics”. Jon, 21, of Fairfield, California, talks about the street racing culture saying, “ The real street racers know what their doing. They know cars, how to drive, and how to keep things safe, but there are some people that mess it up for everyone being stupid and then people get hurt.” Though there are many positive aspects that are sometimes overlooked the negatives always seem to shine through. As Jon described there are those people who mess things up for everyone else.
According to an article published in the San Francisco Chronicle titled “Revved-up Renegades/ Hundreds of Street Racers Line Up to Defy Threats of Deadly Crashes, Big Fines” by Alan Gathright, “ Even many racers acknowledge that the growing popularity of the underground pastime is drawing too many showboating teenagers, spinning doughnuts around pedestrians during races, and spectators who dangerously crowd drag strips, standing close enough to touch rocketing cars.” Issues like this are what cause the activity to become extremely more dangerous, then there is the scattering and running from the cops.

Nearly every street race is broken up by the cops, and some say this is also one of the most dangerous times to be at the races. Not because you could be arrested, ticketed or fined, but because people are no longer driving for fun but driving out of fear. According to Racer X, “ When people are driving out of fear, they don’t drive as well and they are no longer looking out for other people, but only for themselves. That causes much more accidents than the races themselves.” This viewpoint is countered by law enforcement and other officials saying that the races are what cause the majority of fatalities related. According to an article published in The Christian Science Monitor on July 1, 2001 by Daniel B. Wood and Ron Scherer “…fast cars can also pose serious problems. Stephen Bender, a professor of public health at San Diego State University, estimates the fatality rate among young draggers at 6.5 per 1000 in San Diego County. By way of comparison, the fatality rate among all drivers would be 1 per 1000.” These high numbers of fatalities are the main reason that there is a serious crack down on street races across America and even in other countries where street racing is posing a problem. Everywhere, there has been a larger number of squad cars and helicopters assigned to these events. Cars are being towed and fines are raised. The article in The Christian Science Monitor says, “In fact the penalties for street racing are stiffening. In Philadelphia, the fine is now $5000. In San Diego County is $970, plus impoundment of the car, which costs another $850. On top of that, the drivers can lose their license for six months and be forced to do community service.” These fines are steep, but according to racers, it is only a small deterrent. Andre, a street racer who is fairly new to the scene, describes one of his experiences saying, “ I got some tickets and my car impounded once, but I still go to the races. Its just something I like to do and I’m not going to stop.” Andre’s view point is the shared by many racers and it shows by the repetitive participation in the races despite the fines and tickets.

As the street racing culture continues to grow, there are many ideas on how to cut back on these illegal activities. Some suggest opening more legal outlets for these people to race while others feel that making street racing a felony will put a end to it, but no one knows for sure what exactly will slow down this culture built on illegal activity. All that is known for sure is that is here alive and well.