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FAQ: Frequently Asked Illegal Street Racing Questions Below is the top ten list of frequently asked Illegal Street Racing questions. Should you have additional questions or comments feel free to contact Evo at Info@evostreetracers.com or fill out the form.
_______________________________________________________________________________________ 1: Is Illegal Street Racing the same as drag racing?No. Often Illegal Street Racing is incorrectly identified as “drag racing” or “street racing.” Both drag racing and street racing are sports legislated by sanctioning bodies that ensure the highest level of safety for both the participants and spectators whereas Illegal Street Racing has no rules or safety measures. An example of a drag racing sanctioning body is the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) and an example of a street racing sanctioning body is the Indy Racing League (IRL) Toyota Grandprix of Long Beach and Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. 2: Is Illegal Street Racing growing? When considering the “growth” of Illegal Street Racing one must consider the parameters which it is measured. Unfortunately most law enforcement agencies in America do NOT specifically identify the act of “Illegal Street Racing” rather note it on citations as “Speeding, Reckless Endangerment, Exhibition of Speed, Contest of Speed, ect.” Professor Kenneth Peak authored a report in 2004 entitled "Street Racing" stating "Police in California have been attempting for years to convince the state to alter its accident investigation form to include coding for street racing." As there is no universal specific term to identify the act of Illegal Street Racing it becomes assimilated into larger speeding categories thereby making it near impossible for an agency (law enforcement, NHSTA, NICB) to define statistics. Considering that over 70% of the populace speeds on the American highway system it is easy to understand why the statistics are easily skewed. It was only recently, within the past few years, that a few states including Florida have specifically coded citations with Illegal Street Racing. Furthermore law enforcement agencies have finite budgets; therefore, strategic law enforcement is dependent on the current social values of society. Frequently it takes numerous deaths printed in media for a society to react to a problem, demand change from politicians, and for law enforcement to react; regardless of whether it is drugs, thievery, or Illegal Street Racing. Other catalysts that may affect change include content found in film, music, and video games; however, short of a death or an accident involving the social elite an Illegal Street Racing accident is at best a family destroyed and a head line in the local newspaper for a day. Should there be a method for an agency to accurately capture the incidence of Illegal Street Racing, which there is not, it begs the obvious question; has the activity actually increased or has the level of enforcement increased where it once did not patrol? Evo Street Racers cautions anyone who claims a specific number of Illegal Street Racing incidence, because the data they draw upon is VERY misleading and statically inaccurate. Although it is cliché, with regards to Illegal Street Racing, one death is one to many. Evo Street Racers created and is promoting new innovative strategies to address data collection of illegal street racing information as written in "Current Illegal Street Racing Statistics Prove Detrimental To The Cause." Evo Street Racers is the only association in the world that has been continuously monitoring illegal street racing via traditional and unconventional methods for nearly a decade. As such Evo has created the only known database of all subject related to illegal street racing. Derived from this proven database Evo Street Racers has release numerous studies, educational programs, and alternatives to the street. The focus of these studies is to best understand the percentage of affect rather than the number of incidence. Through preliminary research of the database it is Evo Street Racers assessment that Illegal Street Racing is on the rise. CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO THE TOP OF THE PAGE. 3: Why do people participate in Illegal Street Racing? The answer to this question dates back over a hundred years. Historically illegal street racing on public roads started with the horse and buggy. With the invention of the internal combustion engine, the horse was replaced for a motor, and installed into a buggy. Evo Street Racers has verified accounts of illegal street racing dating far back as the 1900's where the media complained about reckless motorists racing through the street creating a trail of chaos. The Smithsonian Institution has recorded automobile racing in America starting in 1895 with famous characters like the Duryea Brothers "racing" (Avg. Speed of 7.5mph) through the streets of Chicago. The Prohibition Era in the 1920's has been reported as another source for increasing the incidence of illegal street racing in America. People smuggling alcohol, known as Bootleggers and Rumrunners, would modify there vehicles for more power and better handling to outrun police. The result was highly tuned vehicles illegally racing through the city streets and back country roads to deliver illegal goods. In California during the 1930’s the Hot Rodders automobile subculture became the target of media as "outlaws" and Illegal Street Racers. Hot Rodders would race each other on public beaches, through country back roads, and at the dry lake beds in the Mojave Desert reaching speeds of over 100 mph. Shortly thereafter a visionary, Wally Parks, a co-founder of the Road Runners Club (a club exclusively for Hot-Rodders) decided to address the problem of illegal street racing through organizing the Southern California Timing Association in 1947. In 1949 the Speed Week at the Bonneville Salt Flats became the first organized sanctioned event that mirrored modern day drag racing where RULES were utilized for both safety and competition. Alternative to Illegal Street Racing have existed since the late 40’s yet people still participate in the illegal activity. Why? When interviewing illegal street racers, Evo Street Racers has come across a few notable quotes: "Its a sport like anything else," "On the street it all equals out, Biotch!," "I love the hustle, its all about the hustle," "Love the sport," "Its an addiction, my addiction, better than doing drugs, right?," "Any day i'd put my life on it ...There is a risk in everything we do so why not?," "My parents did it so why can't I," "Its fun, I won't hurt anyone, and the cops don't really care about stopping it, so why should I?." Evo's Database has logged many reasons why people participate in illegal street race including: Failed Motorsports Sanctioning Bodies, Associations, And Race Tracks.
Social:
Personal:
CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO THE TOP OF THE PAGE. 4: Who is ultimately responsible for Illegal Street Racing? The answer of responsibility is dependent on the person being asked. With films such as The Fast & Furious being released in 2001, creation of the Sport Compact Car culture (mid 80’s), automobile companies focused on producing and marketing their fastest cars ever, and the media constantly searching for drama, Illegal Street Racing has grown in world wide attention. Many, including the media, has depicted the participants of illegal street racing as the sole party responsible for the illegal activity portraying them as the villains of the road and social miscreants. Unlike many associations Evo Street Racers works with ALL the parties involved and affected by illegal street racing to create viable and sustainable solutions. Accordingly there are two sides to every debate that must be considered. When interviewing people that participate in illegal street racing most clearly indicate that they do not intend to harm anyone or poison there communities with drugs or violence like the criminals they are often compared to. They continue to note that they focus on getting good grades in high school/college and are active members in their work force and community. From the view point of an Illegal street racer they gather at a predetermined point to promote their social lives. Then they will discuss their lives, cars, and tell jokes as they laugh and have a good time. Thereafter, to bring excitement to their monotonous lives, enhance their ego, and in the interest of competitive spirit they seek a quick adrenaline rush by entering into an illegal street race. Who is ultimately responsible for the participants of illegal street racing breaking the law, consequently putting themselves and others in danger while also committing related crimes? Evo's staff has created a collection of common opinions:
Ultimately the responsibility of deciding whether to illegal street race is dependent on participant. An Illegal Street Racer must understand that they are piloting a 2,000lb to 4000lb bullet; should it be directed in the wrong path the consequences are DIRE REGARDLESS of intent. There is a responsibility associated with driving a vehicle of which every driver SHOULD BE aware of when getting their license. These responsibilities are enforced by a set of rules which have been set forth not haphazardly rather because it’s proven to be the most effective way to ensure the public’s safety. Illegal racing on the street is BEYOND these rules and, as history has continuously proven, has led to dire consequences; Consequences which Illegal Street Racers SHOULD BE FULLY AWARE of whether they respect them or not. As an organization Evo Street Racers looks to build the bridges necessary to educate on the dangers of the activity and create viable alternatives to the street. These bridges can only be built when as a society we understand that the precedents and messages set currently and in the past may have encouraged the activity or fell hopelessly short of impacting it. We must take accountability for our past errors and as a cohesive community create the necessary programs to deter the illegal activity. CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO THE TOP OF THE PAGE. 5: Should the manufacturers of the cars and performance parts take more responsibility in creating alternatives to illegal street racing? Yes. The social and corporate responsibility of companies who manufacturer 300-600 horsepower street cars from the factory, along with the companies who sell performance parts, has become a hotly debated subject in today’s automotive industry. Manufacturer’s depicting their automobiles racing and speeding on marketing materials and high performance companies showing their parts contributing to massive power gains on commercials have resulted in many law suits when their customers pursue the same activity with bad results. With speed limits in America rarely exceeding 75mph people often question the manufacturer’s purpose of producing family sedans capable of speeds up to 145 mph let alone sports cars that are nearing 200mph. Ultimately, Evo believes that it is the civic responsibility of each driver to respect the law regardless of the vehicle’s capability; however, Evo does feel very strongly that the manufacturers of automobiles and performance parts are not meeting their social and corporate responsibility in providing alternatives to the street. It is a goal of Evo Street Racers to work with the original equipment manufacturers and aftermarket industries to develop a more responsible approach to assisting in the evolution of Illegal Street Racers into motorsports racers. For more information on Corporate Responsibility please click her to read a message for Evo Street Racers president on the topic: A Year in Review - A message from Evo Street Racers President CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO THE TOP OF THE PAGE 6: Is the new generation of Illegal Street Racers more reckless than the old generation and how does this relate to the underground illegal street racing scene. No. In referring to the old-generation racers as in the baby-boomers Muscle Car age or the first Hot Rodders, they were as reckless as today’s generation of Illegal Street Racing participants the key difference being the choice of vehicle and amount of vehicles on the road. The old generation of illegal street racers may argue that they tried to take measures to decrease the risks through barricading streets and racing on remote highways; however, the "new generation" of illegal street racers make similar claims. Shelly Domash concurs with this opinion when she wrote in the June 2006 Police Magazine "Today's street racers are in many ways exactly like their grandparents who race in the '50's...Really the only thing that's ever changed in the long history of American street racing is the cars and the fashions worn by the participants" Hardcore illegal street racers, also known as underground illegal street racers, are an entirely different breed of “racer” and compose a VERY small percentage of the Illegal Street Racing scene. They drive high-end automobiles equipped with expensive performance modifications and primarily race for money. These people tend to be older because of the monetary intensive nature of owning that type of a car. They have devices installed on the vehicle and strategies which assist in eluding law enforcement and trouble in general. Often they do not associate with the Illegal Street Racing scene for fear of increased visibility which can cause law enforcement to notice them, decline their ability to hustle a person in a bet, and put their vehicle in jeopardy to get stolen. CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO THE TOP OF THE PAGE. 7: What is the choice vehicle of illegal street racers, Imports or Muscle Cars? Dependent on the country a person lives will determine which vehicle is more popular to race with. The below explanation applies to America. A Muscle Car is a vehicle bought from the factory with a large displacement engine in a small frame at an inexpensive purchase price. With inexpensive easily modified vehicles back in the 60’s/70’s young-adults could buy and race them for cheap. Today’s generation of Illegal Street Racers have used a similar technique of buying an inexpensive car and installing a higher horsepower engine called the Sports Compact Cars scene. The Sports Compact Car scene is largely dominated by Japanese vehicle’s (Although domestics and Euro’s vehicles can also be included) and is believed to have started with the Honda Civic. Honda’s have traditionally been cheap to buy, easy to work on, and have an excess of interchangeable parts and engines that can be fitted between numerous models. A young-adult of low income can buy a cheap Honda, make it into an Illegal Street Racing vehicle for relatively inexpensive means, and not raise the concern of his/her parents as the vehicle was designed as an economical form of transport and not a race car. Evo Street Racer recently release a ground breaking study, Illegal Street Racing Locations And Vehicles, which indicates that 61% of vehicle used in Illegal Street Racing are imports, thereby making it the choice vehicle. CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO THE TOP OF THE PAGE. 8: Does Illegal Street Racing result in additional criminal activities? Yes, the activity and automotive subculture of Illegal Street Racing can result in additional criminal activities. The frequency of these activities are of great debate; however, Evo Street Racers believes most major crimes to be limited. Should an illegal street race result in a large gathering of people a mob mentality can be created which can yield the same negative as seen at a dance club or professional sporting event. The below list of criminal activities captures the crimes related to Illegal Street Racing that go beyond the standard moving violations. Likely:
Limited:
Rare:
CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO THE TOP OF THE PAGE 9: Did the Fast and Furious movie start modern day illegal street racing? No. The illegal street racing scene had already gained substantial strength prior to the movie. The movie was as a result of the popularity of illegal street racing rising in young adults. CNN in June 22, 2001 wrote when describing The Fast and Furious target demographic, "Hollywood's most coveted demographic, males between 17 and 24." Grossing over $80 million in the first 10 days of release the Fast and Furious movie was responsible for introducing illegal street racing to the American conscious. Officer Joe Warren of the Chattanooga Police Department further elaborates on the Fast and Furious impact on America in a Beat the Heat video stating "Some of the movies have encouraged that (illegal street racing)...Its like the kids cant separate the reality. The problems is that the video games and movies don't really show what actually happens in a crash" There has been many movies and TV shows featuring illegal street racing; however, none glamorized the activity like The Fast & Furious.
Video Games featuring illegal street racing:
CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO THE TOP OF THE PAGE 10: What alternatives to the street can I race my car in? Drag Racing: Karting: Circle Track: Auto Cross & Road Racing: Should motorsports facilities not be readily available in your area please notify Evo Street Racers of the concern for further review. Related Articles: (Click Here For News Archive)
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