What to do with street racers...

[Dangerous Doug]

Driving through Los Gatos today, a teener in a WRX pulls up behind me and revs his engine. As soon as he got the chance he pulls up next to me, looking over, and gooses it a couple of times.

School zone dead ahead. I let him move on, but he gets stopped at the light.

Feeling a little cocky, I pull up next to him at the light (he is now going to turn left).

I quip, "You're kidding, right?"

He sternly replies, "Nope!"

I return, "Probably should be."

The light turns green. He still thinks we're racing, as he has about 100' before his left turn. I blip the throttle enough to pass him, then shift to second for a legal cruising speed through the school zone.

Okay, I know the WRX is light, and with the turbo can be fast. This guy looked kind of street punk (baseball cap over his ears, gold chains, too young to have purchased the car himself), otherwise I wouldn't have been such a weenie.

Any other encounters with street racers, in particular the street punk type?

DD

[Slick61]

have had the odd street punk occasionally want to race, but is mostly the Z06 guys who are always chasing me down, wanting to race.

Could care less if they're faster or not. They've got better driving dynamics than I do, so they could win if they're a good driver. Whatever.

What drives me nuts is the idiots who slow down & block you into a lane, just so you'll swing around them and floor it to get past them. I KNOW they're doing it deliberately- and the tactic is usually successful. It's infuriating tho...

[Atlantacobra]

Ah, I know the moment well. You did the right thing in letting him think he's racing. Nothing good comes from a situation like that especially with the school zone ahead. I've found that I enjoy shaking me head "no" to challengers more than actually beating them. It's just not worth it, plus a punk like that will just come up with some excuse to why he lost.
Plus, those cars can have some unbelievable power and just might beat you. Then you'll really wish you shook him off.

[PurpleVenom]

Heard the best one last night. There's a local Sonic that a few of us C guys go to and around 8 - 9pm, all the ricers, mustangs and camaro's show up with a WRX here and there. One of the Mustang guys is telling everyone about his 715Hp mustang. One of our club members goes over to chat with him, check his tires (to see how sticky) and asks him about a "race". The mustang owner, said "what are you drivin'?" Club member points at his car, and the mustang owner then says "nah, my clutch is slipping, I can't take off very well" sure it is, couldn't have been the 300 shot NOS bottle or the mere look of the roadster that scared him, was it?

[jopper]

There have been times when I do a burnout without my car even moving.
they usually get the point

[xlr8or]

Originally Posted by jopper

There have been times when I do a burnout without my car even moving.
they usually get the point

I've done that on the freeway at about 75. Just dropped into third and boiled them off a bit... The guy in the Corvette just crapped his pants a little and left.

[67FEfastback]

I drive the speed limit or under 99% of the time.

So I am doing so, in the right lane of the freeway, little downhill stretch. No traffic. I see this car blasting up from behind me 1/4 mile away, easily 20-30kph faster than me. Comes right up behind me, tail-gating.

Then suddenly whips over to the left lane and blasts by me. I look over my shoulder thinking F@(king idiot, and see a white SUV tailgating him.
I think another F@(king idiot, until I see the red and blue lights go on.

Anyway it really pisses me off some times. Every @sshole in his BMW or other "sporty" car, seems to think by whipping up behind you, changing lanes quickly, changing lanes back in front of you, nearly cutting you off, is some sort of indication that his car is faster than yours...

All I am thinking about is my fiberglass front end

[madmaxx]

Street racing in Houston is a $2K fine. Unless a Porshe twin turbo, corvetter zr1, ferrari pulls up to me, I do not even waste my time looking over at them. The other ones I take my chance, have not lost yet, never raced a ZR-1 either LOL!!

[Xavier]

It isn't worth getting your car impounded over. No way. Every mature idividual would understand, and for those who don't screw'em.

When you are racing your Cobra you have everything to lose, they have nothing to lose. If they lose they will say "What can you expect, I got beat by a Shelby Cobra", if they win they look like a hero. If you lose, you lost to a ricer, if you win, you went up against a car you knew you could beat and just risked or subjected yourself to getting your car fined or impounded and/or losing your license.

Take a look at my ride. It looks fast sitting still. I don't need to prove it. For those who don't believe it, who cares.

[cobra bill]

I agree, not worth the risk, I have a collection of muscle cars, but the car I have the most trouble with is my CRX, my kids got into building Honda's so I told them one day I will show you how to build a Honda and I went out and bought a CRX si and promptly dropped $7.000 into it and that little sucker is a beast! but it's like being a gun slinger when you drive it, every kid within a mile radius wants to race you, I never give them the satisfaction, I have told some if you want to race lets go out to the mountain, where there's no traffic and no cops, and corners, I don't care much how fast you think your car is, how good are you!

[rms427]

Back in 1970 after a Cobra Club meeting a new guy with a 289 cobra came up to me and asked to race on Mulholland Drive. I told him I wasn't interested. At the next meeting he didn't show up and we found out that he was killed racing on the street. He turned the car over and got caught between the curb and the rollbar and was killed instantly.

[PurpleVenom]

Ok, this may offend some, put off others, however I'm just being honest - I bought this car because I like the speed. I like the adrenaline rush of going faster than I probably should. I do not do it around others, with anyone else in the car, in a bad mood, when I can't concentrate fully, or in a bad mood. I haven't raced anyone on the street, but have done a burnout or two at a red light. Hot rods, street rods, big engines, small blocks, performance products have all been built on speed and street racing. Do I condone it, not so much in the hands of a 16-18 year old. I don't know, there's a reason each of us here bought all of this speed, horsepower and fast looking car, and it isn't because we like to sit on a black asphalt for 8 hours for a $5 trophy. And, like Forrest Gump, that's all I got to say about that.

[DAVID GAGNARD]

Get that all the time in my 65 Fastback..... Had one kid in a hopped up,nitros fed Supra just beg to race me and his mamma was all for it, egging him on and daring me to race him.... Told them both I'd be happy to race him, just meet me at the drag strip satruday for test/tune. 20 bucks gets your car in and you can usually make at least 20 passes if you want, so he took me up on it one saturday and after I did a few test runs in the 12.90 to 13.10 range he wasn't too impressed. Then he got his turn, he never ran better than 13.75 and had a ton of money in a turbo/nitros Supra..... He left with his tail between his legs never racing me that day........

About a month later he decided to run from a state trooper instead of taking a speeding ticket. He was clocked at 127 mph and they needed a helicopter to help keep track of him. His total fines were something in the area of $2,500.00 to $3,000.00 bucks, his mamma later had the citations framed and are on their living room wall.....
I'm suprised to this day that he is still alive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!and driving.........

David

[bobcowan]

I was sitting at a red light on the main drag (Academy Blvd). On my right is a typical rice burner: Fart can, huge tach, stickers, etc. I hear what sounds like a weed whacker, and I look over in his direction. He looks at me and gives me that look/gesture - you know it, you've seen it.

So I put the trans in second, set the line lock, ran the rpm's up to about 5K, and dropped the clutch.

The engine is roaring, the screaming side pipes are aimed right at his window, and the tires are just boiling like there's a fire.

I pushed in the clutch, and let the engine drop back to it's mellow 750rpm idle. I looked over at him and said, "OK, I'm ready". He wouldn't look at me after that. When the light turned green, we both calmly drove away. He turned in at the next drive way.

[CoupedUp]

I found out quickly that the acceleration on this car is far more than other unsuspecting drivers can anticipate. If I accelerate hard, others will pull over into the lane in front of me not realizing how fast I'm coming up behind them. After that happened the second time, I decided to save that driving for the open track days. I will occasionally give the car a little "blast" up to 80 or so, but try to be really careful about picking the time and place.

As far as the street racers go, I will smile and "toss them some pipes" but that's about it. Whether my car goes faster or not is (mostly or somewhat)irrelevant to me. I think it's the coolest car on the planet and that's what matters most...

[Great Asp]

From a dig, there are lot's of slightly modded STI's that would destroy a 289 Cobra. So he did not think he was kidding.

Street racing is dangerous. The roads stink for high speed passes, and it puts others at risk that don't even know they are at risk.

But come on, some of the holy posting on this thread have at least pulled the label off of a pillow before.

E

[CowtownCobra]

Originally Posted by Great Asp

But come on, some of the holy posting on this thread have at least pulled the label off of a pillow before.

E

hehehe....dats funny

[Commodore]

If you really want to humble stop light drag racers try this. When Mr. Drag Boy gives you the 'look' at the light smile and give his car a nice slow look over. Pause, now shake your head no while still smiling. Drag Boy doesn't know if you are saying that his car will eat your lunch or that to race him would completely waste your time. Drives them crazy! Don't forget to wave as they drive away. If you listen carfully you should be able to hear several swear words.

[vettestr]

Have you been to an organized street race in the last few years? Ask some of the ricers where and when the next time you get the throttle blipped at you @ a light. They will tell you if driving your Cobra and not your SUV. They will give you a couple of locations on the average Friday or Sat. night.

I think you will be surprised at the Tin and the Money that shows up to run. I am not suggesting you race your Toy but just take it all in. They have a meeting spot, rules and exit strategy ..... all the stuff you did in HS or college. Some of these kids and some much much older will have a fist of cash being bet on a race. Check it out.

[cobra25]

Originally Posted by Commodore

If you really want to humble stop light drag racers try this. When Mr. Drag Boy gives you the 'look' at the light smile and give his car a nice slow look over. Pause, now shake your head no while still smiling. Drag Boy doesn't know if you are saying that his car will eat your lunch or that to race him would completely waste your time. Drives them crazy! Don't forget to wave as they drive away. If you listen carfully you should be able to hear several swear words.

This is exactly what I do.

I had a 66 GT-350 in the mid-80's and I confess, I street raced alot. Mostly mid-80's Corvettes for money. I made a lot of money.
But, now that I am older, I look back at those times and often wonder why I am still alive.
You can go crazy and race and risk your life and both cars and the result will be the same.
Now, I live by Laguna Seca and I encourage them to come to an open track event, get an instructor, and then we will see which car and driver is fastest.
For real!!