December 29, 2009
Compton Christmas Street Races
Tampa Sports Car Examiner
Each year during Christmas morning, street racers of Compton gather in protest and celebration. The local track is closed to observe the holiday, but the street racers still want to race! What happens is an annual celebration of the taboo past time. Read more about the Compton Christmas street races at Tampa Sports Car Examiner.
December 8, 2009
Canadian Cop Gets Nailed for Street Racing
By Brian Lohnes
BangShift.com
Street racing is a strong crime for a police officer, but in Canada, any traffic violation involving 50 kph (31 mph) over the speed limit brings the charge of street racing. That law went into place in 2007, and more than 15,000 people have been charged with street racing since then. In this case, an Ontario Provincial Police office was reportedly going 157 kph (97 mph) in an 80 kph (55 mph) zone when he ran a stop sign and crashed. He was on duty, but not on a call. Surprisingly, the officer remains on duty but can’t drive for 7 days. Read the full story at The Windsor Star.
Where the Hell Did He Come From?
By John Coyle
Deputy Editor
At the beginning of this video, two cars are lined up and getting ready to drop the hammer on the freeway. Pretty standard, right? Well, just before the action starts, and out-of-control car slides into the shot and ruins everything. Yikes!
November 11, 2009
Fail: Street Racing Hit and Run
Tampa Sports Car Examiner
Two Turkish street racers were having “fun” and ripping up the lanes in traffic when one racer loses control and slams into another motorist. The racer regains control and flees. Read more about this accident at Tampa Sports Car Examiner.
October 13, 2009
Hayward, California, Tightens Up Street Racing Ordinance
By Brian Lohnes
BangShift.com
It just got really expensive to get caught at a street race in Hayward, California. A loophole has been closed in an ordinance passed in May, so police now have the ability to levy large fines to anyone at a street race, no matter if they are racing or not.
The original ordinance was set up so the only way that spectators could be punsihed was through the criminal process. Fearing that mass prosecutions would gum up the DA’s office, the police sought to instead punish spectators financially. Their wish was granted, and according to InsideBayArea.com the new punishments step from $500 to $750 to $1,000 for getting caught spectating at a street race. We’re guessing that the racers really get the heavy hand.
October 5, 2009
New type of Street Racing: "Kanjo"
Tampa Sports Car Examiner
Kanjo style street racing is a new form that was started in Japan by the original Kanjo team of Civics that race around interstate loops. This is quickly spreading through out USA by using interstate loops such as Tampa’s I-275, Atlanta’s I-285, and Houston’s I-45. These interstate loops act as a circuit for illegal street racers, using them to see who can get the fastest lap time around the city.
Kanjo is extremely dangerous, and police officials are aware of this nonsense. The problem is that these roads are used by larger amounts of bypassing traffic, travelers, and semis that have no intention of going through the city. The average traveler on an interstate loop is preoccupied with map instructions, cell phone use, and other forms of entertainment because the loop is typically a steady flow of calm traffic. When Kanjo style street racers drive through the loop, they swoop and swerve cutting off traffic at high rates of speed causing panic to other motorists. Learn more about Kanjo street racing in the USA at Tampa Sports Car Examiner!
September 29, 2009
Street Racers Get Crushed
Tampa Sports Car Examiner
There is a new trend spreading quickly throughout the world. Vehicles seized during illegal street racing stings are being crushed in California, Canada, and various small towns across the nation and abroad. Street racing vehicles are being destroyed, yet DUI’s and drug runners are only impounded.
Does this new policy actually help reduce the dangers caused by illegal street racing? Some say it makes things worse. An unofficial interview of ten people involved in street racing indicates that 90% would be more tempted to evade police if they knew their vehicle would be automatically destroyed. The evasion of police resulting in high-speed pursuit may present more danger than street racing itself. Watch a video of street racing vehicles being destroyed and then post your comments below.
April 24, 2009
Oregon Trooper Cites Six Exotics
By Rob Einaudi
Editor-in-Chief
I’m guessing these guys can afford the $679 citation. Full story at OregonLive.com
April 1, 2009
Fast & Furious Opening Night Cancelled in California Amidst Fears of Increased Street Racing Activity
By Jen Dunnaway
Editor-at-Large
California residents who were hoping to check out opening night of Fast & Furious this Friday have been cruelly thwarted. An emergency resolution passed late yesterday has banned the film from California theaters until further notice, following a pair of street-racing-related deaths in So Cal this week. More…
March 9, 2009
NYT Tackles the Saudi Street-Racing Scene
By Jen Dunnaway
Editor-at-Large
According to the New York Times, drifting and drag-racing on public roads are popular activities among bored and disaffected Saudi youth. No big news there. What’s cute about the article, as always, is the NYT’s struggles with automotive knowledge and terminology. The author describes the mods on one of the tuner’s cars–it’s running “an intake valve” (only one of them?). And when another kid “revs the engine until white smoke pours out,” our intrepid reporter doesn’t seem to understand that what he’s witnessing is a burnout. It’s always good for a laugh when a fusty publication expresses astonishment over that dangerous and appalling practice that the kids these days refer to as “drifting.” Oh well: if you can get past your disbelief over the automotive gaffes, it’s actually a mildly entertaining article. Amazing how tolerant the cops are of street racing in other parts of the world! Read up here.
