Community Chat

[cody2]

I grew up in a small town in central California. Not a lot for kids to do here the weekends. So around here weekends were spent Dragging Main. My best friend's boyfriend had a car, so we were in!!!! Luckily gas was only 21 cents a gallon. So for 75 cents that we would kick in... we could drag main for hours. By the time my kids were teens, it was still allowed. Harmless fun. The city has not allowed it here for decades. Did your town do that? I am sure that it would not be allowed nor would be safe these days for many reasons. But those were different times.

[Desertdi]

I grew up in Chicago.   We would go out of the city and find country roads where we would drag race...

(I still drive a muscle car.)

[Kachina624]

Street racing is a big problem in Albuquerque.   There have been young people killed and innocent motorists.  I think now you can be arrested just for watching it.

This seems to be how cruising has evolved.

[Desertdi]

@Kachina624 

Phoenix is No. 1 in the country for fatal car crashes.  (Over 300 so far this year).     I behave a lot better nowadays....       di

[cody2]

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@Kachina624 wrote:

Street racing is a big problem in Albuquerque.   There have been young people killed and innocent motorists.  I think now you can be arrested just for watching it.

This seems to be how cruising has evolved.

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@Kachina624 Unfortunately the same kind of thing is happening here. A few weeks ago, a young man was attending one of these illegal events. One of the cars lost control and ran into the audience that was gathered and killed him. All of the people jumped in their cars and took off leaving the young man to die alone. They now have a website so folks can donate to pay for the young mans funeral. Sad. But it continues. The kids will highjack a expensive sports car and wreck it in one of these races and then leave the wrecked car. I don't know what makes kids to think that is an ok thing to do. Not to mention the danger.

[jlkz]

Drag racing is nothing new nor are the deaths that ensue.

It was 1966 and I had just bought my first car after I started my first career job.  I was standing in line for Confession prior to a big holiday that summer.  All of a sudden I heard a noise, turned to the person behind me and said I think someone just hit my brand new car.

When I went outside and saw my LeMans nose to stone wall, I knew it was going to get much worse:  one of my younger sister's high school classmates didn't make it.  All of it for no good reason at all....

Maybe they think they're invincible and nothing bad will happen to them.  The sadness will follow their parents, siblings and friends their whole lives long: what a legacy to leave to those they loved.

Things change or evolve over time but the new " thing " is to use social platforms to call a gathering of cars and swarm a roadway.  Law enforcement officers get subjected to serious harm as do the drivers.  Driving in doughnut circles:  what does that prove ?  There's no respect for property and the scarce financial resources others have who may need their vehicles for work and caring for family members.  

I don't want to bash parents.  However, I seriously question the formation of values in these young people.  It starts somewhere.....

[mrshckynut]

@cody2    our city had a small airport which was used for the nhra racing it started in the early 1960's

my husband raced many drag race cars there for years

mrshckynut 

[cody2]

@mrshckynut I think I have heard John mention that before. By the way, please tell John hello for me. We posted here together for years. I wasn't around when he quit. But I do respect his choice. Nice that you are here more though.

[qualitygal]

Makes me think of American Graffiti film. But no, not in our town. No road was that open.

[Harpa]

There was a "circuit" in a pretty big PA town north of us. Apparently, the cops didn't mind! Back then we all had muscle cars. Gosh, that was fun!

There is a smaller town to the south of me, and just recently when I was passing through, they were putting in speed traps all over the town!  What can kids nowdays possibly race with?!