| legal street racing?
Posted: 7/11/2006 2:11:24 AM | my question is for every gearhead out there man or woman.... i figure with the resources we can gather with pof changes might occur for this sport. I know that downsview airport in T.O is closed... how many people would be interested in trying to get permission to have a "race wars" type event going somewhere on a semi regular basis. Anyone interested let me know...rock on, keep it on the road, if telephone poles look like picket fences...go faster and remember the lines are only guides...  | |
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| legal street racing?
Posted: 7/11/2006 3:55:57 AM | Well I wrote an email a while ago to the chief of police in Toronto and to the mayor about getting that at Downsview and got a negitive on that. It has alot to do with insurance and liability that the city and province do not want any part of.
Toronto does not seem to want to stop street racing. They only want to write tickets and impound cars.
Its a good idea though and I would like to see somthing like that happen, so if you can generate enough interest in somthing like that, I would be glad to help out. | |
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| legal street racing?
Posted: 7/11/2006 4:04:19 AM | | Building a race track or giving them somewhere to race legaly still wont stop it.They tried it back in the 50's there was a track in woodbridge and georgtown. People still street raced.For some it's the thrill of knowing they might get caught.The only thing that may work is impounding the cars then crushing them and jail time. | |
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| legal street racing?
Posted: 7/11/2006 6:13:36 AM | | Don't you guys have Cayuga drag strip, not too far from TO? Heck we travel to Grandbend to race my friends Top Dragster rail. | |
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| legal street racing?
Posted: 7/11/2006 6:47:48 AM | | I know that street racing is part adrenalin rush and part power rush to show off how awesome your cars are. But I know that everyone has their own reasons for liking that. Can I ask you what you like about it so much? Please know that it isn't a sarcastic question either because I'm truly curious. *smiles*. | |
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| legal street racing?
Posted: 7/11/2006 1:42:13 PM | Building a race track or giving them somewhere to race legaly still wont stop it.They tried it back in the 50's there was a track in woodbridge and georgtown. People still street raced.For some it's the thrill of knowing they might get caught.The only thing that may work is impounding the cars then crushing them and jail time.
That hasnt worked either and your statment is alot of BS and very ignorant. It is the same attitude the police have and does nothing to stop it. Georgetown did have a track that closed in the early 70s yes but when you run bracket style events and not heads up its not going to draw the street racers there.
''quote''>I know that street racing is part adrenalin rush and part power rush to show off how awesome your cars are. But I know that everyone has their own reasons for liking that. Can I ask you what you like about it so much? Please know that it isn't a sarcastic question either because I'm truly curious. end quote
I`ll try to explain
Racing in a bracket division at cayuga that is more than 100 km from Toronto or any other track is not the kind of racing that the street racers like. You can spend all the money in the world and have the fastest car, and still get beat by a chevette because he is more consistant than you. In fact in bracket racing (handycap start for the slower car) The slow cars almost always have the atvantage.
Street racing has alwaays been about who has the fastest car, not who can read the weather and dial it in the best. They want to race one individual car for 100 bucks or so, not race 8 more and hope to meet that one car in the final round.
What needs to be done is to build a track near Toronto and open it to street racers only. No race cars what so ever. It must be open on friday and saturday nights to past midnight.
At cayuga they do this friday night only and it atracts alot of local Hamilton and Niagra area cars. A few venture up from the GTA but it really is too far for most. When I go there on a friday night I can always tell what cars are from TO. They are the ones that dont get there untill and hour and a half before the track closes because they have been stuck in traffic on the way there.
Another problem Cayuga has ben having and the word of this spread real fast. The Ministry of enviroment have been setting up a check stop about 500 feet before the gate on Kolar road and writing tickets for the dumbest things. Why do they do that to the people who are going to race their cars legaly? That will only incourage the street racers to take their chances on the street.
Typical Friday night on the street Vrs the track....
Street.... Fill the car up with gas, 40 bucks head to the local hang out. Wait around for a bit, a few hundred cars show up. Your having a good time with all your friends, You go for a cruise and check out a few more cars. One or two go for a race. You race some one and win 100 bucks off him and then go home about 2 am. You come out 60 dollars ahead then what you started with.
Track..... Fill the car up..40 bucks. Drive an hour and a half to the track and get pulled over by the M.O.E. Get a 380 dollar fine for having a K and N air filter because for some dumb reason it is illegal even though you get better gas millage with them.
Put another 20 dollars worth of gas to race with. Fill up for the drive home, anther 40 dollars.
Total $480.00 for the night. *edit.. I forgot to add the 40 dollar entry fee so the total is now $520.00 for the night.
This is what alot of street racers and drag racers are going through latley. Not to mention some romours about some insurance companies sending people to the track and running plates to see if any of the racers are insured by them. The next day your policy is cancelled.
Still with all of that crap at the track, Cayuga does see about 300 cars on a friday night when they run a street style race. If the track was closer to Toronto the number would be closer to 1000 cars.
Now I know some of you are going to say that people can and do get killed on the street and that has been true as of the last few years. This is not a result of the typical street racer that I am talking about. This is mostley the new generation of kids driving their parents cars that are causing these wrecks. So dont say it. | |
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| legal street racing?
Posted: 7/11/2006 1:51:42 PM | Don't you guys have Cayuga drag strip, not too far from TO? Heck we travel to Grandbend to race my friends Top Dragster rail.
Like I said above. Cayuga is not that close to Toronto when you have to deal with the traffic. Most dont even get off work in time to make it there on a friday night.
When you build a Rail car or any other race only car, you are building it for the track only and have to accept the fact that it may be a long tow there and back.
Street racers build their cars to run on pump gas and like to enjoy driving them on the street. No different from any other car nut out there. Racer or not.
It really is a different way of life and unless you`ve been there, you may not understand it. Not all racers have the budget to run a rail car. | |
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| legal street racing?
Posted: 7/11/2006 4:21:24 PM | | Apparently there have been more than afew people that have approached city hall about a dragstrip but they arent interested even if someone puts up most of the cash. Don't you sign a waiver when you enter the track about liabilty?. In Elliot lake of all places they use the air strip on weekend for drag racing events as do a bunch in Quebec. Cities in States that are doing this type of thing have signifigantly reduced the street racing incidents. The government dosent want to stop this they want to make more regular Canadians criminals to help keep themselves and their lawyer buddies making money. | |
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| legal street racing?
Posted: 7/11/2006 5:03:04 PM | Yes you do sign a waiver before you race at any drag strip I have been too. But people are still afraid they will be sued if somthing happens to them and some lawyers are good at finding those loop holes.
All drag strips have insurance for that reason.
The government dosent want to stop this they want to make more regular Canadians criminals to help keep themselves and their lawyer buddies making money
That is probably the best line I have read on this forum. Couldnt have said it better myself and couldnt be more true.
About 10 years ago and earlier, street racing was not really an issue and most cops looked the other way. Back then it was done on a 1/4 mile piece of road out in the boonies where no one ever got hurt. Now after a few movies glorifying the wrong way to street race, alot of high school kids in these sport compact cars that have a hard enough time getting out of their own way are driving like idiots and racing in high traffic areas and causing accidents.
Now it makes the news and the Canadian gov is trying to bring in a new law on it.
I got news for them though. Street racing is already illegal. The price tag is real high as it is. Making it more illegal (if thats posible) is not going to change a thing.
In Elliot lake of all places they use the air strip on weekend for drag racing events as do a bunch in Quebec. Cities in States that are doing this type of thing have signifigantly reduced the street racing incidents.
Arnie Malcolm runs those events and I applaud him for doing so.
Me and Arnie dont see eye to eye how ever. Apparently he does not like street racers at his drag strip in Quebec. | |
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| legal street racing?
Posted: 7/11/2006 7:05:06 PM | I can't run very fast. But I am in!
In all honesty, I think that racing cars should be left on the tracks. | |
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| legal street racing?
Posted: 7/11/2006 7:35:39 PM | It all took a turn for the worse when Fast and the Furious came out all of a sudden it became a hot button issue and its gone down hill ever since. Should someone be considered a criminal if they accelerate their car in the middle of nowhere not harming anybody.
Also i have noticed in the news hte many negative comments from our elected officals and law enforcement about modified vechicles, for some reason the attorney general seems to think a modified car is intent to street race which in other words you are already guilty. I think car people should get together and remind our great and powerful LOL elected officals that we are voters and taxpayers and they should leave us the f*** alone. On that note its time for a drink lol
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| legal street racing?
Posted: 7/11/2006 7:49:06 PM | All the car clubs shot down the last bill the gov tried to slip in as a sub section to another bill. I am verry confident this new one will end up the same way.
The bill does how ever give the police too much power on impounding modified cars. This hurts evryone who has tried to improve the performance of their cars and trucks. Not all of it is for street racing.
Me and some of my friends build our cars up to drive on the street and race at the track. Should I lose my car because I am making 500 hp on a car that only had 240 when new?
Whats the difference between my car and a new Z06 corvette that makes 505 hp from the factory? Should the brand new vettes and vipers be pulled off the road too? Are they going to legeslate us to all drive smart cars?
Also I think if the bill does pass, there should be a clear definition of what a street race really is. There have been more than a few times where I`m on my way home on the highway and I pass new bmw only to offend the driver that my 20 year old car is passing him. He then speeds up. If a cop sees this, is he going to think we were racing?
I did happen to see somthing on the net about some new car club that is starting off for the purpose of fighting this new law. I lost the book mark though. I will try to find it again. | |
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| legal street racing?
Posted: 7/11/2006 8:11:01 PM | | The problem is no matter what idea's people come up with to curb street racers...it won't work.WHy ..cause theres always going to be some idiot out there thats gonna screw it up for the rest of us.It was all good when people were just going to back roads were it was dead and raced there. But then some idiots decided racing each other on the 401 in traffic was much more fun.SO between that and movies like Fast and furious.The stero type of owning a modified vehicle and street racing go hand in hand. | |
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| legal street racing?
Posted: 7/11/2006 8:11:15 PM | | I'm all for anything to keep the idiots from the "civic nation" off the roads. If I see one more goof driving a civic down hwy 6 almost causing head-on crashes I think I'm gonna puke. | |
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| legal street racing?
Posted: 7/11/2006 10:17:16 PM | I got all excited when I read the idea but than I read dragracer99 posts and well there went the giddy.
That totally sucks A$$. I would've really enjoyed seeing this.
I used to go with two of my crazy brothers way back when I was under 10 or so to the country roads and watch them street race and it was so much good fun.
everyone hates that rotten apple in the bag anyways, one apple always goes rotten and ruins it for the rest. weather is legal or illegal someone always screws something up.
Good business Idea for someone tho', I dunno if that's possible but that's my 2c.
Gov't, Pfffft < Need a lawyer to find that loop hole and for the $$ they have to help ya out for that idea. hehe | |
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| legal street racing?
Posted: 7/11/2006 10:54:06 PM | I looked into this about a year ago. I even had investors willing to put up over half a million dollars to get something setup.
There were many issues they brought up to us such as:
-local government were disinterested in the idea (this was pretty much the show stopper)
-noise ordinances (i know i know.. what about all the concerts they've had there)
-insurance issues
Your best bet is just to do what myself and many others do.. just deal with the long trek to Cayuga or St. Thomas drag strips.
Besides, there's not really enough space at Downsview to set up a proper 1/4 mile track, and there's already an 1/8th mile track at Mosport which isn't that far away. Although they certainly don't utilize it as much as they should for test n tune events, etc. | |
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| legal street racing?
Posted: 7/12/2006 12:58:10 AM | Good topic... I have been "dragracing" for 24yrs now, and lately since the advent of the Fast & Furious movies the legit racers tend to get branded under this heading. The whole sport compact market has driven a new type of racer onto the streets, as has been already said. Yes my one car is street legal, my other is not. And yes I have been pulled over and forced thru a roadsied inspection all to get ticketed for mismatched sized tires (at least that was all they could get me on) My street car is safer than most imports on the road, and I do not "race" or "show off" on a public street. Dont get me wrong, most import enthusiasts are normal good kids, but there are a few bad apples, and the glorification of the movies dont help matters, as the police try to crack down. Suck it up and make the drive to Cayuga or the Bend, it aint gonna get any better... and then define "street racing" correctly and crack down on the real idiots, not the guy that "has a K&N air filter"
My rant/.02
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| legal street racing?
Posted: 7/12/2006 2:45:37 AM | dragracer99
Sorry, but all I am hearing here is a lot os whining and selfishness. You are telling me it costs too much money, it's too far too go. etc. Why should other people be in danger because people want to play race car driver? Here is a quote I found when researching the issue a little.
***"Street Racing is an illegal and dangerous activity jeopardizing the lives of innocent people. In the last six years there have been 33 deaths due to street racing in the Greater Toronto Area alone. Excessive speed continues to be the leading contributing factor in fatal collisions and illegal street racing is reaching epidemic proportions.
Most recently Ontarians learned of the tragic death of Oak Ridges residents Rob and Lisa Manchester who were killed when their car was hit by a Honda Civic reportedly speeding in excess of 140 km/hr. The Street Racing Bill, 2006 was introduced by the Oak Ridges MPP in memory of his constituents Rob and Lisa Manchester and in honour of their seven year old daughter Katie Marie Manchester. Within a week of that tragedy Peel police reported that Peter Kippax died following a high speed crash in Mississauga.***"
It is insane and incredibly selfish to race in the streets in a populated area.
Sadly. most people think they are better drivers than they are. The play to practice and learn is not on the road where people or animals can be at risk. How about the noise factor? You don't like having to go home at 11pm, and want to stay out until 2am? There are actually real people that live out in the country too. Do you know how far the noise travels? If you live near a track, you accept the noise, but just because you live in the country, doesn't mean you should be subjected to the noise and danger of street racers. I would imagine the noise would frighten livestock, disturb babies, the sick, the elderly trying to sleep.
Some people work shifts, or have a social life and are coming home in the evening. Why should they risk being killed because some selfish people think they have a right to "race"? I can imagine there is also a certain amount of alcohol consumed and whenever a crowd gathers, there will be garbage left behind too.
Pay the money and go to a proper track, or work through the channels the proper way to get an airstrip or whatever it is you need. | |
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| legal street racing?
Posted: 7/12/2006 9:31:59 AM |
Dont get me wrong, most import enthusiasts are normal good kids, but there are a few bad apples, and the glorification of the movies dont help matters, as the police try to crack down. Suck it up and make the drive to Cayuga or the Bend, it aint gonna get any better... and then define "street racing" correctly and crack down on the real idiots, not the guy that "has a K&N air filter"
I totally agree. Why is it that all these people want other people to spend millions building a track for them just so that they can save driving an hour and go to a proper track that already exists with tech inspections, helmets and emergency staff on site?
I think 90% of these guys that street race wouldn't go through the hassle of paying $20 to race and having their car inspected anyways.
There's been over a dozen street racing deaths in the GTA alone in the past couple years. Deaths at all the drag strips the last 5 years in Ontario by streetable cars: 0. | |
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| legal street racing?
Posted: 7/12/2006 12:55:26 PM | | I`ve done the street racing, about 10 years ago.We had roads that were wide and marked off.A streetable Honda doesn`t do a buck 40 or 50.In the quarter mile.Its kids that don`t know when to get out of it.Alittle blast here or there when nobody is around who cares.But the pick any street traffic or not and the go for a blast.I`ve been racing for about 15 years.But like Durango put it its only alittle over an hour to the track,I`ll pick the track.Its safer and now my friends make a day out of it.20 bucks on a entry to get in maybe win somethin` other then bragging rights.And not having to pay a ticket for doing a burnout and blasting off 1320 feet is more then worth it.Theres to much trafic on the streets now a days. | |
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| legal street racing?
Posted: 7/12/2006 1:44:57 PM | Sorry, but all I am hearing here is a lot os whining and selfishness. You are telling me it costs too much money, it's too far too go. etc. Why should other people be in danger because people want to play race car driver?
Read my post fully before you call me or any one selfish.
First off your preaching to the quire here.
I am all for getting the racing to the track and not the street. I race at the track and drive on the street but grew up around and got my start on the street.
The fact that it cost too much money latley is mostley due to the ministry of enviroment picking on the racers who go to the track to legaly race their cars. When this happens, it discourages the racers who may never even have been there before from ever going back.
***"Street Racing is an illegal and dangerous activity jeopardizing the lives of innocent people. In the last six years there have been 33 deaths due to street racing in the Greater Toronto Area alone. Excessive speed continues to be the leading contributing factor in fatal collisions and illegal street racing is reaching epidemic proportions.
first I would like to see how maney of those were the cause of a street race in more than one modified car over how maney were just some kid driving too fast all by him self.
Second go back past the 6 years on record and see how many fatalities have been caused prior to that.
Third, compare that to the number of traffic fatalities caused by impared driving and drivers not paying attention due to cell phones and other distractions.
Most recently Ontarians learned of the tragic death of Oak Ridges residents Rob and Lisa Manchester who were killed when their car was hit by a Honda Civic reportedly speeding in excess of 140 km/hr. The Street Racing Bill, 2006 was introduced by the Oak Ridges MPP in memory of his constituents Rob and Lisa Manchester and in honour of their seven year old daughter Katie Marie Manchester. Within a week of that tragedy Peel police reported that Peter Kippax died following a high speed crash in Mississauga.***"
Those were both single vehicle accidents. It takes two or more vehicles to be called street racing. I see people on my way to work in mini vans driving that fast and faster on 60 kph streets.
ONE VEHICLE DRIVING TOO FAST IS NOT RACING!!!!!!
It is insane and incredibly selfish to race in the streets in a populated area.
I agree and so would most street racers.
Do you know how far the noise travels?
Yes I do and its no louder than the transport trucks I hear all night driving down the highway wich is over a mile from my place.
If you live near a track, you accept the noise,
Thats another problem. Alot of people that live near the tracks are complaining about noise and are trying to shut them down. Most if not all have bought their houses after the track was built. Cayuga has been running since 1954 and the resident who leads the fight to shut it down has only lived there since the 70s.
St Thomas had to pay local residents $500,000 last year from a law suit the had agaist the track. That almost shut the track down. The track is in need of some major repair and now it will be a long time before it sees any.
They dont want street racing but yet they dont want the tracks in their back yard.
I can imagine there is also a certain amount of alcohol consumed and whenever a crowd gathers, there will be garbage left behind too.
Thats an ignorant statment. Street racers dont drink and drive and are not in a place long enough to creat any garbage.
Pay the money and go to a proper track, or work through the channels the proper way to get an airstrip or whatever it is you need.
I believe that was the original intension of this topic. Like I said, Your preaching to the quire.
Street racing was around long before the first drag strip was ever built and is the reason drag racing got started at legal tracks.
The problem is that the tracks have gone away from the grass roots and run bracket classes wich is not what was origianlly intended.
The street racers want a place thats legal, safe, where they can run the grass roots street racing. Most have no problen going to the drag strip, but the track are not open enough for this kind of racing. That and what I said before about the M.O.E. and their check stops are the reason the hard core street racer still prefers the street.
The rest are just idiots who watch that damn movie and think its cool.
You would be very suprised to learn who street races. Most wont admit it because street racing as of late has been ranked right up there with worst criminals. I know fire fighters, police officers and dentists that street race. | |
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| legal street racing?
Posted: 7/12/2006 1:54:28 PM | I think 90% of these guys that street race wouldn't go through the hassle of paying $20 to race and having their car inspected anyways.
Yes they would. If the tracks ran street racing and not some bracket style racing more than one night a week and was no chance of getting fines for perfectly legal equipment in front of the track.
*edit... I probably wont be able to respond for a day due to some rule having 2 of the last ten posts. | |
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| legal street racing?
Posted: 7/12/2006 2:58:14 PM | I admit I used to street race, but it wasnt a stoplight to stoplight blitz either. Nor anywhere even remoetly close to intown or near houses. It was a finely orchestrated manoeuver with police scanners, on very back country roads, blocked off at both ends, and maybe get off a couple of passes, then get out of there. Yes its wrong, but... its not on some street in town either - never would, no way no how. They really need to crack down on idiot drivers period, speeding and reckless driving. Cut the guy some slack that modifies his car in a manner where it doesnt affect the streetability or safety of it. I have seen and been part of the MTO and OPP blitzes at the tracks. My tow vehicle (1 Ton pickup) was gone over frt to back as they felt I needed an annual sticker. I (being an issuer of said safety inspection stickers) kindly quoted the HTA to the officer, and he backed right down. If I hadnt known this inside out, I likely would have ended up with some bogus ticket for nothing. Its a 2 way street... The authorities, be it the cops or MTO, need to focus on the junk/unsafe cars on the road, not the legit enthusiasts.
rant #2 over...  | |
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| legal street racing?
Posted: 7/12/2006 3:10:52 PM | Good luck guys, in how all of this might turn out for you. I think there should be a happy medium for this street racing subject. Something safe but something fun for those that love it as well.
Maybe there can be? | |
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