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Week 8 [28.11-04.12] Illegal streetracing

It starts with loud noises of the engines on the street lights, everyone wants to be the one who is the Best, they want to be the fastest in the city. Races for ¼ of mile, drifting a lot of people looking at the tuned cars. Who wouldn’t to live like that? Everybody watched the Fast & Fourious and want to be like Dominic Torreto or Brian O’Conor. Driving tuned car which has like 500 Horse Power R34 Skyline or Dodge Charger. When he accelerates his front tires doesn’t touch the road (just like this on the picture).
  
It looks like pure fun, but this goes with a big danger. It’s not just about speed but there is a group of people who starts race without having a tuned car or more often tuned engine without changing tires for one with bigger handling, speed limit or bigger brakes. Amateur racers like this has longer brake distance or risk to skid around a corner what can cause an accident.  Against this what people says racers are not young bald hoodies who drives an old BMW, there is more passionats, corporation lemmings or a big companies bosses - who has money to spend on their need for andrenaline.

In Poland it all starts in Marki a small city what is close to Warsaw, there is often a start of a race and where the map of the race is setted. Then drivers goes to S8 road, where the true show starts. On the end of the race are waiting people for the winner. It shouldn’t happen on the streets, but where this people can go ? Professional race tracks cost fortune, but from the other side we can say when somebody can spend money for a car tuning, why can’t he for a race track ? His car doesn’t “smoke” few liters of benzin but over a dozen.

So where is the problem ? Availabity. In Warsaw there is a “Źerań” race track, where was meetings for moto sports fans, but the surface is quite bad and not everyone wants to risk his own car for a domage. There were several situations like in Lublin where the race track was closed, in Poznań there were also plans, but a lot of people stand up for saving this and luckily it survived. Of course Police can fight with street races, can take drive licences or give high mandates, but will it stop them? I don’t think so.

Questions
What do you think about street racings?
What’s your ideas to fight with it?
Will the race track solve the problem?
Would you like to be a part of illegal street racing community?

Sources:
http://natemat.pl/56797,szybcy-i-wsciekli-nielegalne-uliczne-wyscigi-ogromna-adrenalina-duze-niebezpieczenstwo-oblawy-policji


Comments

kondrat said…
That's a pitty there is no proper racing tracks in Warsaw. The nearest i was is 100km away. I think that building such modern racing track should be first thing to fight with illegal racers.
Sylwia Pechcin said…
I think that we can treat street racing just like other extreme sports like bungee jumping or others.
I don;t think that it's something really bad that we have to fight with. Actually we could try to make them more safe for audience and participants.
In my opinion, race track won;t solve the problem, because the adrenaline and risk is a part of it. Like people say - no risk, no fun.
For sure I would like to watch races like the ones from Fast&Furious, but I don't think that I would be the best racer. If only I had a better car... ;)
Unknown said…
Personally I like streetracing but of course it's not safe so I'm against. In my home town people organize these events too. How can we solve the problem? It's good idea to build a lot of racing tracks. It will limit number of these events. Polish people drive very agressively and I think racing track would solve this problem. I have seen program which was probably about Finland where they have a lot of racing tracks. Young people use them but normally they drive safe because they know their cars and they don't need to drive fast. I think every man who has driving license raced withsomebody.
Unknown said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said…
I love fast cars and to drive fast. I know many people would disagree with me but I think it's ok to drive much over speed limit in right conditions (empty road, good visiblity and good car - 4x4, proper tyres, good technical condtions, traction control things like that; I drive up to 270km/h on german 'autobahn's), but street racing is taking that too far. Wanting to win can make you do really, really much more dangerous things. So I'm against street racing. Real racing can be very expensive (but not that much how some would imagine). Gokarts are a very good alternative if you need rivalization and adrenaline with cars.

Unknown said…
Everything is either illegal or inappropriate these days. It’s gone too far. The problem is not that the participants might hurt themselves (they are adults and do it by choice), but that innocent bystanders might be injured. But the problem is also quite small and doesn’t warrant a moral panic. Out of ~ 3000 (in Poland) people killed in traffic accidents each year, a tiny percentage are attributable to street racing.

Unknown said…
I don't like idea of street racing, because mostly kids are taking part at it. Kids, who are new drivers and actually don't know how to drive properly, who don't know how to react to some actions on road and they are creating danger for other people. I'm against it, because this is artificial endangering, while there is still so many other, real dangers, also at streets.
Unknown said…
Unfortunately, in Poland are closed tracks. Young people have no place to have fun and go on public streets. I sometimes like to race from light to light. The stupid is that people sometimes try to emulate as we know it "Frog with BMW m3"
Unknown said…
Shame that we don't have in Warsaw the racing tracks. There is no place to have fun for the people that really loves cars, racing etc. I always wanted to try to race once. I wish I will sit one day in the real racing car and try my hand at it. I must be fun!
The biggest difference between street racing and other extreme sports is that we risk the life of not only our but also others innocent people. I think the most of early racers prefer track instead street to minimize the risk area when they can do any mistake. On street we can not afford any mistake because this lapse could cost someone's life.
Unknown said…
I like cars and everything what is connected with them and street racing is kinda cool, I have watched whole Fast and Fourius Series which main topic is street racing, but in real life it's manifestation of brainless. The streets of cities are't place to race, because you can harm other people but unfourtunatly it's common problem. In Poland there is lack of racing tracks so I think they would resolve the problem.
Unknown said…
I have quite similar view, I like to drive fast, not like 270km/h, I've never tried this ;) but a bit over the speed limit is ok for me. I think speed limits in Poland are not appropriate in much conditions.
However, it doesn't make me support such events like street racing, I consider it dangerous not only for viewers, other drivers but also for car drivers themselves. If they want to practise these, they could go to the race track or try gokarts as you said.
Unknown said…
I agree racing tracks should be built in Poland, in order to avoid street racing. They should be commonly available for reasonable price and there should be a possibility to take same racing lesson also so ones who can't do it but would like to start could learn how to drive as safely as possible.
Unknown said…
I totaly agree that it should not affect innocent people, so its all fun and games until someone gets hurt. Then what?
Unknown said…
It would be nice if there were racing truck in Warsaw, but lets admit it: there is no track because market is not big enough. If, by any chance, more people will demand such entertainment, someone will seize the opportunity.
I personally disapprove of the illegal street racing, but on the other hand there is often no other way to have high speed adrenaline fun. It is for me a great pleasure to drive a car, but I always take care of safety on public roads. I think racing tracks could partially solve the problem of illegal street racing (probably some drivers would still prefer to race in traffic), but they need to be more affordable and conveniently placed.
Unknown said…
I completely agree with statement "everything is either illegal or inappropriate these days". People don't have places to do things they would like to do. That's the problem.
Another problem is that it's impossible to make a law in a way which catch all bad or good issues.

If street racings come, I don't know how it is in Marki, but in other places it's not only about bosses or another rich men. Mostly street racings are organized by young people (of course passionate), who invite their friends. There are a lot of people, who only watch a show.

I know some situations that racings were organized away from civilization and there were only interested people. So it was impossible to hurt "innocent" people.

I don't want to say if it's good or bad, but until there are no places to do such things, people will do it on public roads or parkings. Regardless it's legal or not.
Problem with street racing in Poland is lack of racing tracks. It's great that people love to compete with each other using their cars but doing it at public roads is a very dangerous way to do it. I guess many of them would do it anyway even if few racings tracks open because they are addicted to adrenaline rush.
Michał Pycek said…
I also regret that there is no proper racing tracks in Warsaw. I have been to racing event this year in spring in Warsaw, but it was a small track at Bemowo Airport, so the time of a racing loop was very short. Generally, I understand that some people love driving and personalizing their cars so much that they look for competition in this matter and look for similar groups of people to organize such events, however I think it should be done properly, and by that I mean safe. Street racing may sound fun, but in reality it is actually dangerous because even if the roads are generally empty and there is almost non existing traffic at a certain hour, there can always be somebody driving by or walking by. It is even worse if drivers decide to do it in the middle of cities, where there are many pedestrians regardless of an hour of the day or night.
In my opinion racing is awesome and I enjoy both games and losed tracks to do it, but I wouldn't try doing this in an open area, simply because I think it is too dangerous for the others.
This is why we need more proper and accessable racing tracks in Poland.
Yes, because of the low number of track prices for entry are often unacceptable because track owners know that they does not have too much competition. Have you ever been on this track with you mentioned? I have plan to ride there in the summer and i am curious opinion about it.
Piotr Basiński said…
In my opinion street racing should become more structured. Government sholud allow drivers to race on the streets at fixed hours and under support doctors and police. Races orgenized every month could solve problem of illegal racings. Also race tracks should get funding from the government. Tuned cars are cool and why can't govetment support and develop things connected with team.
There is no space for "free market" for speedway. It's not like we did not have the track in past, we had plenty of them, but a lot of them have been closed or are in the process of closing because of the decision of officials they become illegal. A lot of people build their home next to the airport/tracks and then write a complaint because of excessive noise.
Government do everything opposite, external car tuning like light underneath the car is illegal also excise tax on cars over 2.0L it does not help in the development of this automotive industry. It is funny because a lot of politics often they exceed speed in their new BMW with 3.0+ engine.
Unknown said…
Street racing its a problem because young people without expierence on fast car rivalry each other without any reason. For me they could do it but in closed space with special background and with medical.
I will bet it will not be "many" but "some" of them. At this moment when you want race with your friend probably you chose some non-participation road and if you are happy nothing bad happened. But most of racer don't want to risk life, they only want to check who is better driver.
Kacper Zaremba said…
"Żerań" track is more of a joke than a real racing track. It's very small with road surface which will destroy any proper racing car. It's very sad, that there is no real racing track anywhere around Warsaw. It's not a matter of 'racing' but there should be some place to practice your driving skills or train getting out of skid without getting a ticket from police.
Unknown said…
I think that street racing is a great extreme sport. And it’s even more than the extreme sport. It’s a culture with its own rules and system of values.

I think the best way to fight it is to build public tracks for this. But that would be only a practical solution for a problem. Because street racing is an underground culture which mostly consists of people who have a higher need for a feeling of freedom and feeling of breaking the rules. They just have such type of personality probably. It’s their drug, the way they enjoy life.

I’d like to join this community someday. Just to explore it and meet new interesting personalities who have a different point of view on the world and want to test their personal limits.
Unknown said…
Streetracing is a really dangerous way to have fun or to ear money. I wouldn't want someone from my relatives to be part of this the same as me. Maybe because I'm not a big fan of dangerous and extreme driving, I can't understand streetracers. Of course, races should be tracked because the problem must be solved.
No, street racing shouldn't be allowed even under those conditions. No matter if there are police and doctors or anyone. You are still risking the damages to the city. Race tracks can be cool but probably cost a lot of money and I'd rather want it to be spent on something more important.
Andrzej Gulak said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
I think that there is no solution to the street racing „problem”. Even if the tracks would be widely available, there would still be illegal races, because the “illegal” factor is the one that gives the biggest adrenaline rush. Not racing on professional tracks is also much more dangerous and it gives the driver even bigger adrenaline rush. I can understand why people do it, and to be honest if I had a chance one day, I’d definitely try it.
There was and there always will be street racing everywhere. It doesn't matter if this is done by cars or motorcycles. The main reason of not using a race track is easy - this is just not the same amount of adrenaline in it. The track seems to be to safe and doesn't give the same amount of craziness. Also doing it on the street is easier and usually the police will catch only few of the drivers if busted.
Moode said…

I guess that people are always attracted by things that are a bit illegal. Street racing is one of this things. It is not very easy to organize having races on the track for most young ones, that is why they are looking for a replacement. I think that it would be great if we all could have an easier (also in the financial aspect) access to racing track. I am however not sure if this would stop people from street racing. This is the adrenaline issue I believe.
Bartosz Łyżwa said…
I sure I would like to try racing like that but in normal, legal form. In my opinion it's stupid to organize illegal street racing because drivers know what threatens them but people who are unfortunately in wrong place and wrong time don't. I'm afraid we can't fully solve this problem but there is possibility to organize racings in legal plces with the same rules.
Unknown said…
I think it is outrageous that they behave like this! It is very dangerous and I don't really care for them but they can kill somebody else because they just want to have fun. I think that there should be very high fines for street racers or even a jail sentence in some cases. If they want to race, they should do it in places proper for this.
And if they say that they don't have a race track, they can always find some sponsors or, I don't know, save some money for it. Definitely NOT risk someone else's lives.
First of all we have to remember in Poland penalties for escape from police is really small a comparison to other EU countries or USA. If you have EU ID police cannot do anything after catch than give a small fine and release driver.
Who didn't want to take part in such street race after watching Fast & Fourious?
I think everybody wanted it :)
I would like to take part in some speed race but on some sports track not on the street.
I don't think that making track will solve the issue some people just like to do things illegal as it gives them chills. :)
Unknown said…
There is a big difference between street-racing and track-racing. The track-racing is legal, you should register to take part, your car must be appropriate. My friends take part in track-racing in Tychy every year, I've been there a couple of times. It is not dangerous for people who watch, if you don't stay close.

Street-racing "like in Fast&Furiuos" is very romantic, but unfortunately it's not so cool in real life. Many people have suffered, because stupid teens want to play "Dominic Torretto". I love speed cars and driving but I think that first the government should control the age of the person who buys the speed car. And after think about the tracks for the normal grown-up people, who take it seriously and with the responsibility.
Dajana Kubica said…
I find it great passion, and I regret that there is no place in the country where you would realize it. I was once in Marki, the parking lot at the M1 where people drifted (I have no idea what it is called professionally) their cars until the police appeared. I do not understand why there is no space where people could be in a safe manner pursue their hobby. Organising such an event could bring income to the state, and also satisfy the needs of the people. I think that such a place could be partially solved the problem of illegal racing. I not interested in cars, but I would happily met people who have this passion.
Unknown said…
There is a big difference between street-racing and track-racing. The track-racing is legal, you should register to take part, your car must be appropriate. My friends take part in track-racing in Tychy every year, I've been there a couple of times. It is not dangerous for people who watch, if you don't stay close.

Street-racing "like in Fast&Furiuos" is very romantic, but unfortunately it's not so cool in real life. Many people have suffered, because stupid teens want to play "Dominic Torretto". I love speed cars and driving but I think that first the government should control the age of the person who buys the speed car. And after think about the tracks for the normal grown-up people, who take it seriously and with the responsibility.
Unknown said…
There's some street racing going on around my place sometimes. I don't care too much, other than it can get pretty loud. Suprisingly, it's very rare someone actually crashes.

Anyway, I totally see the appeal, but there's a reason driving as fast as possible on city roads is a no-no.
Adam Nowak said…
I'm positive about streetracing, of course only when participants of illegal race don't break the law. When they do it, then it is just stupid. People can have a lot of different hobbies, but they just don't do it when it can put another person in danger. I'm pretty amazed that there are people that can risk a life of a stranger only to have a "race" like in a some bad american movie.
Wojtek Kania said…
I think racing on public roads should be banned. But in Poland we have problem with infrastructure for racing fans. I think it should be more racing tracks.
The problem with street racing is that it is embarassingly uncinematic in real life. Some movies have shown it as an exciting activity, while in the real world it's just acting stupid on the road.
Legal or not I find street-racing very exciting. I love nice and pimped up cars and in Warsaw there is not so many opportunities to see them. My dream car is actually Mustang so I admire beautiful cars. I have never taken part in such a race but I would love to attend as a viewer. Of course it is dangerous but every sport in some way is. To be honest I connect streetracing with Fast and Furious movies so I don't have good bacground research about it. I know that I really would like to see such a race but I wouldn't want to take part in it.

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