Street racing question.

[KooK]

I'm wondering who I would be able to talk to in my state to possibly pass this idea along. Here where I live, there is some pretty consistant street racing going around among my friends in which, none would do it if there were a track nearby (closest one is 1.5 hours out, so a 3 hour drive there and back). I'm not looking to really even getting a track built here, but even if there was some way to legally block a street off with law enforcement and ambulance workers nearby. I'm pretty sure in Iowa (around Des Moines at least), this would reduce street racing on the weekends to near nothing. Almost nobody here is in it "For the respect," or whatever stupid crap the Fast and Furious came up with, we just want to race.

Thanks!

[Mike Romeo]

some way to legally block a street off with law enforcement and ambulance workers nearby.

You want a liability mess? You will have it if someone gets hurt. And who is going to provide the ambulance service? Are you going to pay for everyone's injuries? Because someone will get hurt doing the kind of crap you are into. Call it anything you like, but it's illegal street racing.

IBTL!!

[chiefhuntr]

Just 2 posts and that much red?:confused:

I see this one will not last long!


IBTL

[Piggy]

Why in the world do you think a Government agency would want to accept the liability of blocking off streets owned by the public, so brain damaged kids can cruise their 3000 pound pieces of metal down the streets at high speeds?

Why don't you just go out and buy your own racetrack?

[scott715us]

The only way to do it legally is to have tens, possibly hundreds of thousands of dollars to build a track that meets up to state codes/standards, hire personnel to maintain the track, hire EMS and Fire personnel for standby purposes and have one hell of a liability insurance policy.

This of course doesn't include the price of the land to build it on.

Find another hobby.

[APDSarge]

Aside from trying to build your own track, which probably isn't much of a reality, you could try to find a large business that would be willing to let you use their parking lot. I'm talking something like a large parking lot or an old drive-in type theater that is not being used.

Having said that, I could not believe that any property owner would be willing to take on the liability for allowing that type of event to happen. They would be too concerned about the liability if someone crashed and got hurt, or hurt an uninvolved party.

Go to the track, that is what it was designed for. A 1 1/2 hour ride, is a heck of a lot better than a trip to jail and getting your car towed.

[Valor55]

A 1 1/2 hour ride, is a heck of a lot better than a trip to jail and getting your car towed.

And seized.

[Ironhead]

Here where I live, there is some pretty consistant street racing going around among my friends in which, none would do it if there were a track nearby

I don't believe you. I think that part of the thrill is that it is illegal. To do it legally is much less fun for those people that I have spoken to that have done both.

As others have said, I can't see any City or State doing what you ask. Too much risk. The only return on the investment is that it may reduce street racing? Not goo enough. You need more data and a compelling reason - because it would possibly reduce crime is not enough.

Some places have trouble builing a skateboard park for the same reason (just on a smaller scale)

[Legoate]

I'm wondering who I would be able to talk to in my state to possibly pass this idea along.
Thanks!

I'd speak to the local police. Tell them where you folks plan on racing. I'm sure they'll come over and shut down the street for you, I know I would.

[phantasm]

The legal track (which has since shut down) was probably about an hour drive from where I live, and I thought that was a short trip to go to the track. 1 1/2 hours is NOT a long drive to go to the track.

[Valor55]

The legal track (which has since shut down) was probably about an hour drive from where I live, and I thought that was a short trip to go to the track. 1 1/2 hours is NOT a long drive to go to the track.

No it's not but it's a good excuse for lazy kids who would rather risk the lives of innocents in the area.

[KooK]

Well I'm glad to see at least SOME took this post seriously.

The reason why I asked about an idea such as closing off a small street, possibly half mile in length is because I have heard of California doing such things. Obviously a state where the street racing crowd is much worse, but for Iowa, a state who claims to take it so seriously and it's "Out of control," I figured maybe there would be a way to get this ball rolling.

We have taken polls, we have, believe it or not, done research on the matter. Fact is, over 70% of the people who street race would not do so illegally (around my area) if there were some sort of legal setup nearby. Whether this is true or not, I believe it would be insentive enough to give a legal solution a fair shot, due to the fact that if that 70%+ did go to a legal track, there would be alot of racing missing, hopefully whittling friday-saturday night illegal racing to nothing or near nothing. It might happen, it might not, but I know it would still keep alot of us off the streets which would be the ultimate point.

I'm sorry if a few people here took offense to one person trying to help solve a problem to make you're lives easier. I figured you would like to save those moments, knocking on their parents doors. Flaming me isn't about to help that situation.

[KooK]

By the way, for those who want something to flame, I did spell incentive incorrectly; plus I do run the words "alot," (Supposed to be a lot) together.

[Radical Jack]

By the way, for those who want something to flame, I did spell incentive incorrectly; plus I do run the words "alot," (Supposed to be a lot) together.

KooK, you are not being flamed for your grammar, but rather your logic. I'm not flaming you here, but lets be serious (as others have pointed out) you can't honestly expect the government to be taking on that kind of liability. That would be like someone asking the government to open up a drug house, supply it with sterile needles, and put ems personnel there just we can cut down on the deaths of those who o.d. or catch diseases from dirty needles.

[DeltaV]

We have taken polls, we have, believe it or not, done research on the matter. Fact is, over 70% of the people who street race would not do so illegally (around my area) if there were some sort of legal setup nearby.

Well, there you go. Everyone should drop whatever they're doing and bend over backwards to create some sort of legal setup so you and your friends won't break the law. I guess having the law in place isn't enough for you. What ever happened to not breaking the law because the law is in place?

Here's the bottom line. Street racing laws are on the books for a reason. If you have no respect for them and violate them willingly, we aren't going to have much respect for you. Street racing is a big problem in my area and I take pleasure in stopping, citing, and arresting street racers in their riced up cars. The best part is actually seizing their precious little Civic for forfeiture.

You participate in an illegal hobby. Don't whine to the police about not having legal alternatives and expect us to feel bad for you. You're an adult and you make your own choices. If those choices end up getting you or someone else killed or land you in jail, the only person to blame is you.