| It probably has been around since the first car
rolled off the assembly line. Movies such as "Rebel Without a
Cause" and "The Fast and the Furious" popularized it, and
the National Hot Rod Association was born in 1951 to control it. What is
"it"? Street (or highway) drag racing.
"But drag racing is illegal," you say, and you're correct.
However, the law doesn't mean much to youths who are hellbent on having a
good time. One invincible teenage racer put the situation in perspective,
"I think they should legalize drag racing because we're just going to
keep doing it—legal or not."
"What about the possible consequences of their actions?" you
ask. These young people simply don't care or don't think anything can
happen to them. As the same teenager explained, "If I were to die
racing, it wouldn't be a tragedy. I'd be doing something I love."
There is nothing new about illegal drag racing or people dying or
getting hurt in mishaps caused by this activity, and that includes young
Sailors. Consider these examples:
- Two Sailors borrowed a friend's Acura Legend and went drag racing.
While traveling about 80 mph in a 35-mph zone, the car slammed into a
light pole and burst into flames, burning both Sailors beyond recognition.
- A 20-year-old Sailor and some of her friends started drinking at a
local nightclub about 2300 one Sunday. Three hours later—at closing time—they
left for home. The 20-year-old decided to drive a car belonging to one of
her party friends because that friend acted drunk. She had another
partygoer drive her car. Both drivers headed to an interstate, where they
started racing at speeds faster than 100 mph. The 20-year-old lost control
of the car she was driving. It crossed two lanes of traffic, left the
road, spun and hit some trees rear-end first. The air bags didn't deploy,
and the seat belt didn't save the driver.
- After spending an afternoon with friends in a local car club known to
terrorize public roads, a Sailor joined the group for some evening racing.
He only planned to watch because his car had some worn tires. When
everyone heard the police were coming, they started fleeing the area. The
Sailor, however, lost control of his car in a turn, ran into a tree, and
was ejected. His injuries included broken vertebrae, a broken ankle, and a
broken jaw. He told police he had consumed one beer within an hour before
the mishap.
Drag racing no longer is just a part of the Southern California
culture, as it has been for decades. It's now an obsession with youths in
small towns and big cities, alike—and from all backgrounds.
Some cities have tried cracking down on illegal racing by increasing
police patrols. However, they find out the racers have an at-all-costs
attitude. They love what they're doing enough to risk being arrested or
dying. In a few cases, cities that found they couldn't beat the racers
decided to join them: They set up drag strips where the racers could
practice their obsession—legally.
One such site in Southern California is Pomona Raceway, where about
1,000 cars race every weekend. Sponsored by more than a dozen
law-enforcement agencies, this activity is designed to keep people from
going out on weekend nights and racing in the streets. Police agencies and
officials in other states are looking into setting up similar activities
in their areas. As one official remarked, "We would like nothing
better than never again hear about street racing."
Another police official added, "We all once were kids, too, and we
understand the urge for young people to drive fast, but it's dangerous—not
only for them but for others. Like any crime, it's too often the innocent
ones who get killed or hurt by drag racing." Authorities acknowledge
it's usually the bystanders who die at street races.
Yet, off the tracks, on dark city streets—and sometimes on highways—the
races go on, and police say it's not a game. As the two cars line up,
participants are nervous—but not because what they're about to do is
illegal or because it could lead to the loss of their prized machines.
Rather, it's because they know one of them isn't going to win, and in drag
racing, winning is everything. Who has the fastest car is what it's all
about.
Some in the crowd of onlookers scream or laugh, while others simply
stare in awe, as the two cars tear down the street at speeds faster than
100 mph. In less than a minute, the race is over—which also may be the
amount of time you have left on earth. Are you ready to die? If not, you'd
better find another form of amusement—whether you're a participant or a
spectator. |
