got busted street racing

[charlie v]

a couple of weeks ago, i was out cruising around on a saturday night minding my own business (really i was)

going down US route1 i had a ford ranger messing with me (making like he was going to pass me in the turning lane, etc.) we came up to a set of lights where the road widened into 2 lanesand (as i figured he would) he pulled up on the right side of me
my first thought was to just let him go, then my EGO took over, and i thought f**k that!!!
light turned green and away i went, with him trying to catch me
next thing i see behind me is BLUES next to the ranger, and i was pretty sure mr. officer wanted my attention too

i thought i was dead meat, and i got ready for a trip "down town" but he let us both off with a noise violation ($100 fine) and its an infraction against the town, and not against my license or driving record

when i asked if the noise violation was for my muffler (flowmaster) mr officer replied, "no, it was for the 3 gears of rubber you got"

i gladly paid the $100 fine, compared to what it could have been, i was lucky!
and have slowed down and not as egotistical these days

[Ron]

Glad to hear it didn't cost you a lot more. Sometimes our ego's can get us hurt or into trouble. Most of the time it's not worth it.

[Rinkrat456]

Lucky.

Ford Rangers are never worth my time nor should they be a second thought in your mind. Stock vs stock, you'll win if you know what you're doing.

[Danny_SS]

I am glad that you ended up like you did.
Your night could have ended up soooooooo much worse it is not even funny. Now you have to put your har worked ( I hope) money and pay for your actions.
I am no saint, I have gotten busted for running against a ranger back in the days when I had my 240sx. We hit about 50-55mph max but it was a 35mph 5 lane highway and we both got a $200+ ticket. I also had a testosterone rush caused by a Ranger who thought he was fast so I had to explain to him (by leaving him behind) that he was not so quick compared to my 94 SS. Here I hit about 50-60mph on a 45mph zone. This time I did not get a ticket (there were no cars nearby) but the cop gave me a bunch of crap (he was right though) of how much of a dumb @ss I was for doing that.

A good friend of mine is actually locked up right now for an accident that was linked to "racing" by the authorities. I am not going to go into details but he did not do anything that I havent done and that most of you guys have not done. However things happen and they can happen to anyone especially if you are messing around (like I said I've done it too). His life changed drasticly after 3 years of court and $35K+ that he had to put out for lawyer expenses. Now he is in jail for 1 yr. You do not have to be doing some really wreckless stuff for something like this to happen. PLEASE do not put youself in such a position. Go to a track, have fun get a nice clean safe run, and best you have a slip that gives you bragging rights. If you do not have access to a track then choose your runs wisely. Choose a spot and do not do anything stupid. Most of those dumb ricer morons on the street are not even worth wasting your gas on anyways.
It could happen to ANYONE in ANY MOMENT so please act wisely!

[Injected]

I cannot say how lucky you are Charlie. SCC publish at least one story of people who kill/get killed while 'street-racing' in every issue. It's there reminder that it is up to us to carry our hobby to higher ground. At least you are mature enough to realize that your problem was within yourself. Here’s a quote I’ve always liked about ego. He must start by admitting with complete frankness that the ego worships not God but itself, and that it carries this idolatry into a Church, if religious, or onto the Quest, if mystical.I know that some areas experience 'street-races' more than others, and those areas should crack down hard on those who race and those who watch, but not those who modify. The problem for me is that my car (GSX) has a high-rise spoiler that came on all turbo models from 1997 to 1999 and a few special edition non-turbo cars (and if one more person asks if they did that before that stupid movie, you know the one, I'm going to go insane. The answer is YES and big spoilers have been put on cars since the 60's. Plymouth Superbird and Dodge Daytona sound familiar to anyone? Jackasses. Sometimes I’m tempted to rip that spoiler of and plug the holes on the hatch.). My car attracts a lot of unwanted attention, and I am always very careful of the way I drive. I get all kinds of people pulling up to me and revving or 'jumping', to which my reply is typically just to keep driving or to merely shake my head. I don't want to "race", because I know that if we get caught, they're going to take the guy in the "little red sports car with the big spoiler" before they take in a guy in a "muscle car". More importantly, I don't "race" them because we are on public roads and surrounded by people who constantly change lanes without signaling and do other unpredictable things. It is not the place to do such things. Take it to the track.

I wish there was more of a crackdown on bad drivers in general. I almost get hit 3-4 times a day on my commute to and from the office. People follow way (read: WAAAAY!) too close for the high speeds they are traveling and change lanes without signaling. Just this morning I was trying to turn left and the guy next to me turns left from the right lane into my lane and almost took the front off my GSX. Needless to say, I laid on my horn for a while to let him know that I didn't appreciate his disregard for my safety.

Most people don't realize what the old cliché "driving is a big responsibility" means. They think it means "cars are expensive, so don't wreck it," when in fact it means "there are a lot of other people on the road and you aren't special so drive responsibly and let them know what the hell you are doing so they can, in-turn not drive like an ass-hat as well." How hard is it to use the blinker every time you change lanes or turn, or not to change lanes rapidly, or not to tailgate someone? And how much is gained by driving so dangerously? A couple car's ahead when everyone has to come to a screeching halt in a few seconds anyway? I've been rear-ended more than once by idiot's with driver's licenses, so I have no sympathy for people who don't "share the road". Enough ranting for now (sorry).

[Rinkrat456]

Needless to say, I laid on my horn for a while to let him know that I didn't appreciate his disregard for my safety.


I always say to myself, what does laying on the horn accomplish in the long run? The dumbass who cuts us off will forget about the incident by the end of the day. A good rule of thumb I tend to follow is if you have time to use your horn, slam on the brakes and move out of the way it wasn't close enough to draw attention to. If it were really serious, there wouldn't be any time to think about using the horn.

[Rob]

...How hard is it to use the blinker every time you change lanes...

It must be extremely hard for the rest of the driving community since I see 80% of the people driving not using it. People are just too f***ing lazy, or just stupid.

[Injected]

I always say to myself, what does laying on the horn accomplish in the long run? The dumbass who cuts us off will forget about the incident by the end of the day. A good rule of thumb I tend to follow is if you have time to use your horn, slam on the brakes and move out of the way it wasn't close enough to draw attention to. If it were really serious, there wouldn't be any time to think about using the horn.
I will have to disagree. Case in point, a long while ago I was pulling up to a red light at a two lane intersection with two cars (one behind the other) in the left lane and none in the right. I was already traveling in the right lane so I was preparing to stop when the guy in the second car jerked into the right lane so he could be 'first-in-line'. I was already really close to the intersection and actually had to swerve to miss the rear end of his bumper. He probably didn't realize that he did it (and this is my point), as most people are ignorant to what is going on and that is why they don't see any problem with doing it. By laying on the horn throughout the rest of the light, I gave him an audio reminder that there are other people on the road and he should not do something so stupid. I guarantee that he remembers it (or at least did long enough to perhaps change his driving habit of being a narcissistic jackass). His slinking down in his seat was an indication that it sunk in initially. Just because an accident didn't happen doesn't mean it isn't serious. Having been in more than my fair share of accidents (for which none have been attributed to my driving), I'm a VERY defensive driver and if I wasn't, well I'd probably go through a few cars a week, not one of them being my fault. I am appalled at other drivers behavior and living proof that just because you are car crazy doesn't make you an egomaniacle driver.

[Injected]

It must be extremely hard for the rest of the driving community since I see 80% of the people driving not using it. People are just too f***ing lazy, or just stupid.
80% seems high. Maybe in MD. Of course I live/drive in Houston, so that probably explains it. I find that people who are more laid back and relax will take the time to be courteous.

[Rob]

80% seems high. Maybe in MD...

Unfortunately, I feel that is a good estimate. People around here are so discourteous of others around them. I actually saw a woman a few weeks ago who had installed a second review mirror just for her make-up (assuming, since it was aimed directly at her face).

[blazinlow89]

I think its usually the out of state people, ususally its the people from virginia and new york but there are alot of people in this state that dont use blinkers. They like to cut people off more alot to that pisses me off cause i like my front bumper on the truck not the side of the road.

[Danny_SS]

Well, I usually do not use my turn signal. I only use it when someone is following me somewhere or if I am going to do some kind of maneuver thet the people behind me need to know what I am going to do.

[Injected]

Well, I usually do not use my turn signal. I only use it when someone is following me somewhere or if I am going to do some kind of maneuver thet the people behind me need to know what I am going to do.
Changing lanes is 'some kind of maneuver'.
Unfortunately, I feel that is a good estimate. People around here are so discourteous of others around them.I actually meant that it's closer to 95% of the time a person changes lanes, they don't signal. Of course that probably goes hand-in-hand with the fact that the narcissistic jackasses who don't use their blinkers are also the ones who change lanes quickly and repeatedly like they own the road.

Back on topic: Do any of you live in an are that has those ridiculously insane 'you-race-it-we-crush-it" policies.

[Rinkrat456]

Back on topic: Do any of you live in an are that has those ridiculously insane 'you-race-it-we-crush-it" policies.


Dakota County, MN. Next door is Ramesy County, MN. Dakota County has a "you-race-it-we-impound-it policy" (the legal definition of racing in Dakota Co. is two vehicles proceeding over 25mph over the posted limit) and that is the reason I stick to Ramesy Co. roads. St. Paul and Minneapolis are in Ramesy County so I have a large area to do whatever in. Plus, my dad a sherriff in Ramesy County so he has rights over St. Paul police. The only one who outranks my dad is a State Trooper and they're easy-goers.

[99_Z10]

I guess it all depends on how the cops want to be. I don't really know how it wrks here any more . My truck was impounded for racing 3 times but since comming back from I raq in 03 I have done to much to my baby to try to race any where except on the tracks. I know about an hour from here I have been hearing about guys loosing their cars to the crusher for racing, bnut the city is much bigger than it is here. Besides since I first went to the track I found out its a lot more about driving than just trying to go faster than the other guy. You can pay more attention to your truck and not have to be wondering about the guy you about to rear end and if there's a cop wating for you. I will admit I have been very tempted since putting the LS1 in my truck, to smash some of the guys hopes about how fast their car is. I have raced 2 times total on the streets since I came back but not more than 10 mph over the limit. t does not take long for me to get in front of them. I have an idea that might help you guys if you know you can beat the other guy with out going over the limit. Just get in front the the guy right off the line and put your 4 ways on. LOL other wise theres always getting his hopes up and making him peel out using tread life on his tires as you pull away from the light at about 5 mph. More recently I have been chalanged but I just tell the person who wants to race that when we are done racing hes going to have to pay for my ticket plus 50 bucks for wasting my time. They usually get pissed and take off real fast. I've seen more guys get pulled over because what I said to them than just ignoring them. So I guess you could say I'm helping to pay for the new roads going in here. How ever does any one else agree that it is the best when the guy next to you at the light is talking smack because his girl is in the car, but then when you dust him he will not pull up next to you again even if hes going the same direction for the next 10 miles. I love it, that makes my day more than any thing!