It’s a Saturday night in the back streets of a large North American city.
Sitting behind the wheel of small import cars with engines revving are two young men staring each other down. Their feet poised over the gas pedals, they anxiously await the thumbs up. When given, the car is dropped into gear, the pedal is slammed to the floor and the two cars are quickly off, screeching their tires and sending up clouds of dust.
Sounds like a plot from a summer blockbuster movie. It is, and it isn’t.
Cars and movies have teamed up for many memorable films over the years. Movies like the The Fast and The Furious have brought the high-powered cars of today’s street racing scene to the big screen. But, what many of today’s street racers will tell you is that it’s not all about taking risks.
One racer lays out his rules of the road: “Don’t race on busy streets, be it day or night, especially if there is a school in the area. If you want to act cool in front of your friends, you shouldn’t be racing. If it’s not your car, you shouldn’t be racing it. Know your area…if you don’t know the road or the area, you are asking for big trouble. And, use common sense. Think before you go, and if you don’t think it’s safe, it’s probably not.”
These sentiments are echoed in many chat rooms and on message boards that appear all over the Web, hosted and visited by both street and legal track racers.
“Remember that a car can kill you in any situation and that a real man lifts off the throttle in a dangerous situation,” says one racer known only as Dr. Disque.
The racers are also very adamant about flying solo.
“I will NOT race with someone in my car, no way, never,” says Turboed 2. “I know what I am doing is stupid, and I should be the only one to pay if something happens.”
“I never drive stupid when I have a passenger in my car,” says noslow5oh. “Usually it’s my girlfriend and I couldn’t live with myself if I did something that got her killed.”
They all agree that they thrive on the rush they get from pushing their cars, and their luck, to the limit.
“I race because it’s a rush. I don’t do drugs or any of that garbage, so racing is my high for that moment,” says Zakk, 19. “It’s a rush running from the cops.” he adds.
A typical racer is a male aged 17-24 and most likely driving an import. Honda Civics and Camrys have been cars of choice because of their size and street handling. The money being spent to supe up, remodel and refit these machines generally starts in the thousands of dollars.
“They’re definitely spending a lot of money on outfitting their cars,” says Lee, 16, whose boyfriend is a street racer. “Doing body jobs, painting, putting in systems, new tires, black lights, stuff like that. Making the car look nice is pretty much essential in this game.”
But you cannot forget about making the car faster by dropping in a powerful engine and modified air-intake and exhaust equipment.
“The sky is the limit as to how much we spend on our cars,” says Zakk. “I’ve probably spent about $4,000 worth of mods into my car. At $17,000, I’ve invested about 20% of the original cost back into the car. However, it is not uncommon to see kids dropping $10,000-$30,000 on high performance motors, suspensions and styling enhancements.”
Race nights can sometimes attract crowds of up to 400 or 500 people. The meets begin with an inspection, by drivers and onlookers, under the hoods of the cars. Popular meeting sites in Toronto are on the Queensway, Steeles and Kennedy, Finch and Weston, and the Tim Hortons at Woodbine and 16th Street according to Toronto police. Another popular area to race is Ellesmere road. Police just ranked the intersection at Warden and Ellesmere as Toronto’s most dangerous in terms of accidents. Another popular stretch, Gore Road, says Sgt. Ted Holtzheuser of the Toronto Police traffic safety program, even had start and finish lines painted on it.
“Racers like to use streets on jurisdictional borders,” said Holtzheuser in a Toronto Star article, “so they can disappear a few blocks away, then resume when the cruiser turns around.”
Many of the racers like to use industrial parks and country roads “out in the stick,” referring to the countryside. Most, but not all, say that racing on main streets is just asking for trouble.
“A lot of people view street racing as these hellions who like to race in the middle of the city and endanger the public,” says a racer known as LT, and adds, “In this, like anything, you have your morons [and] these people are your morons. The rest of us go far out in the sticks to avoid hurting anyone and causing anyone trouble.”
Unfortunately, these “morons” exist and people are getting killed. Such was the case in Ottawa, Canada’s capital. Two cars were racing on a busy street when one of the cars, a black Acura carrying four teens, lost control and smashed into a light standard. The driver was pinned in the driver’s seat and died before police could get him out. An 18-year-old male was taken to hospital with fractures. The other two teenagers were treated in hospital and released.
“Witnesses indicate that the vehicles were racing each other at a high rate of speed and one of the drivers—perhaps inexperience has a lot to do with it—over-steered coming around a curve at a high speed and hit the pole,” said Constable Dan Melchiorre.
It was estimated by police that the cars were traveling at speeds of 150km/h just before the crash.
In Toronto, a street race killed a pedestrian. At 1:30 in the afternoon two seventeen-year-olds were racing east on Ellesmere Avenue in a Ford Explorer and a Mazda MX-3. The Explorer went out of control after bumping the Mazda, mounted the sidewalk and slammed into Steven Francisco, 18, before coming to rest on its roof.
The high school student had been walking, listening to music with his earphones on and never heard the truck coming. Francisco was pronounced dead at the scene. The drivers of the two cars were unhurt and both were charged with criminal negligence causing death.
“There’s not one teenage male who drives that hasn’t raced on the streets at one point or another. But it’s instances like these that reaffirm my beliefs that the police should sanction racing on closed roads on certain nights during the week,” said one racer in response to the incident. “At all other times, racing should be dealt with very strictly. They’re not going to make the problem go away, but why not make it safer and eliminate the possibility of another innocent bystander’s life being taken?”
Sanctioned racing on closed roads as a means to getting the racers off the streets may be a stretch, but police do recognize that a problem exists. Constable David Mitchell of the Traffic Unit, York Regional Police Service, and Constable Steven Barcham, Aurora Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police developed strategies to coordinate the efforts of police agencies in the Greater Toronto Area. Police received instruction on laws regarding stock and modified motor vehicles.
A total of 1,687 vehicles were stopped during a four-month period and 1,001 charges were laid under various legislation such as the Highway Act, Environmental Protection Act, and Criminal Code violations.
On Canadian roads, the 16-24 age group is posting staggering numbers of auto accidents causing serious injury or death. This group makes up only 13% of the drivers on our roads—7% male and 6% female—yet they account for 26% of road fatalities and 26% of serious injury caused by an accident. Furthermore, 31% of passengers that died in car accidents and 34% that were seriously injured, also fall in the 16-24 age group.
Realizing that young people are using city streets to race, police forces across North America are coming up with ideas to get the cars off the roads and onto legal racetracks.
Beat the Heat is a program that brings together teens and police officers to build and modify cars and then pits the young drivers against the officers in races. Started in the United States, there are currently over 150 Beat the Heat programs across North America.
Saskatoon has its own Beat the Heat chapter called Street Legal that runs under the motto, “If you want to race, the street is not the place!” Drivers between the ages of 16 and 24 are invited to race on a track in a controlled environment while learning about vehicle and traffic safety. For $15, they get to race from 6 p.m. until dark. Reaction from teens, says Constable Tim Bayly of the Saskatoon Police Service, has been positive. “We average 70-80 cars. They have an object they can see and touch, as well as take on the cops in a race at the track. It also provides a chance for them to speak to officers on racing and cars in a positive manner.”
The racers generally just want to use the awesome power of their cars and to show off the money and work they have put into them. If they have nowhere to do it legally, they are going to continue to race along city streets.
“In Saskatoon, we have a large street running East/West called 8th Street,” says Bayly. “It has three lanes each direction separated by a raised boulevard. This street has been the local “cruise strip” for many years. It is also where the illegal racing generally takes place. My partner and I stopped two guys racing on 8th Street and three weeks later one had been killed while racing. He never did make it out to the track.”
What is the one thing that Constable Bayly would say to a teen thinking of getting involved in street racing? “You cannot control all the factors while racing on city streets, and sooner or later, you will have to face consequences for your actions. Come out to the track and try and ‘Beat the Heat!’ You will find that police officers are easy to talk to, and we look forward to seeing you there.”
But the burden of making the right choice ultimately lies on the shoulders of those looking for a place to get the rush from speed.
“We must remember to respect our machines,” says a racer named Sean. “No matter how much money you’ve invested in beefed-up braking, once you get a few thousand pounds of metal, glass, rubber and plastic moving at a high rate of speed, and you lose control, well that is a weapon and it’s likely to hurt you or someone else.”
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On Canadian Roads, 16-24 year-olds:
Make up 13% of drivers (7% male, 6% female)
Account for 26% of road fatalities
Account for 26% of serious injuries caused by an accident
Make up 31% of passengers that died in a car accident
Make up 34% of passengers that were seriously injured(Source: Statistics Canada)
Yep, this is probably illegal street racing…
you are on the street and it is bad fyi
Dont call us ricers just because we spend on body mods. We buy them for a reason, to serve a purpose like creating down force, etc. The aesthetics are just a plus. Your racing isnt the only form of REAL racing. Drag racing requires lots of low-end torque and HP. Some forms dont require that so our mods differ from yours. In drifting grip and weight distribution is key. So we buy body mods like wings and wide body kits to create down force and make room for wider wheels and to compensate for our longer control arms and linkage. We also dont really need a whole lot of power to kick out the rear end. At most only 150 or so is needed. We due supe our cars up to gain some horses but like i said. Different racing style require different mods.
Body mods may look pleasing but they can actually serve a purpose like creating downforce (spoilers, splitters, etc) or allow room for larger wheels and even can lighten the car. And every one has their idea of what real racing is. For example, i enjoy drifting, rally, drag and circuit style, i dont really enjoy NASCAR and other forms oval track racing all too much cause it bores me. So dont call us ricers because we spend on body mods. Every part serves a purpose. Look up what real ricers are.
Try to race me i have every fast n furious cars im heading to tokyo
Honda Civics and Camrys ? We at Race Club International thinks these are the wrong cars 🙂
LOL, Honda Civics and Camrys what a joke, I think this writer is a idiot.
I think this is just an older article, car preferences have just changed?
Hi, do you allow guest posting on faze.ca ? 🙂 Let me know on my email
The Many people see road hustling as these hellions who jump at the chance to race amidst the city and imperil general society,” says a racer known as LT, and includes, “In this, such as anything, you have your nitwits [and] these individuals are your boneheads. Whatever remains of us go far out in the sticks to abstain from harming anybody and bringing about anybody inconvenience.”
Shockingly, these “idiots” exist and individuals are getting executed. Such was the situation in Ottawa, Canada’s capital. Two autos were dashing on a bustling road when one of the autos, a dark Acura conveying four youngsters, lost control and crushed into a light standard.
you will get in big trouble
yous a bitch bob
racing is life, be wise when racing…please
Should street racing be accepted as an event that everyone can do?
Should street racing be accepted as an event?
i like cars
They said “two young men staring each other down” girls are street racers too not just guys.
I used to street race, I live in Houston and the racing scene is pretty large. When it comes to spending, it depends on the willingness to spend money you’ve worked for on your car. I’ve spent over $10k on engine parts and a high end body kit, but it’s been over the course of years. Unless you have deep pockets most people don’t buy everything at once. The article makes it sound like we spend all that money as soon as we get the car, it usually doesn’t work that way.
Racing Anything from Corvettes to Nissan 300ZXs is fun, but we avoided busy streets. We had specific streets where we would race. Usually these streets were near industrial businesses where there was no traffic since businesses were closed for the night. Avoiding excessively dangerous places was our main concern. It’s true, there are people who don’t know what they’re doing out there, I’ve seen my fair share of crashes. The Houston police department doesn’t have an issue with people meeting up, they have an issue with people doing stupid things like burning out in the parking lot near people or running red lights in busy streets, and obviously racing is a no go for them. But if you want to be an on looker or hang out to show off your car, you’re good.
Street racing we’ll always be there and I started when I was 15, it will always attract young drivers. It’s better to teach them to be safe and smart about it. My parents always told me not to speed or race but I did it anyway because I was young and reckless. Running from cops is always a bad idea, I’ve done it three times, I was caught once and it was pretty bad. It’s all about luck and timing and eventually your luck will run out.
I was a street racer back in high school. That all stopped when one night, my passenger and I were driving at a high rate of speed and out of nowhere he grabbed the steering wheel. We slid for 248 feet before a head on collision with another car. It was estimated that the other driver was driving at 35 mph at the time of impact. As for my car, we made contact at 92 mph, totaling 127 mph head to head. I was air lifted to a trauma unit 25 miles away, during which time I flat lined for two minutes. When we got to the hospital I was put into a medically induced coma so I would not die of shock whole the Dr’s put my leg and ankle back together. I had an open fracture of the femur (largest bone in the body), broke my jaw upon impact with the A-pillar, broke a finger, shattered and dislocated my ankle, and had a major concussion.
This accident cost me a hockey scholarship, disqualified me from the Marines, and put me in a wheelchair while I was recovering then in and out of surgeries for what would have been my senior year. 13 years (and about a dozen surgeries) later, I have arthritis in most of my joints, need both knees fully reconstructed, can’t run or play with my kids because of the pain that I am still in, and am permanently disabled. I am 30 years old and have to park in a handicapped space at the grocery store because I can’t walk without pain.
This accident occurred while we were driving to the mall. Keep in mind that racing on the street is different from being a street racer. Racing on the streets is a good way to get yourself or someone else killed. Being a street racer is a way of life, it’s more than just driving like an idiot to show off. I was a street racer in every aspect of the word until that night. My life changed. I didn’t drive for 9 months because I was terrified someone like me was going to come out of nowhere and slam into me, much like I did to the person I hit. Even now, I still keep a watchful eye as I drove down roads that we used to close or have blocked by off duty police.
The biggest challenge I face now is: how do I keep my kids out of the street racing scene? There is no easy answer for that as it is everywhere and has gotten more dangerous. People aren’t shutting roads down or monitoring roads for traffic like we used to, they are racing amidst traffic, pedestrians, and through neighborhoods. What police need to do, as stated earlier in the comments, is choose a section of road that would create a safe environment, shut it down a few nights every month, and monitor the racers to ensure safety for everyone involved. There is no reason that anyone should be endangered because of the actions of a few.
Thank you for that.
“Racing on the streets is a good way to get yourself or someone else killed. Being a street racer is a way of life, it’s more than just driving like an idiot to show off.”
this is true. Especially young people who think that they are invincible are the most reckless ones. i am 17 and i know it takes experience to do this. i do have a drivers licence and a 2007 subaru wrx sti impreza but i drive it like i would drive a mazda 323
and to you @dniredline01 what about you friend that grabbed the wheel?
I’m a filmmaker in Toronto, your story is great and I would love to make a documentary on the subject, comment back to me here and I will get in contact with you.
The story could be kept anonymous if you wish, but it would be a great story to get out there.
Let me know!
so what about the guy who grabbed the wheel? what happened to him and did you mess his ass up for doing that? its like it was your fault anyway, what cunt grabs the steering wheel going 95mph
All of you are dumb if you want to start racing first learn how to…
I live in toronto and imma start street racing now
coooooooooooooooooolllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
charlie i well race and kick your ass
Yo if anyone wants 2 race me then come down to wisbech (UK) and ill kick ass.
yea try to beat my 1971 hemi cuda wit a 527chevey big block with 900HP
It’s not a hemi if there’s a Chevy BB in there dumbass
Hemis are dodge you moron. Learn your cars. I’m a GIRL and even I know that. -_-
Girls rock. Especially smart ones! 🙂
how old is this article? is there still a street racing scene in toronto?
regardless of the age of this article, there is still a street racing scene in Toronto, I have a lot of friends in it!
I want to race and win some money let me know if I can get set up for a race anywhere thanks I will give u my number to let me know if U can’t find me on my email 307-248-1999
If you’re good, do it on a racetrack (or a road rally course). You can still compete for money, plus it’s legal and still a hell of a lot of fun.
Is this article written by someone who has experience with street racing? I am writing a paper on the illegal street racing subculture and I need something like this written by someone directly related to the scene.
Hi Jessica! Our journalist Kevin, as we understand it, does not admit to being a street racer himself but instead had friends involved in street racing at the time, who helped inspire and develop the article.
this was clearly made off of the fast in the furious saga. no one spends thousands of dollars on body mods unless they are ricer
Actually your wrong I own a Subaru Impreza and I’ve spent $6000 on body mods and internal and engine mods and I am not a ricer I’ve raced plenty of times on the street and I think we should have an area where we can go at night just like the article says it’s a way of life for us who only know one thing and that’s cars so for you to call us ricers because we spend money on things we like well than I think your an idiot maybe you should bring your car around sometime and you’ll see that it’s not just some stupid sport it’s a lifestyle
yes i know some one
Any interesting experiences from the world of street racing? We’d love to hear from you.
These aren’t racers they are ricers! A real racer will strip their car down to a shell before they would do the first cosmetic crap to their car. Real racers age from mid 20’s to early 40’s and generally keep to smaller groups since it is illegal to race on the street. Check out the rise in no-prep racing. Most of them came from the street.