Hmm, here's a thread I feel compelled to weigh in on. Regardless of how you feel about street racing, the fact is that it exists and will continue to do so just as it always has. Here in nor-cal there's plenty of souped up imports buzzing around with teenage kids at the wheel looking to show what they've got.
So, what do you do about it? I grew up in a small town and there was *nothing* to do as a teenager. So what does everybody end up doing? One or more of... liquor, drugs, sex (hopefully not all at the same time). I think its great to see these young guys with such an interest in something. Some of these guys have a lot of effort/time/money in their cars. Thats effort/time/money that could have been spent in one of the three areas I already mentioned, but it wasn't. So what do communities do? Throw up decibal limits, curfews, and general harassment/intimidation by local law enforcement. Why?
Kids have energy, they either release it in a positive way or a negative way but it gets released. The good thing about "The Fast and the Furious" is that it has the whole country talking. I hope we get some constructive dialogue going rather than let the media turn it into their usual, "see, kids saw a movie and did xxxx" bandwagon. Communities should be looking to foster such positive outlets for kids instead of stamping them out. I wander if there's anything we as a car club (with other car clubs) can do.
Its been done in some places. Get the local cops and citizens to allow an "organized" event. Have it every friday night on a blocked off section of road or something. Hell, we have a empty airfield here that would be perfect. Its safe, gives the cops a chance to show themselves in a positive light, and gives the kids a chance to let loose and have a good time.
Oh, and I feel obliged to mention that the movie very carefully depicted the street being blocked off by the "kids" to hold their race - not just open street racing.
Comments please. Maybe this should go into Off-Topic but I'd like it to get the high traffic here if the moderators can leave it be for a bit.