Jalopnik: Street Racing

Lodz, Poland To Street Racers: Here, Race On Main Street!

Murilee Martin — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 07:00:00 EDT

Poland's booming economy has doubled the number of cars on the road in a couple of decades, and we don't mean just Polski Fiats here. Hopped-up hot-rod hooligans were hooning it hot and heavy on public roads in Lodz, Poland's second-largest city, so the city fathers decided the only way to stop the chaos was to... buy Christmas Trees and associated timing equipment and organize drag races right through the center of town! [New York Times]

Street-Racing Comcast Morons Leave 3-Year-Old Hospitalized

Travis Hudson — Fri, 16 May 2008 12:41:00 EDT

You know how you have to wait around for hours for a Comcast technician to show up? We've finally found why that is. Two Comcast employees were street-racing their vans around Huntsville, AL. The racing turned less fast-and-furious and more tragic as one van lost control and hit a vehicle that had three-year-old Kayleen Smith inside. The accident left Smith in a coma. Eyewitness reports say the vans were traveling at 75 mph in a 50 mph zone. One van tried to make a right turn and that's when it slammed into a vehicle containing Smith, her older sister and grandmother. The sister and grandmother escaped injury-free.

A Comcast manager gave the default "thoughts and prayers" comment to the media and the Comcast employee refused to comment on the situation. No criminal charges have been filed thus far with an investigation ongoing. [WAFF via CG]

Garbage Truck Bagged For Street Racing

Ben Wojdyla — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 12:00:00 EDT

Underground Garbage truck street racing is apparently the latest threat to civil society in Canada, because cops in Goderich, Ontario have busted a driver for 112 KPH in a 60 KPH zone. The part that has us furrowing our brow is there seems to be no opponent in this race. Which would simply make it speeding, which would mean the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP, yeah you know them) wouldn't be able to impound the truck, suspend his license and levy a minimum $2,000 fine.

Apparently what's going on here is the exercise of a new law on the Canadian books to combat street racing where the speeds exceed 50 KPH above posted limits. Remember the old man in the Olds arrested for racing? Same law. We fail to see how this is racing if there is, you know... no race involved in the situation. Leave it to the OPP to find a way to snag other peoples money. [Canada.com]

Manta Manta Revisited: The English-Dubbed Trailer

Mark Arnold — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:30:00 EDT

If you've been around Jalopnik for a while, you already know that Manta Manta is perhaps the greatest German street racing film ever made. But for those of us not fluent in Deutsch, we've been left wondering what exactly is going on. Well, now thanks to this recently discovered English-dubbed trailer for Manta Manta, us 'mericans, Brits, Aussies, and whoever else now can really begin to understand just how totally awesome the movie is. And remember: Leaded gas lowers your car, giving you an edge.

Polish Police Okay Limited Street Racing

Ben Wojdyla — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 08:00:00 EST

Rejoice szybki i wściekły, you now have at least one sanctioned street racing venue. According to our favorite news source ever, Annanova, police in the Polish city of Lodz have defined sections of the city which will be open to no holds barred street racing. This is an attempt by authorities to concentrate street racing in one area to reduce the widespread racing throughout the city. While we like the reasoning and believe in sanctioned and safe racing, we can't help to think since this involves our occasionally ill-advised ancestors, it can only end in multi-vehicle/farm animal pileups.

Maryland Street Racing Crash Leaves 8 Dead, One Crumpled Crown Vic

Ray Wert — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 13:03:11 EST

A white Ford Crown Victoria plowed into a group of street-racing fans on a highway about 20 miles south of Washington, D.C. on Saturday, killing eight people and scattering bodies in the early morning darkness. In addition to the fatalities, at least five other spectators were injured of the 50 or so people gathered before dawn along Route 210 in little Accokeek, MD to watch cars drag down the usually quite deserted stretch of blacktop. Here's what happened according to the AP:

"Fans had spilled onto the smoky, dark road to watch the cars drive away when a white Ford Crown Victoria unexpectedly came up from behind and smashed into them.
"There were just bodies everywhere; it was horrible," said Crystal Gaines, 27, of Indian Head, whose father was killed.

Police interviewed the Crown Victoria driver, but no charges were pending, Copeland said. Authorities were looking for the drivers of the two cars involved in the race.

The combination of the smoke and the dark morning likely meant the unsuspecting driver could not see the crowd, police said. A tractor-trailer that came by shortly afterward may also have struck someone on the roadside as it tried to avoid the crash scene, according to investigators."

Oh, the humanity! Oh, the horror! Oh, how they shoulda rented some track time. (Hat tip to Mark!) [via AP]

Photo Credit: AP Photo

CNN All Up In Grill of Street Racing

Ben Wojdyla — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 14:15:00 EST

Yo CNN, we ain't frontin' but you gots to lay the smack down on your reportin' style. That was difficult, but necessary, since CNN has apparently taken to using "lingo" that all the youngsters are into these days. Their canned report on the dangers of street racing is topped with headers like "How they roll", "Law, schmaw" and "It's a fever thing". Adding to the d-light are figures cited from 2005 that have shown decline in the interim, as well as journalistic gems like "There's no database tracking street racing deaths, but a Google search hints at the scope." We're very happy they saw fit to include a note about how "some experts" claim The Fast and the Furious made street racing extra popular. (h/t to SwatLax)

Southern California Cops Destroying Street Racers' Rides

Jonny Lieberman — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 09:15:00 EDT

File this under "stuff that boils our blood." Police in San Bernadino and Riverside counties have apparently been thinking of new ways to ensure kids stay alive, though bored senseless. According to the Los Angeles Times six cars were crushed to death after courts (apparently side-stepping the Fourth Amendment) gave police the okay to do so. The crushed cars had one thing in common, they all contained stolen parts. In the case of Charles Hoang and the transmission in his 350 hp Acura Integra, he had unknowingly purchased the hot goods. Hoang had the receipt, but the cops — taking a zero-tolerance stand — literally could not have cared less about said documentation, and Hoang's car was fed to the maw. We think this whole thing stinks, so we're going to speed home and pour out a 40 oz on the sidewalk in mourning. – Jonny Lieberman

Officials move to stamp out street races [LA Times – image courtesy Vallejo Times-Herald]

Street Racing Act: No Nitrous for You!

Mike Bumbeck — Thu, 24 May 2007 15:30:00 EDT

Citing the potential dangers of post-accident bottle explosions, the powers that be in Ontario Province of Canada have essentially banned the use of power-adder nitrous oxide as part of the Street Racing Act. Nitrous oxide use will still be OK for use by recreational racers on private property. Ontario Safety League head ~~hoser~~ honcho Brian Patterson said nitrous oxide is "probably the number two thing people do to their car for speed", which leaves us wondering what the kids in Ontario use as the number one thing. – Mike Bumbeck

New Speed Bump for Racers [thestar.com]

Hoons of Colorado: Super Supra Beats Up On Crazed Cobra

Jonny Lieberman — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 15:00:00 EDT

[Update: oops. That's a Cobra, not a GT500] Okay, boys, get that sound turned up. Way up. Why? So you can hear the age-old battle of forced induction. That's right, it's the whine of the supercharger vs. the wail of the turbocharger for hoon supremacy. You'll notice the supercharger gets its groove on first, which is why they are so loved by the drag-racing community. However, once those turbos spool, it's lights out, Mr. Mustang. How much out? How about 160 mph out? King of the Road, we need you now more than ever. (Thanks to Mr. Mayor for the tip) – Jonny Lieberman

Pro Golfer's Street Racing Madness Leads To Death

Murilee Martin — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 09:30:38 EDT

Most of the time, it seems that street-racing-tragedy stories involve the likes of Fox Mustangs and bewinged Civics, with 19-year-old participants hopped up on Zima, etc. But not this time; what started out as a harmless 100+ MPH street race on a suburban lane in Orlando turned into one of those grim car-whacks-tree scenarios when PGA Tour player Arjun Atwal's racing opponent lost control of his Mercedes in a curve. Atwal, behind the wheel of a 2006 BMW during the incident, was not injured, but the Florida Highway Patrol will be asking him a lot of very pointed questions. There goes that endorsement deal! – Murilee Martin

Atwal under investigation following fatal car accident [PGATOUR.com]

Street Racer Kills Tonga's Royalty in California

Mike Spinelli — Fri, 07 Jul 2006 10:51:04 EDT

Next time you think about comitting street hoonage, remember this. All it takes is one foulup and you may inadvertently assassinate a soverign, possibly plunging an entire nation into darkness and chaos. We're not saying that's exactly what happened here, but police in Menlo Park, California are saying two members of Tonga's royal family were killed by an 18-year-old who was allegedly street racing yesterday. Wikipedia already has the dirt:

His Royal Highness Tu i Pelehake ( Uluvalu), 55, and his wife, Kaimana Aleamotu'a, 45, as well as their driver, Vinisia Hefa, 36, were all killed in the accident. Uluvalu is the nephew of King T ?ufa ?hau Tupou IV of Tonga.

Tonga, if you were unaware, is a tiny country south of Samoa and east of Fiji, whose currency is the Pa anga and whose government is known for being a bit flaky. The driver of the car, Edith Delgado (thanks to Fark for the MySpace find) was uninjured after broadsiding a Ford Explorer the two royals were riding in in her 1998 Mustang. [Thanks to prplhaze for the tip.]

Tongan Royal Family Killed in Calif. [ABC News]

Nippon Hoon School: Opposite Lock 101

Mike Spinelli — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 08:30:00 EDT

It's less than a week until "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift" hits theaters, and already some chicken littles are predicting a commercial face plant — via disinterest by all but the most hardcore 2F2F fans. (We're holding all commentary in that regard until the first RB26DETT-powered Mustang emerges on-screen.) For an appetizer, those who sweat the skills of Japan's hashiriya street racers can do worse than to check out this dual-POV clip of touge racing through Japan's canyon roads — in traffic. The gods of opposite lock smile broadly as these guys slip past unsuspecting motorists, just feet from approaching tour buses, with every turn of the wheel captured by the in-car cam. Don't try this on the Dixie Highway, kids. [Thanks to Stephen for the tip.]

Cars Street Racing Drift [via Google Video]

Related:
It Came from Japan: Street Racing in Osaka [internal]

No Parking Signs Thwart Tokyo's Roulette Racers

Mike Spinelli — Wed, 12 Oct 2005 17:54:10 EDT

Tokyo police are cracking down on street racing by cracking down on racers' rest stops. It kind of makes sense: You can't keep racing all the time; after a while, even the most intrepid Hashiriya's head will turn to fish paste. And since police can't catch racers in the act, officials have slapped No Parking signs up around parking areas of the Tokyo Metropolitan Expressway, places where racers traditionally rest before and after racing. According to some estimates, the action has cut the number of racers out on a typical night by up to 90%.

`No parking' signs reduce high-speed races in Tokyo [Asahi]