Let this be a lesson to all of us. Last night I was driving my MERA. It's currently for sale and has a sign in the rear window. I'm at a light on the main street that goes through the small town I live in. Behind me is a car with 4 20 somethings in it (girl driving, rest are boys). I see them in my mirror looking intently at the sign in my rear window, kind of squinting and talking, and it's obvious they are trying to figure out what kind of car it is. Then I see ALL of them take out their phones and start typing on them. At this point, I realize they are probably Googling "1987 Corporate Concepts MERA". Then I see them all start laughing.
We start moving and the kids whip into the lane next to me. I see the passenger waving his arms as he's hanging halfway out of the car. We make it to the next light and are stopped. I roll down my window and the guy says " Hey! Wanna race?" I shake me head and just kind of smile. The light turns green and this girl PUNCHES it. The speed limit is 25, we're in a one way with crosswalks and pedestrians everywhere, and parallel parking on both sides of the road. Pretty much the least appropriate place to try to drag race that you can imagine.
I look ahead and there's a very new looking Tahoe/Suburban that's making a lane change from my lane, to their lane. The girl is doing about 45/50 at this point. I think "oh man, she doesn't see him". I don't even finish the thought when I hear the screeching, the crunching, and see dust, rubber and car parts flying everywhere.
I was laughing pretty hard as I drove by. I feel like I'm supposed to feel bad about that, but....
Anyways, I called 911 and report the accident. I later get a call from the officer who responded to the scene. I'm glad I had called, as the girl tried to blame the SUV, saying she was only doing 30 and that he had " cut her off".
I'm guilty of bad decisions just like everyone else. Things like this remind me to try to be safe. I cringe knowing it could just as easily have been someone's wife/husband/child/fill in the blank, getting in their car or stepping into the street.
I don't know why people like that girl think it's OK to lie like that. Sad thing is, she's probably gotten away with it before. At least the officer in this case probably wrote the report up right.
Behind me is a car with 4 20 somethings in it (girl driving, rest are boys)... The light turns green and this girl PUNCHES it... Pretty much the least appropriate place to try to drag race that you can imagine... I hear the screeching, the crunching, and see dust, rubber and car parts flying everywhere.
Yep, it's no wonder that car insurance rates are so high for young drivers. The lucky ones (who survive their early mishaps) hopefully learn from their mistakes.
Here in Ontario if you are clocked doing 50 km/h or 30 mph over limit they impound your car for 10 days plus points, racing fine and on top of all that a nice storage bill lol
My usual response to a stoplight challenge is to rev my engine and when the light turns green I pull away at a very leisurely pace. I'm old enough to not feel the need to prove anything and young enough to enjoy messing with people.
------------------ Past: 1988 base coupe sold 1984 base coupe rust Present: 1986 SE 2m6
Here in Ontario if you are clocked doing 50 km/h or 30 mph over limit they impound your car for 10 days plus points, racing fine and on top of all that a nice storage bill lol
Yup... 30 mph over the limit gives you up to a $10K fine, 6 months in jail and a 100% insurance rate increase .... one reason I'll never race on the street here. AstroBDean nailed the other reason (well actually the other car sorta nailed it......) Racing on the street just isn't worth it! Take your car to the track.
Three people were killed on Canadian Thanksgiving when one of the cars that was racing lost control and struck them and killing himself also. The other coward that was racing still hasn't stepped forward to shed some light so the families can have some sort of closure.
[This message has been edited by Quad GT (edited 11-23-2016).]
I was stopped doing over 100 in a 55 once. ONCE. Luckily, where and when I grew up (Indiana, 80s/90s), MOST police officers seemed to truly want to help rather than just jam you up. It wasn't a racing situation, but it was still incredibly stupid on my part. I got no ticket, but I got a 15 minute lecture about the dangers of speeding and a couple examples of "just having some fun" turning to tragedy in a blink of an eye. The guy all but begged me to be careful. I remember him looking like he was going to tear up when he said he didn't want to have to call my folks and deliver heartbreaking news and scrape my body off the pavement.
On another note, I actually got pulled over just today. It was for no plate on the front. Guy was super nice. As he got to the car I was pulling out my wallet and he said "no need, put it away" and just advised me to get a plate to avoid future problems. Shortest stop I've ever had!
This morning going to work for me, a guy goes whipping by probably doing 65 or faster. It was as if he was on the phone or something.. Cuz I passed him originally but doing the speed limit. We hit a stop sign, I left as normal, he stayed there and missed his turn, I noticed. All the he sudden, a fly-by..
As he passes me, I notice a "chip" cop sitting on a side street.. Before he passed the cop sitting, his lights were already on.. The speed limit was 35
[This message has been edited by unboundmo (edited 11-24-2016).]
Scary isn't it? I did outside sales for many years and was driving about 45,000 miles per year (in Southern California). I noticed that a) about 60% of people were either holding their phone and talking or texting, and b) about 25% of people had expired tags at any given time. Couple that with the reported fact that 1/3 of California drivers are uninsured, and it's pretty terrifying on the roads. I was hit twice while living there, and neither time was the other driver insured.
It IS pretty sweet when you see a terror on the road get pulled over, isn't it?
Just over 2 months ago I was hit by an uninsured 19 year old girl that flurted with a guy that showed up after the accident but before the cops showed up and got him to lie for her. The cops ate up his story and ignored the 2 witnesses that were there when it happened. Had court the other day and even showed in court the guy had no idea even what lane I was in and the judge took statement as fact even tho the pictures from the scene clearly showed i was in a different lane and he didnt even know what color my truck was. To top it off the girl even admitted she was speeding but didnt get ticketed plus she didn't get in trouble for no insurance (found out it had lapsed because she didnt pay). Just shows how missed up stuff can be when it comes to driving. Im ordering a dash cam with remote rear cam next paycheck to have a little personal protection if anything ever happens again (I hope it doesn't as before this accident I had a spotless driving record)
[This message has been edited by Whitefiretiger (edited 11-24-2016).]
If you want to open it up to WOT, the safest place to do it is on a super highway entrance ramp. You can get some safe 0-60 runs in there and its legal to accelerate to highway speed.. If you must street race just pick a straight run out in a rural area where there is NO traffic and no cross streets. As for the girl who caused the accident; if she tried to file a false police report, she's in hot water.
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
The Fiero sits low, beware SUV’s. On the way home after work on a four lane road with a speed limit of 50. The traffic in the left lane was backed up with people making a left turn toward the local collage. Woman in a Suburban stuck in the left lane decides she now wants to go straight. She jumps into right lane when I am about 10 feet from her. Needless to say we met as the Fiero bounced off the side of the SUV and slammed into the curb. When the Police arrived they asked her what happened. This is Priceless: Her response to the Officer is: “He was speeding down that right lane” His response: “So you thought it was your civic duty to slow him down… Here’s your ticket” He then proceeds to ask me: “What was the last thing you saw” My response: “It was the little girl looking out the passenger window screaming” Officer: “Mam was the child in the front seat?” Little girl: “Yes mommy always lets me sit up front” Officer: “Mam here’s your other ticket”
I had an idiot try to race me at three lights years ago in the Fiero. I was on my way to work and it was no place to run. I also had nothing to prove and more to lose.
So by the time we got to the third light I got a blip on my Escort Passport. I hammered it off the line for about 50 feet and lifted. He took off and by the time he passed the cop he must have been hitting 80 MPH. By the time I arrived I drove by as he handed his license to the officer. I just smiled and went on to work.
In my Chevelle I had it built up a good bit with a good suspension under it. I used to get hounded to run often. It was fast but I was far from the fastest. I normally pointed them over to my buddy in his GTO that was a bit faster. But often at a light I would get some idiot trying to pick a race. I would just put it in first gear and punch the throttle several times. The sticky tires and the suspension would lift the left front tire and if i kept it up both tires so they cleared air. The springs were heavy enough it would not bottom out. The ladder bar system worked like a lever. That usually stopped them from anymore games. Often they would have cleaned my clock but they never knew that because their automatic shifted car with a stock suspension would not do what I could do. It was a major Psych.
Note when you have two carbs on a tunnel ram sticking out the hood you tend to drive slower as ever cop around is watching. That may have been the safest car I was ever in as you could hardly pull away from a light or pass through a town with out being followed buy the law back then.
The fastest car I ever drove was my old 63 Ford Galaxie. Big black sedan but it would run. No one ever paid attention to that car. You could go by at 40 over and they never would look.
It is a shame that too often people dies due to stupidity of others. When you are young you just do not think of that. What I did think of is if I got sent to jail my dad would have told me that you found your way in you can find your way out. Don't ever say tough love does not work. I am glad it does.
Spend some time watching the car crash videos on you tube, even the Russian ones (of which there are many). It's amazing how quickly crashes develop because some moron was in a rush.
------------------ Anything I might say is probably worth what you paid for it, so treat it accordingly!
Spend some time watching the car crash videos on you tube, even the Russian ones (of which there are many). It's amazing how quickly crashes develop because some moron was in a rush.
And to see the value of seat belts, watch a few of the many Arab "drifting" videos. Damn, I never realized how easy it was for people to be launched out of open side windows. Not for the faint of heart...
Here in Ontario if you are clocked doing 50 km/h or 30 mph over limit they impound your car for 10 days plus points, racing fine and on top of all that a nice storage bill lol
Here it varies by state but most have a law that makes speeding into reckless driving also if you exceed the speed limit by a certain number of MPH. Typically that figure is in the 15-25 MPH range. They have the option to tow your vehicle with reckless driving as well. I once got pulled over for going 65 in a 35 in a state where exceeding the limit by 25 was reckless driving, I was actually going 70 but I took the ticket for 65. I was lucky that it was a little after 1:00 AM on my way home from work on a main street with no other traffic. The officer just wrote me the ticket for speeding and let me off the reckless driving and tow. That was my first and only speeding ticket and I was 18 at the time.
[This message has been edited by Khw (edited 11-24-2016).]
Let this be a lesson to all of us. Last night I was driving my MERA. It's currently for sale and has a sign in the rear window. I'm at a light on the main street that goes through the small town I live in. Behind me is a car with 4 20 somethings in it (girl driving, rest are boys). I see them in my mirror looking intently at the sign in my rear window, kind of squinting and talking, and it's obvious they are trying to figure out what kind of car it is. Then I see ALL of them take out their phones and start typing on them. At this point, I realize they are probably Googling "1987 Corporate Concepts MERA". Then I see them all start laughing.
We start moving and the kids whip into the lane next to me. I see the passenger waving his arms as he's hanging halfway out of the car. We make it to the next light and are stopped. I roll down my window and the guy says " Hey! Wanna race?" I shake me head and just kind of smile. The light turns green and this girl PUNCHES it. The speed limit is 25, we're in a one way with crosswalks and pedestrians everywhere, and parallel parking on both sides of the road. Pretty much the least appropriate place to try to drag race that you can imagine.
I look ahead and there's a very new looking Tahoe/Suburban that's making a lane change from my lane, to their lane. The girl is doing about 45/50 at this point. I think "oh man, she doesn't see him". I don't even finish the thought when I hear the screeching, the crunching, and see dust, rubber and car parts flying everywhere.
I was laughing pretty hard as I drove by. I feel like I'm supposed to feel bad about that, but....
Anyways, I called 911 and report the accident. I later get a call from the officer who responded to the scene. I'm glad I had called, as the girl tried to blame the SUV, saying she was only doing 30 and that he had " cut her off".
I'm guilty of bad decisions just like everyone else. Things like this remind me to try to be safe. I cringe knowing it could just as easily have been someone's wife/husband/child/fill in the blank, getting in their car or stepping into the street.
Be safe out there folks. And happy Thanksgiving.
SO, SICK OF THIS CRAP.. FIRST OF ALL IT ISNOT DRAG RACING THAT IS STREET RACING THEY ARE NOT THE SAME THING... Dragstrips have enough things going against them, thay don't need people calling fools that street race, drag racing.
[This message has been edited by E.Furgal (edited 11-25-2016).]
SO, SICK OF THIS CRAP.. FIRST OF ALL IT ISNOT DRAG RACING THAT IS STREET RACING THEY ARE NOT THE SAME THING... Dragstrips have enough things going against them, thay don't need people calling fools that street race, drag racing.
Definition: Drag Racing is a type of motor racing in which automobiles or motorcycles compete, usually two at a time, to be first to cross a set finish line. It can be done anywhere but hopefully using intelligence, to compete in a safe location and manner. The first drag races were done on small airport runways.
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
Definition: Drag Racing is a type of motor racing in which automobiles or motorcycles compete, usually two at a time, to be first to cross a set finish line.
It's probably worthwhile adding that drag racing is straight-line acceleration only. No (intentional) twisties. And yeah, drag racing certainly occurs on the street.... although it's usually a real bad idea. Too much potential for serious mishaps. Do it at a track!
You can call it what ever but it is the wrong place wrong time and wrong thing to do.
No sense arguing over semantics.
There are generally enough places you can go where if you have to do this you can do it safely. The problem is people act on emotion and do not regard where they are and who is around.
Young brains acting on emotion and not thought. The lack of fear of consequences from parents is one major contributor. I loved my parents but I feared not doing as I was told and grieved disrespecting them. Today I am better for what they did for me even though at the time I felt like I was not being treated fair.
Hell even with what I did I may only be alive today because of their respect and fear they put into me. I did enough stupid things as it was.
SO, SICK OF THIS CRAP.. FIRST OF ALL IT ISNOT DRAG RACING THAT IS STREET RACING THEY ARE NOT THE SAME THING... Dragstrips have enough things going against them, thay don't need people calling fools that street race, drag racing.
I 100% understand and agree with what he is saying. He is not agreeing with the actions of the girl in the story, he is just pointing out that their needs to be a seperation of the actual sport of drag racing and the act of people driving stupid on public streets. Just so the actual sport of drag racing is not being degraded.
[This message has been edited by LitebulbwithaFiero (edited 11-25-2016).]
he is just pointing out that their needs to be a seperation of the actual sport of drag racing and the act of people driving stupid on public streets.
No, it's more like he's trying to inform us that punching can only occur within a boxing ring.... that if it occurs outside of the ring it needs to be called something else.
[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 11-27-2016).]
My usual response to a stoplight challenge is to rev my engine and when the light turns green I pull away at a very leisurely pace. I'm old enough to not feel the need to prove anything and young enough to enjoy messing with people.
I wouldn't even rev my engine as the cops around here would still give you a ticket for racing even if you leisurely pulled away from the light.
When people pull up and "want to race" I say "yeah, lets go to the track. It's funny how many will tuck their tail between their legs at that point when you say "track" Besides the track is only $15.
Besides the safety factor, here is why not to street race in Nevada.
NRS 484B.653 Reckless driving and organization of unauthorized speed contests prohibited; penalties; court to suspend driver’s license of certain offenders; additional penalties for violation committed in work zone or pedestrian safety zone or if driver is proximate cause of collision with pedestrian or person riding bicycle.
1. It is unlawful for a person to:
(a) Drive a vehicle in willful or wanton disregard of the safety of persons or property.
(b) Drive a vehicle in an unauthorized speed contest on a public highway.
(c) Organize an unauthorized speed contest on a public highway.
Ê A violation of paragraph (a) or (b) of this subsection or subsection 1 of NRS 484B.550 constitutes reckless driving.
2. If, while violating the provisions of subsections 1 to 5, inclusive, of NRS 484B.270, NRS 484B.280, paragraph (a) or (c) of subsection 1 of NRS 484B.283, NRS 484B.350, subsection 1, 2 or 3 of NRS 484B.363 or subsection 1 of NRS 484B.600, the driver of a motor vehicle is the proximate cause of a collision with a pedestrian or a person riding a bicycle, the violation constitutes reckless driving.
4. A person who violates paragraph (b) or (c) of subsection 1 or commits a violation which constitutes reckless driving pursuant to subsection 2 is guilty of a misdemeanor and:
(a) For the first offense:
(1) Shall be punished by a fine of not less than $250 but not more than $1,000;
(2) Shall perform not less than 50 hours, but not more than 99 hours, of community service; and
(3) May be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 6 months.
(b) For the second offense:
(1) Shall be punished by a fine of not less than $1,000 but not more than $1,500;
(2) Shall perform not less than 100 hours, but not more than 199 hours, of community service; and
(3) May be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 6 months.
(c) For the third and each subsequent offense:
(1) Shall be punished by a fine of not less than $1,500 but not more than $2,000;
(2) Shall perform 200 hours of community service; and
(3) May be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 6 months.
5. In addition to any fine, community service and imprisonment imposed upon a person pursuant to subsection 4, the court:
(a) Shall issue an order suspending the driver’s license of the person for a period of not less than 6 months but not more than 2 years and requiring the person to surrender all driver’s licenses then held by the person;
(b) Within 5 days after issuing an order pursuant to paragraph (a), shall forward to the Department any licenses, together with a copy of the order;
(c) For the first offense, may issue an order impounding, for a period of 15 days, any vehicle that is registered to the person who violates paragraph (b) or (c) of subsection 1 if the vehicle is used in the commission of the offense; and
(d) For the second and each subsequent offense, shall issue an order impounding, for a period of 30 days, any vehicle that is registered to the person who violates paragraph (b) or (c) of subsection 1 if the vehicle is used in the commission of the offense.
6. Unless a greater penalty is provided pursuant to subsection 4 of NRS 484B.550, a person who does any act or neglects any duty imposed by law while driving or in actual physical control of any vehicle in willful or wanton disregard of the safety of persons or property, if the act or neglect of duty proximately causes the death of or substantial bodily harm to another person, is guilty of a category B felony and shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for a minimum term of not less than 1 year and a maximum term of not more than 6 years and by a fine of not less than $2,000 but not more than $5,000.
7. A person who violates any provision of this section may be subject to any additional penalty set forth in NRS 484B.130 or 484B.135 unless the person is subject to the penalty provided pursuant to subsection 4 of NRS 484B.550.
8. As used in this section, “organize” means to plan, schedule or promote, or assist in the planning, scheduling or promotion of, an unauthorized speed contest on a public highway, regardless of whether a fee is charged for attending the unauthorized speed contest.
I wouldn't even rev my engine as the cops around here would still give you a ticket for racing even if you leisurely pulled away from the light.
I'm glad I don't live where you do then. Here, the cops would be handing out lots of tickets all summer long to all the Harley riders blipping the throttle incessantly at every single red light.
------------------ Past: 1988 base coupe sold 1984 base coupe rust Present: 1986 SE 2m6
I'm glad I don't live where you do then. Here, the cops would be handing out lots of tickets all summer long to all the Harley riders blipping the throttle incessantly at every single red light.
It's not the blipping the throttle which attracts attention, but if one car takes off as if it's racing, the cops here would assume the other car was racing as well even if it took off leisurely if it was also acting as if it was racing up to that point.
Bottom line is why I have a dash carm. I don't trust the police to do the right thing.
I was coming home from College and stopped at a red light. I saw a guy pull up wanting to race. (Guess he saw the Fiero.) He honked his horn. (I took it as someone, somewhere wasn't moving.) When the light turned green he floored it and in my head I thought "If only he knew this car had 92 HP". It amazes me how some people value a sporty looking car. On Halloween my car was on the street and I saw people stop to take pictures with it. Why? No idea. Maybe they thought it was Ferrari.
I was coming home from College and stopped at a red light. I saw a guy pull up wanting to race. (Guess he saw the Fiero.) He honked his horn. (I took it as someone, somewhere wasn't moving.) When the light turned green he floored it and in my head I thought "If only he knew this car had 92 HP". It amazes me how some people value a sporty looking car. On Halloween my car was on the street and I saw people stop to take pictures with it. Why? No idea. Maybe they thought it was Ferrari.
That's great. I was in Long Beach a few years ago driving the MERA when a group of high schoolers pulled up next to me. I was working (outside sales for a door hardware company) so I was in a suit. One of the kids says " what you do for a living?". I asked why he wanted to know. He says " 'cause I want to drive a car like that one day". I looked at him, smiled, and said "I sell doorknobs". The looks on their faces as I drove away....
It amazes me the number of people who don't remember the Fiero. It's also fun to hear comments from the ones who do. I worked for that same company when I bought the car. When I told my boss (seriously awesome guy) that I had bought a Fiero, he said " a Fiero!?! Man, when I was young, not only was that a chick car, it was a FAT chick car!" Man I miss him.
Wow. That was a cool video. I've never had the opportunity to see or interact with other Fieros since getting mine, and I've never been to a track other than IMS to watch the 500. I'm blown away how quick some of these Fieros are. My car is fun to drive, but by no means fast. Wonder what the other guy thought.
Thanks for fixing the video Patrick. I figured it was just my computer. Love those movies
Your lucky none of them were recording it, Drag racing on highways can cost you a lot, Around this time back when I was 18 I got nailed with a drag racing fine in Philadelphia went to court and was found guilty, Went to the appeals court and was let off of it, that charge was going to cost me my licence for 6 months, I was going to have 6 points on my licence when i got it back, sky rocket insurance rates, not to mention I would not have the Job I have now (CDL) had I gotten hit with that, all in total to get me out of it it cost me close to $4000 in attorney fees, court costs, time out of work, Etc. It is up there with if not worse than a DUI I'm not going to lie, I was there that night and I had run once that night, i would have been well deserving of that ticket but thankfully I was spared, these days I dont get involved in those things, I have a C6 corvette, A mera and an IMSA, I know what they can do so I dont give into the BS these kids want, sure ill play with the cars a lil on and open highway Butnot out of reason, In fact growing ever closer to 30 I now see why I love daily driving my little 2015 corolla, Its got the stones to get out of its own way, great on gas reliable and best of all, No one expects anything of you in it, Its nice pulling up to a red light and not being looked twice at by some punk in a mustang,
Racing on the street just isn't worth it! Take your car to the track.
Not for the faint of heart...
