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roneill's comment

by roneill from Maryland USA

Last Post 155 days, 7 hours Ago


“...Mercedes-Benz and a Trans Am line up on a dark, desolate stretch of Missouri 150 in south Kansas City. Side by side, their engines rev.

The scents of burnt rubber and gasoline fill the air.

It's just after 2 a.m. on a recent Saturday. As most of the city sleeps, this crew of street racers — a group that crosses many demographics — gathers to compete for bragging rights.

The flagger raises an arm as the drivers’ inch to the start line. He quickly lowers his arm, and the cars tear off. Both vehicles zoom east a quarter of a mile, exceeding 100 mph...”
Excerpt, Poor Boy/ Fast Car by Glenn Rice, The Kansas City Star, 06-14-2004

Since most of illegal street racing occurs in the wee hours of the morning, you lose sleep. You deal with cold...all sorts of weather...in early morning.  Cars roaring down an empty road at breakneck speed, its drivers probably not wearing helmets/ seatbelts...pushing the car engine past  it’s unnatural limit...

Is it some sort of status thing?  Is money / betting involved?  Is it to show off a car?  So...can somebody explain to me, what makes this appealing? 

 

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roneill

Hi! I’m an outdoorsy woman, tent and cabin camper, and trail hiker. Love photography, weather, constellations, JAZZ music, Righteous Brothers, Moody Blues, kind people, historic sightseeing, and reading. I was born in Washington DC, Old Sibley Memorial Hospital, 1956. Old Sibley was once located on North Capital Street for those DC history buffs who may remember it. I grew up in the turbulent, question everything, 60’s. In a time where children were disciplined, not coached, and it was “Yes, sir,” “Yes, ma’am.” The era of wonderful ‘57 Chevy’s, drive in restaurants, and Glen Echo Park. It had a huge swimming pool, with a curvy slide that dropped you into deep water... A time when metal skate keys worn round the neck symbolized “cool.” Television was brand new. Prince George’s Plaza was “outside;” you experienced weather. PG Plaza had spiral, cement stairs in back to play on, a wonderful Woolworth’s, and you could drive your car into the tunnel underneath:(was it Hechinger’s?)to pick up wood, etc.. It was a time almost all mom’s stayed at home, girl’s endured wearing ugly gym uniforms, “wait till your father gets home” instilled fear, and a quarter was decent payment for cutting the grass for dad. Milk was delivered to your door and put in an insulated box, hula hoops were fun toys, and potato chips were purchased from a truck driving through your neighborhood. Diner’s were king, and TV shows: Rifleman, Bonanza, GunSmoke, were awesome. Great times! I enjoy living in this area, experiencing...the lovely, changing seasons... and I'm close to home, in Maryland.

Member Since: 2/20/2008