saturday 7/17 Options

[akamiami]

I and a couple other of the so-called 'veteran' dsmcentral guys are getting together tonight in peoria for a grand fantastic circle jerk and anyone and everyone would be welcome to hang out at an impromptu 'event'.

aforementioned event will commence at 21:00 at the recon point alpha bravo willow knolls tango cherry. any TARDiness or insubordinationers will be summarily given a tastely of spy's hipbreaking whalloper chainalang.

[MidwestDSM]

I would so come if my car ran

[SCCA Stang]

I wish I would have seen this thread this last night, I went out drinking down town instead...

[akamiami]

ah it was weak anyways. I got hung up helping a buddy work on his car and didn't end up making it there till much later than 9. Though I did get a ride in a vibrating mr2 and saw nates car drop ass. there's something cool about watching a car with a stiff ass suspension squat visibly, belch black shit, fill the air with the smell race gas, and move like a fat man to the buffet table.

[awd4kicks]

It definitely didn't live up...

There's just something about pulling up, stiring the pot of egos and going out to mash gears and and burning gas that makes something like that really fun. I haven't gotten to do that in quite some time. Good or bad, there seems to be very few still willing to.

[SCCA Stang]

and move like a fat man to the buffet table

thats gotta be the funniest thing I've heard in a long time

[natedogg]

It definitely didn't live up...

There's just something about pulling up, stiring the pot of egos and going out to mash gears and and burning gas that makes something like that really fun.  I haven't gotten to do that in quite some time.  Good or bad, there seems to be very few still willing to.

Just seems too dangerous anymore. Too many chaotic variables with two cars running next to each other at 100+ mph and 20 other people trying to get the best view they can at the finish line. The squirrely full throttle handling my car inherited when belching oil at the drag strip comes to mind. Imagine that at 100+ mph.

Don't get me wrong. I still enjoy the occasional 2 and a half gear run at a clear stoplight or the occasional random highway run on an open freeway. But this set-up stuff against irrational highschool kids and spectators just seems to put too many people in danger.

You read about the bad shit that happens in the newspaper and online. Shit, Kicks, it could have been you and me in the newspaper had there not been a clear lane when my brakes left me back in the day. Like I said too many random chaotic variables in an uncontrolled environment. Not at a place like the "track" anyway. A place like the "farm" seems much safer to me anyway.

Maybe I'm just starting to get old...

[SCCA Stang]

It definitely didn't live up...

There's just something about pulling up, stiring the pot of egos and going out to mash gears and and burning gas that makes something like that really fun.  I haven't gotten to do that in quite some time.  Good or bad, there seems to be very few still willing to.

Just seems too dangerous anymore. Too many chaotic variables with two cars running next to each other at 100+ mph and 20 other people trying to get the best view they can at the finish line. The squirrely full throttle handling my car inherited when belching oil at the drag strip comes to mind. Imagine that at 100+ mph.

Don't get me wrong. I still enjoy the occasional 2 and a half gear run at a clear stoplight or the occasional random highway run on an open freeway. But this set-up stuff against irrational highschool kids and spectators just seems to put too many people in danger.

You read about the bad shit that happens in the newspaper and online. Shit, Kicks, it could have been you and me in the newspaper had there not been a clear lane when my brakes left me back in the day. Like I said too many random chaotic variables in an uncontrolled environment. Not at a place like the "track" anyway. A place like the "farm" seems much safer to me anyway.

Maybe I'm just starting to get old...

not to mention the fact that when there is a "set-up" race, there is more chance that the info could leak to the "five-O"... plus the fact that when there are lots of people around it tends to draw the cops in like stink on shit..... I liked running at the farm, when are we gonna get another get-together there???

[awd4kicks]

I understand and the Farm, Vicory Day, and the Sport Compact Drag Challenge are perfect places to have fun.

At the same time I've been through quite a bit long before DSM's were even squinted at around here. What I do has never been smart, or in total control, but I've never fooled myself into thinking it was. With my ever increasing old age I've come to use moderation and to know where not to be stupid for the most part. With kids of my own I'm always incredibly careful in populated areas and drive like an old man for that reason. I guess I'm old enough to know, but childish enough to press the limits where I feel it's safe for non-racers, hope for the best and wing my way through it.

As far as spectators and such, I'm sure it happens more often than I've seen, but I've only heard of one race where this happened. I've run at the same location and never had spectator one.

I like to look at performance cars. I even like to watch cars racing, but in my opinion there is NO substitute for racing a car yourself. In fact I don't think I could own or want to own a car built for race that I would have to let sit most of the time. Cars are for driving and I'm the nut behind the wheel with just enough _________ (Fill in the blank: stupidity, arrogance, experience, will, belief, nievity, etc.) to make the win or at least make the other racers win well deserved.

Racing is what this entire thing is all about for me. If it were not I wouldn't waste my time or money on upping the performance ante.

I'm pretty sure that being an underdog makes the race that much more enticing, exciting, and reasonable. Speeds are slower and your ability to prove your work or skills over other more popular cars becomes plausible. When you have a car that can only be eaten by the top of the local food chain, there is more to loose as the speeds and danger rise, the possiblity of loosing to the underdog takes hold, and the reasons to race become less fun.

Maybe I should stick with the old 14b and keep giving the big dogs hell when I can.

Please keep in mind that this is my opinion wheather it's politically correct or not. I know others opinions vary and that's good. If you were all like me we would have no running DSM's. Wait a second...we sure are close to having that problem.

[Coiled]

Maybe I'm just starting to get old...

Is this why we couldn't get our cars in gear at the SCDC.

[ranta18]

Street Racing = The dumbest thing anyone could do. Don't give me all that BS about its my life, at least I'll die doing something I love, I live my life 1/4 mile at a time, crap. We're just all lucky no one around here that we know has died from it. Go say something like that on Honda-Tech and you'll get flamed off the board because of all the people that have lost friends and family due to street racing. Its just like getting a STD. You screw around all the time, yet you don't think it will ever happend to you, then wam, you're crudded up. You, your, and your cock car must have some sort of force field around it if you think it won't happen some day. I didn't know they made protective condoms for cars that stop it from smashing things and people. I feel sorry for the dumb ass kid that goes out and races and kills someone's mom, dad, daughter, son, brother, sister, friend, etc and has to live with that. If they run into a wall and **** only themselves up, then I have no pity and they got what was coming.

RASR Bitches!

[awd4kicks]

Actually working on a Honda for performance might be the stupidest thing you can do. But street racing is dangerous and if you don't think anything is ever going to happen to you or anyone else then you are high. Byeond that...blah, blah blah, blah.

If anyone thinks I'm justifying people to go out and kill themselves or someone else street racing, they need to have their head examined.

My personal defenition of racing includes all forms. My true intentions were to get a car together and climb the ladder of road racing. Life and lack of money have their way of detering such things. But I love to drag race, auto cross, cross train (Racing where I can get it you wussy bastards), or what ever except NASCAR .

There are consequences in all forms of racing and many of the top drivers over the years have lost their lives. But they were doing what they loved and didn't take no for an answere.

But any of you that are out there driving fast ALL the time, and/or switching lanes in normal traffic like you can't drive a straight line need to put the keys down and ride with your mom.

[ranta18]

I could maybe see just playing with your buddy on a deserted interstate from a 2nd gear roll on, but it would still be rolling the dice. Racing on a street with spectators all down the sides is just ignorant and asking for something bad to happen.

Innocent bystanders don't get killed at racing events. - I'm sure there might have been some in the last 80 years of racing, but you get the idea.

[awd4kicks]

I get it... But like I said I have never had any pedestrian spectators in my personal history. At the same time I know it happens, and the people that stand on the side of a road next to vehicles racing IS without a doubt THE dumbest thing to do. That's like standing in a shooting range while beginners practice hitting the target.

[natedogg]

Just remember that if one does ever have spectators on the side of the road (whether he realizes it or not), the spectators may be stupid, but that doesn't make the street racer any less stupid for racing past them at 100+ mph. He's the one who gets in all kinds of trouble if he he hits them. Not to mention all the guilt that would result.

Its really not about winning or losing or being on top of the food chain. I could care less about losing in the scheme of things. I care alot about killing someone else, killing myself, going to jail, or even screwing up my car again. The ends just don't justify the means. There are so many more important things in life to have worry about that kinda stuff.

Maybe its my near misses that cause me to think like this. There are just too many things that can go wrong. And in an uncontrolled environment, that is a recipe for disaster. For better or for worse, I guess I'm just learning from my mistakes.

[akamiami]

if you're the guy racing you would have no control over what the retarded meat stick at the finish line does or even if they are present. so if they're wagging their bloated brain bag over the finish line there's not much you would be able to do.

best thing to do would be to avoid the situation all together. I'm with tyrranosaurus on this one. sign me up for RASR!

[awd4kicks]

That's good. After being in some of those close calls with you I think it's a good thing for your safety and others.

I have no idea why this thing with inocent bystanders keeps coming up though. If for some crazy freakin reason some bum should walk out beside a car I'm driving at 1AM in the middle of nowhere then there will be more questions than we can even fathom. No one want's to kill anyone by accident...it makes no sense as part of the argument.

Anyone that can spend all that money and have all that potential at their right foot, and still shy away from races is a better man than I. I can't let a good, fast car I own go to waste.

Anyone can come take a ride with me and I'll show you the far side of the sanity limit and bring you back in one piece except for the turd you'll shat into your seat for comfort.... and beyond popular belief no one will even know when it happened.

[ranta18]

I'm not saying I've never done it. I got busted doing it and luckily it only cost me $500. For most of us though, we can't resist it. Its like a drug and once you do it, your hooked. Staying clean is the hard part. Making my car a track only car and the fact that my DD is slow as shit helped me. I do miss having a quick street car though. The feeling of 0-60 acceleration in less than 4 seconds is unmatched.

[ranta18]

My Civic. If you need proof, I can post it later on when I get home.

[ranta18]

Dam, you got me. 0-60 in 4.2 seconds actually. This was using my trusty CarTest program that has been dead on for me car as far as what it says it will run. It factors in a few things like:
Displacement
Engine location
NA, turbo, or sc
Peak HP
Peak HP rpm
Peak TQ
Peak TQ rpm
Compression ratio
Redline
Clutch dump or slip rpm
Gear ratios
Final Drive
FWD, RWD, or AWD
Chassis weight
Weight transfer front/back
Wheelbase
Tire circumference, size, width
Coeffiecient of drag
Car height
Car width
Ground clearance
Static & Kinetic coeffiecient of friction of the tires
Air temp
Barometric pressure
Humidity
Elevation
Wind
Road grade
Shit time
Clutch engagement time
Hot tire pressure
Wheel and tire weight
And a bunch of other things. Most of the stuff they have already loaded for your car or standard defaults. You can change everything to match your setup though (as I did to match my different motor, tranny, etc). To figure the coeffiecent of friction, you can see what your 60 ft time is at the track and adjust the value so it runs that in the program. I set it so it is at 2.0. For me it says 12.8 1/4 mile, just like I ran. There are many other things it tells you. I have found the program to be very useful and informative. 4.2 0-60 mph isn't too bad though.