Hey guys, wondering if I could get some feedback. I'm doing my final project for one of my classes on how the whole racing scene (mainly drag racing, street racing, and road racing) is a culture. I have to do several interviews and research, but I thought that I could get a lot of useful feedback on everyone's opinion about whether you'd consider the racing scene to be a culture or not and why. Feel free to talk about what got you into racing, what your fav. type of racing is, or an interesting experience. Hope to hear from you guys. Thanks so much. This is going to be very helpful to my project.

 

of course. it's an anthropology of a developing culture evolving with the developing material culture and technology driven, dead beated society. more restriction, laws, social depression, more speed breakers and rebellious racers.

you do the math.

it's been there since the industrial revolution.

 

Werd

I think this vid depicts exactly what you are saying.
http://www.planetvids.com/html/Bubb-Rubb.html

 

sorry cant talk about that ^^^
cause
Evom has a policy to not allow street racing threads and videos. Any such post will be removed immediately and the poster given one warning.

 

define culture first... or what your class defines culture as.

 

It's been a cultural thing forever! Just look at the hot rods of the 40s, 50s and 60s. It's happening again with the Import Compacts.
I think there needs to be an outlet for these people. A controlled environment i.e. Drag Strips, Auto-X and Race Tracks for these people to go and get either the right training and the right state of mind. Take the threat and danger out of street racing and endangering the people around you. But sometimes you just can't teach how to be responsible when you are young and stupid. You can ask Pro-Racers, most of them drive like grandmas when they are driving on the street because they do the 100% racing on the track.

Also, most people want to belong to a group. To be accepted. Therefore the car clubs, thumbs up with same brand car drivers, are all actions to be belong. Just makes you feel good to belong with like minded people. When I had my Porsche, I kept getting headlight flashes from different 911s and then I figured out they are all saying 'hi' to me. I tried it on a 928 and the driver didn't give me the time of day (guess it's only 911s)

What got me into racing was the skill and just to be participating. My first experience was Solo II or Auto-X.
I was so nervous for my first time. I was the first in line for my group and when the starter wanted me to line up at the line, he waved his hand for me to get closer. I thought he wanted me to go! Stepped on the loud pedal and off I went! Sort of funny thinking about it now. Then you get to meet like minded people who are as crazy as you or more so about racing!

 

What my teacher is defining as culture is a group of people that are drawn together by something, or some sort of a community...it's a pretty open topic actually. I understand that there are certain things that you can and can not talk about on these forums. What I'm interested in learning about is what you guys are more drawn to...drag racing, road racing, etc? Are you guys more interested in making your car go as fast as it can in the shortest time or are you guys more interested in the overall performance and handling of your car? I'd like to know what got you guys interested in cars. I'm interested in hearing your opinions about if you guys feel that there's a difference in the crowd or people that are into road racing versus drag racing, or maybe even the people that are into show cars? Thank you for all of the responses so far.

 

Its good to see some "nice" responsese. This was also posted on MWIR and it got flamed saying that "we feel sorry for you" and things like that. Racing is def. a cultur, as are cars and things we do every day. Its what makes us who we are. Im glad to see that some people can actually understand this.