Would / Do you go to the illegal street drags?

[Sanxta]

I'll be honest; like most people at one stage or another, yes I have been. Not in ages though.

What's the general feeling on going to the illegals, regards safety, fines, atmosphere etc.? Can it be justified? What experiences have you had out there?

Drive safe,

[Distrb]

Hasnt just about everyone been at some point in their life?

i know i used to be a regular, way back when i wasnt aware that there was any other alternative. (i.e. masterton) and it was fun, and i had a great time. Never saw any accidents there ever, in the 2 years i went to watch. In fact, ive seen more accidents at "legal" gatherings at the riverbank carpark than at the "illegals". Never partook in any race there though.... mainly due to the fact i was driving a 1.3L Vw golf at the time....

but that was then... i havent been to one since the old tip road was closed off (fellow welly members will know about this) and as far as i know, they dont happen in welly anymore.

but you grow up, and the times change.... and masterton and manfield are where its at down here these days, so you get your yearly fix of tracktime..

personally i wouldnt go anywhere near them with any club affiliated stickers on my car, because you run the risk of giving everyone who displays their affiliation a bad name, not just yourself. Once you learn the risks and consequences involved, then you realise how stupid they really are...

[BlakJak]

Poll and discussion - with no poll. This could be a thread elsewhere eh

[Dell'Orto]

I haven't ever raced in the illegals, I have been to a couple and to be honest, I'd rather do laps round town, its that boring.
I fail to see the point (bar the excitement of doing illegal stuff) in racing people on the street, how can a win be quantified?
NO TIMESLIPS, NO PROOF!

[EVLGTZ]

yup use to go back when I was a kid, had fun, did skids, got fines etc

Nowadays there is no way Id be out at one of these lameass events.

I agree Mmmm, Boost, whats that point of it? wheres the time slips etc?

Why dont these people put it on the strip? or is their rangi setup not going to get thru scuitinerring??

[PumpN]

Why dont these people put it on the strip? or is their rangi setup not going to get thru scuitinerring??

thats another thing aye, don't see many of the cars out cruising on friday nights and going to the illegals actually racing at the dragstrip, don't know why, maybe you really do have to be a complete meathead to race illegally

[MrOizo]

I like the atmosphere there still...

well since i wa there last...

everyones there for the same reason so you can all relate in some way... like parking up and talking shit...

I think it has more to do with the thrill of the illegalities of it all..

I still enjoy it... would prefer if it had some sort of 'structure' to it where it was a little safer...

drag strip takes time and illegals are all about being random and elimination..

[Girvs]

Rather not, sure it'd be interesting to watch, but if I went, I sure as hell wouldn't be taking my car.

I'd rather keep my car on the odd chance the cops ended up coming along to say hi, if you know what I mean.

Theres a time and a place for everything, and places like Mansfield, Meremere, etc were set up so you could do dragging/racing legally.

[B1NZ]

Never been to an organised illegal drag meet, apart from going out of town with a mate back in the days in palmy to race some noob in a skyline with a "nismo chip" installed, He was trying to race us in town but we said it was too dangerous so we went miles outta town so if something bad happened at least there'd be less innocent people to kill!!

Personaaly me, i have never competed in any, only the kent/cambridge terrace traffic lights grand prix that used to go on, but i'd hardly call that dangerous - Quickest from 0-60-70km/h is what it came down to, ahh some good times

[toyrota mota]

I have never been to illegal street racing, i have never heard of "organised" big street race meetings here in tauranga and we dont have anywhere to go race legal. So go figure. Howeva i have been to the skids. Which where pretty safereal, skids on the other side of the road, cars and people up on a bank on the other side of the road.

[nzp]

in new plymouth we have quite a gathering out in bell block, which is cool
alot of ppl just park up and talk shizzle about sweet bugger all which is cool.
lots of skids though, and some real wicked ones, and i will say its quite safe.
few drags go on, but no-one hangs along the strip, just at the start.
yea.
my 2 cents

[skoty]

I used to go and watch, not attend the drags virch every weekend with mates before the pigs did something about it and made it turn to sh*t with all this boyracer law bullsh*t...

Back then it was exciting and fun to watch, I had seen it all including fights, mad accidents, people going 220km/h +, crazys dudes doing O's in crappy utes, you name it I aint saying it was all good but yeh, least it was cool to watch

[Devils Angel]

i must admit i have been and still go sometimes but not as offten, mosty when theres nothing to do but back when i went every weekend i saw alot of action and i can understand why police are aganist it, as it starts lots of trouble thats why they should have places where you can go in the weekends where its legal, i also have an know a reason why people go as its exciting more so cause you know your not ment to do it, its not so exciting for me now when i go more so just a place to meet people i know friends etc

well thats my 2 cents

jass

[jr007]

I used to go back in the day, and i'm talking 10 years ago.
Before Quay St got changed around there used to be a big hang out. The old farts in thier "hot rods" used to come down and do shows.
It was all good, jus drinking piss (except for drivers ), and skamming on chicks.
We used to go out to Ascot Rd for proper drags, but the cops used to bust it up hard out.
But, alas, i've grown out of it.....................

[BlakJak]

The results of this poll are shocking..

the biggers proportion would go to relieve boredom!

Just shows some people dont have anything better to do

[Sanxta]

Looks that way . . .
Would it be a stupid question to ask if you've ever been BlakJak?

[BlakJak]

Depends on how you look at it.

I followed a convoy of TS'rs after a Meet to Roscommon Rd for a brief look once. The drags themselves hadnt 'started' yet - it was about 11pm - so all it was in effect was a bunch of ppl socialising on the side of the road and the odd git going up and down the road for the hell of it - no racing.

I opted to leave the scene (bored) and as I was driving away the 'train' was arriving from town. I gather that the real fun was had afterward ...

Thats the closest I ever got to attending, and frankly I dont see the thrill in it...

The main reason I followed the TS convoy and stopped there was that I used to live about 1km from where the drags were at that stage held, Between Browns Rd and Puhinui Rd (Clendon side).

Theres plenty of things id rather do than stand around watching a bunch of idiots make themselves bigger idiots...

[Dell'Orto]

The results of this poll are shocking..

the biggers proportion would go to relieve boredom!

Just shows some people dont have anything better to do

What else is there to do late on a thursday night? (when the port road ones are on) Its the suckful thing, you've got a big bunch of mates, and the carpark closes and there is nothing to do bar go home

[BlakJak]

Well lets see... :p

Sleep?
Read?
Geek?
Go to someones *house* and be sociable?
Bars Pubs Clubs
Hobbies?

I guess given the choice of something which is likely to get me into trouble, and something thats substantially less likely, i'll take the moral high ground.

(It also helps that i'm generally always busy with something. )

[Lanius]

First time I ever went to the drags was aaaaages ago ... never raced myself, just saw a few cars lined up with a couple of challenges going off. No one was excessively dangerous, but then it was a small group of people who mostly knew each other anyways.

I haven't been in about 3 or 4 years now, although I live close to Roscommon Rd ... I've had enough trouble with the police and my vehicle in the past, and I don't really like the idea of going to a well known place with a massive group of people doing stuff that *will* bring the cops down on it, and then trying to either talk my way out of it if I can't escape

Besides, I've heard stories of the drags on Roscommon road blocking everything so badly that people have missed flights because of it. I'm sorry, but thats complete BS. If I was gonna miss my flight, I would kick the arse of anyone who got in my way

IF they have to race like that, why not at least take it somewhere that won't affect something as important as an airport? Thats just plain stupid ...