Evo Street Racers: Street Racing Legislation

San Diego State U.: Safe alternative to illegal street racing offered at Qualcomm.

Source: The America's Intelligence Wire
Date: September 16, 2003
Author: Paul Filice

They storm across the pavement in their powerful vehicles, feeling the rush of speed and adrenaline run through their veins. This isn't some fast car movie -- it's RaceLegal, and it's making a difference.

This program, which began in 1998, provides a track one-eighth of a mile long in the Qualcomm Stadium parking lot two to four times a month on Friday nights. Its goal is to offer a safe alternative to street racing in San Diego.

"Kids have a profound need for speed and the idea is to try to meet that in a significantly safer and sanctioned environment," Stephen Bender, principal investigator for RaceLegal, said.

Bender said there were 16 deaths and 31 serious injuries due to illegal racing in 2002. Year-to-date San Diego Police Department surveillance data show a 99 percent decrease in the incidence of unlawful street racing in the city and a 94 percent reduction in the racing-related morbidity/mortality rate.

"Change of that magnitude is basically unprecedented," he said, "to have that kind of a turn around in that short period of time." However, Bender said, all of that can be explained with a combination of law enforcement efforts. These include the Superior Court's stricter laws, probation, RaceLegal's safe alternative to street racing and the San Diego Police Department's Drag Net Unit -- specifically designed to stop illegal street racing in hopes of reducing crashes and saving lives. This "closing-the-loop" approach to intervention has come together as a prominent community-based coalition and has made San Diego County one of the toughest places in the country to get away with lawless street racing, he said.

For being an intricate part in putting together this approach, RaceLegal was awarded the prestigious national Peter K. O'Rourke Special Achievement Award from the Governors Highway Safety Association on Aug. 26 at an annual meeting in New Orleans, La.

Program Director Lydia DeNecochea said RaceLegal gives street racers an outlet to share their passion with others who think like them.

Former street racer Nolani Arpon, who worked with RaceLegal, said she felt the need to race because it gave her the opportunity to test her car against other people's cars. She said a lot of people find the aspect of getting caught and doing something illegal appealing and thrilling.

"You spend all this time and money building your car. Where else are you going to take it but to the street," Arpon said.

People street race because they don't have an available facility at all times, she said. But RaceLegal is helping to change this by providing races more frequently, at a low cost and at a central location. The program offers a family-friendly environment and a unique educational aspect at a one-on-one basis that opens racers' eyes to something else, she said.

"RaceLegal really wants to make sure the racer is happy," Arpon said.

Bender said the California Office of Traffic Safety, which funds the program, has contracted RaceLegal to put together a how-to manual and video and will be offering 10 workshops for communities throughout the state to spread its concept.

"The mantra is very simple," he said. "Race track, not street." DeNecochea said she eventually sees each city throughout the country running its own street-racing program.

"It's such a community-based program," she said. "What makes it is the individuals that participate and work at the events." Bender said the events, which will occur almost every Friday night once the Padres' season is over, are growing and now routinely draw 300 race cars and more than 3,000 spectators each time.

While the bulk of racers are between the ages of 16 and 26, there are 25 open positions per event for competitors over the age of 30, he said. High school students compete in separate races.

There are races for automobiles, motorcycles and trailered-in vehicles. Trophies in 10 categories -- such as best reaction time -- are given out at each event.

Bender said they used to conduct races in bracket format, which is when racers predict, or "dial-in," how fast they feel it will take them to complete the race. The driver who finishes closest to his or her dial-in time wins. However, after surveying the competitors, they found heads-up racing, or grudge races, was a tremendous hit. This is more of a street racing style where racers just face off against each other to see who's faster. RaceLegal also accommodates friends who want to race each other.

He said the program is looking for an alternative permanent venue with the help of the city council, but racing at Qualcomm will remain secure until 2009.

The next event is scheduled for Sept. 19. The cost is $15 for racers ($20 for 31 and older) and $5 for spectators. For more information about RaceLegal, visit their Web site at www.racelegal.com.