Street racing has always been illegal because of the repercussions it brings not only to the driver but also to the pedestrians and other motorists. Although it has become an exciting sport for some, many people concerned with safety denounce it. Despite being illegal, these street races can be spontaneous, where two cars meet at a random time then plan a race right then and there, or it can be planned out, wherein different groups collaborate and meet to plan out a race. However, despite being highly illegal and mostly spontaneous, cars still need to follow certain rules during racing.
Drag racing is the most common and well-known way of street racing. This is where two cars align in the same starting point and accelerate in a mad dash to finish the allotted distance, which is usually a quarter mile.
Drifting is another type of racing where drivers try to control their uncontrollable autos. It first originated in Japan where they raced on mountains, where they followed a complex ruling system. However, drifting did eventually trickle down to the streets where the fancy drifting systems of cars are judged. Cannonball runs are also called sprints wherein different cars are made to run from one given point to another. This is the only race that was legal before it became prohibited from the streets.
Pop culture always shows influences of drag racing. Whether successful or not, car movies are have always been popular with the masses not for their story plots but for the car scenes. Some movies have become franchises, where they have created sequel after sequel that are all successful in their own ways. Different computer games have also milked street racing of its popularity, wherein some game manufacturers have created a name for themselves just because of racing. Cartoons are also heavily influenced, wherein the Japanese animation and Manga Initial D have given mountain drifting the spotlight. Even old cartoons such as Hanna-Barbera's Wacky Races show a sprint of different characters from the cartoon roster of Hanna-Barbera with cars that correspond to their characters. Pop culture influences street racing, and street racing influences pop culture just the same.
From the mountains of Japan to your local highway, street racing will always be present. However, this does not mean that the safety issues regarding it can be easily waived since people's lives are at stake here. If you really want to experience auto racing, at least do it legally with autos that have been regulated by officials and on streets that are clear of pedestrians. You could always do it on the track instead of the road. This way, everyone can enjoy the race.
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