What is Street Car Racing?

Imagine pushing the car accelerator to the ground, taking turns at over 100 mph with no regard for the law. Street car racing is a spontaneous, or even at times coordinated, form of illegal motor racing on public roadways with two or more cars competing.  It is reported to have started back in the 1930's during alcohol prohibition.   

Street racing has been popularized in the media and with cinematography such as the popular "The Fast and the Furious" movies. The dangers of street car racing are excessive, with death and prison being the most severe consequences.  There are three types of street car racing: drag racing, touge racing and cannonball runs.  

Drag Racing

Drag racing is the most popular of illegal street racing.  It involves two or more participants racing a specific distance in a straight line. The driver who reaches the end first is the winner.  With a city permit and a sanctioning body, then a drag race is legal on an organized track. Another form of drag racing is two or more cars driving the posted speed limit and once signaled, begin to race.  Start signals include honking a car three times, a spectator waving a flag, or flashing a vehicle's high-beam lights.

Touge Racing

Touge racing originated in Japan and it means "mountain pass" in Japanese. These races usually take place on mountain roads, hence the definition of touge. The race is made up of competing one car at a time, or in a chase format.  Generally the winner is determined by the time difference between the competitors. The driver who reached the finish line in the shortest amount of time wins. 

Cannonball Runs

Cannonball runs, also called sprints, are point-to-point illegal races.  These races originated in Europe and have now become favored in the United States.  It consists of a few racers lining up at a location and racing to the finish line, which is a predetermined location. Cannonball Runs were made popular in the 1970's.