Do you have to fight the urge to race the car next to you when a good challenger ..

Alan · 12-02-2005, 11:23 AM

Do you have to fight the urge to race the car next to you when a good challenger comes along.

Since I could drive a go kart at 10 yrs old I loved racing and as a teen I did the typical stupid drag racing thing ...

Here I am at 37 yrs old and I am still fighting myself to not race the guy next to me. I know street racing is dangerous which is why I don't do it but the urge is still there. It doesn't matter what car I'm in, heck I can be in the wife's Volvo SUV and see another SUV pull up and the urge comes on.

A quick example of what happened this morning ... here I am driving to work and a guy in an E320 is driving a little aggressively and we get to a light. I want to race him but I know not to so I start to fiddle with the radio, play with some of my cars settings and do whatever it takes to try to not get ready for taking off. Meanwhile I keep looking at the light waiting for it to turn green to see if he takes off.

Anyway I have to admit I have been VERY good at fighting this urge but the temptation is still there. I have to think I am not the only one who is like this.

*Plaz* · 12-02-2005, 11:28 AM

No.

But I do generally try to get a quick launch when not at a light where I can't see red-light-running a-holes.

ff · 12-02-2005, 11:32 AM

The urge is usually there for me. Though, I almost never act upon it.

FC · 12-02-2005, 11:32 AM

No urge to race. But every once in a while I feel compelled to drive very aggressively away from someone who is being a PITA. Once I am out of the way, I ease off.

rumatt · 12-02-2005, 11:32 AM

Nah. Launching and drag racing has little appeal to me.

Somehow I view it as wasting your clutch and drivetrain for no reason, and the hardest I launch is maybe 60-70%. Once the clutch is engaged I often ease into full throttle though.

Of course I burn through all sorts of $$$ doing autox, so I'll admit this isn't a rational distinction.

rumatt · 12-02-2005, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ff

I almost never act upon it.

You know you could kill people doing that, Mr. 55 mph.

12-02-2005, 11:39 AM

No, I don't. I used to get lots of kids wanting to race the M3, I never gave them a second look. I got my speeding fix at the track

John V · 12-02-2005, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ff

The urge is usually there for me. Though, I almost never act upon it.

So... street racing is safe?

ff · 12-02-2005, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rumatt

You know you could kill people doing that, Mr. 55 mph.

You young whipper snappers...

Actually, on the highway my spedo doesn't register below 80 MPH. It's on public streets where I'm a bit of a prude.

John V · 12-02-2005, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ff

You young whipper snappers...

Actually, on the highway my spedo doesn't register below 80 MPH. It's on public streets where I'm a bit of a prude.

Street racing is safe.

12-02-2005, 11:23 AM	#1
Alan Carmudgeon Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 4,668	Do you have to fight the urge to race the car next to you when a good challenger .. Do you have to fight the urge to race the car next to you when a good challenger comes along. Since I could drive a go kart at 10 yrs old I loved racing and as a teen I did the typical stupid drag racing thing ... Here I am at 37 yrs old and I am still fighting myself to not race the guy next to me. I know street racing is dangerous which is why I don't do it but the urge is still there. It doesn't matter what car I'm in, heck I can be in the wife's Volvo SUV and see another SUV pull up and the urge comes on. A quick example of what happened this morning ... here I am driving to work and a guy in an E320 is driving a little aggressively and we get to a light. I want to race him but I know not to so I start to fiddle with the radio, play with some of my cars settings and do whatever it takes to try to not get ready for taking off. Meanwhile I keep looking at the light waiting for it to turn green to see if he takes off. Anyway I have to admit I have been VERY good at fighting this urge but the temptation is still there. I have to think I am not the only one who is like this.

12-02-2005, 11:28 AM	#2
Plaz ••••••• Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: '11 1M Location: Churzee Posts: 17,741	No. But I do generally try to get a quick launch when not at a light where I can't see red-light-running a-holes. __________________ 2011 1M

12-02-2005, 11:32 AM	#5
rumatt Mugwump Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: E46 330i, Chevy Colorado, Tesla Model 3 Location: NY Posts: 17,475	Nah. Launching and drag racing has little appeal to me. Somehow I view it as wasting your clutch and drivetrain for no reason, and the hardest I launch is maybe 60-70%. Once the clutch is engaged I often ease into full throttle though. Of course I burn through all sorts of $$$ doing autox, so I'll admit this isn't a rational distinction. Last edited by rumatt; 12-02-2005 at 11:41 AM.

12-02-2005, 11:32 AM	#3
ff . Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 13,514	The urge is usually there for me. Though, I almost never act upon it.

12-02-2005, 11:32 AM	#4
FC Solving problems Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: M5 / 718 GTS / Cooper S / GTI / LR4 Location: Metro Boston Posts: 25,264	No urge to race. But every once in a while I feel compelled to drive very aggressively away from someone who is being a PITA. Once I am out of the way, I ease off.

12-02-2005, 11:39 AM	#7
Doug Guest Posts: n/a	No, I don't. I used to get lots of kids wanting to race the M3, I never gave them a second look. I got my speeding fix at the track