Why doesn't anybody race?

[Afsil80]

I'm down for either.

But as I told Jim earlier, unless $$ is on the line, I don't care if I win or lose. I don't care if I get chewed up and shat out by Nick's GS-R, or if I make a Cavalier owner run home crying. I enjoy beating the shit out of my car, and will find any excuse to do so.

[dubbsy]

I don't think there is a parking lot we're allowed in anymore. Too many people doing burnouts, donoughts, or driving at high rates of speed. Any experience I've had with FPD has been good when they've come to kick us out, basically because nobody has been issued a citation, but no matter how you look at it they're enforcing the no loitering policies that many store owners have put up due to the number of people screwing around in their lots.

[StangerBanger96]

Telling the local police about anything around here is in now way going to help us. All the little douchebags that race in town on crowded streets and stuff ruined it for us.

[Instigator]

This year sucked if you ask me. The racing was ok, but the whole cruising scene sucked it hard.

Hopefully next year is gonna be <u>the year</u>. I say that every year, but nothing ever happens... Who knows? I don't even know if I'm gonna have a nice car next summer, I guess we'll see what happens.

-Eric

[StangerBanger96]

Yeah I know 2 years ago there was a cruise almost every Friday. I remember going on 1 last year.

[Afsil80]

dubbsy wrote:
I don't think there is a parking lot we're allowed in anymore. Too many people doing burnouts, donoughts, or driving at high rates of speed. Any experience I've had with FPD has been good when they've come to kick us out, basically because nobody has been issued a citation, but no matter how you look at it they're enforcing the no loitering policies that many store owners have put up due to the number of people screwing around in their lots.

I was hoping someone would bring this up:

Before our strip mall meets, we always met in front of a shut down grocery store in the center of town, and raced on the outskirts of town. The only business that shared the parking lot was a Radio Shack (closed at those hours) and a Papa Johns that was managed by one of the guys on our racing board. As long as it was just hanging out, and no stupid shit going on, things went well.

Remember that cruise last year, that had a whole shit ton of cars out? It was the only one that I made it to, as well as Eric (red SR'ed 240 coupe in GF) and I remember a WHOLE bunch of other GF guys came down for that one. We were all at KMart, and we didn't get chased out! The cops showed up, but nobody was stupid enough to fuck around so we were allowed to hang out.

Which leads to this point: If we 'trim the fat' so to speak, it will probably involve people getting ugly with the idiots that will show up.

I have NO problem telling someone off if they're being retarded. I've done it many times before at central GA car meets. If you're acting like an idiot, and it can lead to me getting kicked out of a hangout spot, I'm gonna become vocal, get ugly and in your face about it until you either a) wise up and quit fucking off, or b) leave. I have no problem having people tell me that I'm a dickhead for chasing them off. I just hope others feel as strong as I do. Otherwise, the maturity level will never increase.

[StangerBanger96]

Kmart told us last year we are NOT welcomed in their lot ever again.
I guess it might be worth it to ask the FPD if they'd be a little more lenient on us in return for us "trimming the fat" and making it clear we don't want to be associated with anyone doing donuts, peeling out, and any other stupid activities. Doubt it'll do anything but it's worth a try.

[94prelude]

yeh... im down to racing... well it doesnt matter to me if u won or i won cuz u might have a rich parent that gives u all that money to tune the car out or u work ur ass off just to make ur car fast which is a good thing or mayb that i dont know wut to do to my car

[GarageAlchemist]

what? ^

[Afsil80]

StangerBanger96 wrote:
Kmart told us last year we are NOT welcomed in their lot ever again.
I guess it might be worth it to ask the FPD if they'd be a little more lenient on us in return for us "trimming the fat" and making it clear we don't want to be associated with anyone doing donuts, peeling out, and any other stupid activities. Doubt it'll do anything but it's worth a try.

Hell, if there's a slight possibility of it working, I think it would be a waste to let it go unchecked.

By doing so, that will show that we are wanting to provide a positive influence in how we hang out, and not causing havoc in a public parking lot. I don't see the FPD thinking without reason. I could be wrong, but again, you won't know until you make an attempt.

Another example:

In England, they have a program that came out halfway through my trip, called 'Carry on Cruizin.' The local 'tuning scene' (for lack of a better term) made an agreement with the cops to be able to use a park and ride parking lot for a local hangout spot on weekend nights. You'd check in at the toll gate (no charge) and the cops would wave you through. Find a parking space, chill out, BS around. The only cop activity that came up was a kid getting arrested for coke. But we were allowed to do anything but lay rubber and speed. I've got vids of my friend's S13 shooting flames with a crowd of about 40 people gathered around it, including a handful of cops.

The reason I believe it worked, is because it was at an isolated, non-residential area, off the interstate.

I don't know, I'm wanting this to be an awesome summer because it's my first one I get to have here, and it will also be my last since I am out next January. I'm willing to put forth whatever effort is necessary to make sure I can enjoy it without getting a scrapbook full of lame-ass loitering tickets for being at the wrong place at the wrong time.

[94NDTA]

StangerBanger96 wrote:
Kmart told us last year we are NOT welcomed in their lot ever again.
I guess it might be worth it to ask the FPD if they'd be a little more lenient on us in return for us "trimming the fat" and making it clear we don't want to be associated with anyone doing donuts, peeling out, and any other stupid activities. Doubt it'll do anything but it's worth a try.
There is no way in hell that would fly. Think of it from the FPD's point of view.

What I never understood is why no one ever picked food spot to hang out. Go in, grab a burger, then hang out in the parking lot, like porkies in the cities.

[Afsil80]

94NDTA wrote:
There is no way in hell that would fly. Think of it from the FPD's point of view.

Why wouldn't it work? What is the FPD's point of view that would prevent it from happening?

I'm not trying to start anything with you, rather I'm thinking objectively. If there is something we have that we can run with, we damn sure should use it.

[94NDTA]

AFSil80 wrote:
Why wouldn't it work? What is the FPD's point of view that would prevent it from happening?

I'm not trying to start anything with you, rather I'm thinking objectively. If there is something we have that we can run with, we damn sure should use it.

You think the PD would let some random guy sort out who can be in a public parking lot or not? Come on man.

[Afsil80]

94NDTA wrote:
You think the PD would let some random guy sort out who can be in a public parking lot or not? Come on man.

If not, then wouldn't it fall onto a local business owner?

You mentioned getting food, and then hanging out in a parking lot aftewards. Personally, I think that's a damned good idea. Come up with some sort of arrangement with management, to where you support their business by being a patron, in exchange for a place to hang out.

Walk in resturants won't work well, as it will limit parking spaces. I guess that's why Papa Johns worked out so well for us in GA, because there is no dine in portion, therefore, no customer parking to hog, and no other customers are feeling pressured when around a large crowd.

I dunno, these could be bad ideas, they could be good ideas. Regardless, they're ideas, and there's only one way to find out if they will work.

[StangerBanger96]

We wouldn't be kicking people out, we'd be actively participating with the police in enforcing rules/laws regarding stupid activities like that.

My grandpa used to be the sheriff of a Minnesota county and told me this story recently due to my ticket for loud party. Some college kids came to him one time and asked if it'd be alright to throw a multiple kegger party to raise money for a foreign exchange student who'd been injured and had like $50,000 in medical bills. He obviously couldn't condone the party being as you know what it'll probably lead to. Instead he told them they wouldn't bust the party, but that they'd have every police department and highway patrol officer watching the roads and the first drunk driver they pulled over would mark the end of the party. It ended up with them raising like $60,000 and over 500 people ended up showing total with NO incidents/arrests/citations handed out due to the mutual cooperation between the PD and the people.

So if we can prove to the PD that we're serious about wanting to crack down on the idiots amongst us and they aren't complete dickheads about "being the law round these here parts" something could probably get worked out. I honestly doubt it'll happen though.

[dubbsy]

I've though about trying to set something up with a business to do a cruise night weekly on a night where they're not typically busy.

The huge issue with all of this is this conversation, about putting together 'peaceful cruises', is taking place under the premise of why isn't anyone in this town street racing. People need to realize that street racing kills the chances we have to getting something set up.

[Afsil80]

StangerBanger96 wrote:
So if we can prove to the PD that we're serious about wanting to crack down on the idiots amongst us and they aren't complete dickheads about "being the law round these here parts" something could probably get worked out. I honestly doubt it'll happen though.

To hell with doubts. Again, if the FPD has a shred of reason in them (and I believe they have plenty of it) then why would they not bend when we come to them with a proposal to show them that we want a better reputation in their eyes? If anything, it should show them that we're wanting to be law-abiding citizens that are just wanting to hang out with our friends.

Does anyone know ANYBODY in the local PD (besides Freitag...j/k) that they're on a personal level with?

[dubbsy]

I need to add something else in here as well.

I've always supported the idea of inviting FPD to cruise nights for 2 reasons: For them to see that the group of us is serious about enjoying motorsports in a legal manner, and for them to deal with those who screw off.

Issue with that is funding - pretty sure FPD doesn't have the funding to pull an officer off the street and place them in a lot half the night.

[Afsil80]

dubbsy wrote:
I've though about trying to set something up with a business to do a cruise night weekly on a night where they're not typically busy.

The huge issue with all of this is this conversation, about putting together 'peaceful cruises', is taking place under the premise of why isn't anyone in this town street racing. People need to realize that street racing kills the chances we have to getting something set up.

Isolate it. I'm not saying it won't happen. But when it does, it better be FAR away from the hangout spot. I'd prefer racing on the track on a Saturday, and then hanging out on Friday, maybe driving around casually.

But as I said earlier, I'm down for whatever. I just want a place to hang out without getting hastled.

[StangerBanger96]

Find an off duty officer who enjoys cars and would come with and could also call in if he sees anything out of hand.