Lodz Gives Green Light to Street Racers

[Fuerte100]

Polish boy racers have been given the green light to speed through city streets by the police.

Parts of the country's second city Lodz have been cordoned off at night for testosterone-fuelled youngsters to drive at hair raising speeds.

The move by police in Lodz is a bid to keep youths from speeding at night throughout the city.

They hope encouraging them to race and show off their cars in a controlled zone - where they can travel as fast as they like - will cut down on accidents in the rest of the city.

The first legal races have taken place in Lodz, monitored by the city police and the Lodz motoring club.

"We've come to an understanding with the organisers of the illegal races," said the head of the club, Lech Ryszewski.

"The motoring club has created a Street Legal section, which will organise the races in closed off streets, under the supervision of licensed organisers and judges. In return, participants are obliged to make sure no-one organises similar races on city streets."

But the Polish press has slammed the move, claiming the authorities have naively capitulated to the boy racers.

A smart move, I think it is a better idea than moving the driving age up. What do you guys think?
Edit: forgot the source: Ananova - Green light for boy racers (http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_2733922.html?menu=)

[bruxell]

I think this is the best idea I've heard in years...

[dydzi]

wow my city is of international fame w00t :D

in fact legal streetraces have been organized here for about two years, there's even held commanding officer's cup. been to a competition like these once, attracts huge attention as there are no racing tracks in proximity of 150 kms. apart from typical ricer racers there were some cool cars like original '67 mustang and bmws 2002 ti and M6 brought by bmw's dealership

[ScionDriver]

I think that is a really good move, promotes safety and a racing environment when one isn't available. Any cost involved for racers? Because sounds like its probably pretty cost effective for racers too. I am sure some people would race on a track if it were cheaper but I don't know.

[coolieman1220]

more tracks and track days would be nice too! its still very dangerous!

[drakkie]

For almost a decade the same has been going on in my area. Usually motor cycle races are being held on a road in a industrial area. Every weekend the road is closed off. Police come by to look for people that have tickets open etcetera but do not act. On the start and finishing line the organizers are in contact with walky-talkies. Been going on for years now without any accidents.

When some young people drive back from looking to it though accidents happen because of overenthousiasm. Have lost a friend that way about two years back.

[The_Canuck]

Or they could build a motor park...? This just seems lazy...and also foolish.

[Rockefella]

Or they could build a motor park...? This just seems lazy...and also foolish.

More foolish than not doing this and being sure of illegal street racing that will occur anyway? Sometimes a racetrack just isn't feasible or worth it to the government.

[The_Canuck]

I think this would just encourage more street racing by making it socially acceptable, the thinking would go something along the lines of "why do we need the city to organize the events?"

But im not informed of the situation there.

[Rockefella]

I think this would just encourage more street racing by making it socially acceptable, the thinking would go something along the lines of "why do we need the city to organize the events?"

But im not informed of the situation there.

It's not about socially acceptable but rather keeping people alive.

[The_Canuck]

It's not about socially acceptable but rather keeping people alive.

By making it socially acceptable it raises the probability of it occuring without supervision, therefore risking lives.

[Rockefella]

By making it socially acceptable it raises the probability of it occuring without supervision, therefore risking lives.

Like Dydzi said, there is no racetrack for 150 km in the area. What they are doing is providing a dragstrip for these cars to race on, with safety and supervision. They would be making it socially acceptable if they allowed ILLEGAL street racing, but that's different.

[MadMax13]

Thats ****ing BRILLIANT!!!. I wish theyd do that here because they keep closing down the damn tracks and giving us nowhere to race. Its nice to see police that are willing to meet in the middle on issues instead of just cracking down ten times harder than usual...

[dydzi]

Or they could build a motor park...? This just seems lazy...and also foolish.

haha now that just perfectly shows the differnces in our worlds. in whole country there are three countries, one of which in 2/3 consist of public roads, and another doesn't have pits. there have been taken many attempts to build a motor park up to world standards, but never would work.

besides, the only part of the track they'd use is a drag strip.

speaking of which - poland has one of the strongest drag leagues in europe, many european champions etc. so you'd expect there's a drag strip in every city? not a single one built in a whole country. polish championship are held on an abandoned airstrip.

the success is that we have highways. currently built and in plans

[MadMax13]

Canuck, your statements are such bollocks its untrue. If people want to race, and theres no tracks, theyll go to the stree. Despite what you think its better to have a section of the city cordoned off for streetracing than to have no street cordoned off, no tracks and people streetracing around the ENTIRE city...

[The_Canuck]

Canuck, your statements are such bollocks its untrue. If people want to race, and theres no tracks, theyll go to the stree. Despite what you think its better to have a section of the city cordoned off for streetracing than to have no street cordoned off, no tracks and people streetracing around the ENTIRE city...

I said they should build tracks.

It's an opinion, deal with it.

[MadMax13]

Yeah well thats like saying someone who smokes weed should smoke cigarettes, despite cigarettes costing and arm and a leg, simply because its legal, instead of the cops meeting in the middle and saying "You can only smoke weed twice a week" and the potheads agreeing to those rules all on the THEORY that people will run away with it. For a Canadian your starting to sound a LOT like an American...

[MadMax13]

Building a track is like a super car, it LOOKS fun, seems simple and and you can afford it, however, like a super car its actually stressful, difficult and EXTREMELY expensive. Youve gotta think of all the permits and fees and all that shit, then you have to make sure the ground is right so it doesnt all collapse or seperate or something, then you have to upkeep it, so on and so for and such like, before you know it your like "**** this, its too much of a hassle"...

[The_Canuck]

Yeah well thats like saying someone who smokes weed should smoke cigarettes, despite cigarettes costing and arm and a leg, simply because its legal, instead of the cops meeting in the middle and saying "You can only smoke weed twice a week" and the potheads agreeing to those rules all on the THEORY that people will run away with it. For a Canadian your starting to sound a LOT like an American...

A Canadian sounding like an American, what a bloody tragedy, yeah, because every Canadian is left wing and every American is right wing...

How about saying people who smoke weed, can't do it anymore, and they will be arrested if they do OR legalize it completely, none of this middle ground crap that is just utter laziness, yes there are grey areas in some issues but in situations like this where something has to be clearly legal or not, you cannot encourage it unless it's legal.

My opinion is that it should be fully legal, (stupid) or illegal, heavily enforced and encouraged only when done properly at a racetrack.

If it's a hassle to build a racetrack and race there, then deal with it (draw support). Racing is not a right, it's sad but it's true.

[MadMax13]

Actually the American statement was pertaining to the typical American response just about ANY issue, which is "if we dont stop it it will spread out of control", like they said about communist Cuba, Vietnam and Soviet Union. The fact is governments are elected by the people, as are police, there for its ALWAYS a good thing when those elected ACTUALLY listen to the wants of the people, in this case theyve met with those people and theyve come to an agreement, theyve agreed to confine their recreation to the cordoned off area and the cops have agreed not to bother them so long as they keep the racing communities activities within those confines. This is a GIANT leap forward in the ongoing battle for between racers and cops, and street racing in general...

[The_Canuck]

Actually the American statement was pertaining to the typical American response just about ANY issue, which is "if we dont stop it it will spread out of control", like they said about communist Cuba, Vietnam and Soviet Union. The fact is governments are elected by the people, as are police, there for its ALWAYS a good thing when those elected ACTUALLY listen to the wants of the people, in this case theyve met with those people and theyve come to an agreement, theyve agreed to confine their recreation to the cordoned off area and the cops have agreed not to bother them so long as they keep the racing communities activities within those confines. This is a GIANT leap forward in the ongoing battle for between racers and cops, and street racing in general...

Yes and to use really ignorant generalizations against you; just like communism, things don't always work out the way they're intended.

[ZeTurbo]

Any initiative getting street racing out of opened public streets is a good initiative.

[MadMax13]

Yes and to use really ignorant generalizations against you; just like communism, things don't always work out the way they're intended.

Unfortunately for you that one did work, and its hardly a generalization because while Poland is cordoning off a part of the city for street racers to race safely and keep the public safe the US is gunning to raise the drivers license age...

[MadMax13]

Any initiative getting street racing out of opened public streets is a good initiative.

Indeed, i just cant get over how much of a giant leap this is for an understanding between the groups...

[The_Canuck]

Unfortunately for you that one did work, and its hardly a generalization because while Poland is cordoning off a part of the city for street racers to race safely and keep the public safe the US is gunning to raise the drivers license age...

You implied that all Americans thought the same way, so I made and analogy that; like communism, this is an idealistic theory. (that in my opinion is doomed to fail, coincidentely like communism, people don't always follow a social theory)

[MadMax13]

In the US the government IS the people, not one person in this country can act like they had no clue any particular government member was going to do what theyve done, they ALL make plain as day what they plan to do when they acquire power. Like so Americans cant bitch about the people that are gunning for a higher drivers license age, they voted them in, they suffer the consequences, if the American people READ about the candidates theyd know what their position was. Either way this is getting off subject, since Poland cant afford to build a track they did the next best thing, the racers agreed to it, great, now we just have to see if both sides keep their agreement...

[The_Canuck]

Poland cant afford to build a track they did the next best thing, the racers agreed to it, great, now we just have to see if both sides keep their agreement...
If there are many people worried about racing's future in that area, you think they could muster up enough money over time? (again im not entirely sure of the sit)

And yes all we have to do is wait, my original point was that I didn't think it would hold.

and btw your whole speech on how the American public votes the politicians in moots any future complaint you may make about the government because, hey, you voted them in.

[MadMax13]

No, i didnt vote them in, this election will be my first, nice try though...