Street Racing - Motivations

Motivations

There are various motivations for street racing, but typically cited reasons include:

• Generally, street racing is not sanctioned and thus leads to a less rigorously controlled environment than sanctioned racing, to the enjoyment of some participants.
• Street racing is cited as an activity which is available to people who are otherwise under-age for entertainment at traditional venues such as bars.
• A community generally springs up around the street racing "scene", providing social interaction among the participants and cliques therein.
• The opportunity to show off one's vehicle
• The simple and uncomplicated excitement of racing without the entry fees, rules and politics, typical of the sport.
• The excitement of racing when law enforcement is certain to give chase.
• A lack of proper, sanctioned racing venues in the locale.
• Street races are sometimes wagered on, either by the participants or observers. This is the origin of the term "racing for pink slips" (which means that the winner keeps the opponent's car), which inspired the 2005 Speed Channel series Pinks. This, in real life, seldom happens; most wagers involve cash (as in Pinks: All Out).
• To settle a bet, dispute, etc. between fellow racers (ex. one believes that they are the better racer, etc.).