The Lariat

Issue date: 9/19/07 Section: Showcase

There are several TV shows, video games, and movies dedicated to street racing. From Grease to The Fast and the Furious, the media makes it out to be an exciting and sexy test of skill and mechanical know-how.

When a tuned car zooms past a racer on a desolate summer night, excitement makes the heart pound. This feeling often instigates a thought... Let's race! Put into action, this thought leads to many things; an accident, a ticket, or... a win.

From The Paris-Madrid race in 1903, to the start of Formula one in 1946, racing's subculture has thrived for generations. On the track or on the street some people just cannot get enough of the need for speed, adrenaline rush and competetion.

Canyon running is not a new form of racing but racers are becoming more involved and interested in the structure and skills it takes to be successful.

Those who are not familiar with cars may think that canyon running refers to a casual jog with friends on a mountain trail but to a thrill seeking racer i'ts a whole different story.

The runners receive cool bursts of canyon air, either in the passenger or backseat as the driver speeds as fast as possible through a course of hair-pin turns, chicanes, and elevation changes.

"I don't really oppose it," said Jeremy Artates, 19, architecture. "I just wish people would be more safe about it."

He's known of deaths and has been present at accident scenes.

"These days people think they can drive," said Arates "But they over estimate their capabilities on how they can manage their car." He said that there should be a place, somewhere in the desert, that could have a canyon-simulated track. He proposed that there would be a 10 mile stretch with all the up's and down's, left and right turns as there are in a canyon, but instead of a cliff, pile of huge rocks, or innocent bystanders, there would be 300 yards of dirt on either side.

"This way a [car] tuner could forgo the chance of getting a ticket or getting killed", Artates said, "while also not endangering innocent bystanders"

In October 2006, a 16-year-old San Bernardino high school student plowed into the wheelchair of a 38-year-old woman, killing the mother of two.

Steve Lutz, 19, business, used to race but has had a change of heart.

"I used to be all for it, and go fast," Lutz said, "but now I hate it, I don't even drive fast anymore."

Like Artates he said canyon racing is killing too many and racers need to be more cautious.

Continued...

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