Quote:
Originally Posted by goatman65
I know street racing was and is dangerous and not as 'accepted?' today as it was back then but, if it were still going on somewhere around here i would be there.
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Most people back in the day that cruised along Woodward, Telegragh etc knew the etiquette of the road before pulling out into traffic or trying to get in front of few cars that where gearing (slowing) down to street race. We also tried to build up traffic behind us so the police could not see who was racing or get through to us.
Besides most racing on the busier part of Woodward, 9 or 10 Mile Rd to Maple RD (15 Mile), was over by the time you hit the 50 MPH speed limit. A great section was on the south bound side between 12 Mille and 13 Mile. There was cemetry along the west side for about a 1/2 mile. No access for cars to come out or the Royal Oak police to hide. So we could get a good run off along here with two closely matched cars.
Past Maple Rd/15 Mile Rd there were no driveways and very few streets so you went a little faster all the way to Teds Drive In at Square Lake. If you wanted more you took Square Lake Rd over to I-75 and went all out.
Today there is still street racing going on around Detroit. A few places are; north of Square lake Rd. in Pontiac, on South Blvd near the old GM Truck Plant/ Center Point. In Detroit near Detroit City Airport on French Rd and on Van Dyke near the Chrysler Plant.
You can go to Youtube and pull up part of a video I was part of with my 1968 GTO convertible in the 1990's for the BBC. Jeremy Clarkston's Motorworld, the Detroit Auto Industry. He videoed some burn out on Plymouth Rd. While it was an hour program this is only a couple minute Youtube segment.
Another youtube video is a tribute to an old time street racer Norm Ruby. He is racing his late model Mustang Fox body. Norm had some strong running Fords. There is a Detroit Dragway in 1962 lined up with Norn in his '61 Ford along side Jim Wangers '62 Royal Race car, Bill Sidwell's '61 Pontiac Cat and a '62 Chevy 409.