An adrenaline rush is one of the most sought after feelings in life. It’s the reason we ride rollercoasters again and again and why adventurers skydive and bungee jump, climb to new heights and challenge danger. It’s a psychological sensation that is literally addicting, a rush of blood to the head.
Throughout Australia and the rest of the world, adrenaline junkies are getting their fix from the dangerous - and illegal - activity of street racing. Crowds gather to see the cars race, hear the screeching of tires burning out, smell the burning rubber and to feel the general excitement of the races.
Most people get their first glimpse of street racing through the classic movie, Grease. Danny races Keneckie to impress Sandy, and the day is saved when he narrowly wins at the end. The race was harmless and the winner got the girl. Classic street racing scene, right?
Car chases and races might look cool and 'badass' in Hollywood action flicks and commercials, but whilst some of us like to think differently, we’re not all professional drivers, and dangerous accidents are a reality.
Zoom zoom BOOM.
Because races are commonly held in residential and urban neighbourhoods by amateur drivers, tragedies are not uncommon. Just weeks ago in Sydney, street racers accidentally killed two grandparents when racers lost control. While most street races are done for the pure thrill of speed, some people feel forced into participating, like Drew. Denni and Dom pressured him into racing to avoid him hurting Belle in any way. After the race, Drew tries to justify his actions by denying his choice in the matter..
But despite the peer pressure, Belle is right when she exclaims that there is always a choice when it comes to making decisions. And the wrong choices can lead to serious penalties. Parliament passed legislation so police can punish street racers by confiscating their cars, suspending their driving licenses and fining them thousands of dollars. Going to prison is a possibility too. The consequences of this “high” experience are real, as thousands of cars have been seized since the laws went into effect.
Street racing is also dangerous because it is not regulated at all. Racing sites are often last minute decisions, and even Ric throws doubt on the situation when he says, “I don’t think there are any rules.”
In attempts to cut down on street racing, traffic authorities have been encouraging safer alternatives. The Australian National Roads and Motorists' Association supports Wicked Wednesdays at the Western Sydney International Dragway. This all-ages event offers all legal motorists the opportunity to race any class or model of vehicle in a safe and controlled off-road race environment.
Luc was right to be concerned when said, “Someone’s gonna get killed and I don’t want it to be one of my mates.” Hundreds of innocent motorists and pedestrians are killed every year by street hoons who are just looking for a quick thrill.
When spectators are cheering for the winning racer, it is easy for the racers to get caught up in those fifteen minutes of fame. But who is there to support them when their cars spin out of control, hurting themselves and others?
Drew and Ric ended up high-fiving in the diner after their “win” at the makeshift track, even after Belle expressed her discontent with the situation. The act of street racing merely seemed like a harmless buzz to them, but outside of their bubble, the boys’ family and friends saw the real dangers.
There is no one solution to the street racing scene that is spreading across the country. The only way to really stop it is by individuals realizing they have the choice to participate in other activities that are just as exciting without jeopardizing others’ safety.
There been a few car stunts in Home and Away over the past few months, Amanda's car exploded and Sam's ex-husband Shane was killed when his car rolled. Even the cast and crew get jumpy when these stunts are being filmed.
Paul O'Brien was on location for the filming of Shane's stunt. "It was amazing..." he said "The guy you saw lying down was the guy driving it, and he hit that ramp at 80km hour! The car rolled 17m in a forward sideways motion. You felt the tension on set, it was like, this guy is really gonna do this! He's gonna hit that mound of dirt and get over it! They built a roll bar into it, and put in extra selfbelts and took out some of the petrol so they didn't burst into flames. The stunt co-ordinator was explaining it to us goin, guys, its metal on metal hitting the ramp, it sounds quite gruesome, the cars gonna flip, the police were there and an ambulance. You were... goin this is real!!"
Next week we will have a video interview with the stunt drivers and stunt co-ordinator, so if you feel you need an adrenaline rush, perhaps consider a career in stunt driving instead of drag racing.
By Jill Endres
Have you had a dangerous experience with someone who drives too fast? Email us about it on homeandaway@seven.com.au
Sharon: I've been an avid loyal fan of H&A since it began but this is the first time I've ever written to anyone about the show. I am loving the current story lines and think it is great how everyday life imitates art in the show.For the younger viewers it is a good learning ground on allot of social and family issues. The balance of characters and age groups help in that area as everyone can relate to a grandpa, school teacher, councillor, best mate, mum and dad and of course the local hang out.My decision to write to you however is one that I am a bit concerned about and that is DRAG RACING. I read via my H&A newsletter the article on drag racing and thought it was so great that it should be read out prior to the scenes being shown(after if not possible) by Kate Ritchie. She is the person that all H&A would listen to. The dangers of drag racing are so severe and there are so many kids out there that think it is so cool my concern is that they may just follow H&A's lead and try it. I am 44 with a 12&13 year old but have 2 nephews the same age as Rick and Drew that watch the show. Even though I assume they would never do it you can never be sure. The article explains not only about the dangers involved in drag racing but also the fact that it is performed by stunt men. Rightly so there are places kids can go to drag race in a safe environment. We have one close by to my home in Melbourne. The info you have provided in the newsletter is spot on but unfortunately not everyone has the internet so inserting and reading this article either before(preferably) or after the airing of the episode would then allow all who watch to realise the dangers involved. Keep up the great work as you have for the past 20 years
Thanks Sharon, unfortunately we can't put anything on-air at this stage, however next week we will be running a video on the website with interviews from the Stunt co-ordinator and the stunt drivers...hopefully that will help get the message through...Cheers Tania
