Speedway offers legal venue for street racers

Jace Radke

Friday, March 29, 2002 | 11:55 a.m.

The Las Vegas Motor Speedway is extending an invitation to illegal street racers to fulfill the drivers' need for speed in the controlled environment of the track's drag strip.

Speedway officials say tonight's "Midnight Mayhem" could become a weekly event and could ultimately reduce dangerous, illegal racing on city streets.

"This isn't going to end the problem of illegal street racing, but it is a way for us to offer a safe alternative that could help," speedway spokesman John Bisci said. "Some people like to feel the thrill of doing something illegal, but for the people who just want to race, this provides a nice environment."

The event is scheduled tonight 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. There is a $10 entry fee for each racer, and spectators will be charged $5 for admission.

"We really don't know how many people we're going to get out there," Bisci said. "We want to keep it fairly unstructured, because a lot of these street racers aren't much for rules."

Drivers must be 18, or have a signed parental consent form. Both motorcycles and cars will be allowed to race.

Times will not be kept. Instead of using a series of lights, known as a Christmas tree, to start each race, a single green light will be used to replicate a traffic signal.

"These drivers are racing for money out on the street, so they don't want the other drivers to know how fast their cars are," Bisci said.

Metro Police traffic Lt. Wayne Petersen said that illegal street racing is happening in Las Vegas.

"We know there are youngsters out there and the not so young that have these fast cars, and they want to be able to go out and use them," Petersen said. "Generally, they go out to a deserted stretch of road at night, but they are still racing illegally on a public roadway.

"Having the ability to race in a controlled environment is a great outlet."

Authorities have come across street racing all over the city. The Nevada Highway Patrol often finds motorcyclists speeding on Interstate 215 late at night, and Metro has chased racers from the old Las Vegas highway and industrial areas. Drivers who race illegally could be cited for traffic infractions such as speeding, reckless driving or racing.

Street racing has always been around, but has gained in popularity in the past half-century, Bisci said.

"It's come to the forefront with the recent movie, 'The Fast and the Furious,' but it goes back much further than that," Bisci said. "After World War II people started souping up their cars and racing."

If an accident happens at tonight's event a National Hot Rod Association certified safety crew will be on hand, Bisci said.

"We have a total of six of these nights scheduled over the year, but that could expand to 12, or even a weekly event," Bisci said. "We hope this affordable program will get racers off the street."