It was 6 years ago when I joined the street racing scene in Cagayan de Oro. It was the time of the "Fast and the Furious" hype and every kid with a pimped out car would converge at Caltex gas station - stereos booming and booze flowing. Cars would line up on the parking lot waiting for the clock to strike 2AM - time for the real racing to begin. Street racing was (and still is) illegal in Cagayan de Oro; 2AM allows us to race without being thrown in jail.
Unlike the cars you see in the "Fast and the Furious" movies where they had modified them from engine to wheels; ours were a far more simpler and ingenious. Since we could not afford the parts needed for proper race modifications, we had to improvise. The car I used to race with was a 1994 Honda Civic ESI sedan with a ph16 engine and VTI rims. It was as stock as it can get but it had potential. In order to improve the aerodynamics, I lowered my car by cutting an inch off of the springs (lowering springs were too costly back then). To amplify the sound of the engine (a silent no-sound car back then was considered as a "pussy" car - one got to have the roar!) and also help improve speed and weight reduction, I had the second resonator and muffler taken out. And instead of a turbocharger, I had an actuator installed in the engine to improve airflow. And because a "pimped' out race car wouldn't be complete without a crazy sound system, I had a big ass sub-woofer set up powered by a V12 amplifier. Since I couldn't afford a proper CD stereo that time, I had a technician use a CD-Rom and attached it to the stereo that I already had in the car and everything was BOOM-BOOM! (When it was time to race, I'd take out the sub-woofer and the back seat for weight reduction.) For the final touch, I had the car painted with grey racing stripes and I had blue neon lights inside and out.
The track we had was also unique. There are two Caltex gas stations in Gusa and they are approximately a quarter-mile away from each other.
And then this is how a race normally would start:
Races were often challenges between two or more auto clubs - most of them have developed a rivalry. I was a member of the Ki'aternz auto club and our rival was the Splakoys. When a challenge has been made, betting would come right after. Bets would vary from P1, 000 up to P50, 000 depending on the "sabot" or agreement between the members. At times, a race would also just be for fun and no bets were involved.
After the bet has been settled, the drivers would then agree if they would check each other’s car out. This is to ensure that both cars are of the same mod level or simply put, that not one car is above the other in modifications. As much as possible the cars to be raced should be at the same mod level (stock, etc) or the race can be forfeited or another car of the same level had to be matched. All these, however, are of the drivers' discretion and both may or may not undergo this step.
When the cars and drivers are ready, two or more representatives from both teams would then be instructed to stay at the starting line - which was a light post on the first Caltex station - and at the finish line - which was also a light post on the other Caltex station. The guys on both ends of the track would then look out for cops and incoming traffic. When the road was already clear, the drivers would then line their cars side by side on the starting point occupying two lanes. Another person -most of the time, a sexy hot girl (a groupie or a driver's girlfriend) - would then be assigned to flag the start of the race by dropping a bra or panty to the ground. The drivers would then start their engine, hold down the clutch, push the gear to 1, and hold the gas pedal down until the needle reaches 4000rpm. And when that undergarment touches the ground, everything will turn into a haze.
Nothing can compare to the anticipation of watching that needle hit the red mark and listening to the sweet sound of 'PAPAK!' with every gear change. For the few seconds that you are in before you reach the finish line it almost feels like you are one with the car, fuel and adrenaline pumping both your systems – a rush like no other.
Sometimes I miss those times. Not just the races itself, but the entire experience of it all. It was fun, exciting, and often times scary. There were brawls and cop chases but they were all part of what made street racing exhilarating. And when a race is won, the music cranks up, the booze will flow down and the girls strip down. Street racing is more than just a quarter-mile run - it's a lifestyle.
And then this is how a race normally would start:
Races were often challenges between two or more auto clubs - most of them have developed a rivalry. I was a member of the Ki'aternz auto club and our rival was the Splakoys. When a challenge has been made, betting would come right after. Bets would vary from P1, 000 up to P50, 000 depending on the "sabot" or agreement between the members. At times, a race would also just be for fun and no bets were involved.
After the bet has been settled, the drivers would then agree if they would check each other’s car out. This is to ensure that both cars are of the same mod level or simply put, that not one car is above the other in modifications. As much as possible the cars to be raced should be at the same mod level (stock, etc) or the race can be forfeited or another car of the same level had to be matched. All these, however, are of the drivers' discretion and both may or may not undergo this step.
When the cars and drivers are ready, two or more representatives from both teams would then be instructed to stay at the starting line - which was a light post on the first Caltex station - and at the finish line - which was also a light post on the other Caltex station. The guys on both ends of the track would then look out for cops and incoming traffic. When the road was already clear, the drivers would then line their cars side by side on the starting point occupying two lanes. Another person -most of the time, a sexy hot girl (a groupie or a driver's girlfriend) - would then be assigned to flag the start of the race by dropping a bra or panty to the ground. The drivers would then start their engine, hold down the clutch, push the gear to 1, and hold the gas pedal down until the needle reaches 4000rpm. And when that undergarment touches the ground, everything will turn into a haze.
Nothing can compare to the anticipation of watching that needle hit the red mark and listening to the sweet sound of 'PAPAK!' with every gear change. For the few seconds that you are in before you reach the finish line it almost feels like you are one with the car, fuel and adrenaline pumping both your systems – a rush like no other.
Sometimes I miss those times. Not just the races itself, but the entire experience of it all. It was fun, exciting, and often times scary. There were brawls and cop chases but they were all part of what made street racing exhilarating. And when a race is won, the music cranks up, the booze will flow down and the girls strip down. Street racing is more than just a quarter-mile run - it's a lifestyle.
Here's my car during the 2006 RMP Car Show in CDO:
Here are some of the race videos:
Me versus Max (friendly race)
Me versus Tribu
Me versus Tribu 2
And our own version of Tokyo Drift ;)
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