Boy racers and anger on the streets

[GaZBur]

What did I do wrong?

Picture this - 5.30 daytime traffic on way home stopped and idling on my bike at a red light Dunedin one way system.
Boy racer type car with three guys in right lane beside me - rev rev rev.
Light changes and I take of as normal, quick but smooth - low revs and no drama.
Get up to 50k and there is a screaming exhaust, hisssing/clacking wastegate and the boy racer rips past at about 70k which is stupid as the next light is already orange.
Stop at the red and take off the same again, boy racer rev rev scream hiss/clack gets left behind, as he passes me again as I am at the speed limit they all give me the finger. I realise I have been drag racing and didn't even know it at the time!!! I nearly wet myself laughing at this coz a man nearing 50 riding home from work is a funny boy racer, until I see the look on their faces. They were really mad, I mean you could see real anger, hatred and aggro in their faces!!! I have never done anything to anybody that would get that sort of reaction before and here I did it without even trying. They drove alongside me trying to scare me for the next two lights swearing at me and giving me the old finger, they probably felt I had humiliated them.
My bike is not a flashy sports bike. OK it does have race numbers on it - but that’s coz I race on tracks not the road.
Boy racers do usually make me laugh - all flash, noise and show they are really quite funny - all noise but not enough trousers to go real racing. No coz they don't have the skills or balls for the track but I don't think they are so funny anymore! I was ready to take evasive action coz these guys actually alarmed me.

[The Lone Rider]

Ive experienced the revving - not the abuse though.

Looks like you got a bad draw, usually for me after trying to drag me and finding I'm not interested they give up and go off somewhere else.

Did you get their plate? *555 or something ?

[Jantar]

I have seen this type of reaction a few times myself. The boy racers seem to get upset that their expensively modified cars with loud exhausts and 120db stereo systems can't drag off an adventure bike (not even a sports bike), when the rider isn't even trying to race.

One instance I had near Alexandra: A boy racer Subaru was doing 80 in a 100 zone, so I pulled out to pass him. As I got to level with the driver's window he floored it with all resulting revs and noise. As I had already started to overtake and was on the wrong side of the road I just opened the throttle a tad, without changing down, and continued my overtaking manouver. However, as soon as I reached town and slowed down to 50, the boy racer screamed past doing around 160 into the 50 area and gave me the fingers as he passed. Obviously upset at his car's lack of performance.

[Mikkel]

Indeed, it's sad that they allow these people to get a drivers license at all. What we need is that compulsory 3rd party insurance I believe. Then they'll have to suck it up driving a 1.3 Toyota corolla from the late 80s.

It's weird where all the anger and frustration comes from though. I mean, as long as there has been cars and bikes there have been young men fascinated by them. And while they probably always have been doing stupid stuff around them I don't think the anger issue is that old.

At least it's harder for such people to get a handgun here than it would be in the states.

[avgas]

Seen a few cases like this.
Had one guy go to yell at us out the window (we were walking pissed a crack home), just as he stuck his head out the window to call us a fuckn...... his mate must have stuck 2 up his poo shooter. All we got was
"FAAaaarrrKKKK!!!!"

[ManDownUnder]

Being passed on the road is a sure sgn of inferiority isn't it - well... in the absence of anything meaningful.

yeah it's good for a laugh, the RF's the same - a slow enough bike alongside the R1s and GSXRs of this world but when a kid in his pride and joy (323 Station wagon, lowered and magged) wanted to have a go... it was touching...

[Ewan Oozarmy]

Indeed, it's sad that they allow these people to get a drivers license at all. What we need is that compulsory 3rd party insurance I believe. Then they'll have to suck it up driving a 1.3 Toyota corolla from the late 80s.

I'm with you on the insurance thing but this would also involve the cops/courts enforcing a decent punishment if they don't have insurance/valid license etc.

There are guys where I'm currently working driving raced up Jap motors every day on a learners license which they had for 10+ years, without ever having a qualified driver sit beside them (I'm presuming that's the law?). They've told me they don't give a f*ck 'cause when they've been stopped by the cops in the past nothing has happened.

[more_fasterer]

P. I blame P.

[ManDownUnder]

P. I blame P.

B M and W are to blame as well... bastards...!

[marioc]

I doubt your average b.racer could afford it tbh

[Tank]

I have seen this plenty of times on my old car (never the bike - but then I have been riding a GN250 ).

They are all bravdo - *555 their asses and tell the cops that they were racing. Generally the police will find something to green or pink sticker them with just to make life that little bit harder for the little shits.

[Tank]

P. I blame P.

The difference is that you cannot get 'P' on cheap interest from Mag and Turbo.

[gijoe1313]

I remember the time when something similar happened to me, stupid cager in a 4x4 thought when I was giving my bike a few revs and thought I was dragging him off. I just did my usual start and got to the 70kph and then I noticed the twit was gunning all hard out next to me!

I just slacked off the throttle and left him to his own dream land, bet he must have thought "I showed that biker!"

And then I pootled past him as he slammed his brakes on to stop rearending a car at the next set of lights and lane split to the front.... At a sedate 10kph.

I guess no accounting for the egos and idiotic brainfart that passes for thinking in their cranial regions. Good to hear that nothing untowards happened!

[JMemonic]

Well there is no accounting for some of these idiots and their thought patterns, I just let them go. Its always fun to cruise past them at the lights after they have ducked and dived from lane to lane.

[more_fasterer]

'Tis always good for a laugh though, pootling away from the lights while you hear the BRAAAAAAAAA of a Subaru with an external wastegate going balls-to-the-wall somewhere behind you