POLL: Does RI Need a Legal Place to Drag Race?
An online petition has received more than 1,000 signatures from residents throughout New England who would like to see a legal drag strip built in Rhode Island.
Rhode Island drag racing enthusiasts are petitioning for the State Senate to designate an area of land for a legal drag strip.
An online petition on Change.org has gained a quick following this month, with supporters pushing for the state to allow a private investor to build the designated space.
According to Providence resident Joshua Upham, who started the petition, our state has been the home of "many accidents (sometimes fatal) of illegal street racers."
"These 'Street Races' are dangerous, Illegal, and a nuisance to the citizen's of Rhode Island," he writes in the petition.
Consequently, he wants to "persuade the State of Rhode Island to set aside a slot of land to build a drag racing strip where legal drag-racing can occur."
According to Upham's petition, a legal drag strip in Rhode Island would give the community a safe place to drag-race and would "keep 'street racers' off the streets." So far, more than 1,000 people have signed the petition from locations throughout Rhode Island and other New England states.
Currently, there are three legal drag strips in the immediate New England area. However, the closest strip to Rhode Island is New England Dragway located in Epping, NH. The other two are located in Oxford and Winterport, ME, both of which could be considered a long haul for many Rhode Islanders.
Many supporters, including petition signer Eric Tirado, say a legal drag strip would also "bring more revenue to the state from people buying admission into the drag strip as well as many companies wanting to promote themselves and bring tourists in to the state."
On the other side, those who oppose the petition claim that if the state were to allow for a legal strip, it may appear that the state condones racing both on and off of the drag strip.
What do you think? Should Rhode Island provide drag racers a legal place to race?
Here's what a few of our Facebook users said:
Give the younger drivers a place to get the "need for speed" out of they're system in a safe controlled environment. And the more responsible of a place to go actually test out our performance toys - Richard LeCompte
I don't think it is a good idea - no... - Deb D'Angelo
Dumb ..... - Ben Galego
Vote in the poll and share your thoughts below in the comments section below. You can view the petition on Change.org.
Jack
7:23 pm on Friday, April 20, 2012
Years ago the old air strip in Charleston was used on Saturdays, I don't think it stopped street 1/4 mile runs but it did help create some good mechanics.....Tasca Ford has one of the top 1/4 milers in the country and I'm sure he does not race on the city streets
Diane Conlon
7:48 pm on Friday, April 20, 2012
If I thought it would improve drivers in RI, I would go for it. But I don't think it will.
Kyle B.
9:28 am on Thursday, August 9, 2012
Its not meant to improve how these idiots in new england drive (thats what driving school is supposed to do) its meant to give car racing enthusiast a safe proper place to play, give us a legal alternative to street racing. Last I knew this was a free country where I like everyone else has the right to "Life, Liberty and the Pursiut of Happiness, even if its a 1/4mile at a time.
Jack Baillargeron
11:18 am on Saturday, April 21, 2012
Sorry but no on this in its present form.
Many supporters, including petition signer Eric Tirado, say a legal drag strip would also "bring more revenue to the state from people buying admission into the drag strip as well as many companies wanting to promote themselves and bring tourists in to the state."
That old line of "revenue" is the biggest scam in this State all the time. Has never worked, the taxpayers get shafted everytime. If this is done in any form it has to be witout any State aid and by a private firm buying land.
No way should taxpayers be liable for what happens at this track. If it is viable for profit, then find investers. leave my tax money out of it. I live 500 ft, from the worse drag race accident in Bristol, that Killed 2 boys, put a young man in prison, and lead to suicides of family members. I also saw the after math that night of a car hitting a tree 10 feet in the air.
Well I have no problem with the idea, as I think it would actualy help keep the some people off the roads doing it. Self responsibilty is the key, to any illegal action as well as private funding, again no State involvment at all, except for permits on private land.
TR Otey
1:38 pm on Monday, April 23, 2012
You dont seem to understand the difference between organized drag racing and stupid kids drinking and racing on public streets. Just look around every day and you can see cars that sound like duck calls, loud mufflers, laid down in the seat, black hoods etc. They dont understand but good people who know cars and drag racing (1/4 mile) not forever or in to a tree. You are exactly like all others who protest, you dont understand.
Kyle B.
9:18 am on Thursday, August 9, 2012
Why is my tax dollars can go to a public soccer field with astro turf and brand new nets, and new skate parks, and countless baseball fields, and basketball courts and ice skating rinks and to help casinos. But A-holes like you have a problem with as car guys getting a 1/4mile strip of asphalt.
Kyle B.
9:24 am on Thursday, August 9, 2012
Also yes it WILL bring revenue and no it will not solve poverty in the state of R.I. then again u can always go waste your on scratch off tickets or lose it all at a casino your choice.
Kyle B.
10:16 am on Thursday, August 9, 2012
"I live 500 ft, from the worse drag race accident in Bristol, that Killed 2 boys, put a young man in prison, and lead to suicides of family members. I also saw the after math that night of a car hitting a tree 10 feet in the air." How is that a reason agianst building a track? Thats actually a perfectly good reason to build one. I'm not saying it will stop young boys from being stupid but it will influence some to make the smarter decision of taking it to the track. Give them the option.
Jack Baillargeron
11:34 am on Saturday, April 21, 2012
Forgot to mention, an option on the poll should be.
"Do you think the State should donate land, or be involved at all in this venture?"
Though I can see the law suits even if they donate land, allowing purchase by private company also solves that.
charlie
6:41 pm on Saturday, April 21, 2012
Yes!
It's no secret West River St. 02904
Is the spot on weekends for illegitimate street runs!
Workers and management make multiple calls on the weekend's to Providence Police Department, if they have the people they send down two cars that usually does it but it happens so often they can't cover the area!
It's only a matter of time before something Deadly occurs!
ashley corey
1:34 pm on Sunday, April 22, 2012
If you build it, they will come. I called my husband at work to read this to him and before I finished the sentence, he was screaming with happiness. He's already decided he's going to quit his day job to go work at this track. I sort of feel bad for him that living in Newport he has no place to run his "vehicle'' legally. He takes alot of pride in what he's built and what it can do. If anyone has info on the best way to help this move along, then please post. My husband has made it very clear that this whole family is all in.
Kyle B.
10:03 am on Thursday, August 9, 2012
The question is "does of R.I. NEED a legal place to race" the answer is kind of a no-brainer of course racers need a legal place to race just like a basketball player needs a court and a baseball or soccer player needs a field. The real question is why not or why so many people against it. Look at everybodys response everyone whis for it cites many good reasons. Most against give no reason at all. Some against think they are smart a nd give so called reasons but end up rambling on incoeherantly about nothing and end up not giving a single good reason to not build a track. So if your not into car culture and never drove anyhting faster then your 4 cylinder hyundia then could'nt possibly understand what its about. Maybe you've also forgotten that this is America not Nazi Germany and we are free to Pursuit Happiness if don't want to be around racing then don't go to the track but its my right as a hard working tax paying american to have a safe legal place to race.
bruce d
6:58 pm on Tuesday, December 18, 2012
What about the old drive-in off 123 over by the bike path.... just empty space. and i am sure that is 1 of 1000 places it could be built...