street car racing Last weekend I got my first taste of street car racing. Two of my friends have cars worthy of street car racing; one is an NSX, and the other a souped up Mini Cooper, and I got to drive both of them. These are not your ordinary vehicles! They go incredibly fast and handle exceedingly well. Street car racing is an auto sport like none other behind the wheel. We were in a little traveled part of northwestern Las Vegas, and did this early Sunday morning, so there was nary a cop nor a bicyclist on the road, so I was encouraged to go as fast as the car would take me. It was awesome. The NSX goes up to 40 miles in first gear, 82 in second, and has a top speed of 167 miles an hour. I did not get it up that fast on those straight, residential streets, but the process of getting to 167 an hour gave me the sense of G forces that are achieved in fighter aircraft.

The Mini Cooper was a total treat to drive. It has one of the shortest shifting ratios I have ever experienced, and it felt like driving a grown up Hot Wheels car. It turns, literally, on a dime, which makes it a competitive street car racing car. While it does not have the mass of the NSX, it still accelerates incredibly fast, but its claim to fame is its handling. It was just amazing.