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Updated: 3:30 PM Jul 16, 2009
Drag Racers Want Legal Track, Won't Stop Racing
Lincoln One of the two men arreste Sunday night for drag racing said racers won't stop and there needs to be a legal track.
Posted: 10:20 PM Jul 15, 2009Reporter: Keller Russell Email Address: Keller.Russell@kolnkgin.com |
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140 Comments 
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Andrew Campbell has been street racing for years and after being pulled over Sunday night, he's on a quest to raise attention again, for the need of a legal strip or track.
"I'm not going to say that a drag strip would end all drag racing but I would say for myself I would never race on the street again if we had somewhere that was easily accessible," said Campbell.
Campbell is one of two Lincoln men the Nebraska State Patrol busted for racing on Sunday night while their helicopter was up doing a selective for unsafe drivers.
"We saw the helicopter up there but no one thought it would be a state patrol helicopter," said Campbell.
While he's fully aware his favorite pastime is illegal in Lincoln city limits, he said drag racing is still, very much alive.
"In the past we've had easily 50, 70, 80 cars at different locations." All in one night he added. But, Campbell said he doesn't race for money and said most of the drivers simply do it for fun and their love of motor sports.
"It’s definitely a risk but you know...most of us guys. its our passion...and we've got no where to do it at. So unfortunately we have to break the law to do it," said Campbell.
Campbell said he understands people's concerns but said they're unfounded.
"I've noticed a lot of comments on the websites after the story was done and a lot of people were saying we were endangering the children and their roads and that's just not true at all," said Campbell.
Monday, a local business owner told 10/11 he sees the remnants of the races but never witnesses them because they are always late at night.
"We chose those times because we know that there's not going to be anybody running around here...driving...no one is working. So, we have this street pretty much to ourselves,” said Campbell.
While Curt Prohaska, a trooper with the Nebraska State Patrol said he'd like to see an end to racing on public streets because it's simply not safe, Campbell and his fellow drivers say they won't be packing up until they have somewhere to take their wheels.
"I understand that is their job to come out here and enforce the laws but, well when they do come, we disperse and pretty much pack it up for that night…but we're back in a day or two."
Latest Comments
Fiiiiiirst of all, this is my brother. Second of all, no one should talk about him endangering people. He has a little boy at home, and the thought that he would intentionally hurt someone is wrong. There was no one on the street he was racing on anyways. Thanks.
im an 18 year old kid adn i know how many people are out racign there is honestly to many. if we had some where to actually race safely adn responseibly we would. right now the open road is teh best place. there is a we need somethnign to keep this stuff off the streets. i have never been caught drag racing but i have been warned once for it and i dont do it as much but i still do. if i had a place to do it safely that would be great. there is an 1/8th mile track in glenwood but its just not close enough and most people wont even bother watching a 1/8th mile race they want a 1/4mile track that they can have the big boys come in and really put on an event. you start amall and grow up. this track could easilly becoem a major part of nhra racing. could have some major events that would boost up the economy and the area. the way i see it is they have foot ball fields for foot ball enthusiasts and base ball stadiums for base ball players why not a race track for race enthusiasts?
wow "Camaro" how hypocritical can one be in a paragraph? So being as millions of people drink, which I do not, do you think alcohol would be legal if prohibition never happened? Or how about these other countries where it is illegal for women to show their faces? Fact is this is an unfortunate means to do what we love. Our group is not the ones endangering lives.
ok we need to build are own track fine. i have a truck and trailer. i know how to poor concorete. now who has land willing to donate? im sure there are a few doctors that love racing willing to be there to help out. but then if we can build it on are own all the money made from it should not get to all the haters and stay among the racers. every one has a hobby and this is one of many peoples hobbys. the racers are not crying about your hobbys are they? heck i lived by an old lady that played audio books so loud you could hear it 3 blooks away but every time i started my mufflerless car she called the cops and i got a tiket. now how is that fair? heck the kids get parks to play in why can't the big kids have some where to play with there cars? i can go on and on about many more things the haters have for hobbys that they just think they should have and they are better some how. but really why can't we find a way every one can have there hobbys and be happy?
taxpayer money gets wasted anyway! I got news for you! I'd rather have it create some revenue for the town then have it crapped away on stupid trails and other rediculous wastes!
Cambell cares little about the lives others have established for themselves and the safety of their children because he's smarter than law makers and law enforcement. He's smart, "Just keep doing something illegal on a public street until someone gives you a place to do it." Is Campbell for making moonshine? Or purchasing and discharging fireworks that aren't legal in Nebraska? How about drinking and driving? Using his logic, the answer is JUST DO IT until someone gives you a place. Grow up and have some respect for others. The problem is Campbell and others want to put their hobby noise where others built homes to live quietly. Convince the Airport Authority to provide you a drag strip. If it's such a good thing for ALL of Lincoln, surely they'll approve it--wouldn't they? Maybe G.S. could donate his $100,000 aluminum bleachers the State of Nebr. paid for. Maybe he could bring them to McCormick RD for fans. Oh, he doesn't have them anymore, you say? Sold them for scrap you say? Oh...
WE DON'T NEED IT! It's to noisy and plus it's bad enough already listening to it!
Mr. "trying to prove a point", do you realize if Campbell hadn't done what he did and got caught, this dragstrip issue would of never got re-vitalized?
maybe if u put a big N on it and get tom osbore to direct it lincon woul build a drag strip
Maybe if we built a track the people of this city would have something to do other than go to the bars, get drunk, and drive home.
Maybe Omaha would take a track. God know there is nothing else to do in Lincoln. Oh wait, we have a children zoo, Champion Fun center, Pershing "Joke" and Memorial Stadium.
campbell: the heat is on you due to your own ignorance. The comments you made and your record are only proving that you exercising your right to stupidity and bad judgement, it is not helping getting us a track built. It is only a matter of time before your actions kill someone. I realize by your blog comments that you don't believe it could happen, however just remember what you have said when you are in prison begging for forgiveness for it is only a matter of time before some poor person leaves work late and ends up in your path not realizing that you are going 100 vs. 25mph. Killing them and possibly yourself. Don't blame it on the lack of a drag strip, it will be only your own stupidity. Grow up please before you kill someone I love. Go to a track, in your case it should be cheaper than paying the fines.
The NSP Chopper was flying over the Culvers car show today looking for street racers. Awesome use of taxpayer dollars...
Growing up in a family that has always respected any form of racing, I understand the NEED the Street Racers feel. I have also seen many race tracks go by the wayside. How many people know of the racetrack that sat at the 27th St Wal-Mart or of Capital Beach track? There is a long lineage of talent in the racing field from this area. It was money and politics that forced them to close. Racing is a dangerous sport. Racing is loud. People consume lots of alcohol at race tracks. All facts any race fan can tell you. But having a place with proper supervision and safety crews gives the illegal racers a place to inhabit. Voting against a proposal from a person that wants to help is just as good as telling them its o.k. to race on the streets. They are fighting for a compromise; not just fighting the laws.
I hate how every one says we need to get a track but no one actually does anything at all. I wanna continue to race but i dont want to do another 75 day jail term for it and all my buddy's agree. some one needs to come up with something and let us all know how we can help so we atleast put an effort out.
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