Greetings.

I've been on this board since 2002 and have been a peripheral enthusiast in Calgary's car scene since 2000. For those of you who don't know, Calgary is home to Race City Speedway, a well known Canadian track; one of the best (and only) tracks in Western Canada. There are a number of well done cars here, from our beloved Hondas to Subarus to BMWs to Toyotas, etc.

I've been out to countless meets, legal track races and a few "street events", and as an observation, it seems that the people coming out to these events, legal or not, on forums or in person, and whether they are new faces or regulars, all seem to be getting crankier.

That's right.

No matter where I go or who I talk to, those people who seemed to enjoy fixing up their cars for fun, talking about everything from reversion to flywheel weight, now seem too preoccupied with slamming newcomers for asking the same questions that they all asked a few years (or a few dozen years) prior. When I started out I don't remember a single condescending comment, now, people risk being laughed at, ridiculed or shunned in some circles, for asking basic questions.

Talk about driving fast with Grandma, and she'll tell you to slow down, be safe, responsible, etc. Talk about driving quickly with half the people on any given forum or a meet and you'll probably hear the same thing. Sure, I'm all for safety. Two of my friends got hit last summer on their motorcycles (not speed related), one from being hit by an SUV (he lived) and the other from being hit by a minivan (he did not). I want to make it home safely and I want my friends to as well. That being said, it seems that over the last few years, there has been an overreaction to the "scene", any car related hobby, going 20kmph over on the highway, making a few runs through the mountains...

I guess I just wonder why so many people have decided that even when driving responsibly and safely, that we're being "dangerous" or "reckless". There's a huge difference between going 150kmph over the limit and then there's going 30kmph over, but from these people I hear the same warnings and proclamations of indecency from either behaviour.

Almost as if the people who have been around for a few years think that their judgment is more valid than the judgment of those operating their vehicles. I think it to be hypocritical because I'm sure that 90% of the naysayers have driven so quickly at some point in their life that had an officer of the law witnessed them, they'd be in cuffs instantly.

I wonder what gives these people who have been involved for awhile the right to label anyone as "deviant" when they themselves, to wider society at large, are the founding members of this quasi-subculture we all participate in.

I guess that's all I can come up with at the moment. I'm sure this will incite many of you to write something - let's keep this as a passionate, yet rational discussion rather than a "let's all flame dresden_k for being such an irresponsible jerkoff" type-discussion. Before you assume I'm a dickwad, re-read this post and notice that I'm not condoning street racing or going 150kmph over.

Goodday to you.:canada: