Abstract: Street racing and street takeovers have been baked into Los Angeles culture for years. As night falls, in areas like South and East Los Angeles, you can start to hear the roar of engines, the screech of tires, and the hollering of young voices. These are the people who take to the streets to drag race, do donuts, complete burnouts, and show off their souped-up cars. Next, you’ll hear the blare of a siren as police cars race after those who are racing. Street racing causes at least 50 deaths per year in the United States. As people flee the police, they rush past stop signs and careen down freeways, oftentimes very dangerously. Organizations like Street Racing Kills have popped up to address this issue. But there is also a deep comradery among those in the street racing community. They take care of each other, they watch out for one another. From the police, to the community, to the people who race, street racing and takeovers dominate Los Angeles.

Works Cited

1320video. (2013, October 9). L.A. street racing - 1000hp + nitrous C10 vs 700HP Mustang. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEHOGXkbvcI 

Allegra Mary. (2011, November 19). Fast and furious BBQ scene. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0116mkt7-Mo&t=11s 

DailyDrivenExotics. (2019, May 12). We tour fast & furious locations with “jesse” in La! *overnight parts from Japan*. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVaeet7vgGI 

Film Studies Fundamentals. (2017, November 2). The chicken run: Rebel without a cause (1955). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGtEp7zFdrc&t=100s 

FindingNick. (2023, February 22). Street racers terrorize Los Angeles Highways!!!. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xy-G_VjtkMo 

FNF Entertainment. (2023, December 15). Street racers vs cops (crazy chases) + huge crashes and close calls - illegal street racers #34. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JR0ism7Tvso 

Fox 11 Los Angeles. (2024, February 27). Prosecutors pressured to not file charges in street racing cases: Deputy da. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wACbNZQlp0&t=82s 

KCAL News. (2023a, June 12). Raw video shows South L.A. Street takeovers. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCx3Elh3E1o&t=4s 

KCAL News. (2023b, June 12). Raw video shows South L.A. Street takeovers. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCx3Elh3E1o&t=4s 

Movie Car Chases HD. (2017, May 18). Fast and furious: Tokyo Drift - Donuts (rx7) #1080HD. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J252oda1N8s 

Movieclips. (2011, October 7). Grease (1978) - thunder road race scene (10/10) | movieclips. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsYC-hVEpQM&t=25s 

Screen Bites. (2019, July 12). Brian meets Dom Toretto for the first time | the fast and the furious (2001) | screen bites. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GV1fKl2F-9k&t=6s 

THESSALONIAN31N. (2019, July 2). The fast and the furious police chase scene. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqDlMEp6rjE&t=37s 

TheSupercarSuspects. (2020, November 2). Street racers shut down Los Angeles!. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgyoTBA6wDg 

VICE. (2019a, May 30). Shutting down the streets of La: Sideshow takeovers. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcLlbvHRMAE&t=117s 

VICE. (2019b, December 22). Street gods: Shutting down the streets for underground racing (part 2). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUTOSeP86sE&t=27s 

wsgqt. (2023, December 15). Wildest takeover (shut down LA!!!). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgo6IuQJpd4&t=14s