Speed Racer it isn't - Fast, furious in the land of the racing sun

Putting a crimp in the straight line of regular drag racing, car enthusiasts in Japan have found a way to utilize their turbocharged "rice rockets."

"Tuned up," or modified, Japanese automobiles can be seen everywhere these days. Yet rarely are they seen or used to their full capacity. The sole purpose of "souping up" a car is to make it go faster. Yet, it is very difficult for the average Joe to see one of these racers blazing around campus. In Japan, where these cars are much more plentiful, it is possible to see them at full capacity.

In a style mainstreamed by The Fast and the Furious, youths in Japan showcase their cars and their driving skills on highways late at night. The myth of street racing is actually true: Underground networks of car enthusiasts tour the city, looking for random people to race.

There are several differences between the movie and reality, however. There are no heavily-coordinated street race fairs, where hundreds of cars gather to watch one race, nor are there violent criminal gangs associated with them. Most of the racing is conducted individually and done mainly for pride and respect.

Freshman Andrew Kim, who lived in Tokyo for several years, was an active participant in these late-night tests of man melding with machine.

"What makes this different from regular racing," explains Kim, "is that we go out on regular highways and race anyone. What's cool is that most of the races are against completely random people."

A potential racer cruises around the highways at 2 or 3 a.m. until he finds an opponent. Racers are easily identified by their unique "souped up" cars. After finding a fellow racer, drivers exchange a standard series of non-verbal signals. Flashing high-beams then revving the engine three times are the usual conventions just before starting off. The two drivers will then line up with each other on a two-lane highway and take off plummeting at well over 130 m.p.h., avoiding traffic along the way.

"The person behind you usually concedes when they realize that they're outmatched, or when they're afraid to continue. Its kind of like a big game of chicken."

There is no exchange of money, or gambling, involved in these races. The winner leaves with the only true prize: respect.

"'Souping up' a car in Japan is much easier than it is in the US," states Kim. Cars, parts, and accessories are easier to find and much less expensive in Japan. Souping up a car consists of modifying the engine to produce more horsepower and torque, and modifying the tires and suspension for better handling. The most basic step is turbocharging the engine, which includes adding new systems for blow-off, intake and exhaust. Unlike The Fast and the Furious, however, racers in Japan never use nitrous oxide systems.

"Nitrous is hard to come by and far too expensive for regular use," explains Kim. Tight racing suspension, racing rims and low profile tires are also necessary. Third on the list are modifications to the outside of the car, such as spoilers, decals, white-outs, color themes and other aesthetic enhancements. The final component of a true street racer is a sound system, which includes high-power amplifiers, subwoofers and mid-range speakers. In other words, things are done to the car to make it go fast, look unique and sound loud.

Contrary to the organized, professional and legal racing conducted in the States, these races are completely random and entirely illegal. Japanese police do not, however, restrict these races, instead exercising a type of one-eye-open policy.