Attention Rochester TV media outlets: please refrain from describing the illegal, unsafe street racing recently occurring as "drag racing". Street races are typically an unsanctioned and illegal form of auto racing that occurs on public roads. Racing in the streets is an ancient hazard, as horse racing occurred on streets for centuries, and street racing of automobiles is as old as the automobile itself. By contrast, drag racing is a type of motor racing in which automobiles or motorcycles (usually specially prepared for the purpose) which compete on a specific, dedicated safety conscious track, with safety barriers installed to protect spectators, and these facilities are required by state law to have medical staff onsite at ALL times...Sure, the two types of racing are similar; both types of racing usually has two vehicles at a time, running to be first to cross a set finish line. The race follows a short, straight course from a standing start over a measured distance, most commonly 1⁄4 mi (1,320 ft; 402 m), with a shorter (1,000 ft (305 m)) distance becoming increasingly popular, as it has become the standard for Top Fuel dragsters and funny cars, where some major bracket races and other sanctioning bodies have adopted it as the standard. The 1⁄8 mi (660 ft; 201 m) is also popular in some circles. Electronic timing and speed sensing systems have been used to record race results since the 1960s. Professional drag racing is sanctioned by those pro organizations with specific safety measures and expensive insurance required for the facilities. Unfortunately, illegal "street racing" activity has been recently glamorized by the cable TV show: "Street Outlaws". I realize this problem is not entirely new, either. But your coverage can be damaging to places like Empire Dragway and NYIRP, located outside Buffalo. Likewise, the Syracuse area has ESTA Raceway Park; all of these have onsite safety personnel at all times when races are being held...In addition to having their schedules revamped to adhere to government-mandated Covid-19 regulations where no paying spectators are allowed into the facilities, the last few seasons have seen unfortunate inclement weather, no matter where or what kind of auto racing activities have been scheduled. These businesses don't need this type of unfair descriptions of these activities.
