Reality Check: The Truth Behind Big Screen Car Racing

In the movies, cars can drive 200 mph, drift around turns, straighten out and be just fine. But, how many times do you think they shot that scene? How many cars do you think they killed in the process?

Ronin’s pivotal car chase ate up 80 cars… and that was with the help of Formula One driver Jean-Pierre Jarier. Transformers 3 destroyed a grand total of 532 cars. The Fast & Furious trilogy has crashed more than 900 cars… and counting.

That’s the reality. Even professional racers and stunt drivers can’t consistently keep pace with what you see on the big screen. And yet, teens and immature adults continue to attempt this insane driving on public roads. Well, the truth is playing speed racer is more likely to leave you broke-down and embarrassed if you’re lucky. Arrest and/or death are the more likely results.

No, it’s better to get your driving tips from the less popular crowd, aka parents and instructors. It may not seem like the “cool” thing to do, but it’s way cooler to drive like a sane person and stay alive than to drive like a lunatic and put everyone’s lives in danger.

Feeling unsatisfied by this sobering blog post? If you really have the need for speed, if you really must live life in the fast lane, then give the local race track a call. Many venues host educational events, offer training and open up their tracks for the public. There are also motorsports clubs and autocross events. Or, you could give NASA a call – the National Auto Sport Association, that is. These options allow new racers to learn how to drive correctly, and they do it far, far away from public roadways where fatalities may occur.