The subject of street racing has been much discussed lately. My two (ok, maybe 3) cents:
Executive Summary: If you want to drive your car really hard, AND reduce the impulse to race on the street, go to a track event. Not only are they much more fun, they will actually help you resist the temptation to drive as hard on the street. For me, this is perhaps the biggest benefit because it is long-lasting.
Not that I haven't indulged in the occasional street race, or solo sprint - I have. And I'm quite sure I will again. There's still a lot of testosterone coursing through my blood. But I know it is stupid. It is always a moment after which I realize "wow, that wasn't too smart" and in which, in the words of John Hiatt, "my little head does the thinking."
Now that I have participated in a few track events, I can second Scott Staewen's notion (in his recent post in the long and now tiresome "My best kill ever" thread) that driving on the track is "is much more fun and meaningful". Why? Because:
1) You get to repeat the same circuit over and over, giving you the opportunity to improve your technique in a controlled and measurable manner;
2) You don't have to worry about unknown debris on the track;
3) You don't have to worry about (and therefore look for) intersections, pedestrians, animals, or law enforcement;
4) You can get your car much closer, or even past its limits - safely;
5) You have flagmen to warn you of unforseen dangers around the next corner;
6) You have, in general,
much safer surroundings. 99 times out of 100 a spin or other loss of control will result in nothing more than embarrassment and a dirty car;
7) Speeds are actually
lower on the track - even in my 996TT at Laguna Seca I never saw more that 125mph - but I have
stupidly pushed both my M5 and the Porsche way beyond that on public roads. However, since participating in some track events, I have found it much easier to
resist the impulse to drive at insane speeds on public roads. It doesn't eliminate it, but it reduces it.
8) You get meaningful, objective and real-time feedback about your skill relative to others.
9) You can have an instructor! You might even LEARN something!
10) You will be with a bunch of other cool cars and car guys. It is a lot of fun.
For those of you who have NOT tried this, I suggest you do. Note that although there are venues where you can compete against others in a full-on race, this is
not what I am talking about. I'm talking about what are generally referred to as "high performance driver education" events. These are very, very safe for you and your car. There are many organizations that sponsor these, but the ground rules are usually like the following, which is the way Tracquest (
http://www.tracquest.com) runs their events:
1) Drivers are divided into different "run groups". One group on the track at a time. Beginners or people who know they just don't want to push too hard go in the "yellow" group. (Names vary). Drivers with a few events under their belt are in the "blue" group. Instructors and a few well known, very experienced others are in the "red" group.
2) Starts are staggered. No drag start with 6 cars abreast into the 1st turn.
3) You drive at whatever pace you are comfortable with. You let faster guys by.
4) Passing is very restricted. Only on designated straights. For yellow, only on the left. Blue - left or right - but always with a signal from the driver in front.
5) You can have an instructor as much as you want.
6) When your run group is in the paddock, you are free to ride with other drivers. This means you can lap the track in a hot car with an instructor at the wheel. To me, this is a really important way to learn, because you just can't absorb a lot of input from the instructor while you are concentrating on your driving.
7) The drivers on the track are ALL car people or they wouldn't be there. You'll find they are courteous (they'll let you by if you are faster) and they don't pull stupid tricks.
8) There is no timing (individuals are free to time their friends - just nothing official) and there are no positions recorded. You are driving purely for fun. YES it feels great to pass someone - but it is NOT a "race."
9) In the unlikely event of any damage, the insurance company is far less likely to deny you coverage. This isn't a race, it is a driver education event.
10) You'll probably even get a diploma at the end.
I have chosen to limit my "exposure" - I promised my family I would limit my participation to about 2x per year. This has been enough for me to help me cool it on the streets.
Go to the track!
10 Reasons why you should go to the track.
but I hope to release some pent up testosterone at the track instead! 
