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All the videos in this interview are credited to DEEM.
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>> LATE 90'S STREET RACING
Vintage Gear Addicts Online Magazine
May 2005 - Issue 002
The street racing scene in New York City is rarely documented. Its unfortunate because the scene is pretty much dead (for the most part) these days. To get a better idea of the late 90's NYC street racing scene, I interviewed Hunts Point native/street racer/graffiti artist, DEEM KD.
How did you get into street racing and what were your first memories of this subculture?
DEEM:
Shit, I got into street racing about the same time I really got into graffiti. This was like probably winter of 97. I had my learners permit and used to steal my dad's truck and pick up my friends late at night when he was sleeping. I used to just drive around smokin' blunts. Then one night, I went to the 24 hr McDonalds in hunts point and I came across a shit load of cars. Shit looked like a block party, my jaw dropped. So I parked my car, chilled, and checked out the scene. Then the cops came and everyone bounced to the block that they raced on. I followed. They raced for hours with cops breaking it up every few hours. I fell in love with it. I can remember this one black Mustang that was unbeatable that night. It made me just wanna get a mustang after seeing that.
I know that some people just race as a hobby while others view it as a lifestyle. What are your views on this?
DEEM:
For me, it was a lifestyle. I mean the shit was off the hook for the first year I was into it. Then it started getting more mainstream and pretty much it died out. Now, if I can actually find the street races I'll be shocked. The scene as I knew it is pretty much dead.
It seems as though street racing culture is covered more in cities on the West Coast & suburbs. What differentiates NYC street racing from racing in the suburbs such as Long Island, LA, etc... Is there a grimier aspect to it since you are dealing with grimier people, neighborhoods, DT's, etc…?
DEEM:
Yea, I guess the sport is way bigger in the west coast mostly because the weather there is a lot better all year around. Over here, the weather is shitty, which kills the scene a lot. Also, the major tuners and tuner factories expanded their companies from Japan to the US on the west coast because its the closest to home which makes parts a lot easier to get a hold of for them. As far as grimey, that word describes the NYC racing scene. Its way too crazy over here. A lot of people take shit to the heart more in NYC. It's a good and bad thing since more dedication only pushes the sport to new limits. But sometimes, people get outta hand. Also a lot of cats I know won't even race their car in NYC races anymore cause niggaz skeme on your shit here. If you got a fast whip, don't show it off. Just race it and do your thing, make ya cheddar and go home. Don't showboat your shit, cause here niggas are watchin and the moment you leave your shit on the street, you'll be sure they'll be tryin to steal your shit. Just watch your ass, only deal with the people you know and trust and keep it at that.
What were the racing spots you were going to in the 90's?
DEEM:
My favorite spot was Hunts Point. It had so many different spots to race, plus the cops weren't as bad there as they were in other places. Another favorite was Zerega and Commerce Ave. in the Bronx. Those were cool races, but the cops in that area didn't play games. In about 99, I was put onto Francis Lewis Blvd. in Queens. I used to race there for a few months till they cracked down hardcore on the racers. There was also Greenpoint Ave. by Long Island City. Nice lil' spot, but it sucked if the cops blocked you in because there was nowhere to run. There were so many more spots, like Flatlands in Brooklyn, Hutch River Drive drags in Mount Vernon. Spring Valley in Rockland County... But, as far as I could remember, Hunts Point was the street racing capital of the Bronx. From the stories I heard from older cats to even some of the racing documentaries today, I would kill for the return of the hunts point races.
Would you be interested in sharing some of your stories or memories of street racing?
DEEM:
Let me see... There was this time where I rolled up to Zerega with my team. (we rolled with all domestic cars) and we were determined to beat all the import cars there that night. I had the fastest car on my team. (88 Mustang GT with Edelbrock heads, intake, full exhaust, 100 shot NOS, e303 cam, headers, the whole 9 yards… let's just say about 12G's of engine work) I first took on an Integra Type R and destroyed it. Then, I took on a Galant VR4 (the turbo one) and destroyed it. Then, an RX-7 all dragged out pulled up. I seen this car race before and I knew it was fast, but I thought I could take it. So we line up and start doing the burnouts... All of a sudden, cops come out from the block in front of us and the block behind us. They were going to block off the street. So we took off and sped around them before they got a chance to swing around. They started chasing us. It was just me and the rx-7 now running from a cop car. I knew he would only go after one. Just my luck, he goes after me. So I went to make a break onto the highway cause it was my only chance out. I had about a good block and a half lead on the cop. I get on the highway heading north toward Westchester, I turned off my lights and just punched the car to the max. I ended up leavin that fucker in the dust and got away...
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