Throughout the history of civilization, people have been thrilled by speed. The chariot races in Rome, the Indianapolis 500 and the New York City Marathon are all ways that society has been entertained and thrilled by the need for speed.

Despite the risks involved, the excitement of racing has led many teenagers and young adults to participate in an activity known as street racing. In street racing, contestants race their cars on the streets of their local communities. This illegal and often deadly activity has claimed lives in places throughout the country, including Long Island.

Warnings, tickets, arrests, injuries and damage to cars have failed to discourage street races. However, one Levittown native thinks he may have the solution. Bryan Harrison grew up in Levittown and graduated from Division Avenue High School. He eventually left for Arizona to pursue a degree in automotive technology. While in Arizona, Harrison participated in street racing and saw its dangers firsthand when a friend of his was killed in a street race. This caused him to view street racing from an entirely different perspective.

"We need to change the attitude that street racing is an acceptable pastime," Harrison said. "The vast majority of street racers are between the ages of 16 and 25. These drivers are inexperienced and reckless and have a feeling of invincibility."

Harrison would eventually be named manager of Track Development for US 131 Motorsports Park in Michigan. There, Harrison would use his knowledge of street racing to develop a successful program that would help to lure street racers away from the streets.

"The track had tried to develop a program where street racers would come and race on their track," said Harrison, "However, they didn't make any changes for street racing. They basically had street racers racing on a regular drag strip. Street racing is different from drag racing and street racers usually don't get along with drag racers. The program was not getting interest from street racers."

Success would eventually come when Harrison brought his knowledge of street racing to the program. He had the racetrack modify the lighting during the street races so that it resembled the lighting of a typical city street and not a well-illuminated racetrack. Harrison also proposed that races be started with a "flag girl" in which a woman would wave a flag to signify the start of a race. With the modifications made, many street racers came to race at the track instead of on the streets. At the last street race, over 400 vehicles showed up.

"We created a safe, controlled environment that's a viable alternative to street racing," said Harrison.

Harrison is particularly proud of a recent event at the racetrack called Beat the Heat - A Tribute to Our Heroes. In this event, actual police cruisers were brought to the track to race against the street racers. Furthermore, police officers came down to race the cruisers against the racers. Ironically, police officers found themselves competing with kids who they might arrest for participating in such an activity outside of the racetrack.

"It really helped to build a better relationship between the police and the kids," said Harrison.

As for bringing this program to Long Island, Harrison said it could not occur right now because the nearest drag strip is located in New Jersey. However, he said he would like to see drag strips built closer to Long Island so that events like this could take place and street racing could be taken off the streets.

"The most important thing is saving the lives of kids and getting the message out there that there are viable alternatives to street racing," he added.