EVEN as eyes are on the Formula One night race, another car race is taking place on quiet stretches of Singapore roads.
A former street-car racer in his 40s, who wanted to be known only as Ah Leong, said: 'F1 may be a prestigious sport, but it's foreign to most heartlanders.
'But placing a bet on an illegal night race is simple. Just choose driver A or B. No need to fill any forms. And you collect on the spot.'
Where do these night races happen?
At certain favourite 'circuits' in Lim Chu Kang, for example, and they happen on most weekends, Ah Leong said.
Street racers dice with death as they speed down dark, deserted roads. Still, the lure is great, especially among enthusiasts and punters, Ah Leong said.
'Drivers and spectators know the risk, but they still come,' he said.
'Most punters and drivers are familiar with Lim Chu Kang's 40 tiang (lamp post in Malay). But when the heat is onlast minute to Tuas, Orchard Road or even across the Causeway.
Souped-up Japanese cars line the start line at such races. The race distance is typically agreed at 10, 12 or 40 lamp posts.
At stake are thousands of dollars - and egos. From the sidelines, money changes hands among spectators.
Ah Hua, a former race car driver who attended one such race a year ago, said: 'We usually get a phone call saying, 'Don't tell anyone, but we're having a race'.
'Then when you reach the venue, there're about 400 people waiting anxiously by the road side for the race to begin. These guys can never keep a secret.'
Most high-profile drag duels happen between rival workshops, Ah Hua said.
Others occur between car clubs.
Big bets, big risks
Ah Hua, 35, said: 'The smaller car groups collect a pool of between $5,000 and $10,000.
'In such races, there are no complicated odds. At the most, if you're racing against a better car, maybe there will be simpler odds like winning by one or two lamp posts.'
The largest bet Ah Hua has seen was $50,000, between two rival workshops.
He said: 'The excitement at such illegal races is that you're seeing them up close. You don't have to spend thousands (of dollars) before you get to shake hands with your favourite driver.'
Before pedals are floored, a middleman will hold on to the prize money for safekeeping.
The 1km drag races are normally over before you know it. Nobody wants to linger too long in case the police appear, unless there are disputes between drivers and then there will be more runs, Ah Leong said.
Many have certainly scrambled mid-race to the sound of wailing police sirens.
Getting caught can have severe consequences.
For illegal racing, a motorist can be jailed up to six months and fined up to $2,000.
The motorist's vehicle may also be confiscated.
This article was first published in The New Paper on Sept 29, 2008.
