The origins of burnouts can be traced to drag racing,
where they have a practical purpose: drag racing tires
perform better at higher temperatures, and a burnout is the
quickest way to raise tire temperature immediately prior to a
race. Drag race tracks sometimes use a specially reserved wetsurface
area known as the “burnout box” for this purpose.
Eventually burnouts became a serious form of competition and
entertainment in their own right. Considerable prize money is now
involved, and cars may even be sponsored. Most cars competing these
days are specifically built as “burnout cars”. Burnout contests are
judged on instant smoke, crowd response, quantity and quality of
smoke. Style and attitude being important factors. For 60 – 90 seconds
burnouts, cars powered by high performance V8 engines spin their
tires until they are destroyed, literally shredded off the rim. Organised
burnout contests are particularly popular in Australia.
I don’t have friends,
I got family.
Driving is a spectacular form of amnesia. Everything is to be discovered, everything to be obliterated.
I’d rather cry in a Jaguar than on a bus
Burnouts
BySimon Davidson
This article was previously published in the second issue of GARAGISME in 2012
Simon Davidson
Burnout contests are judged on instant smoke, crowd response, quantity and quality of smoke. Style and attitude being important factors.
Simon Davidson
Burnouts are also common in informal street racing, usually for show
value. As with all street racing activities, burnouts on public property
are illegal in most countries but the severity of punishments vary. In
the Australian state of New South Wales, for example, police have
the power to confiscate the offending vehicle for 3 months for a first
offense. In March 2010, British Formula 1 World Champion, Lewis
Hamilton had his Mercedes car impounded for allegedly performing
a burnout in Melbourne, Australia while leaving the Albert Park
Grand-Prix Circuit.
To perform a burnout in a rear wheel drive vehicle the driver has to
simultaneously engage the accelerator and brake pedals. The goal is
to allow the rear tires to spin while holding the car in place with the
front wheels remaining motionless. Experienced drivers allow the car
to move while the rear wheels spin. This sounds easier than it is as the
spinning tires are continually breaking traction thus reducing control.
Simon Davidson is a New Zealand born photographer working in
Sidney. He has been photographing Australian custom car culture
as a personal endeavour for the last decade.