I did a report for a class once on this very subject. I went around and spoke to these kids about why they did what they do. I basically had to bite my tongue half the time. Many of them honestly think a little Civic or MR2 with a ridiculously huge exhaust and a modified air intake is fast. In talking with them, most of them had never driven an American or European sports car. I drove one guy's 89 Supra at his coaxing, and it was not fast. All of them made a big deal about beating a v-8 with a four banger (at least fantasizing about it). They all talk about horsepower, but don't even know what torque is. They don't know the difference between a v-6 and a straight 6. I could go on. Basically, they want to get attention with whacky crappy cars and they want to be counter culture and fight the true sports cars. They sure are fun smoking in a race because they get so pissed!