For the three dek vaans (เด็กแว้น, young street racers) who spoke to Life, the band of brothers they found on the streets matter as much to them as the illicit joy of racing.
Arm, 16, said not having his single mum home often made it easier for him to decide to join his friends for a night out for what he terms “fun and games”. Street racing enables him to gamble while filling his free time meeting like-minded teens.
Odd, 15, opted to give street racing a go to kill boredom.
“There are no places to indulge in sports or other activities where I live, so street racing was a great outlet for me,” he said.
“We attend races held during the weekend which are buzzing with activity because everyone takes it seriously. As it is held in the early hours of the morning, we usually sleep during the day so we are well rested during races.”
Their reasons for breaking the law vary. Art said it was a challenge not getting caught by the police, while Arm talked about the darker allure, saying “the risk of getting hurt can be exciting”. Odd said he races to prove his machine has a more powerful engine than his competitor.
Senior dek vaans often hang out at the motorcycle accessory shops because one of the main points of honour is how loud your bike’s engine is — exactly why they’re despised by so many city people.
The risk of accidents is high. The teens talk matter-of-factly about a near-miss with a 10-wheeler because they dozed off while riding back home and an accident that nearly had Arm’s head squashed by an approaching vehicle.
None of them believe a motorcycle racing circuit will cause street racers to abandon public roads for a more controlled environment.
“We hate wearing a helmet, let alone the gear you are expected to wear in a controlled environment,” said Odd.
“There is so much more adrenalin pumping into you when you have no idea what to expect. Above all, the excitement of going against the law and not being caught is the icing on the cake. That is the thrill we seek.”