I wouldn't try that stuff in Los Angeles. Not so much that it's dangerous, and you will hit someone else being an idiot before you yourself do something...but because you will probably lose against the fast cars in this city
I've lost against a miniS that had some major aftermarket stuff done, I've lost against 3000GTs and 300ZXs (TTs of course), and don't even bother against M3s or Evos. Hell, I've had my butt handed to me by an Escalade that from the sound I must assume was blown...a lot. Why is it living in a city that traffic is this bad that people tweak their rides this darn much?
Despite what you've heard, S2000s are beatable tho..
-David