Muscle car envy, or just plain stupid ?

Before my brother converted his 65 Coronet drag car over to a full drag car it was street legal. Had a built 383 and electric cut outs. Pulled up to a light and some kids in a Camaro wanted to race. He flipped the switch and the sound of exhaust opening up made those kids eyes go wide open. He reved it up a couple times and the light turned green. We just drove away like normal and they kinda just sat there, and when they finally went they hung back and wouldnt pass us. Flipped the switch again to run thru the mufflers and proceeded on our way. We laughed at that for a long time.