JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Part 7--Steel Ball Run, Vol. 5 | 
I believe in a more modern day and age, this story would become much more dangerous. It originally took place in the 1980s, so the machinery is still quite old compared to the technology now. The Steel Ball Run was dangerous enough, with the stand powers and weaponry. However, modern weapons would make the race much more deadly. I don't really think a change in location would make much of a difference since it already took place on Earth.
