Darwin and Newton tag team

[Mark in SBA]

Just plain stupid:

<a href="http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=111545&page=1">Making national news</a>

The joke was the guy was on the M5Board just a few hours before asking how to defeat traction control:

<a href="http://www.ocala.com/article/20080127/BREAKING_NEWS/274162577/1053/BREAKING_NEWS">Forum admin's worst nightmare - national exposure</a>

I feel no empathy towards this idiot - he killed himself and helped nature by extinguishing that defective frontal lobe gene before he could reproduce. I also don't feel sorry for his parents, and the courts won't either. Figure between $1 and $2 million per kid for pain and suffering by the survivors. Car's owner will land up destitute.

I do feel sorry for the passengers' families.

Just something to think about whilst operating your E31.

[PunitG]

one of your own, brother, sister, son? It is not until you are the mother or a father of the lost one that your judgment slowly turns to compassion and understanding.

"helped nature by extinguishing that defective frontal lobe gene before he could reproduce" Why such an arrogant tone?

I say you pray and a small dose of humble will do you good....

[Terry840Ci]

I would I would have to pray for MY forgiveness for turning the kid loose in a crowd with a loaded weapon.

Passengers didn't deserve what they got though. A lot of suffering generated there.

At least he found a place without other traffic to do his deed. Imagine a mini van full of kids on the way to Grandma's house instead of the tree and tell me how much compassion we should generate for him then.
Terry
Aloha OR
BMWACA Portland Area Chapter #286
'95 840ci Arctic Silver
'98 SVT Cobra Mustang Convertible

[oiseaux]

************************************************** ***********
A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams.
************************************************** ***********
BimmerShifter since 1969; currently
'93 850CiA, 171k miles
<img src="http://www.abyrdhouse.net/Images/93BMW850CiA-05.gif">

[justaguyinokc]

What if an innocent and uninvolved victim were your child/mother/brother/etc.? Have you no passion against the arrogance and the ignorance that would have resulted in their death?

[lezonebay]

of every kid. Loosing a kid is Always a tragedy. I just think it is more of a kids parents fault then a kids actually.
at 18 he was more of a kid then an adult. His parents's influence was more in him then his personal learning. He lived as he was taught. He drove what they gave him. he died by doing what he tought was the way of living.
the worst of it, he killed 4 totally innocent kids.

I pray all day that my daughter will NEVER sit in a car driven by a kid like this.
<a href="http://mydrive.roadfly.com/photos/pic.php?u=56726KDZYN&i=8969"><img src="http://mydrive.roadfly.com/photos/pic.php?u=56726KDZYN&i=8969" border="0"></a>


1997 BMW 840CiA
1990 BMW Z1
2002 Astro Van AWD
1999 Astro Van 2WD
2002 Lexus GS300
2007 Mazda CX9 AWD
1998 Yamaha Blaster+Breeze

[chansen]

If only he hadn't braked early and skidded sideways he might have missed the tree. That 767 landing in London was hard, 10 meters per second, and they were uninjured.

I feel bad for the parents.

I don't think I'm going to drive at 240 furlongs per fortnight from now on.

[TX_Greg]

Simply amazing what people with more dollars than sense can produce. Prayers to the other four families.

[oiseaux]

Rant PART I
His father did him no favors letting him drive an M5. Can't sugar-coat that, sorry. I've tried to think of this situation in terms of my son, and his son...
As far as me letting my son drive a car that powerful solo without training, no... I'm not that stupid.
As far as my son letting his son or daughter drive a car that powerful solo without training, no... my son's proved himself not that stupid.
If this kids father didn't "let" him drive the M5, then theft is added to stupidity.
PART II
Did this kids friends parents know their kids were going to be passengers in an M5 with a stupid kid for a driver? Why not? Too busy? Didn't know the kid? Didn't know the kids parents? Didn't know what an M5 is?
Rant PART III
A tragedy? Certainly!
Am I going to waste a tear on any of 'em? Nope.
Stupidity kills. Learn it. Deal with it. Get in your kids face if need be! But BE in your kids life while there still is life.
-end of rant-

************************************************** ***********
A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams.
************************************************** ***********
BimmerShifter since 1969; currently
'93 850CiA, 171k miles
<img src="http://www.abyrdhouse.net/Images/93BMW850CiA-05.gif">

[Scohen]

With kids (of all ages) repsonsibility comes down to their parents and how they were raised. What values were instilled and the child's responsibilities to their parents and other human beings.

[Bob-D]

big skimmer and cleaning the murky crap out of the human gene pool. I have absolutely NO sympathy for this little snot-nosed kid and even less for the idiot parents that made it possible for him to be behind the wheel of such a powerful automobile. I do feel sorry for the others in the car and hope that they get their "pound of flesh" from the registered owner of the vehicle.

I also feel sorry for the poor M5 that met an untimely end at the hands of a moron.

[FITCHIK]

I sent links to the article and board discussion to my 18 yo. My son drives all of my cars, he scored the highest in his driving school, commutes regularly to the ski hill for his ski instructor job and has attended youth driver skills days.

I asked my him if he would want an M5 like that. He smiled, nodded and said 'on the track'. He also feels that parents and kids BOTH made some irresponsible and unfortunate decisions. This story makes a good opportunity for each of us to have a chat with the kids in our lives.

Personally, I was impressed with how the M5 board treated the kid's inquiries.

RIP...
.........after all, I am my father's daughter..........
<img src="http://mydrive.roadfly.com/photos/pic.php?u=140302B7IqJ&i=8618" height=100 width=274>
~~~~~~~~<i>1997 840 daily driver</i>~~~~~~~

<b>PNW 8ers--</b><i> are you on the mailing list for local news and events?</i> Contact me to make sure you are not missing out!

[TX Greg]

too bad he didn't listen to some of them.

[Bob-D]

doesn't matter if your kid scored 150% in his driving school - It is still irresponsible to give such a piece of equipment to someone who has very little driving experience. Sure these kids will do great in Driver's Ed and in front of mom and dad, but they are still kids, and as such will be tempted more times than not. I am sure the idiot who drove (or flew) his 4 friends into the afterlife, exhibited controlled driving in front of his now-grieving parents. He may have even promised over and over that he is responsible, but look what happens when mom and dad aren't around.
No disrespect to you FITCHICK, but your rationale is just something that parents want to see. As for me, I have taken the "other" route - my kid will be getting his experience in a heavier, under powered automobile (something from the mid 70's ), until he has plenty of "seat-time" before he advances into my 850, let alone the other sports car in the garage - and yes, all the keys are kept in the safe so there is no temptation on his part, nor worrying on mine and his mother's part.


have a nice day

[FITCHIK]

Nor do you know the level of training and personal time investment I have made in teaching my son to drive. I am not a Pollyanna, in fact my MOM was a semi-truck driver so I am WELL AWARE of the risks of the road having spent many hours driving with her. And trust me, the privilege of driving ANY of my cars has been EARNED by the kid. If he were any different a child I might have to treat him differently.

<b>My point was/is that even with ALL THAT, my son and I HEARTILY agree that the parents were wrong to let their kid drive that M5.</b>

No matter the age, weight or horsepower of any car on the road-- in the battle of flesh versus steel we know who loses. I've also lost a family member to a car from the 70's that plowed into her as she walked across the road... The point has been made, cars can be lethal weapons. I prefer to put my son in newer cars with airbags, ABS, ASC, crumple zones and handling characteristics which will allow him to avoid/survive an accident. His dd is a 3 series.

On a lighter note, 'it's ~only~ a V8'.

.........after all, I am my father's daughter..........
<img src="http://mydrive.roadfly.com/photos/pic.php?u=140302B7IqJ&i=8618" height=100 width=274>
~~~~~~~~<i>1997 840 daily driver</i>~~~~~~~

<b>PNW 8ers--</b><i> are you on the mailing list for local news and events?</i> Contact me to make sure you are not missing out!

[lezonebay]

I agree on safer newer cars to kids. a 3 series is a good choice, and if you shop around it will be less then a new civic, corolla, etc. which is most parents choice.
I rather have my daughter in a 10 y/o BMW then a new civic, corolla, etc.
it all comes to 2 things - what can you afford and what do you want for him/her.
I would sell my car and be able to give her the best/safest then buy a crap to let her wrack that first. if anything happens then it is too late to go back and change the car.

a newer cars "by solid manufacturers not the one from India" has better crach ratings.

Did you guys ever notice that our car have no bumper reinforcements or absorber whatsoever ? I have yet to see an another car without these on the front.
I would love to see a crash test on the E31 :-)

<a href="http://mydrive.roadfly.com/photos/pic.php?u=56726KDZYN&i=8969"><img src="http://mydrive.roadfly.com/photos/pic.php?u=56726KDZYN&i=8969" border="0"></a>


1997 BMW 840CiA
1990 BMW Z1
2002 Astro Van AWD
1999 Astro Van 2WD
2002 Lexus GS300
2007 Mazda CX9 AWD
1998 Yamaha Blaster+Breeze

[chansen]

I think that 8kph is the Canadian standard for no damage front or rear. I don't want to test it.

Even the track is not completely safe as there was that Porsche supercar, I forget the model, that crashed at a track event when a Ferrari was allowed onto the track at the wrong time.

Somebody on the NSX board reported the 5 kids crashed in an E31. They also reported those kids had 20+ tickets between them.

[davidc]

The E31 IS a heavy underpowered automobile. And it will protect your kid waaaaay better than a 70's tank as it has a relatively modern crash structure, brakes that don't take until the next county to stop, way better handling to avoid accidents, ABS, ASC, passive rear wheel steering to help keep the tail from wagging, and airbags. Can't hardly say that about a '72 Cheby Station Wagon (although the disappearing tailgate was cool).

My son took his driver's skill training in my 850.

His first car? A 1990 Acura Legend. Heavy (surprisingly heavy), slow, Airbag, ABS, good crash ratings, and cheap enough to dispense with collision insurance. Way better than a 70's barge. He still has it although it has battle damage from misjudgements.

Was he still irresponsible after his driver's skill training - oh yeah. Just ask him how well my Miata drove after he took it for a "spin". I had bad feelings about it as I drove away and tried calling him on his cell phone. Being a safe driver he didn't answer it while driving. This same "safe driver" shortly thereafter tried to take a 25 mph corner at around 75 mph and learned what is meant by trailing throttle oversteer. He was actually a safer driver in the beginning but became overconfident and has also had several incidents due to lack of situational awareness. I've considered nicknaming him Crash. Any car can be deadly; some just get deadlier faster than others.

As far as the accident with the kids and the M5 - it is tragic for all involved - the kids, their families, & the crew that responded to that scene.

Dave

[Montanamike]

The step daughter got a very nice late 70's chevy station wagon to learn in. She hated driving it because of peer pressure but she did survive to make it to college. Her mother bought her an integra while in College and it took her about two months to crash it and total it! SO driving experience is something that CANNOT be taught!!!

[Bob-D]

... been watching alot of "what's good for the goose, ain't good for the gander" on this board - just a question, don't get your feathers ruffled....


Have a nice day