This is really sobering.
 

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Columns/articleId=124526

Its about that kid that launched the M5 off the runway and died. Evidently, he was on a forum, not unlike this one. The M5 board seems to be down right now.

Since I can't read the forum, and see what people were posting, I'll need to wait until it's online. But I can't help but think that maybe someone could have reasoned with him not to drive so fast. Terribly sad.

Sad, but I doubt there's anything that could have been said. 18 year olds are invincible, good luck convincing them otherwise.

I know I was.

My Plymouth Turismo was better than a rally car, a sports car, and a drag car combined...

That's why I totaled 4 cars in 2 years. Thank God they were all slow as hell.

this is the 3rd or 4th thread here on this topic.

You can't convince an 18 year old of anything. Evidently someone was planning a legit event at an airstrip and that's what he said he was "in" for. The accident appears to be him doing a little recon or practice. Kids do stupid things. It's part of being a kid. My question is why you give a kid a toy that powerful to play with. But it ain't my son...

I know I was invincible when I was 18, I wrecked the heck out of my mom's brand new mazda 626 on the way to a girl's house one weekend when my parents were away. I had no reason to go the fast, traffic was light and when the person in front of me changed lanes suddenly - with my inexperience and speed I am lucky to be alive.

I rolled it 5 1/2 times crossed 4 or 5 lanes of traffic (the 60 freeway near between Riverside and Ontario) and only hit one other car. Of course my mom's car was totaled, I broke a tail light on the other car and I came out without a scratch. The CHP that ended up working the scene was my neighbor and he gave me a ride home. Man did that ever suck...

Later in the day I jumped in my old truck and drove over anyway. Figured myself for a dead man when my parents came home for the weekend (and I was correct as I am now a zombie).

The speed was dumb, today I drive like an old man generally.

Kind of sad to read the thread. It's apparent that it's not his car and the board members are cautioning him to be safe. http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=111454

I totaled 2 cars and 2 motorcycles before 20 and I was the best driver in the world back then :D.

I know "a guy" who went to a Mets game, got hammered, got in a fight with the GF, then hopped on his GS to go get a pack of smokes and crashed into his own car pulling into the driveway.;) What a moron.

you just think you are invincible.

good thing we learn pretty quick.

I guess my point of the post, and I know that there were others, was that as a forum, should we look out for this kind of thing? I know headstrong 18 year olds will do what they will do, but just maybe we can make a difference the next time.

We already do. Even the "adults" on this board don't get it sometimes.

That's got to be tough for the families involved. One post prior to his last he wrote:

"I do sometimes make bad decisions but I am young and I do drive safe and I will not endanger the lives of others..."

18 year old arrogance probably wouldn't allow him to believe that he was endangering the others. Sad,sad,sad.

The best we can do is offer the advice of our experience..

This is the last post:

The whole thing is creepy. Be careful out there.

Worst wreck I was ever in was as a passenger in a Jetta. We rolled over a few times, windshiled caved in on my head (was wearing a hat) and we landed upside down. I reached up, undid my seatbelt and crawled out where the windshield once was. Not a scratch (apparently). Cops showed up and got real suspicious when they found blood trails in the car and none of us were injured. I had to sign some release with the paramedics stating I didn't want any treatment and when I took my mittens off, my hands were all cut up from the glass. I was so shaken up I didn't feel it. Car was folded like book and we all walked away. Took years before I was comfortable riding as a passenger again. I always insisted on driving.

That must've been a helluva wreck to traumatize you so. I've seen your driving. :eek:

Not convince, but influence, I hope...I'll never not try.

Automobiles are my biggest fear as a parent...