This is really sobering.

[KaptKaos]

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.

[onewhippedpuppy]

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

[legion]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

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...

[onewhippedpuppy]

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

[nostatic]

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...

[mikester]

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.

[Netspeed]

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

[David]

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

[stomachmonkey]

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.

[KaptKaos]

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.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by KaptKaos

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.

[LeeH]

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..."

[Flatbutt1]

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..

[VaSteve]

Originally Posted by LeeH

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..."

This is the last post:

.....and I plan to have all the pics up tommorow

The whole thing is creepy. Be careful out there.

[Rick Lee]

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.

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

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.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by nostatic

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...

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

Automobiles are my biggest fear as a parent...