If anyone needs yet another tale of why street racing is dangerous, read on....

The 19 year old son of a family friend had an accident on Friday night around 8:30. He was racing a friend of his, on a curvy road (posted 25 mph) with plenty of blind spots, and hit an oncoming car head on. The woman driving the car was killed, and the police have estimated his speed at approximately 75-80 mph. He had to be airlifted to the hospital; the vehicle he was driving was burned beyond recognition and he has burns along his face and back.

Unfortunately, that's just the beginning. He will be charged with vehicular manslaughter, reckless endangerment, speeding, driving too fast for conditions, and racing--the total of which could bring 5 years in jail, not to mention the loss of his license. He's always been difficult and we've tried to help him, but he never listened. Now perhaps he will, but it's too late. Life will never be the same.

Please, please be careful and be safe. The ability to brag about winning is not worth the risk of losing a life.

-Maria

 

 

can a mod sticky this so that people would get the message and read it

 

I learned my lesson from my first meet when I "powerslid" and almost ran into a 4runner on some twisties.. I'm tkaing up the rear from now on and taking my sweet time.
Better to be safe than sorry.

 

I second this....too many stories like this out there, including a fellow member of this board a couple of months ago. Be careful everyone...I'd hate to hear of another story like this come up.

 

what for do you honestly think people will stop racing cuz of a post...............no way people arent going to stop racing i know i wont but im not stupid enought to race on some curvey roads............................man even if u post the most gruesome pics of a crash people wont stop un less it happens to them or somebody close to them, thats just the way life is

 

And it's teen-aged posts like this that somewhat prove your point.

You see dude, it's not whether or not it will stop everyone from racing - it's whether or not even ONE person will be stopped from racing.

And your "I'm not stupid enough... I won't do something to get me killed" attitude speaks volumes for my assumption on your age. I was dumb when I was a teenager. I did stupid shit - I "THOUGHT" that it would never happen to me....

And it didn't. But through no fault of my own.

The point here is that it is our job to raise the awareness of other like-minded individuals of this forum to these issues. When you are doing shit that dumb that fast, it's not just your life at risk, or even yours and your passengers', it's OTHER MOTORISTS. And the law will find out, and will ruin your life - guaranteed.

I'm guilty of racing sometimes - but I've taken my racing wants onto the track - autocrossing. It's safe, and gets my adrenaline flowing MORE than a street race ever did.

So - take it to an autocross, or to a drag (if that's what you like). And just be careful when the occasional street 0-60 may happen.

 

Its true and the truth hurts.

TRELOS

 

I think thepoint is not to stop everyone, but to get the point accross to a few that will stop... Then its worthwhile.

 

I think you would have better results if you took every opportunity to "blast" the idiots on this board that talk about racing on public streets, and complain about other drivers driving ways when they are doing 80-90, acting like they owned the road. A little bit of peer presure? YMMV

 

I was thinking about "stickying" this post, but with some of these replys, not happening now....

BTW mfnlaw.... if you haven't already done so you may want to post this in the Racing Stories forum.....

 

Please don't be so insensitive. I am mad as hell at him for acting like a complete idiot, without an ounce of common sense in his body. He thinks only of himself for the most part. On the other hand, I would never wish death on him (or anyone else for that matter). He will have to live with the consequences for the rest of his days. I for one won't let him forget his stupidity cost a woman her life.

-M

 

What, I'm supposed to feel bad for this dumbass kid? I don't...

 

I'm not asking you to feel sorry for him. I certainly don't. What I am asking is that you don't express your disgust by wishing death on him. Figure out another way.

-M

 

Come on people, lets not be stupid by wishing death on people who are close to our fellow board members. That's not cool in anyway. No one is saying to feel bad for this kid, the topic is just a "wake-up" call of sorts. If you can't be adult about something as serious as a fatal car accident, don't reply at all.....

 

I never "wished death upon him", I was stating that if you could trade him for her, if you will, I'd prefer that. But, it's done, she's dead, and he'll be awaiting his woefully inadequate slap on the wrist from the authorities I'd wager.

 

Can you please go back to read this post?

http://www.acura-cl.com/forums/showt...light=revolver

This will save me some typing again. Maria, I hope it all works out although it doesn't sound like it will.

 

Why is that unfortunate? The unfortunate part of your story is where the woman DIED. That could have been my mother or your mother, just driving home one night.

I hope he sits in jail and thinks about this for years. I hope he never drives again. I hope his family decides to take responsibility for their children.

If you want me to "Figure out a different way" to "Feel" about this situation, I can't. This is a forum and that is my opinion.

I'm sorry you have to be involved in this situation, I'm not trying to flame you.

 

Thanks Mike. I agreed with you then, and I agree with you now. I hope it works out too. He deserves every minute he will have to spend in jail, and he deserves every dime he will have to spend in fines. It won't bring the victim back, but if it knocks some sense into him then perhaps something has been accomplished.

-M

 

ok thanks grandpa

 

The whole damn thing was unfortunate. I never said that it wasn't. And before you start talking about the family, please be aware of the facts.... They have taken responsibility for their children--their son has behavioral problems caused by some "faulty wiring". His mother and father have been working for more than 10 years with specialists and psychiatrists to get it under control. They sent him to boot camp to shape him up, which worked for about 6 months. They made him work for my father, who is one of the hardest task-masters out there. Still didn't work. Then they finally found a medication that seemed to help. Once he turned 18 though, he was an adult and couldn't be forced to take it anymore. Don't blame the parents; it's not their fault.

The ironic thing is I feel pretty much the same way--he should never drive again and he should spend time in jail. My whole point was there was enough death and there shouldn't even be the thought of any more.

-M

 

On the contrary, I think it is fortunate that he'll get punished for this. He might not think so, but I do. I'm glad he's ok though, 19 is too young, and I'd hate to see him dead.

As for his parents, it's irrelevant what I think. They'll undoubtedly get fucked over by this, unless he plans on paying for his own lawyer. I feel sorry for them; I'm not blaming them.

 

As I said before, I'm not disagreeing with you--he deserves whatever punishment he gets. I never thought he should get off scot-free. His parents are paying a mental and emotional price at this point. He is over the age of 18 which means they are not responsible for his actions, nor will they be responsible for any civil judgments against their son. If he can't afford a criminal defense attorney, he will be appointed one by the court. Legally he is an adult. His actions proved otherwise though.


My hope in telling this story was not to create sympathy for him; instead it was to make at least one person think about what could happen the next time they race. It can happen to anyone.

-M

 

Well, anyone who would race on the wrong side of the road at 75-80 on a twisty, blind road isn't likely to suddenly develop better judgement after reading an internet post.

 

^^bump^^

 

Maria, sorry to hear the news...BUT

First of all I want to know what kind of car he was driving.
And second of all just by stickying this won't make street racing stop, nor make anyone on this site already doing it stop.

BTW we do endorse street racing here, so why are people like Maria contradicting it in posts like these. Maria is just an example, there's been plenty more.

 

I disagree... Blasting everyone who drives like a knucklehead will only encourage them. It'll be a "Thst pussy drives like Miss Daisy.... I'll do what I want." Show them the facts, let them make their own logical decision.
Besides, everytime I do blast someone for doing something stupid I get blasted myself...

 

This is just sad.

 

Yes, sticky it because, by god, if we say it enough, people who don't listen will suddenly listen.

If anything this incident shows how people will NOT listen no matter what you say, so stop wasting your words on them. Tell kids BEFORE they get to the age where they stop listening to parents/adults, etc.


Oh and there was a thread over at the C5Forums about a 5series BMW and a Corvette that got in an accident while racing. C5 driver died.

 

Again, my point is not to make anyone STOP racing. I couldn't possibly hope to do that. I just want to make people think twice about what they're doing. Then if someone chooses to race anyway it's their own decision. You'll have to live with the consequences....the rest of your life.

He was driving a Dodge pick-up that had a few modifications. Don't ask me what, because I don't know.

And I don't believe the site endorses street racing outright, "officially". That would be foolish because of the liability issues which could arise, however remote they may be. Just because there is a "Racing Stories" forum does not mean the administration of the site actively tells people to street race. Soopa, correct me if I'm wrong....

As for my contradicting street racing here, I have the right, just as you have the right to post your "kills". The purpose of forums such as these is to foster discussion, which inevitably includes differing opinions. If you don't like these opinions, ignore them.

-M

 

That's exactly what I've been trying to do....and I've said as much in numerous posts.

-M

 

I feel ya Maria. I can't buy a race here if I wanted to. I don't know how pga keeps it up?

 

Wow I remember saying something like this a while ago and back then I got flamed to hell and back for it....