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Selasa, 29 Januari 2008
Spoiled kids, alcohol, and a 500HP BMW M5 don't mix.
I've read additional follow ups to the story which seem to indicate that the 2008 M5 belonged to the 19 year old driver even though it was registered to his father. The driver, just days prior to the accident had joined an M5 forum asking how to make the car faster and inquiring about a clunk that the car made while shifting at wide open throttle in excess of 140mph. The people on the forum expressed disbelief at the fact that this 19 yr old owned the car and cautioned him regarding his inexperience in driving in general, let alone in a 500HP super sedan.
Various different forums I check in on are discussing this in length and the majority of the sentiment is that of no sympathy toward the kids in the car or their families. I have to agree. I find it hard to understand parents just throwing a kid the keys to a new M5. How can you expect a 19yr old to respect or control a car like that. At 19 most people have a total of what, a couple of years of driving experience. I've been driving for about 20 years and I'd be scared shitless to explore the limits of an M5 and I'd certainly be smart enough not to try it anywhere but on a track. I also wouldn't attempt it after drinking. Unfortunately these are decisions based on experience and maturity, things this kid did not have. At least he was smart enough not to try it on public roads.
This accident is as much the fault of the parents of the driver as it is the driver's himself. Not only did they give him this car capable of almost 200 mph and let him loose on the streets to potentially kill innocent people but they did it after this kid had racked up more than a few moving violations in his very short driving career. As a matter of fact, I think every kid in the car had more than one violation on their record. Sure, the passengers aren't responsible for the accident and I don't know the circumstances surrounding what happened in the car. For all I know they were begging him to slow down. Having been a teenager once, I think it was more likely that they were egging him on. They should have been smart enough to not get in the car if the driver had been drinking.
I'm not a huge fan of spoiled kids, having grown up in an area full of them. Parents that overly indulge their kids as a substitute for good parenting disgust me as well. Have you ever seen the show "My Super Sweet Sixteen" on MTV? I've seen it once and I was about to put my foot through the TV. It's amazing seeing parents surprise their spoiled brats with $50,000 + cars and then the kid throwing tantrums because it wasn't the color or the car they wanted.
Even if I was ridiculously wealthy and could afford to get my son an $80,000 car, I wouldn't. Not until he had some more driving experience and not until he proved he could be responsible enough to take care of it and drive it properly. He would have to show me that he can save money toward a first car and I would make sure it was a car he could handle. If I ever did get him a car with reasonable performance, I'd take an active role in teaching him how to properly drive it. I'd send him to a performance driving school, hell, I'd go myself. We all could use some additional driver training. Then I'd point him toward a safe way to experience the performance and limits of the car. Something like autocross or track days.
Yes, this kid probably would have done something stupid and dangerous even if he was driving a 100HP Honda Civic. Still, an M5 can hit triple digit speeds in the time it takes a Civic to hit 50mph which makes any stunt that more dangerous and deadly if you don't respect or control that power.
Finally, I would not be the least bit surprised if someone related to this finds some way to try to sue BMW or even the airstrip. Why not, no one in this country is responsible for their own actions anymore.
Enhanced Rewards Program With Bank Of America
The following race car drivers were added to the growing list of racers associated with the NASCAR Banking program: Bill Elliott, Dario Franchitti, Dale Jarrett, Mark Martin, Juan Pablo Montoya, Reed Sorenson, Kenny Wallace and retired driver Rusty Wallace. Their image and likeness will appear on check cards and credit cards just like pioneer members Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne, Martin Truex Jr., and Paul Menard, along with the late Dale Earnhardt and the NASCAR logo.
The Bank of America has also stated that they will work on enhancing their NASCAR RacePoints rewards program, by adding more benefits like being able to meet their favorite race car drivers and have access behind-the-scenes. In order to avail of this reward program, customers under the NASCAR Banking program has to earn RacePoints by using their credit cards or personal check cards in completing everyday transactions like buying groceries or gas for their car.
Not only can members meet their favorite drivers, but they will also get the chance to exchange their rewards points and claim NASCAR licensed merchandise, tickets and even get to serve as an honorary starter for the Bank of America 500. To sign up and know more about the product, NASCAR fans can visit the Bank of America or log in at http://www.bankofamerica.com/myexpression or go to any NASCAR event.
�The loyalty NASCAR fans have for their favorite drivers is legendary. Much of this loyalty is attributed to the accessibility of NASCAR drivers. With the enhancements that we are making to our NASCAR Banking and RacePoints programs for the upcoming season, Bank of America is creating unique opportunities for fans to get closer than ever to the sport they love,� said Mike Hargrave, Motorsports Platform Executive of the Bank of America.
Established in May 2007, MyExpression NASCAR Banking Program is widely recognized as the only banking facility which features NASCAR drivers in their line of products including check cards, checks and credit cards.
Sources: CNN Money
Joey Logano Against Age Restriction In Cup Series
NASCAR has already indicated that it plans on implementing a ruling wherein racers between 18 to 21 years will not be able to compete in Cup Series. Their rationale is that the drivers falling under this bracket might not be mature enough to handle the pressure that comes with being a NASCAR driver. However, not all are in agreement with this statement. Take Joey Logano for example.
Joey Logano is a 17-year old race car driver racing under the Joe Gibbs Racing banner. Coined their �child prodigy,� he and his team were expecting him to be able to make his nationwide debut on May 31 at the Dover International Speedway. However, if NASCAR has their way, it looks like he might have to wait a couple of more years.
"I like the way they have their system now, where you run short tracks [and are approved to advance to bigger tracks] by NASCAR officials," Logano said, "I feel it's a good way, but it's kind of out of my hands what we can do about it. Whatever happens, happens there."
A lot of people have been praising the abilities that Logano has at such a young age, including race car driver Mark Martin. Martin believes that Logano could compete and win in the next couple of years. This isn�t a surprise considering that his driving experience in terms of years almost rivals the experience of any veteran driver in the track since he�s been behind the wheel and competing at the age of six. Even Gibbs Racing team is pegging their hopes on him that he will one day become a superstar.
�It's a big deal for us, we've invested tons in Marc [Davis, another 17-year-old] and Joey," J.D. Gibbs said. "Our feeling on it is there's a good system in place -- if a guy's not ready, he's not mature enough, you don't go to the next track, you don't [advance] to the next series.�
It remains to be seen whether the age restriction will hamper Joey Logano�s dream to race nationwide this year or not. But if he and Gibbs Racing had their way, they would want to have the �child prodigy� racing in the track sooner rather than later.
Sources: Espn, Joe Gibbs Racing, augnews.com
Senin, 28 Januari 2008
Ayrton Senna From Prost's Perspective
These two drivers shared a lot of glory, and pain. These two drivers were the best in the chosen era that they had raced. The problem was that there can only be one champion, so in order to be champion one of them has to lose. Senna was a man of extreme, a very complicated man yet very enlightening to others when he talks about his beliefs.
Ayrton Senna always tried to be the best even if his equipment was not on par with the other drivers. He strived for excellence so when it comes to teaming up with Prost; it was he who said that he is supposed to be number 1 in the team not Prost. Prost was the team leader at the time when he had to choose between Senna or Piquet. Prost chosed Senna and from that point on forward; Prost knew he made a big mistake.
If you want to read more about this article, read this article from a Prost fan. The article is called Ayrton Senna - by Alain Prost this is a great article to read about Prost whom Senna raced a whole lot. He explained in detail about how Senna was as a person and as a racer.
