A driver lost control of his new ?200,000 Ferrari and careered off a motorway before it burst into flames - after owning it for just an hour.
Heard something about that on the "news" last night. If memory serves, they said speed wasn't a factor. But, looking at the pictures, how could speed Not be a factor?
Also makes me wonder how the insurance company will deal with that.
Holden and I worked at the motorsickle shop years ago and Kawasaki had been selling their H1 500cc 2-stroke triple for a year or two. We called them "Widow Makers". They possessed a superior power range over a HUGE rpm spectrum. They were scary fast and a lot of young folks died due to the combination of speed and stupidity.
So to make things right the Kawasaki Company did what any good motorcycle manufacturer would do...come out with something bigger and faster. It was about '72 and they came out with the H2 "Widow Maker"...750cc. It was wicked.
One went out the door one morning sold to a young man that had little experience on a high-performance platform. He was dead in 10 minutes. The station wagon he hit was actually torn in two. Four souls lost their life in the accident. 🙁
That's been common here in SE Louisiana in wet road conditions with performance vehicles.
Also among inexperienced drivers of performance vehicles on curves in excessive speeds.
About a year ago, someone was picked up in a bar by a guy with a Lamborghini. He lost it on a curve on Tchoupitoulas St and she died.
I also remember a lot of Porche drivers going airborne on wet interstates and checking out of this world.
When I was a much, much younger man, I almost pulled the trigger on a 911T, after a heartbreaking experience wherein my girlfriend and best buddy almost died by Schultz-inflicted GSWs. An older and wiser friend persuaded me not kill them, and also not to buy the car. She's very likely why I'm free, and alive to tell the story ..........................
paden cash, post: 439048, member: 20 wrote: "Widow Makers"
In Florida "Widow Makers" are dead pine trees which have a tendency to shed the top vertically like a spear which usually kills or maims whomever happens to be disturbing it. :scream:
Sergeant Schultz, post: 439068, member: 315 wrote: pulled the trigger on a 911
A 911 Turbo is like a rocket on rails. 😉
I rebuilt a Kawasaki Z1R (900cc) in the early 80s. After a few weeks I took the fuel injector kit off and sold it. Probably one of the reasons I survived.
That type of toy requires a delicate balance of skill, fear and luck. Those who think they can control even 2 of 3 are nearly always wrong.
thebionicman, post: 439071, member: 8136 wrote: That type of toy requires a delicate balance of skill, fear and luck. Those who think they can control even 2 of 3 are nearly always wrong.
Exactly how my Dad explained motorcycles to me forty years ago. His other favorite was: "the second you think you're in control and are no longer afraid is when she (the bike) will bite you hard"
You two are dead on target.
Steve
I've been blessed by God hisself when it comes to my motorsickle career. All of my "unscheduled contacts" with either other vehicles or the road have been minor enough for me to stay alive. All were also my fault. I've only spent a few days in a hospital because of a scooter and that was almost 50 years ago.
I do still ride and probably always will. When I'm on the road my brain looks like the inside of Tony Stark's Iron Man helmet display. And even though I am constantly watching, adjusting and going through split-second "what ifs" in my head....God and Lady Luck are still what keeps me in one piece.
thebionicman, post: 439071, member: 8136 wrote: That type of toy requires a delicate balance of skill, fear and luck. Those who think they can control even 2 of 3 are nearly always wrong.
That is ohh so true. For better or worse, technology (excellent brakes, lean sensing ABS, dynamic traction control, suspension that keeps the tires on the surface, and gobs of usable power) has given the average rider a whole bunch of "skill" that they never had access to. Now it's time to work more on fear and luck.
In 2007 a Yellow Freight driver on US169 in Tulsa was flagged down by fellow motorists around 2 AM. When the driver walked around the back this is what he saw:
Witnesses reported the rider was driving in excess of 125 mph when he hit the rear of the truck. The driver never knew the bike had impacted the trailer. The decedent was dragged approximately a mile before other motorists could flag down the semi driver.
Just because the speedo goes up to 150 doesn't necessarily mean you should go there.....Playing for keeps is the name of the game kiddies...be forewarned.
paden cash, post: 439116, member: 20 wrote: Witnesses reported the rider was driving in excess of 125 mph when he hit the rear of the truck.
[SARCASM]They'll probably want to P test him and make him complete a motorcycle safety course[/SARCASM]
paden cash, post: 439116, member: 20 wrote: Just because the speedo goes up to 150 doesn't necessarily mean you should go there.....Playing for keeps is the name of the game kiddies...be forewarned.
True. I'm sure that in your youth you have cranked one (and most likely many more) up to full throttle to see how fast it would go. You you know damn well you did. But I must admit you did so prudently otherwise you wouldn't still be here. 😉
FL/GA PLS., post: 439221, member: 379 wrote: True. I'm sure that in your youth you have cranked one (and most likely many more) up to full throttle to see how fast it would go. You you know damn well you did. But I must admit you did so prudently otherwise you wouldn't still be here. 😉
I was lucky in that motorcycles (that I could afford) in the sixties weren't revered for their top speed. I had a '68 Triumph Bonneville that would almost make "a ton" (100 mph), but I probably only had it up there only once or twice. 80 was a good cruise on the highway.
Through a horse trade I wound up with a Kawasaki crotch-rocket back in the early nineties; I had never even ridden on one. It had sucked a valve and the entire engine needed gone through. After over a year I finally had it road worthy. It had six gears and the tach redlined at like 8 grand.
I took it up to the gas station for its maiden flight. I pulled out from the pumps and took first gear up 'til it sounded like it was breathing good. I did the same in second and then dropped it into third at about 3000 rpm...I figured I was going 45 or 50 mph. I looked down at the speedo and was going almost 75 (in a 40).
The machine had three more gears and 5000 more rpms....I drove it one other time before I sold it. Too fast for this Okie Cracker. 😉
In my younger and more foolish youth, I tested the top end speed of a car or two I owned. I owned some boats: a Pontiac, a couple Olds 88s, etc. The speedometers on those cars only went to 120 mph.
I now own a car on which the speedometer tops out at 140. Only had the car a year so far, not sure I've even had it up to 80 yet. I think I'm settling down a bit, I would hesitate to say I'm getting much wiser though it often comes with the territory. 😉
His insurance premiums just went up...........
John, post: 439226, member: 791 wrote: In my younger and more foolish youth, I tested the top end speed of a car or two I owned. I owned some boats: a Pontiac, a couple Olds 88s, etc. The speedometers on those cars only went to 120 mph.
I now own a car on which the speedometer tops out at 140. Only had the car a year so far, not sure I've even had it up to 80 yet. I think I'm settling down a bit, I would hesitate to say I'm getting much wiser though it often comes with the territory. 😉
The fastest I have been in an automobile was with a buddy,Andy Helms, in his '69 Z-28. We topped his 140 mph speedo (and then some). I was sitting shotgun and begged him to slow down before we became "just two lines in the Oklahoma City Times".
I've often thought that preachers looking for converts should take people out in a fast car. A man can get right with God real quick at 140 mph. 😉
James Fleming, post: 439042, member: 136 wrote: A driver lost control of his new ?200,000 Ferrari and careered off a motorway before it burst into flames - after owning it for just an hour.
The driver walked away with just cuts and bruises.
Ahh! That's the good part.
N
thebionicman, post: 439071, member: 8136 wrote: I rebuilt a Kawasaki Z1R (900cc) in the early 80s. After a few weeks I took the fuel injector kit off and sold it. Probably one of the reasons I survived.
That type of toy requires a delicate balance of skill, fear and luck. Those who think they can control even 2 of 3 are nearly always wrong.
Nope luck Trump's all of them. One of my best buds was magician on a fourwheeler. He was feeling good every time I ever road with him and I could not hold a candle to him. Skill, yeah some . But skill without lady luck is useless, but there's one thing about lady luck. She's known to disappear at the most opportune time.
