Filed under: Coupes, Sports/GTs, Etc., Supercars, Ferrari, Australia
"Hello dad, I totaled your Ferrari - what time is dinner?"
Somewhere, a father in Melbourne weeps. There were 16 Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradales imported to Australia and New Zealand. There are now 15. A proud dad gave his son the keys to his so-rare-it's-almost-extinct Ferrari, and his son got a little too frisky with the audacious redhead. She didn't appreciate his advances, he lost control of the situation, and that little redhead introduced him to a pole... at a high rate of speed by the looks of it.
And as if that didn't beat all, the kid had to call home. While news crews watched. And filmed. Only to have newspapers and blogs spread the story around the world. No word on what his father said, but it probably rhymed with "Why I oughta @#%$*&%!"
Police say the driver was speeding, which means he must not have seen these commercials. But now, at least, he has a theme song, so sing along: "To you other kids all across the land, take it from me, parents just don't understand..." Thanks for the tip, Patrick!
[Source: Sydney Morning Herald]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)
Tragedy 11:01AM (5/05/2008)
Dietrich is in Australia now??
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keeper 11:02AM (5/05/2008)
I have a rule - I do not loan my car to anyone. I am selfish, but the rule has worked fine so far - no one has called to tell me they just totaled my car.
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John B 1:51PM (5/05/2008)
Well, a Toyota Yaris maybe.
I'm glad no one was seriously injured but I'm seriously fed up with idiots who think they have the skills to tame cars like this. I hope his father takes him to Aussie equivalent of the wood shed for a good beating. Lucky the kid and passenger didn't suffer the same fate as Danny Heatley. I do like the location though:
"the spectacular accident, which took place on Batman Avenue."
Xcountryflyer 2:22PM (5/05/2008)
Probably stole the keys when the dad wasn't looking. What dad is going to let their kid drive that by themselves? Its so Ferris Bueller.
Alex 2:40PM (5/05/2008)
I bet you didn't share your building blocks either. I too have never received the "i crashed your car" phone call either yet i have loaned out my truck countless times to friends who need to pick something up, I even let my friend use my XJR because he wanted to impress a date.
The moral of the story here isn't to be a selfish bastard, its to be smart. If my 18 y/o brother asked to borrow my Jaguar to take to the prom i'd laugh and hang up on him. If my 30y/o brother called and asked to use the truck to pick up mulch, i'd throw him the keys.
Is dad an idiot for letting his borrow his car? We don't know. Perhaps the kid has a M3 as his daily driver.
We should all simply mourn the loss of a beautiful and rare(er) car, and simultaneously say a small prayer in thanks that no one was injured or killed.
Unknown 3:05PM (5/05/2008)
I go by that rule too but I have a second rule I also go by and that is to never drive anyone else's cars. I have turned down a lot of offers to drive some crazy cars. Example: 1100HP Ford GT. It is a fast way to screw up a friendship.
Slade 11:06AM (5/05/2008)
Seems the rich boy got what he deserved. I wave my pinky at him.
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geo.stewart 11:22AM (5/05/2008)
and so did daddy. giving your son the keys to a car with that much power or something worth that much is just ridiculous. of course, maybe it is a drop in the piss pot to dear old dad, what do i know?>
jgp 11:57AM (5/05/2008)
So if he wasn't rich, he wouldn't have deserved it?
Class warriors need to burn.
Mallory 12:14PM (5/05/2008)
Probably wasn't the first, won't be the last. I'm sure Daddy will make it all OK. It's not like he had to work for the car and now he has to do without or something.
Reader 4:38PM (5/09/2008)
I love the type of people that have no sense of reality. Saying this is what rich people deserve and stuff and yet you've probably never missed a meal in your life or had to sleep out in the open. How are you any different in relation to someone who is poorer than you?
Just for the record, I've never had to miss a meal in my life because I was too poor either, but I also don't go hating on rich people simply because they've acquired more money than me by whatever means.
Silver 11:07AM (5/05/2008)
Spoiled rich kids and the idiot parents who spoil them deserve what they get.
Karma. It's what's for dinner.
Me = paying for my own car since my 16th birthday. And not regretting a moment of it.
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Richard 11:28AM (5/05/2008)
So Silver. If someone handed you the Keys to any Ferrari and said: "Here you go." You would say :" F-off! I am paying for my own!"?
Now, I am not saying that dear old dad didn't show some bad judgment, but - wtf - you're not better because you are paying for your own Stradale, son.
Though you may be a bit more appreciative.
IK47 11:29AM (5/05/2008)
spoiled rich kids?
don't be so arrogant
as if you wouldn't let your son drive one of your cars
people get into accidents
it's just part of life
Silver 11:57AM (5/05/2008)
"If someone handed you the Keys to any Ferrari and said: "Here you go." You would say :" F-off! I am paying for my own!"?"
No, I wouldn't drive it, nor could I buy my own. I wouldn't take the wheel of a car I couldn't afford to replace, no matter whose it was.
"Though you may be a bit more appreciative."
Yep.
"as if you wouldn't let your son drive one of your cars"
A Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale? Nope, I wouldn't.
People who think handing the keys to a fast, expensive (and, in this case, ber rare) car to a kid with no sense of accountability (or the driving skills to handle such an automobile) is somehow a good idea (or just "part of life") are off their nuts.
Ask Hulk Hogan.
Zeus.:God 4:13PM (5/05/2008)
I agree with you for the most part Silver... Sound like a responsible young man.
XGM 4:57PM (5/05/2008)
Oh seeing as I am 17, and I have driven my uncles Carrera GT for about a dozen times now. And would you know what, havn't crashed it and only went over 100 Km/h once (because he brought me to the track with it :))
Dolemite 7:11PM (5/05/2008)
I agree with the second part of what Silver says, as I would never drive something which I could not replace, as respect for the property of others is important.
But then, such a rule does not apply in a family, especially between a father-son.
I am sure that the dad is just relieved that his son is okay, as Ferraris can get replaced.
3seriesisking 11:09AM (5/05/2008)
Damnit!!!
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ethanwood7 11:10AM (5/05/2008)
Now dad has an excuse to upgrade to a F430 Scuderia.
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