Hamilton Senior takes a Carrera GT for a spin
"Dad, I've totalled the (insert name of first car here)." Chances are that even if you haven't had to use that phrase, you know someone who has. But in an unusual twist, Anthony Hamilton may be making the sheepish call to his son this morning.
Lewis Hamilton's dad has put someone's Carrera GT through a hedge just a couple of hundred meters from the family home in the village of Tewin, just north of London. He's not saying who the Porsche belongs to, but it appears to have German license plates, which unfortunately makes it unlikely that the car belongs to new Swiss immigrant Lewis. That would have made the story so much sweeter.
Follow the jump to The Daily Mail's version of events, but we take the tabloid's assertation that Mr. Hamilton "somehow lost control on a straight road," with a pinch of salt. The road is a sweeping right hander and was greasy at the time of the accident. Given the proximity to the Hamilton home and the GT's reputation for snap over steer, it's pretty easy to imagine what happened. Thanks for the tip Robert!
[Source: The Daily Mail]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Torrent 11:09AM (6/05/2008)
Seniors can be so smart sometimes.
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Hootan 11:13AM (6/05/2008)
It always hurts to see one of these rare cars damaged. Like that movie last year where they totaled a GT "for authenticity".
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Flashpoint 11:13AM (6/05/2008)
If this person can afford to own a Porsche over there, then I sincerely doubt they'll be phased by this.
They'll get a new paint job, and new parts where neccessary and be on with it.
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vkchu 11:18AM (6/05/2008)
unfortunately, if the car was bought for investment purposes, it will have lost a good chunk of its value. anthony just wasnt used to the car (obvious, eh?)-inexperience w/ that kind of power usually leads to the results that anthony got.
joe 11:37AM (6/05/2008)
@vkchu: somehow i think the value doesn't get diminished when you have a good story with it, such as would be the case here: how many people could say they had to repaint and replace some parts due to Lewis Hamilton's dad taking a spin through a bush? Don't you think that would make up for it? Not to mention, I have some doubts as to whether there was really an investment here, as if the car was really bought for investment, why would the owner loan it and not be around the car?
zamafir 11:41AM (6/05/2008)
Who purchases the highest volume porsche supercar for investment purposes?
Per the dad, it's not as if the Carrera GT is the easiest of cars to handle.
Richard 11:19AM (6/05/2008)
How beautiful would it be to hear: "Son, I am fine, but I totaled the car."
Sweet! Given you are insured and the vehicle is able to be replaced.
My dad has never let me forget when I bent the "bumper" mounts on his E-Type...33 years ago.
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Injected 11:19AM (6/05/2008)
Age does not mean wisdom, rich does not mean smart.
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Richard 11:29AM (6/05/2008)
And Newtonian physics (read: rear weight bias) always beats slow reflexes and braking mid-turn.
MKIV 1:28PM (6/05/2008)
"Age does not mean wisdom,"
Somone tell that to John McCain.
Mobius_1 11:21AM (6/05/2008)
"Like father, like son" doesn't apply here
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gus 12:12PM (6/05/2008)
It kinda does... remember last year's Chinese GP?
WackyChan 4:49AM (6/13/2008)
You mean, "Like son, like father." yes a lol would be appropriate here.
Benfolio 11:25AM (6/05/2008)
I'd like to hedge a bet that it'll buff right out.
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Injected 11:30AM (6/05/2008)
And I'd bet a hedge it doesn't.
Benfolio 2:47PM (6/05/2008)
I'll see your hedge, and raise your insurance premiums.
Eddie 11:27AM (6/05/2008)
In my neighborhood the older people are the ones getting into accidents, (crashing into mailboxes, sliding into lawns) and speeding thru the neighborhood.
But the teenagers don't speed and don't crash into stationary objects.
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Corey L 11:28AM (6/05/2008)
"He's not saying who the Porsche belongs to, but it appears to have German license plates"
Dietrich?
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Richard 11:30AM (6/05/2008)
LOL!
Noidor 12:24PM (6/05/2008)
So let's see here, last year Hamilton Jr. understeered his MP4-23 into gravel in rain, and this time its Hamilton Sr oversteering into a hedge again rain being a factor. Clear cut difference in driving styles!
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