$4.5million settlement for fatal Porsche CGT wreck at Ferrari Club event
- Thread starter B O N Y
- Start date
PL510*Jeff
Well-known member
We must remember that Mrs. Rudl & her family lost her husband, father, son, brother or friend.
And that he just went for a ride with his friend in a Super car on a race track.
His death was caused by the actions, or in-actions, of the others involved.
Automobiles are not toys. Driving a automobile is a privilege and not a right.
The inherent "risk" of being in a car on a race track is common knowledge, just as is the "risk" known for any (insert here) activity.
The settlement was based on "wrongs". The Track was wrong. The FOC was wrong. The car owner was wrong. The "other" driver was wrong. Mr. Rudl died because of their wrongs.
I am always concerned when the cost of defense, by Porsche in this case, may cause a precedence to be established. The conflicting views and words of the engineers and the advertising "statements" of the CGT program most likely caused the insurance company, and possibly not the manufacturer directly, to contribute to this settlement.
I like cars and love to drive them and to race them. I accept the risk and the responsibility of driving, without hesitation. The inclusion of devices such as Seat belts, ABS, Traction control, Stability systems in a particular vehicle does not relieve me of my personal responsibility to do everything in my power to get the car and its occupants to the destination safely.
I'll step off the soap box now.
And that he just went for a ride with his friend in a Super car on a race track.
His death was caused by the actions, or in-actions, of the others involved.
Automobiles are not toys. Driving a automobile is a privilege and not a right.
The inherent "risk" of being in a car on a race track is common knowledge, just as is the "risk" known for any (insert here) activity.
The settlement was based on "wrongs". The Track was wrong. The FOC was wrong. The car owner was wrong. The "other" driver was wrong. Mr. Rudl died because of their wrongs.
I am always concerned when the cost of defense, by Porsche in this case, may cause a precedence to be established. The conflicting views and words of the engineers and the advertising "statements" of the CGT program most likely caused the insurance company, and possibly not the manufacturer directly, to contribute to this settlement.
I like cars and love to drive them and to race them. I accept the risk and the responsibility of driving, without hesitation. The inclusion of devices such as Seat belts, ABS, Traction control, Stability systems in a particular vehicle does not relieve me of my personal responsibility to do everything in my power to get the car and its occupants to the destination safely.
I'll step off the soap box now.
I remember what the insurance and government did to kill off the muscle cars.
I live in fear of watching that happen again.
I remember the little 'econo' Mustang II fastbacks with the Shelby stripes from the early 70's as a bad nightmare.
When we have examples of 20% of the FGT fleet badly damaged and the fleet average of less than 1000 miles per year per car, it doesn't take much of an imagination to see where this could go. I am amazed who cheap my insurance is, considering the risk involved.
Oh well, time for a MAKERS MARK MANHATTAN.
- Aug 25, 2006
- 4,436
Truly it was a very sad situation; the fellow was an avid car person with several in his stable and found great pleasure with them and in sharing the experience with others however whether racing as was this case or simply tooling down the highway life caring with it risk and responsibilities. For many they elect to curb or control risk at every junction and yet for others the risk is a compelling reason to go forward.
Was a person or thing indirectly responsible for this tragic situation; IMO yes the driver as such the mere thought of litigation much less the outcome of one electing not to fight it turns my stomach.
Sadly in this country more than others windfall $$ are exchanged on a daily basis based on the cheaper of two options.
In the end we all will pay a portion of this settlement
Shadowman
Was a person or thing indirectly responsible for this tragic situation; IMO yes the driver as such the mere thought of litigation much less the outcome of one electing not to fight it turns my stomach.
Sadly in this country more than others windfall $$ are exchanged on a daily basis based on the cheaper of two options.
In the end we all will pay a portion of this settlement
Shadowman
Thanks Jeff!
It is easy to be a Monday morning quarterback.
It is hard to be a bad guy and black flag someone who paid big bucks to run his car at an open track event. Especially since everybody wants to see what the super car can do. It is hard to tell someone they can't have a passenger on board. Bear in mind, many of us that own super cars tell people what to do and hate to be told anything.
Sadly, I was there, saw the aftermath. Not pretty at all.
Oh by the way, I got loose on the top of that oval and vowed that it was my last time on that track. I was over my head and abilities. No damage, and nothing that TIDE soap didn't wash out of my shorts. Oh by the way, I haven't been on the track since.
cmoody32
GT Owner
- Dec 8, 2006
- 536
Empty Pockets
ex-GT Owner
Very true, Jeff, to be sure. But, he ALSO knew (or should have known) the risks inherent in being on a race track regardless of whom is behind the wheel of the car HE's in - or who's behind the wheel of the OTHER car.
Regardless, "the other guy" factor was in play from a dozen different standpoints. The driver of the vehicle one happens to be in is NEVER in control of all of them...
Like I said: we all knowingly take risks just staying home.
Let's not go nuts here. Lots of these things have been dinged or wrecked, but it's a huge stretch to say 800 of them have been badly damaged.
Jason's Auto Spa
Well-known member
Great discussion here :thumbsup A lot of great points.
(And back in the shadows I will go. Me and Mr. Jameson)
(And back in the shadows I will go. Me and Mr. Jameson)
p.s, someone else will have to confirm, but if this was at all involved with a banked track, it's yet another reason I refuse to be involved with track events where banked turns, street cars, and differing driver skill levers are involved.
The El Toro auto X wasn't a high speed event, and it should be clear why. You get a lot of people to a track, everyone gets their blood pumping, and people lose a portion of their mental safety switch. I don't run my GT at anything more than 8 /10ths at the track because I don't want to a) hurt myself or b) hurt the car.
Always pick tracks will lots of run off, good organization, and similar skill level run groups.
The El Toro auto X wasn't a high speed event, and it should be clear why. You get a lot of people to a track, everyone gets their blood pumping, and people lose a portion of their mental safety switch. I don't run my GT at anything more than 8 /10ths at the track because I don't want to a) hurt myself or b) hurt the car.
Always pick tracks will lots of run off, good organization, and similar skill level run groups.
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El Toro was a safe and sane auto cross,... miles away from an open track event.
The fatal accident occurred on California Speedway was not on the oval, the flag man was a volunteer, easy to loose concentration. Very sad day as Jeff correctly states.
Now for the lighter side. Here is test, be curious how most folks honestly do:-
Try this little test with out cheating by looking at the answers Grin
This is a quiz for people who know everything! I found out in a hurry that I didn't. These are not trick questions. They are straight questions with straight answers.
1. Name the one sport in which neither the spectators nor the participants know the score or the leader until the contest ends.
2. What famous North American landmark is constantly moving backward?
3. Of all vegetables, only two can live to produce on their own for several growing seasons. All other vegetables must be replanted every year. What are the only two perennial vegetables?
4. What fruit has its seeds on the outside?
5. In many liquor stores, you can buy pear brandy, with a real pear inside the bottle. The pear is whole and ripe, and the bottle is genuine; it hasn't been cut in any way. How did the pear get insi de the bottle?
6. Only three words in standard English begin with the letters " dw" and they are all common words. Name two of them.
7. There are 14 punctuation marks in English grammar. Can you name at least half of them?
8. Name the only vegetable or fruit that is never sold frozen, canned, processed, cooked, or in any other form except fresh.
9. Name 6 or more things that you can wear on your feet beginning with the letter "S."
Scroll down for the answers...
Answers To Quiz:
1. The one sport in which neither the spectators nor the participants know the score or the leader until the contest ends . . Boxing
2. North American landmark constantly moving backward . Niagara Falls (The rim is worn down about two and a half feet each year because of the millions of gallons of water that rush over it every minute.)
3. Only two vegetables that can live to produce on their own for several growing seasons . . Asparagus and rhubarb.
4. The fruit with its seeds on the outside . . St rawberry.
5. How did the pear get inside the brandy bottle? It grew inside the bottle. (The bottles are placed over pear buds when they are small, and are wired in place on the tree. The bottle is left in place for the entire growing season. When the pears are ripe, they are snipped off at the stems.)
6. Three English words beginning with dw . Dwarf, dwell and dwindle.
7. Fourteen punctuation marks in English grammar . . Period, comma, colon, semicolon, dash, hyphen, apostrophe, question mark, exclamation point, quotation marks, bracket S, parenthesis, braces, and ellipses.
8. The only vegetable or fruit never sold ! Frozen, canned, processed, cooked, or in any other form but fresh Lettuce.
9. Six or more things you can wear on your feet beginning with "S" . Shoes, socks, sandals, sneakers, slippers, skis, skates, snowshoes, stockings, stilts.
Saleen exec 100% loose with the facts. :lol Though they could always consider a dinged fender badly damaged I suppose. I know how many frames have been used, and you could be in a very moderate accident where a new frame or total is called for. That number ain't even remotely close to 800.
There is absolutely no way 800 Ford GT's have been "badly" damaged. Even if badly damaged is $50,000 worth of damage. I doubt anywhere near 800 have even needed any kind of body work at all.
The poor women lost her spouse.
Nobody anticipated the potential danger.
The settlement cost the f car driver $90k.
I knew the cgt owner, ben from another site.
Sad affair.
Nobody anticipated the potential danger.
The settlement cost the f car driver $90k.
I knew the cgt owner, ben from another site.
Sad affair.
Ben was a neighbor. It was a very sad affair for sure that goes almost without saying.
Hopefully this incident does some good going forward regarding track preparation/managment during track days etc. I've competed at that track and know exactly where the impact took place and find it inexcusable that Speedway management didn't return the concrete barriers to their normal positions. I don't like racing at events, like the speedway, where there are concrete barriers. There is no doubt that great strides are being made to make these tracks safer for drivers but driving at speed ANYWHERE where you can smack something immovable at speed is DEADLY.
I think it's bullshit that the drivers estate got sued. Just my opinion. I don't take people out with me when I'm on track. Well, at least never at anything over cruise speed(or victory laps:wink)
Hopefully this incident does some good going forward regarding track preparation/managment during track days etc. I've competed at that track and know exactly where the impact took place and find it inexcusable that Speedway management didn't return the concrete barriers to their normal positions. I don't like racing at events, like the speedway, where there are concrete barriers. There is no doubt that great strides are being made to make these tracks safer for drivers but driving at speed ANYWHERE where you can smack something immovable at speed is DEADLY.
I think it's bullshit that the drivers estate got sued. Just my opinion. I don't take people out with me when I'm on track. Well, at least never at anything over cruise speed(or victory laps:wink)
The poor women lost her spouse.
Nobody anticipated the potential danger.
The settlement cost the f car driver $90k.
I knew the cgt owner, ben from another site.
Sad affair.
Nobody anticipated the potential danger.
The settlement cost the f car driver $90k.
I knew the cgt owner, ben from another site.
Sad affair.
What is interesting is that nobody has commented about the horrific picture that SCM used.
This is so sad. I am having second thoughts about starting this thread.
But, i can rationalize it as thought provoking. Perhaps folks will think twice about potential risk.
This is so sad. I am having second thoughts about starting this thread.
But, i can rationalize it as thought provoking. Perhaps folks will think twice about potential risk.