Well, that was his first mistake 
Teaching your son to drive ...
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 217
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From: Syracuse New York
Teaching your son to drive ...
A father was teaching his 15 year old son (unlicensed, no permit) to drive in an area of mostly private roads near one of our warehouses a couple weeks ago. They pulled up to the building and somehow the boy instead of putting the car in reverse, left it in drive, paniced, floored it, and froze. The 2005 Pontiac Vibe went thru the large overhead door, turned right went thru a 10' high stud and drywall wall, kept going, drove thru another block wall and large overhead door leaving the building. The car hit half in the overhead door and half in the block wall leaving. About 15' of block fell down, some of it thru the roof of the car and the overhead door was bent out and ruined. The car was totalled, fortunately the blocks missed either the father's or son's heads so they were only cut up a bit. Damage to the building will be about $40K.
The father has an insurance and financial nightmare.
Think about this when you're taking your underage child out to "learn" how to drive. If you must do it ... stay a long way away from anything or anyone.
The father has an insurance and financial nightmare.
Think about this when you're taking your underage child out to "learn" how to drive. If you must do it ... stay a long way away from anything or anyone.
Team Owner
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From: The Beautiful Pacific Northwest
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09, '14-'15-'16-'17-'18
I kept waiting for a punch-line, but I guess it is a real story?
Too bad insurance probably won't cover it since the kid had no permit...
Too bad insurance probably won't cover it since the kid had no permit...
Le Mans Master
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From: AKA Harvey Mushman-I know just enough to be dangerous "Those who sacrifice liberty for safety deserve neither"- B. Franklin
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What the hell was the father doing all this time? He might as well of let the kid go out on his own. I watched some dumb azz go through that kind of mess once in a parking lot that I was standing in. I lunged in the car window and turned the key. Show over-Duh.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2000
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From: Hurst, TX USA
Amazing how "stupid" young drivers are. Just after my son got his permit I let him drive our van to the bank (about a mile total). Backing out of the drive he hit the gas a bit hard and rammed my neighbor's mail box. I should have learned from that, small dent in the bumper - mail box OK... Then, pulling into the bank drive-through he cut it to sharp and ran over a concrete block and cut open both brand new right side tires. As I was yelling "STOP STOP!!!" No real harm, but he was really embarassed and took a long time before he drove again. Since then, in 8 years of driving, he's had only one very minor accident, so maybe he learned something from it.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 10,295
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From: Downers Grove IL
St. Jude Donor '15
I learned on the farm, and on the back roads far away from traffic and buildings. I also had to ride with my dad for 500 miles on my permit before being allowed to drive by myself. In hindsight, it was a good idea!
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: San Diego CA
I learned in Vermont, where houses were few and far between. Luckily here in CA, new drivers MUST take proffesional driving lessons and I believe many "student driver" cars have brake pedals on both sides so the teacher can prevent unfortunate consequences. I will be teaching my son how to drive soon. The 89 Mazda will make a good test-mule.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Everett WA
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When I was a young fellow, walking home one day I witnessed almost the same thing.
Young girl at the wheel (maybe 13) Mother in the passenger seat. Girl takes a 90 degree left turn way too fast and freezes on the wheel. The car continued to turn and she took out the far front corner of the house on that lot
It was the most amazing thing that I had seen up to that point in my life.
Neither mother nor daughter were hurt but I remember the mother getting out of the car and yelling "Don't worry it wasn't your fault" I was waiting for her to continue on and say "... that damn house jumped right out in front of you"
Young girl at the wheel (maybe 13) Mother in the passenger seat. Girl takes a 90 degree left turn way too fast and freezes on the wheel. The car continued to turn and she took out the far front corner of the house on that lot
It was the most amazing thing that I had seen up to that point in my life.Neither mother nor daughter were hurt but I remember the mother getting out of the car and yelling "Don't worry it wasn't your fault" I was waiting for her to continue on and say "... that damn house jumped right out in front of you"
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What a terrible way to start learning about driving. That poor kid will be worried about driving for a long, long time.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Silver Spring MD
Originally Posted by JDs00PewterCoupe
What a terrible way to start learning about driving. That poor kid will be worried about driving for a long, long time.
Yeah, guess his parents will be driving his to highschool and every date til he's 30...
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 217
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From: Syracuse New York
[QUOTE=Red Racer]I kept waiting for a punch-line, but I guess it is a real story?
Yes ... it is a true story.
My guess is that his insurance will pay us and go after the father for the damages to the building. They also will probably refuse the claim for the car. The guy could be out $60K. Serious driving lesson.
We have three similar buildings right next to each other. If he had done it at the next building down, there are 19 classic and muscle cars in there. The first three cars he would have hit are two 1967 Corvettes 427/435 and a 1965 Corvette 327/365.
Yes ... it is a true story.
My guess is that his insurance will pay us and go after the father for the damages to the building. They also will probably refuse the claim for the car. The guy could be out $60K. Serious driving lesson.
We have three similar buildings right next to each other. If he had done it at the next building down, there are 19 classic and muscle cars in there. The first three cars he would have hit are two 1967 Corvettes 427/435 and a 1965 Corvette 327/365.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 24,129
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From: The Beautiful Pacific Northwest
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09, '14-'15-'16-'17-'18
[QUOTE=wilerty]
Looks like in this case, it truly "could have been worse." 
Originally Posted by Red Racer
I kept waiting for a punch-line, but I guess it is a real story?
Yes ... it is a true story.
My guess is that his insurance will pay us and go after the father for the damages to the building. They also will probably refuse the claim for the car. The guy could be out $60K. Serious driving lesson.
We have three similar buildings right next to each other. If he had done it at the next building down, there are 19 classic and muscle cars in there. The first three cars he would have hit are two 1967 Corvettes 427/435 and a 1965 Corvette 327/365.
Yes ... it is a true story.
My guess is that his insurance will pay us and go after the father for the damages to the building. They also will probably refuse the claim for the car. The guy could be out $60K. Serious driving lesson.
We have three similar buildings right next to each other. If he had done it at the next building down, there are 19 classic and muscle cars in there. The first three cars he would have hit are two 1967 Corvettes 427/435 and a 1965 Corvette 327/365.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 638
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From: Gainesville Va
[QUOTE=wilerty]
How many people were around to see this? I would guess none so why did the father say that his son was driving the car? 
Originally Posted by Red Racer
I kept waiting for a punch-line, but I guess it is a real story?
Yes ... it is a true story.
My guess is that his insurance will pay us and go after the father for the damages to the building. They also will probably refuse the claim for the car. The guy could be out $60K. Serious driving lesson.
We have three similar buildings right next to each other. If he had done it at the next building down, there are 19 classic and muscle cars in there. The first three cars he would have hit are two 1967 Corvettes 427/435 and a 1965 Corvette 327/365.
Yes ... it is a true story.
My guess is that his insurance will pay us and go after the father for the damages to the building. They also will probably refuse the claim for the car. The guy could be out $60K. Serious driving lesson.
We have three similar buildings right next to each other. If he had done it at the next building down, there are 19 classic and muscle cars in there. The first three cars he would have hit are two 1967 Corvettes 427/435 and a 1965 Corvette 327/365.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 7,825
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From: Manassas VA
My early driving years (1990-92) were behind the wheel of a 1971 Chartreuse Green(flat) Dodge Dart with a slant 6 that was too weak to get me from A to B and back to A! 
That damned car had a world of problems: Gas guage didn't work.
Upholstery was dry-rotted, so the wind would rip the back seat and all the stuffing would fly around inside the car. Looked like a snowstorm in the summer!
Headliner came detached in teh middle and would rest on my head.
It would overheat and smoke if I sat in traffic.
I had to powerbrake to keep it running when stopped.
I had to deal with my teachers and peers (high school) with that awful color (plus all the other problems)
Made me REAAAALLLYY appreciate hard work, planning, and dedication!
That damned car had a world of problems: Gas guage didn't work. Upholstery was dry-rotted, so the wind would rip the back seat and all the stuffing would fly around inside the car. Looked like a snowstorm in the summer!
Headliner came detached in teh middle and would rest on my head.
It would overheat and smoke if I sat in traffic.
I had to powerbrake to keep it running when stopped.
I had to deal with my teachers and peers (high school) with that awful color (plus all the other problems)
Made me REAAAALLLYY appreciate hard work, planning, and dedication!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 217
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From: Syracuse New York
Originally Posted by MrKool
How many people were around to see this? I would guess none so why did the father say that his son was driving the car?
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,375
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From: Western NY
Originally Posted by BigJoe
Amazing how "stupid" young drivers are. Just after my son got his permit I let him drive our van to the bank (about a mile total). Backing out of the drive he hit the gas a bit hard and rammed my neighbor's mail box. I should have learned from that, small dent in the bumper - mail box OK... Then, pulling into the bank drive-through he cut it to sharp and ran over a concrete block and cut open both brand new right side tires. As I was yelling "STOP STOP!!!" No real harm, but he was really embarassed and took a long time before he drove again. Since then, in 8 years of driving, he's had only one very minor accident, so maybe he learned something from it.
"Maybe he's learned something???" I haven't created that much carnage in 37 years of driving!
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Joined: Dec 2002
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From: New Jersey
St. Jude Donor '05, '12-'13, '15-'16, '21
Originally Posted by JDs00PewterCoupe
What a terrible way to start learning about driving. That poor kid will be worried about driving for a long, long time.
