I'm sending out a message to all of you out there, RX-7 owners and other hi-end sports car owners alike. I got in a bad car wreck on Nov - 24 - 02. I had a beautifull red 93 RX-7. Driving that car made me feel so good about being me, I didn't think anything or anyone could touch me. I started making a movie about street racing and I featured my car in it. One night I was trying to show off just how well the RX-7 can handle turns and I was hitting a corner at about 75-80 I'm not sure. I made the corner fine but it was a cold night and I think there was a little frost on the road which caused the back end to break loose and to make things worse there was a car coming in the other direction on a normaly abondoned road. I over corrected to avoid the car so the 7 spunn into out towards the side of the road. I hit a stone wall sideways and the car filped 9 or 10 feet in the air and landed on the wheels again. My passenger was fine just really shaken up. My face got messed up from the airbag but I really had no major injuries. The doctor told me it's a miricle I lived nevermind that I didn't break a single bone. The 7 is gone, the front and back are both smashed. I have to say though this it's a really dam strong car considering what happend the car held together really well. I just want to all all of you the RX-7's need to be respeced as well as the roads they drive on. There is a big difference between a race track and a public road. So many things can go worng, many of which are far beyond even the best drivers control. I am beyond lucky that I didn't kill someone and really ruin my life. I'm posting this hoping that some of you will be more careful. Don't ignor the close calls and friends who got into crashes. I did cuz I thought that I was better then them at driving and it was their fault they crashed. But somtimes it's byond your controll. You just have to think. I don't know what else to say. It just sucks guys, I put alot of work into my car and alot of myself into it and now it's just gone, in an instant and I'm questioning everything I used to know and what I should do now. Just learn from my mistake, if I can save just one person from the mental pain I'm in then it's worth it.

 

My condolences my friend...

Every day, I'm reminded by someone or something, just how dangerous racing around can be...

What's your outlook on the future?

 

thanx

I don't know a part of me wants to just get back up and get another RX-7 and learn from what happend. Another part of me wants to just buy a truck and never own a sports car again. The important thing is that I never make those kind of mistakes again cuz next time somone could die.

 

I'm sorry to hear that your car is ruined. But, glad that no one was hurt in the accident. There have been a few stories of accidents in RX-7s and some of them have not turned out as good as yours did. People die every day in car accidents. Respect the road and respect life.

 

very true

 

You should get another sports car (preferably a 7!), just dont push it on public roads. But, I'm sure that you know that. Look at this as a new opportunity in life and make sure you live to the fullest while making sure you still keep your life.

 

Yes, the illusion of complete control is a hard thing to get past. You're past it, and I'm glad your eye-opener cost you little more than a car.

 

The 3rd gen RX-7 is my dream car. I'd rather have it than any other car even a $650,000 ferrari. I just don't know if I can ever drive an RX-7 again. I think I just need time to get over it. I'm taking pictures of my messed up face and the wrecked car so I never forget what happens when you don't respect cars.

 

I'm glad that you're not dead and no one was hurt, but the first few lines of your post made me bust out laughing. I can't believe that a car would make you feel like something whatever. Statements and ideas like that are all too common with car people and it's really sad. I honestly hope this experience helps you find yourself and realize that you are not what you drive. You are not how much money you make. You are not better than anyone else. (This applies to everyone.) Like I said, I'm glad that no humans were hurt, but I am livid that ignorance and invicible attitude once again killed a car (any car).

 

Yes I always thought that I was in complete controll of my car and I knew how to hadlle it. But you can never have full control and there's just nothing you can do sometimes no matter how well you can drive

 

DK - I was just saying that I enjoyed driving my car and it made me feel good. I think anyone who is a little fanatical about their 7 would agree with me. But you are right a car should not define who you are.

 

It is astonishing to me how much this car feels invincible. As there there are no limits to it's handeling. The power feels as though from a stardrive, and so smooth you'd never know explosions gave rise to it.

Nonetheless, public roads are disaster waiting to strike. There ARE folks out there who pull the most unbelievable things, and still consider themselves "good" divers 'cause they've never been in an accident. There is a time and place for everything. The movies show one place and time that DOES NOT EXIST outside the cinema. As you say, we all must remember this, even as the boost monster rears back and craves more air at 6500 rpm.

I'm very glad you did not pay the ultimate price for your new-found respect. I pray others can be so fortunate.

Thanks for your post.

 

You know I'm realizeing that a "good driver" is not somone who can go 150mi. down a highway without hitting a car or somone who can go 90 down a back road or even somone who can flawlessly correct an over-steer. It's the person that knows that the track is the only place to push you and your car to it's limits cause a track is a controled environment and a public road is a place filled with unforseable variables. A good driver knows this and respects this, as I do now.

 

yep, stick to the track.

 

Glad your OK. It takes a lot to admit your wrong and i give you much respect for writing this thread. The silver lining to your incident is that you learned from your mistake thats the most important part. Lets take it easy on public roads people and save the spirited driving for the track.

 

I recently lost control in my 7 as well. Other than a dent in my rims, and a bad aligment job I came out of it alive and unscaved. I am lucky, I could have lost a lot more.
I wish track time wasn't so expensive, and so far away.
For now I will be keeping it calm on the roads.

 

Welps..now that you've learned your lessson..

GET A 7!!!

 

So far away? You're joking right? If you live in Camarillo, California, then you are within a day's driving distance of:

- Willow Springs (Big track & streets)
- California Speedway
- Buttonwillow
- Laguna Seca
- Sears Point
- Thunderhill
- Las Vegas Motor Speedway
- Spring Mountain Motor Sports Park
- more that I'm sure I forgot or don't know of

People in the rest of the country can only dream of having this many tracks within easy driving distance of their own homes!

 

hey, sorry to hear about what happened....

rayman, i can relate to the feeling that you're talking about... in terms of making you feel good n' stuff. It's just pure joy driving the 7 around... anytime on any given day. so just take the time to heal your wounds inside & out and get another 7 and drive it responsibly. :P

 

Sorry to hear about your car, but damn your trippen kid. Pass the crackpipe this way, cuz youve obviously never been in any Ferrari. To each his own i suppose. haha.. just givin ya a hard time

 

interesting comments about factors not under your control...

I own a yamaha R1 full race and all it takes is a few minutes both to realize how much power is under your *** and that people dont even see you on the road. You could be the best rider/driver and still many factors are out of your control.

Motorcycle driving taught me that outside of anything else...everytime I go out something stupid happens...pull out or someone cuts right in front of you and drops your insides to your ankles...

Glad that you are ok...love life, love others and most importantly love yourself.

 

Sorry to hear....

If you get another 7, you may be scared of it or scared to take it up. Defiantly get another sports car though, why abandon a love just because of an ACCIDENT?

 

I also own a motorcycle, and I think it's made me a MUCH better driver. I took a motorcycle safety course, and you learn just how much you have to pay attention to everything happening around you.

 

Could have been alot worse...time to start savin for your next sever, which will be nicer and faster...Bright side of things is that God gave you a second chance to own another 7!

Thanks for sharing and I hope everyone can learn from this..

 

I don't do illegal street racing and I barely do track racing. I am very careful. All of my friends have been in an accident and wrecked their cars. They are ok, but their cars are gone too. I have already lost one friend to a motorcycle crash and almost lost another in a drunken crash! Please everyone be safe, have fun but be safe. I always drive safely and only drive hard sometimes and usually when it's safe. I do admit I have done some crazy things, but I have lightened it somewhat and I drive slower now. Even though you think your car can do a turn at 80, please think about it carefully before attempting something like that, I think it's crazy! My friend in a camaro took a turn @ over 80 MPH and flipped his car from hitting a rail and slamming into a wall coming to a almost dead stop from hitting it. He was in the hospital for a couple days and he lost his car to that accident, kind of the same thing that happened to you. So please everyone be safe.