Paul Walker dead ? ( Not ours )

[PJ Rowland]

You know your in a stunt bubble when you read this as a headline and automatically think of a Nats winner !

Alas we are saved from that fateful information only to read :

US actor Paul Walker, who starred in the Fast & Furious series of action films, has been killed in a car crash in California.

Walker, 40, was a passenger in a Porsche sports car driven by a friend - who also died - when it crashed north of Los Angeles.

Walker was said to be attending a charity event at the time.

[Paul Walker]

Yeah, the guy driving me was going too fast! Too late now.

[Mike Keville]

Well, the headlined News item had us going there for a moment.   

[wwwarbird]

 It might be a good idea to update the title here.

 Glad "our" Paul is still with us.

[Mike Keville]

Done!

[Joe Yau]

Didn't believe it when I heard the news.. what a horrible death!  it is indeed sad.

Some details on the car:
http://www.autoweek.com/article/20131201/CARNEWS/131209998

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gL3lL5kay4g

[Mike Callas]

Incredibly sad. I read the drivers child witnessed the aftermath.
This happened down the road from me. The roads in the industrial park are wide and usually free of traffic.
The Carrera GT is a special animal, 2 guys died in a crash at Cal speedway 7 or 8 years ago during a track day. A very, very fast car.

[Steve Helmick]

Sounds like way too fast in the wrong place. I don't think I've ever seen that Paul Walker, but am very relieved it wasn't our Paul Walker.

Looking at the pictures of the wreck, I'm hoping that it won't be rebuilt at Gas Monkey Garage, on Fast & Loud.

Everybody drive safe!  Steve

[Will Hinton]

I'm not sure, but I think the Porsche James Dean was killed in was a Carrera.  Terrible waste of lives, but I'm just as guilty as the next guy for a need for speed so I can't be critical.
I, too am glad it wasn't our stunt champ.  Breathe well, Paul.

[PJ Rowland]

I simply dont understand car accidents.

I've got a sportscar / toy / death machine. 400 bhp turbo lightweight 5 speed manual RWD

It commands respect every time you get in it. Whenever my friends say give it a gun run I say " As long as you understand whilst your in the car your 2 seconds from death at any one time "

Thats how I DONT drive it like a maniac, 2 seconds is a scary short period of time, A quick burst onto a freeway entrance is more than enough.

How fast would you need to be going to do that sort of wreckage ?

[George]

I've been known to "heavy foot" my Toyota Corolla occasionally.   

George

[Bob Hunt]

Hi Will:

I'm pretty sure the car in which James Dean was killed was a Porsche Spyder.

Later - Bob Hunt

[Dan McEntee]

Hi Will:

I'm pretty sure the car in which James Dean was killed was a Porsche Spyder.

Later - Bob Hunt

    I think Mr. Hunt is correct, and I think they have since figured out he was not speeding at the time. He was on his way to a race, and a car and driver coming the other way had his/her vision obscured by the rising sun, didn't see the little Porsche so low to the ground, and made a left turn in front of them.  I think Dean survived the initial crash, but help was too long in getting to the crash scene at the time. The car wasn't damaged too bad to the point that parts were used to repair another Spyder or two, and those cars and drivers met untimely ends, adding to the legend of the story. From the looks of the crash remains, not much left to even take to the junk yard. I'm a big racing fan, and have done a fair amount of motorcycle and go-kart racing, and still throw a leg over a vintage dirt bike every now and then, but I just don't get the street racing thing. The movies tend to over glorify it and make people think they can pull off this stuff. The price they pay is just too damn high for the fleeting thrill. Better off to take it to the track and keep it as safe as possible, if you really fancy yourself as a race car driver.
    So sad for his friends and family.
   Dan McEntee

[Will Hinton]

Thanks Bob & Dan.  I remember seeing pictures of the wreck at the time, but my-oh-my, has that been a looooong time back!
I'm thankful for my racing experience, even if it was strictly in what is now known as solo two because it afforded me the opportunity to find out just how fickle the car and road combination can be.  Doesn't mean I was always a safe driver, but the respect had been built up a lot and I have to think it tempered me a lot.
I also feel for the families, tragedies like this are not a good thing.

[dirty dan]

I remember the James Dean car as being a Speedster, but maybe not. (Having since thought about it some more, Dean's car was indeed a Porsche Spyder.)

I do remember the guy who hit Dean being named Donald Turnipseed. He survived the crash even though with a name like that he probably should have been put out of his misery. The car was being driven to a weekend race instead of being trailered in order to run-in the motor.

True, the Paul Walker being cited is not "our" PW, nor is he the baseball player. Instead he's the actor and remembering the movies in which he starred his death is ironic. Not funny. But most certainly ironic.

Dan
  

[Air Ministry .]

They must be the 21st century PINTO . 



one in Qld , a few weeks back . http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/race-car-driver-sean-edwards-on-coaching-trip-in-fatal-crash-at-queensland-raceway-20131016-2vlos.html

Jammes Dean crash witness

Perhaps the most famous of the first 90 Porsche 550's built was James Dean's "Little Bastard" numbered 130 (VIN 550-0055)



Dean / Spyder : http://selvedgeyard.com/2009/07/03/little-bastard-the-silver-spyder/