[6MT M3]

http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoram...210104855.html

[newbmwuser]

Poor guy, but some people don't respect others properties. The journalist waswell aware of the value of the machine, and its limitations but decided to ignore it.
A verbal agreement (or verbal contract) is valid when it comes to court of law, and if full responsibility was agreed by both parties, then so be it.

Obviously we need to hear both sides of the story, and honestly, the Porsche owner should have some sympathy, but imo, from reading the story, I really think the journalist that was at fault here.

What I don't understand is why neither party has insurance, and why the journalist as an individual is responsible (and not the magazine company he works at)

[Angerman]

It's that Pipers guys' fault. He let him drive it. Nothing was signed or stated that if something happened to the vehicle he would be held responsible. No contract, nothing; it's a toss-up

[Anthony90]

its like:

Idiot 1: Lets make your 95 years old grandpa run a 20k marathon!
Idiot 2: Isn't that dangerous?
Idiot 1: Nahhh!
Idiot 2: All yours!

*face palm*

[MP0WER]

Originally Posted by newbmwuser

Poor guy, but some people don't respect others properties. The journalist waswell aware of the value of the machine, and its limitations but decided to ignore it.
A verbal agreement (or verbal contract) is valid when it comes to court of law, and if full responsibility was agreed by both parties, then so be it.

Obviously we need to hear both sides of the story, and honestly, the Porsche owner should have some sympathy, but imo, from reading the story, I really think the journalist that was at fault here.

What I don't understand is why neither party has insurance, and why the journalist as an individual is responsible (and not the magazine company he works at)

Yeah, might have cost $5k to insure it for mechanical damage....

[///Montreal3]

The owner accepted $3,200 from the journalist to drive the P-car, so right there you know he's a cheapskate.

[JasonCSU]

I wonder what the mechanical condition of the 917 was before the journalist drove it. Weren't these engines designed to be rebuilt after every race back in their day? It's possible the engine was going to blow no matter who was driving it.

[MediaArtist]

Originally Posted by JasonCSU

I wonder what the mechanical condition of the 917 was before the journalist drove it. Weren't these engines designed to be rebuilt after every race back in their day? It's possible the engine was going to blow no matter who was driving it.

Pretty much. They were one off engines that needed servicing every race (like most race tuned engines). The 917 engine was extremely temperamental, lots of heat, and would blow a lot even during the race. I'm actually surprised he didn't get some waiver that he wasn't responsible for any damage to the vehicle.

This is one of the reason I don't let friends drive my car, and I don't drive their car. You never know what calamity may strike randomly, and I treasure friendships.

[MP0WER]

Originally Posted by MediaArtist

Pretty much. They were one off engines that needed servicing every race (like most race tuned engines). The 917 engine was extremely temperamental, lots of heat, and would blow a lot even during the race. I'm actually surprised he didn't get some waiver that he wasn't responsible for any damage to the vehicle.

This is one of the reason I don't let friends drive my car, and I don't drive their car. You never know what calamity may strike randomly, and I treasure friendships.

Exactly! i borrowed my sisters 45 RV for a trip to Michigan and back. I drew up a contract and paid them to rent it just incase anything happened. That way we all knew who was responsible for what. Glad i did because we had a front tire blow out on the way back. $680 tire with road side assistance but it was part of their responsibility and they wrote me check for the cost of the new tire and roadside help. Some friends think i'm a jerk for wanting to do that, but it really helps maintain the friendship should something odd happen.

[05Mdriver]

Originally Posted by ///Montreal3

The owner accepted $3,200 from the journalist to drive the P-car, so right there you know he's a cheapskate.

That was prob just to cover an oil change and some tires after the reporter hooned his 2MM porsche

[vantagesc]

Originally Posted by newbmwuser

What I don't understand is why neither party has insurance, and why the journalist as an individual is responsible (and not the magazine company he works at)

From what I read, there was insurance, but they denied coverage. There are also some really interesting facts, including some statements Hales made to the insurance company, that may have played a role in the court's decision.

I don't really know all the facts, so it's hard to say what really happened, but these documents give a small view into the record:

UK judgement:
http://wilmotslitigation.com/files/uploads/3995_001.pdf

Statement from Piper's legal counsel:
http://wilmotslitigation.com/news/ar...f-significance

Statement from Hales' legal team in response to judgement:
http://www.trackdriver.com/Response%...0v%20Hales.pdf

[Vic311]

That lawsuit would have been thrown out in the US. Consquential damages can only be substantiated if the owner of the porsche could prove a breach of contract..since there wasn't a legally signed contract there would have been nothing to breach. Add to that the probability that a decades old high horsepowered race car has every expectation to break ..no judge in their right mind would have awarded the owner a penny

Brits and their legal ways -SMH-

[///Montreal3]

Originally Posted by 05Mdriver

That was prob just to cover an oil change and some tires after the reporter hooned his 2MM porsche

Haha you're probably right, BUT STILL... what a cheapskate!

[Bakeme521]

Originally Posted by Anthony90

its like:

Idiot 1: Lets make your 95 years old grandpa run a 20k marathon!
Idiot 2: Isn't that dangerous?
Idiot 1: Nahhh!
Idiot 2: All yours!

*face palm*

Well this is ignorant, it is a machine not a human.

[Anthony90]

Originally Posted by Bakeme521

Well this is ignorant, it is a machine not a human.

Well also machines age, time doesn't forgive anything nor anyone.