Saturday Afternoon Fun! What Happened to My Neighbor's Car? (Just in time for Christmas).
Posted on 12/14/2006 11:30:14 AM PST by hoosierboy
VALPARAISO, Ind. (AP) — A teenager clocked driving 142 mph because he didn't want to get home late has put the Subaru Impreza he was driving up for sale.
"Several people expressed an interest," said the teen's mother, Cindy Raap. "That kind of concerns me."
Brandon D. Raap, 16, faces speeding and misdemeanor reckless driving charges and could have his license suspended after being stopped at 12:40 a.m. Saturday along a rural stretch of U.S. 30, police said.
The parents said in a written statement that their son made a "horrible choice" when he took his passion for racing to a local highway.
"We are grateful that this story will end with severe legal punishment rather than deadly consequences," Dan and Cindy Raap wrote.
The Raaps released the statement to explain their son is a "wonderful young man" who wants to be a race car driver but made a mistake. They said he accepts the consequences of his actions.
The Raaps moved to Valparaiso in July from Colorado. Before the move, the Raaps wrote, Brandon took a defensive driving class and earned compliments on his driving from his teachers.
"This training gave us confidence in his ability to handle the car," Dan and Cindy Raap wrote.
Brandon Raap also planned to go to racing school next year. His mother, reached after releasing the statement, said she's not sure whether that will still happen.
"We haven't visited that at all," Cindy Raap said.
The Raaps said they want their son's experience to remind other youths of the responsibility they accept when they get on the road.
"We hope this publicity provides an opportunity for families to talk and set the expectations of their youth," they wrote.
Could have?!?
It's all fun and games until a deer appears in the road.
Snicker..Boy, that brings back memories.
Only time I ever went 140 in a car was in the back (in the bed) of an El Camino. Stupid youth alert! The lines on the road do look like dots!
(now putting on straight and serious face)
At least he is selling the car before he kills someone....
I had a 72 Catalina that would run an easy 130.
Good for them, at least they aren't trying to justify his stupidity or try and shield him from the law. My mom once took me to the police station when she heard I was involved in something with some other kids one night. I still remember her dragging me by my hair through the door. The officer had a huge grin on his face when he heard her story and why we were there, sure made an impression on me, happened 30 years ago and I still remember it quite well.
He should be thanking God he didn't hurt/kill himself and/or somebody else.
I didn't realize a 16-year-old could sell a car.
Are minors allowed to enter into contracts?
That said, his parents should have put the car up for sale about two minutes after they got word of the 142.
It sure does. Don't let your kids drive or buy junk. We need to know the conditions, type of road, time of day, etc. to determine if this was really 'dangerous' (well beside the fact he was driving a Subaru). 140+ in a '68 Mustang Fastback on a straight country road late at night, not as dangerous. A Subaru, any Subaru, over 140+? That in itself is risky.
At 142 mph, it really doesn't matter what you wear.
If he didn't have Z rated tires, he was taking a real risk.
The issue is not the speed. The issue is you cannot manuver a vehicle at those speeds unless you are really good.
I've done 120+ on the interstate, but only to get away from a drunk. And I am a trained professional and my car was equipped to handle the speeds.
My first car was a 68 dodge coronet. I took it up to about 120 just to say I did it. I hit a bird, and the vents were open on the floor on both my side and the passenger. I still remember the puff of feathers that came in and startled me, causing me to swerve a little. got the heart beat going let me tell ya...
With parental consent, yes.
Saturday Afternoon Fun! What Happened to My Neighbor's Car? (Just in time for Christmas).
That Subaru Empreza goes for about $35,000 and has a top speed of 155 MPH. Where'd a 16-year old kid get something like that? Do mommy and daddy deserve "Dumbass" awards?
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