Lewis Hamilton merc. Impounded

[Wheezy031]

Originally Posted by MO

So,first France now Australia seems that he is a serial hoon. Well Lewis mate your in Oz now and we'll teach ya good and proper driving.



Trust the media to beat it up but you never know it may have no effect on our road rules whatsoever. So if they take his licence off him before the race does that mean he cant drive in the race??

And yes I'm being a bit sarc'y but the licence/race bit could be interesting afterall it is a street circuit.

FIA equivalent license. (EG aus has cams)

Totally separate to road license, however it can possibly be taken away at the discresion of the motor body. But I can't remember if off track incidents of any type can influence such a decision.

Im sure mclaren and his old man will give it to him

[csv8]

So, he turns out of Albert Park and spins the wheels. Thats hooning ???? I thought hooning had to be deliberate, burnouts etc ????? This wouldn't have been deliberate ??
He just put his foot down a bit too much and the wheels spun. as Homer would say "doh"

[imugli]

Originally Posted by gcg2503

So different rules for different people hey?

Tell us where do we draw the line then?

He knew what he was doing. I lived in the UK for 6 years, and believe me, it isnt LEGAL to fishtail down the street.......

I'm saying that if there was a serious case for believing LH was 'Out of control' fine. But surely this law was not enacted to catch one the most highly skilled drivers on the planet giving the fans some as he left the circuit.

Surely there's a point where the cops use their heads, instead of going for bragging rights back at the station. Where the stupidity of the idea that this guy is or was out of control sinks in.

Like I say, if this was some 22 year old in Dandenong or Hoppers or Narre Warren or whatever, yeah fine, assume the other way. But this was outside a driveway whereby probably 90% of the people driving through it would be chauffeurs driving Kia Carnival's or Hire Cars. 8% would make up the likes of Ron Walker, press etc. and 5% would be HIGHLY skilled drivers whereby the idea of a road car getting 'out of control' with them behind the wheel is ridiculous.

[MethodX]

maybe they thought he was one of those Somali gang members stealing a car.

J/k !!

[csv8]

What was the Benz he was driving ? I assume an AMG ?

[imugli]

Originally Posted by MethodX

maybe they thought he was one of those Somali gang members stealing a car.

:hihi:

[3vXT]

looked like a c63 AMG

EDIT: At least he didn't do a runner and kill someone at an intersection somewhere.

[gcg2503]

Originally Posted by ken2903

looked like a c63 AMG

..with faulty traction control lol

[DJR-351]

Originally Posted by gcg2503

..with faulty traction control lol

Beat me to it by that much...

Next question...was it his or a loaner....???

[csv8]

Originally Posted by DJR-351

Beat me to it by that much...

Next question...was it his or a loaner....???

Benz Australia are loaning cars to the McLaren Team, while they are here.
"Mercedes-Benz in Australia spokesman David McCarthy last night refused to comment.

"We provide cars to the McLaren team as part of our contractual and engine-supply arrangements," he said."

[geckoGT]

Originally Posted by gcg2503

..with faulty traction control lol

Exactly. so the fact that he was able to fishtail it up the road kills the theory that it was accidental and in fact deliberate because he had to turn traction control off.

Also, how does such a highly skilled driver, one whose hands are incapable of losing control of a car, accidentally spin the wheels? I thought his throttle control would be far superior to the average drive,r yet the average driver does not spin the wheels enough to fishtail it up the road.

[ratter]

He broke the law so he should get charged, but I'm also think whether or not he could fight the out of control charge.

Not making excuses for his actions, but he is a professional race car driver at the top level and probably one of the best in the world (opinions will vary) if anyone was in control he is probably one of them.
I know it would be hard to draw the line in any future cases if he got of this charge for others that may think they are good drivers, but at the end of the day he was doing what he does for a living, just happened to do it in the wrong place.

It also would raaise the question on whether it was a professional drifter, they are in control in an out of control car as it would seem, could they fight an out of control charge because the car was going sideways?

just food for thought. :

[flappist]

Hmm. Millionaire world champion has one of his cars stored for him for a couple of days while he visits some insignificant state of a minor country during the F1 series.

Why would he even care?

What is going to happen?

He earned more money while the ticket was being written out than they can possibly fine him.

Meanwhile Australia generally and Victoria in particular will be ridiculed world wide (again) as being a precious little nanny state full of wowsers.

Maybe when the F1 is moved to NSW things will be a bit different....

[MO]

Originally Posted by Wheezy031

FIA equivalent license. (EG aus has cams)

Totally separate to road license, however it can possibly be taken away at the discresion of the motor body. But I can't remember if off track incidents of any type can influence such a decision.

Im sure mclaren and his old man will give it to him

Yep they are totally separate they're for race track use only and have no validity for public roads. The point I'm looking at here is the race is on public roads(yes closed but still public roads)for which you need your normal license.

Its a grey area I know but without a normal license would you still be able to drive on those roads. Does the fact that they're closed remove the need for your license or is it still deemed to be a public road.

Like I said a grey and technical issue I thought of at the time.

[DJR-351]

Originally Posted by geckoGT

Exactly. so the fact that he was able to fishtail it up the road kills the theory that it was accidental and in fact deliberate because he had to turn traction control off.

Also, how does such a highly skilled driver, one whose hands are incapable of losing control of a car, accidentally spin the wheels? I thought his throttle control would be far superior to the average drive,r yet the average driver does not spin the wheels enough to fishtail it up the road.

You may have a point, it does seem as if he has a bit of trouble with the Mercs Traction Control system....*tounge firmly in cheek here*


http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/...5875-22140629/

[MethodX]

Melbourne will probably lose it soon anyway.
bernie wants races at a better hour for overseas viewers.

and more street races (god help us, boredom)

[krt10]

there are much worse crimes in the world than spinning your wheels. i cant even believe that it makes the news. "F1 driver spins wheels...and there was smoke"

get over it and catch someone who is actually doing somthing wrong

[geckoGT]

Originally Posted by ratter

He broke the law so he should get charged, but I'm also think whether or not he could fight the out of control charge.

Not making excuses for his actions, but he is a professional race car driver at the top level and probably one of the best in the world (opinions will vary) if anyone was in control he is probably one of them.
I know it would be hard to draw the line in any future cases if he got of this charge for others that may think they are good drivers, but at the end of the day he was doing what he does for a living, just happened to do it in the wrong place.

It also would raaise the question on whether it was a professional drifter, they are in control in an out of control car as it would seem, could they fight an out of control charge because the car was going sideways?

just food for thought. :

Good points but no Judge would accept him "not being out of control" as it would set a unacceptable precedent. Law needs to be clearly defined and at the moment, any car in the act of sliding is out of control as it is not making use of all its safety and control functions.

Think of it this way, he can drive like that on a race track that has no pot holes, no oil, no bumps and no one running out in front of you etc. On a public road the conditions are not controlled and perfect. One patch of diesel on the road and he would end up losing control and mowing down the fans he was showing off too.

[geckoGT]

Originally Posted by flappist

Meanwhile Australia generally and Victoria in particular will be ridiculed world wide (again) as being a precious little nanny state full of wowsers.

Maybe when the F1 is moved to NSW things will be a bit different....

I do not remember seeing France get ridiculed when they booked him.

In fact, I believe we would be more ridiculed if it hit world wide press that we allowed him to drive in a dangerous manner, past a police car and let him go. I could see us earning the label as a "Nation of Hoons", or something to that effect.

[Full Noise]

Originally Posted by flappist

Hmm. Millionaire world champion has one of his cars stored for him for a couple of days while he visits some insignificant state of a minor country during the F1 series.

Why would he even care?

What is going to happen?

He earned more money while the ticket was being written out than they can possibly fine him.

Meanwhile Australia generally and Victoria in particular will be ridiculed world wide (again) as being a precious little nanny state full of wowsers.

Maybe when the F1 is moved to NSW things will be a bit different....

That pretty much sums it all up, although, sadly, I think the NSW police would probably do the same thing.

[muppet]

Originally Posted by ratter

He broke the law so he should get charged, but I'm also think whether or not he could fight the out of control charge.

Not making excuses for his actions, but he is a professional race car driver at the top level and probably one of the best in the world (opinions will vary) if anyone was in control he is probably one of them.
I know it would be hard to draw the line in any future cases if he got of this charge for others that may think they are good drivers, but at the end of the day he was doing what he does for a living, just happened to do it in the wrong place.

It also would raaise the question on whether it was a professional drifter, they are in control in an out of control car as it would seem, could they fight an out of control charge because the car was going sideways?

just food for thought. :

One of my mates got a manner dangerous charge(150 m long burnout in a 1000 hp street car) dropped because his solicitor argued that he had been in many burnout competitions and had a few trophies to prove it. So he could fight it in court but I doubt he will bother, not his car they impounded and any fine will be nothing to him.

[MO]

Am now wondering how long this one can go round in circles for............

[3vXT]

Originally Posted by ratter

He broke the law so he should get charged, but I'm also think whether or not he could fight the out of control charge.

Not making excuses for his actions, but he is a professional race car driver at the top level and probably one of the best in the world (opinions will vary) if anyone was in control he is probably one of them.
I know it would be hard to draw the line in any future cases if he got of this charge for others that may think they are good drivers, but at the end of the day he was doing what he does for a living, just happened to do it in the wrong place.

It also would raaise the question on whether it was a professional drifter, they are in control in an out of control car as it would seem, could they fight an out of control charge because the car was going sideways?

just food for thought. :

I think the law assumes people hold a basic level of competence for driving a car (as well as lots of other things). Fishtailing a car is beyond that level of competence as it should be because the average driver trying to drift the average car will end up **** first into another car or a tree or a child care centre. The laws are written to reflect this average persons abilities.

Now someone with a skill set well beyond the average person driving a better car than most will have no problems hanging the **** out a little. The issue is that the law has to reflect the average person, it is not just or fair to have one rule for one 'average' person and another for a more skilled person. Its also not just or fair to give one person a ticket and let another go when they are governed by the same laws.

[geckoGT]

Originally Posted by ken2903

I think the law assumes people hold a basic level of competence for driving a car (as well as lots of other things). Fishtailing a car is beyond that level of competence as it should be because the average driver trying to drift the average car will end up **** first into another car or a tree or a child care centre. The laws are written to reflect this average persons abilities.

Now someone with a skill set well beyond the average person driving a better car than most will have no problems hanging the **** out a little. The issue is that the law has to reflect the average person, it is not just or fair to have one rule for one 'average' person and another for a more skilled person. Its also not just or fair to give one person a ticket and let another go when they are governed by the same laws.

Well said.

An example I can think of is a cop or ambo (yes a Merc ambulance with traction control off will get sideways) driving under lights and siren, who got the wheels spinning and the back hanging out could still be done for dangerous driving. Yet these two drivers are stilled considered skilled drivers by the law. In the eyes of the law being a "skilled driver" can work against you because the attitude is you should know better.

[DJR-351]

Originally Posted by MO

Am now wondering how long this one can go round in circles for............

It would seem by some of the comments here, as long as you are a Racing driver you should be able to do all the circle work you want....

[MethodX]

^not with the image bernie wants F1 to have these days.
Its a responsible citizen. or tries to be.

[ratter]

Totally agree with the comments re my post, but just make things clear, I agree he broke the law and should be charged acordingly, but could not help but wonder how a professional could fight this out of control charge and go, there a precidents that would be set not matter what the outcome would be.

We all have different skill sets and are good at something that others may be useless at, he is good at driving.

[DJM83]

Who is Lewis Hamilton :
Dont they crush hoon cars now in some states? That would be a crack up.

[flappist]

Originally Posted by geckoGT

I do not remember seeing France get ridiculed when they booked him.

In fact, I believe we would be more ridiculed if it hit world wide press that we allowed him to drive in a dangerous manner, past a police car and let him go. I could see us earning the label as a "Nation of Hoons", or something to that effect.

Google is your friend.

Have a quick look at a few of the foreign newspaper web sites and read the feedback.

During the Sydney Olympics a team of riders on Harleys were used to transport film and video from Homebush to the City (one of my friends was one of the riders).
They did burnouts, noisy launches from traffic lights and all manner of "exhibitionist" antics on the streets of Sydney.

None were fined, arrested or even shot. It was all part of the spectacle.

The world is not black and white......

[flappist]

Originally Posted by DJM83

Who is Lewis Hamilton :
Dont they crush hoon cars now in some states? That would be a crack up.

Yes especially as it is most likely not his own personal car....