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For the fourth time in less than six months the local news had an opening story of teens being killed in a car wreck. Below is a quick synopsis of the incidents.

Three teens were killed when the 17 year old driver, while traveling at a high rate of speed, lost control of his BMW M3 he had received as a birthday present.

Three teens killed when the 18 year old driver attempted to pass another vehicle and smashed head-on into an oncoming vehicle. The impact killed the driver, his 17 year old sister (the only children in the family) and the sister's 17 year old friend. This one is a special kind of stupid since the 18 year old had been convicted of DUI and was still driving due to a loop-hole in the state law. The vehicle? A Subaru WRX Turbo.

Two killed, one critically injured when the 17 year old driver lost control of his Nissan 350Z while trying to \"catch air\" on a series of drops and peaks in the road.

Two killed, one critically injured when the 17 year old driver attempted to pass another vehicle on a curve. The vehicle? Another Nissan 350Z.

The govenor had already appointed a special task force before the lastest crash to study what could be done to make teen drivers safer. Does anyone see something else here? How about slapping the living shit out of the parents? Sorry folks but there's no way in the world my kid would have owned ANY of these cars at 17 years old. What are these dumb ass parents thinking? If my 18 year old got a DUI, his car would have been at the local Car Max the day after it happened and his license would have been \"suspended\" permanently by me.

OC

I hear that OC. I have always harped at my kids when they got their license to drive safely. Here is another one you can add to your list. Two sons of a drag racing star.

n an instant, heartbreak
Herbert, NHRA driver known for kind heart, suffers devastating loss
By DAVID POOLE - The Charlotte Observer
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Nicknames are often supposed to be ironic. You call a short guy \"Stretch\" or a rotund one \"Slim.\"

That's the only context in which Doug Herbert's nickname makes any sense at all.

Drag racing fans know him as \"Dougzilla,\" and once in a while he'll trot out a paint scheme on his National Hot Rod Association top fuel dragster that features a big, green fire-breathing monster.

But while Herbert's 7,000-horsepower machine sometimes does spit fire as it rumbles to life, the man behind the wheel could not be more of a gentle soul.

And for those who know him, that's what made Saturday's awful news that much harder to take.

Herbert's two sons, Jon and James, died in a wreck in Cornelius, not far from their home on Lake Norman. Herbert's high performance racing parts business and race team are based in Lincolnton.

Jon Herbert made a tragic mistake, the kind too many teenagers make behind the wheel. He was driving on Jetton Road with James as his passenger in a Mazda. Witnesses said their car was going too fast while trying to pass another car, crossed the yellow line and ran head-on into a Hummer.
Two people in the Hummer suffered injuries, but thankfully it appears they will be OK.

Jon would have celebrated his 18th birthday next Saturday. James, who was trying to follow in his father's footsteps in earning an Eagle award in Boy Scouts, was 12. They are survived by a 9-year-old sister, Jessica.

In Herbert's bio at www.nhra.com, he lists \"riding motorcross with the kids\" as his No. 1 hobby. In his blog last year he wrote about how much fun he had taking Jessica and her friends to see a Hannah Montana concert in Charlotte, renting a limo for the occasion.

Herbert was at Lowe's Motor Speedway on Thursday, smiling from ear to ear as plans for the new dragway were finally announced. He then headed to Phoenix for a three-day test. The NHRA season opens in two weeks at Pomona, Calif.

If there is a nicer guy in all of motorsports than Doug Herbert, I don't know him.

Every year he is one of the first to show up and the last to leave at Stocks for Tots. Earlier this month, he helped the Charlotte Checkers celebrate their \"NASCAR night.\"

Doug's sister, Heather, is in the Army's judge advocate general corps and did a tour in Iraq. For years, Herbert has welcomed members of the U.S. Marine Corps as honorary crew members at races around the country. He's welcomed guests who've contributed to the Racing for Christ ministry in drag racing.

He helped raise money to benefit the family of fellow driver Darrell Russell, who was killed in a crash during an NHRA race in St. Louis. Herbert also gave money from his souvenir sales to victims of Hurricane Katrina and has participated in dozens of activities on behalf of Speedway Children's Charities. The family has asked that memorials be made to that organization.

\"Doug has a big heart,\" said long-time friend Brad Fornes, who is Herbert's team manager. \"I was in San Francisco in a restaurant and this boy, about 6 years old, came in wearing a Doug Herbert T-shirt. It had Doug's autograph and I asked him where he got it. He said he'd met Doug at the drag strip in Sonoma.\"

Fornes took out his cell phone and dialed Herbert's number. Herbert was riding his motorcycle; he pulled over and talked with his young fan.

Fornes was still in Phoenix Saturday evening. Herbert, who matched his career best with a sixth-place finish in the top fuel class last season, was coming home to face a parent's worst nightmare.

But his team kept working.

\"The last thing he told me before he left was to get the car ready,\" Fornes said. \"He said, `I want to win the championship now, for the boys.' We're going to get this car ready for him to do that.\"

I hate to sound as coarse as it may come out, but I have very little sympathy. Much like the car surfing that gets reported every year around prom/end of the school year season, I'm just happy to hear that these \"individuals\" are taking themselves out of the gene pool. You know as well as anyone that they would've procreated while still being teenagers and that we'd all be subsidizing their offspring. I do have a little sympathy for the families left behind, but not much if they are reflected in their children.

This \"entitlement\" mentality along with political correctness HAVE to go. They learn NOTHING by being given everything. When something is earned, it is savored and appreciated even more than if it was taken for granted. I say good riddens.

*whistle* Hey you!! Out of the pool!!!

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Just give me some ammo, a little water.....and some chips if you got 'em

OC, a friend of mine here at work helped his oldest buy his first car last Summer. An old Honda Civic. His boy was lucky, he just smacked it into a curb while \"Drifting\" and while he didn't get hurt, he lost his car to his dad, had to spend every penny he'd earned working a Summer job to pay for the repairs, and he dad is still holding his DL. That boy ain't gonna drive for at least a year, and then it will only be with his parents in the car. This kid learned how fast a leash can get snapped on. It's really good to see that at least some parents take their responcibilities seriously.

Growler, while I do have to agree with you to a point, I do think it's bad that more often than not, these stupid kids end up taking others with them. Often their friends, sometimes other innocent bystanders.

Now in CO, it's illegal for kids to be driving with other kids for the first year of having a DL. Seems to have helped a little.

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Slow is Fast, Fast is Slow
Violence may not be the best option, but it IS an option

A little, yes. And even after that year it is one passenger until they are 18 or something like that. That way there isn't supposed to be a handful of kids per single incident in a single vehicle. However there are at least 6 such \"surfing\" incidents EVERY year. Yes truly unfortunate if an innocent bystander or whatever is taken along by the act of stupidity. But if it's the lone surfer then I'm ok with it, really.

Street racing and such, well I equate it with rival gang activity. As long as they are into taking each other out, so be it. As soon as the public is unfortunately involved, then I get really peeved. Again it should fall upon parents to teach their kids personal responsibility for ones own actions and choices, I just don't see it happening all that often. Life IS hard, and it's harder if you're stupid.

[Baretta theme music] Don't do the crime if you can't do the time [/Baretta theme music] And if you do, suck it up and reep what you have sown. \"You made your bed, now you gotta lie in it\". I could go on but I think I've stated my position.

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Just give me some ammo, a little water.....and some chips if you got 'em

Growler, I understand your point but those that have been through the teen years with their own kids will never again underestimate the stupidity of a teenager. The problem is all the dots in the grey matter aren't connected, that's where the parents are supposed to supply the missing pieces. In the cases above, the parents flat out didn't do their jobs. What parent in their right mind would buy their 17 year old an M3? Any time you're driving a car with more than 100 horse per liter it's nothing more than a street legal race car.

OC

Just ask \"Hulk\" Hogan and his son.

30MM jr and his sister \"inherited\" Mrs 30MM's '91 Festiva for their student years. Above 60mph you couldn't hear yourself think, let alone the radio (no A/C either). Nobody wanted to ride with them, either. Biggest fear was some other idiot hitting them. With 80K on the clock I just sold it to a neighbor for their soon-to-be 16 year old.

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\"Those who hammer their guns into plows
will plow for those who do not.\"
- Thomas Jefferson

The \"One THING\" The Ex and I agreed along with CJ was \"Girls you want a Car?
\"You Buy it yourself, pay for your Insurance and Gas Yourself\" I had to do it so I expect no less.
Besides they really didn't like the answer We gave them,
\"You need a Car? Ok I'LL PICK IT OUT\" Well after seeing WHAT I was picking out for them they figured \" Ah? I can buy my own car Dad, No problem its better I do it on my own\"

Plus these \"Kids\" Smearing them selfs all over the Road, after getting DRUNK, with their \"New Car Mommy and Daddy just bought them\" gets my \"Hair-up\"
So then you see the Parents on the news
\"Why did this Happen to Johnny\"?(sob,sob) I don't understand it(sob, sob,) Need to pass a LAW to prevent this (sob, sob,)
Plus the 10 Lawyers that are suing the \"Telephone Pole\" they hit doing 95mph saying it was the \"Poles Fault\" where it was placed.
Then you see all these
\"Window Stickers\" saying \"Johnny Good Boy\" our Angel 1994-2007 plastered everywhere.

Hey, if they would \"Think back a few years\" to what they pulled at their age, and remember that maybe \"A few Good Shift Kicks in the ASS\" once in awhile instead of \"Oh Everyone is a winner, Everyone is Special\" heres a Prize or Trophy\" instead of saying \"Hey you did good, its Ok to loose you tried, do better next time, life is tough sometimes \"You need to learn\" and theres others that \"Don't have what you got and You Complain About still not having something\"

Thats one of my biggest \"RANTS\" with my Nieces and Nephews\", and I don't cut them any \"Slack\"
This \"Yeah? What?I want that, Give me that, they get something and no \"Thank-you or Please can I have \"Whatever\" Ma,am, Sir,? Don't hold doors open for anyone,

Lets face it, SgtGoose Don't Play that Game, I have no Problem
\"Jumping 2 feet down their little Heads\" and telling them \"The Ways of Politeness\"
And if they \"Follow The Guide\" they reap the Benefits, Uncle Goose's Help on anything and get to do \"Neat Stuff\"
If they don't \"God Help them\" and life is a \"BITCH\" when I'm around.

Hey it works

I'm off the Box sorry

Goose

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\"Live Free Or Die\"

When in high school (class of '69) one of the kids dad bought him a '69 Chevelle 396SS for his 16th birthday. Literally a week later he blew the engine racing it. His \"punishment\"? A smaller vehicle...'69 Nova 396SS. Always wondered if he lived to be 21.

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\"Those who hammer their guns into plows
will plow for those who do not.\"
- Thomas Jefferson

Great points Goose. Kids have it way too easy. My first truck, bought on my own, after I'd gotten to DM.

Once while there, a buddy and I had spent the better part of the weekend backpacking up on Mt. Lemon. On the way down, we come across this kid, (college boy), sitting on a new sports car in the middle of the road. This \"new car\" (meaning bought new that year), had already lost almost all the trim, side view mirror and had more dents than my 8 year old truck. Kid said that he'd run out of gas and wanted me to just push him to the top of the next hill so he could coast down the rest of the way. When I asked him if it had power brakes or steering, he just shrugged and said, \"What difference does it make?\" When I told him he just said that he didn't know anything about it, his dad bought it for him. WTF? So, I pushed him to the top and let him go. He's probably a CEO today, if he survived.

I guess the point of this story is that when kids have to use their own money to buy, insure and maintain a car, they really go out of their way to make it last. My 1972 Chevy Luv lasted till 1984, and it still ran like a champ when I traded it in for an F150. I think the best way to teach responcibility to kids, is make them responcible for their own life. That's the way it was with me.

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Slow is Fast, Fast is Slow
Violence may not be the best option, but it IS an option

I can remember being a 20 year old kid with a 125 HP motorcycle, as a matter of fact Old Chief remembers me then too. Well it's 25 years or so later, I still have that bike. BUT there's a BIG difference between 17 and 20. Ban low performance drivers, not high performance cars.

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76-0519/77-0181/77-0196
354TFW/354AMS/354AGS
Detachment 1 81TFW
Automatic Flight Control Technician
Big Green Loud Kawasaki Rider.

I can't add anything Growler hasn't covered, spot on with my thinking on the subject, you reap what you sow and that includes the parents. I have sympathy for the rest of the families because they have lost a dear one though their relatives ( the parents ) mismanagement.

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The only time you have too much fuel is when you're on fire.

I Was with the family in the 82 POS relient, packed up snacks and all. Im doing my exchange tour with VMFA-332. WE Get on base at Beufort MCAS, Young hot shit Dependent on a crotch Rocket didnt want to wait behind us,, was probably doing close to 80+ when he passed us in a posted 35 MPH zone Lost control of his bike in the turn. Did etheopian lawn dart headfirst into a pole

Pole split in 2 and his head/helmet lodged into it. He sat and swayed in it going through the last throws of his life.

Took the Naval Hospital ambulance 5 minutes to get there.. THey didnt even bother running their sirens.

Big black chief got out of his ambulence spit some chew in the DIrt..

\"Dont worry about this one sir, We scoop em up everyday\"


Base paper said the The bike belonged to his Pops, but the MP's saw him dailey going to and from school offbase.

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\"A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week. \"

George S. Patton

Yup, survival of the fittest, in these cases the mentally fit!

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\"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a GAU-8/A at your side, kid.\"--Hawg Solo