Know Your Limits....R.I.P. AL

[maninblack]

Saturday morning at 2:30 AM, one of my best friends was driving his modified MBP 04 WRX wagon home after dropping off some friends. He was intoxicated, and he was driving very, very, fast. His vehicle left the road and began to roll, after an undetermined number of rollovers it came to a stop. His life ended at the same moment.

After helping him build that car, I had to go to the wrecking yard to see exactly what damage had been done.

The car was pretty much unrecognizable as a Subaru. The roof had been removed, but it was easy to see that the roof line would have been just about even with the top of the doors. The driver side door was kinked down about 10 inches and could not be opened; both passenger side doors were missing. The Rear drivers side door had been removed with the jaws of life; all of the airbags had been deployed. The rear wheel on the drivers side was the only one that remained intact.

Before I left, I climbed through the mangled body of my friends car and slid into the passengers seat. The smell of oil, DOT, and coolant mixed in a way that I had never imagined. For the first time, these smells, smells that I had never minded until that moment, made me shudder. They smelled of death. As I made my way out of the wreckage, I put my hand on the head of the drivers side seat and said one last goodbye to my friend.

My friend AL was one of the smartest and strongest guys I knew. Always one who wanted to go faster and farther than the rest. Weather it was on skis, motorcycles, snowmobiles or at life in general. He was always a joy to be around, the life of the party, the king of the hill. While working together at a golf course he would always be the fastest. Most often while driving on 2 wheels. Even the best of us make mistakes.....this one cost him his life.

Please, before you climb into your cars, know that they demand respect.
Finding the limits of our cars should be done in a safe environment. By all means, find your car's limits. But know yours before doing so.

Most of all.....Don't drink and drive!!!

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[Jay89]

i am sorry for your loss, may your friend rest in peace.

i believe this dosnt only drive home the message of "know your limits, as well as your car's limits" but as well as dont drink and drive. lets face it, we all make bad decisions once in a while. but i truly hope that you learn from those mistakes and not to make them again before its too late. it could happen to any of us. whether you have a modified car, or not, a turbocharged or naturally aspirated. it can happen even if you arnt intoxicated. please be safe on the roads, and respect your fellow drivers.

[ocelot21]

Hopefully his poor decision didn't get anyone else hurt.

[Waking The Fallen]

Oh man.. RIP

It could have been avoided, but it is what it is, and homie had to pay the ultimate price for it. This sucks

[T Wrex--OH]

wow

[Waking The Fallen]

Was he a member on here?

[klockwork006]

My heart goes out to his friends and family.

[Rallly2000]

R.I.P Al ...

[maninblack]

I was in no way trying to excuse his intoxication. That was the mistake that I was referring to. There is no excuse for drunk driving.

No one else was hurt.

I was talking him into being a member, and he was going to join in a few days time.

[Waking The Fallen]

Originally Posted by maninblack

I was in no way trying to excuse his intoxication. That was the mistake that I was referring to. There is no excuse for drunk driving.

No one else was hurt.

I was talking him into being a member, and he was going to join in a few days time.

You should post before and after pics of the car for people thinking about doing what he did..

[Jay89]

Originally Posted by Waking The Fallen

You should post before and after pics of the car for people thinking about doing what he did..

unfortunately most people who drive while intoxicated fail to think before they act. if there was a thought process, then he would not have driven. but nonetheless that is a good idea to post pictures of what could happen.

[Waking The Fallen]

Originally Posted by Jay89

unfortunately most people who drive while intoxicated fail to think before they act. if there was a thought process, then he would not have driven. but nonetheless that is a good idea to post pictures of what could happen.

Agreed 100%. A lot of people play the "this wont happen to me". But seeing pics is believing and may save a life or two.

[GT11]

Damn, RIP AL.

Everyone makes mistakes. I'm sure at least 90% of you people over 21 have driven while you were intoxicated. I know I have once, but now I make plans before going out so I will never get behind the wheel.

[neebelung]

Very sorry for your loss... No matter how mucg respect we have for our machines, alcohol (or other chemicals) can inhibit that respect, and better judgement.

It cannot be said enough (and as GT11 said, most of us have probably gotten behind the wheel at least once when we shoukdn't have): just don't drink and drive.

RIP Al.

[mac mac]

rip al

[WastingTime]

drinking and driving is not something i am proud of doing and am trying to never get in my car when drunk. We all have done it, but something like this just hits home more.

RIP and sorry for your loss man

[Pearl Jam]

Having never lost a close friend, I can't even begin to imagine what you're going through. I hope this makes everyone realize that drinking and driving is no joke. I'm not going to be a hypocrite however, as I've done it myself before, but hearing stories like this just reminds me of how stupid it is. RIP.

[nhmtns]

Very sad story. I just wish more people who "feel the need for speed" would take their cars to a track rather than driving recklessly on public roads. Add alcohol to the mix, and it's only a matter of time before disaster strikes.

[Slowboy]

Sorry about your friend. God bless his family.

[4wdrift]

Too bad he had to learn the hard way. Most folks don't really understand the impact that something like this has on the strangers, friends and family around them.

Its always sad...

[schweezly]

Sucks. Big time. This is why when I was 17 I decided never to drink and drive again. Yea I may have been dumb when I was 16, but my mother nearly lost her life to a drunk driver that year and it really opened my eyes. Im 24 now and very proud to say I haven't driven with anything more than 1 beer in me since.

May your friend RIP.

[smurfwrx]

That's tragic man and I'm very sorry to hear that. Nothing anyone can say to make it any easier but best wishes to you and and his family as you grieve your loss.

[cprincipe]

Sorry for your loss.

This should be a sticky somewhere.

Remember that "knowing your limits" applies not only to staying sober behind the wheel, but being brutally honest with yourself about your driving skills and the condition of your car. Do you really have the skills to do a panic stop or handle a blowout at 80 mph? Are you super-pissed about something and likely to drive more aggressively as a result? Just like how you wouldn't expect to walk into a major league ballpark and hit against even a bad pitcher with a 7.50 ERA, don't expect to go out in your WRX and drive like Ken Block.

[sanremo_russ]

God's peace be with you during this difficult time. Lots of people dying way too early in life. Just went to my cousins sons memorial .... 22 years old. Cancer sucks...

[gnome949]