[bergs]

The Short, Deadly Story of a Kid and his M5

Originally Posted by Edmunds

He posted on the BMW M5 forum — M5Board.com — as "AmericanM5," the proud new owner of a 2008 BMW M5 painted Space Gray.

He had a problem. It happened when he had "everything set to max" and changed gear with the shift paddles mounted on the steering wheel. As he said, "and I'm going pedal to the metal pushing 140 and upshifting, there tends to be a thud noise with the gear change." AmericanM5 wanted to know if this was normal.

And he added: "Let me say I am a beginner when it comes to high-performance cars as I am only 18, so take it easy on me."

Reality Check
The forum members told him that yes, the sensation of an abrupt gear engagement is normal with the M5's automated sequential manual transmission, but several also took the opportunity to express their concerns.

Wrote one: "It's just disturbing to know...that an 18-year-old who is asking these questions about a 500-horsepower car is driving the same streets I am. I don't have anything against young guys driving nice cars, but an 18-year-old being [behind] the wheel of an M5 is what accidents are made of."

AmericanM5 responded: "I completely understand where you are coming from, assuming that I am irresponsible...that is definitely understandable. I do sometimes make bad decisions but I am young and I do drive safe and I will not endanger the lives of others."

These posts were dated January 25, 2008.

Space Gray
At 3:30 a.m. on January 26, a 2008 BMW M5 painted Space Gray flew off the raised end of a runway at a private airport just outside Ocala, Florida, sailed 200 feet through the air and stuck a huge tree. The impact with the tree occurred 15 feet off the ground. Five young men, aged 18 to 20, were killed instantly.

Members of the M5Board began to put the pieces together. AmericanM5 said he was 18, had a 2008 M5 in Space Gray, and said he lived in the Ocala area. And he signed one of the posts, "Josh."

The driver of the crashed M5 had been Josh Ammirato.

Experience Counts
Apparently AmericanM5 had not been entirely truthful in his postings. The M5 belonged not to him, but instead to his father.

When members of the M5board forum had made this suggestion online, AmericanM5 bristled: "It's mine, buddy. I just traded in my 335i and paid the difference."

Another member suggested that AmericanM5's lack of knowledge about the BMW M5's transmission could be easily explained: "Maybe your two years' driving experience in your whole life is the problem."

AmericanM5 responded: "That could be a good assumption but the fact I never drive a manual car before may be true, but I've been driving for a lot longer than two years, buddy."

Reports indicate that Ammirato had received four traffic citations in the last two years.

Is This for Real?
The crash occurred at the Greystone Airport, which is bordered on one side by Jumbolair Estates, a fly-in community where actor and pilot John Travolta lives; he filed a suit in 2007 to compel the owners to allow him to land his Boeing 707 on the strip.

The fly-in community was built by the late Arthur Jones, inventor of Nautilus exercise equipment. The airstrip is 7,550 feet (1.5 miles) long and is 210 feet wide. Apparently it can be accessed through an unguarded gate.

The five occupants of the M5 had attended a basketball game, and then a party where they were celebrating the 19th birthday of Dustin "Smiley" Dawe, one of the men killed.

The Florida Highway Patrol reported that there was evidence of skid marks at the end of the runway, indicating the car had turned sideways before crossing a sloped embankment and sailing through the air and into the tree. Alcohol does not appear to have been involved. The accident made headlines in the Ocala Star-Banner.

A Final Word
The final exchange between AmericanM5 and the rest of the forum members came late on January 25.

Some members wondered if the 18-year-old M5 owner was for real, and suggested that he post some photos of his car. Others wondered why a teenager would opt for an expensive sedan instead of more conventional sports car like a Porsche.

A forum member from Queensland, Australia, applauded AmericanM5's decision to get a BMW: "I would much prefer an 18-year-old with brains to have an M5 rather than spend his money on some other piece of junk that could kill him and his mates in an accident," wrote M5DAL, a forum member since 2004. He continued: "If you crash in a big way, expect to be on the news."

"Thanks, guys, don't get me wrong," AmericanM5 wrote. "I never said I didn't respect your wisdom. Thanks for the welcome, and I am looking forward to getting to know you guys better...and I plan to have all the pics up tomorrow. Josh."

That was his last post.

[ff36buell]

wow, just wow... back in High School I knew a kid with an Acura NSX, not quite the new 10 cylinder M5... and friends in college (fresh/soph) with porsches and vipers.... rediculous... absolutely rediculous, sad to see that happen and affect so many people

[bergs]

Yep. This story could be a lesson in operating beyond one's comfort limits or experience level.


I hear ya about these rich kids getting (or at least having seemingly unlimited access to) a super-car and they flaunt their shit right up until something bad happens.

Two guys in high school both had M3's...I believe one flipped his and the other just beat it into the ground within a year...

[OreoGitorio]

fuckin hell that's a sad story. If only kids that age didn't have the "it won't happen to me" complex so they could learn from his mistake

[bergs]

Ahh yes, but Pete, didn't you have the world by the balls at 18? I know I did.

[ff36buell]

M3's in high school? oreo doesn't know anything about that...

[OreoGitorio]

Originally Posted by ff36buell

M3's in high school? oreo doesn't know anything about that...

hehe. The only kid in High School with an M3 that I actually LIKED was David Seavie. The ORIGINAL M3. 1988. Still has it as far as I know. Sweet little car, i'd love to have one some day

It wasn't nearly as bad back then as it is now. I drive past the school on my way to work every day & don't even bother to look in the parkin lot anymore it's so disgusting.

[bergs]

Originally Posted by OreoGitorio

hehe. The only kid in High School with an M3 that I actually LIKED was David Seavie. The ORIGINAL M3. 1988. Still has it as far as I know. Sweet little car, i'd love to have one some day

Something like 240 horse out of a 4-banger....yeah, it's one stout machine that's for sure!

It wasn't nearly as bad back then as it is now. I drive past the school on my way to work every day & don't even bother to look in the parkin lot anymore it's so disgusting.

Cuz peeps be bawlin' y0!

[imkindafkedup]

Everyone thought that was going to be me when I bought myself a zx-12r for my 18th birthday. I just told them "I have to respect the power", I am still learning to ride and will always continue to learn. I think not having a cage around me is a big enough wake up call that says "if you fuck up you will die", Unfortunately for him he wasn't as scared as me.

[OreoGitorio]

Originally Posted by bergs

Something like 240 horse out of a 4-banger....yeah, it's one stout machine that's for sure

Not quite that much. The E30 M3 had 200hp. The limited edition Evo had 220. Still pretty good for a 2.3L I4.

[pasta-rocket]

I have taken a bunch of cars and bikes to insane speeds when i was that age and was just to young and too stupid at the time to listen to anyone. I can't believe i am still alive.

[mzdagrl]

You know, I never in my life thought that I could do stupid shit like that and not run the risk of hurting myself or others. It must be a young guy thing, or maybe I'm just an old fart in a young woman's body. It is so sad to hear that this kid couldn't put aside his own ego for 5 minutes and say no to either the peer pressure or the pressure in his head.

I am kinda biased against rich folk who don't instill values in their kids, and this is the kind of thing that makes the stereotype perpetuated in my mind. I wonder what other stupid things this kid was doing with mommy and daddy's allowance money?

[BostonSVkid]

I drove a saturn at my first car and I could have killed myself in that. I cant imagine what a parent is thinking letting their child drive a car with that much power. Sad sad story

[capt1014]

This is truely a sad tale, but one that I will use to hopefully clue my oldest into the consequences of making bad descions as a driver.

He starts driving in May.

[RyanNicholson]

When I first got my bike after moving back to NH, three friends of mine also bought bikes within a month so we could all ride together. For the first few months it was a good time as we all got more and more comfortable. I was the first to go down (15mph, not totally my fault) it was enough of a wake up call as to how fast bad things can happen.

Since then I've gotten more into the track/racing thing and don't ride on the road as much, yet they've all gotten WAY to confident on the bikes. All three of them have gone down....one trying to do a rolling burnout in traffic, another rear ended a car while doing (or trying) a wheelie in traffic, and the other trying to take a tight corner like a motogp star. (None of them had helmets on at the time, only mr motogp star got hurt).

Needless to say I don't ride with them anymore, or very rarely anyway. And the fact that they still don't listen when I mention these things, has even made the friendships fade over time. I'll admit I've done some stupid shit on the bike, but damn....I really don't want to end up like this kid in the M5. And it scares the shit out of me that my friends will. They've all gotten a little better about it after they went down, but certain things I see them do just bug the hell out of me.

[TheIglu]

I drove a Peugeot 405S as my first car. While it only made 110hp, I drove the shit out of it.


I woulda SCHOOLED that kid's ass. Pussy.

[KillBill]

Didn't his dad realize his M5 was missing all the time?
what a dumb kid

[R1slowflyer]

thats sad, but from experience i know what that kinda power does to you at that age.

18 years young i got handed the keys to an S4, i know its no M5 but at 18 it could have been anything with more than 200 HP..........

675 ticket, running from the cops and 88 in a 30 Its a bad decision on anyones part to give the keys to a high performance car to anyone with less than 5 years driving experience.

RIP

remember what you just read here is coming from someone with an R1 as a first bike.......

know of any good air strips around here?

[1/2pint]

when i was 18 my first car was a 1970 monte SS with a 454 it scared the crap out of me in bad weather but on aopen road it was a sick car.

then at 19 i got stupid built a 1972 chevell OE SS 396 i punched out to a 400 and had a .02 shot of NOS needless to say i am still paying for it in my insurance.

[bergs]

Originally Posted by KillBill

Didn't his dad realize his M5 was missing all the time?

Judging by the way the article was written I'd say the father allowed him unlimited access to this vehicle.

I'd also safely assume that dad was more concerned with his kid's image rather then his saftey, hence the keys to the Bimmer on a day to day basis.

Power corrupts most.

[R1slowflyer]

watch the video, 200' airbourne car split in 2
Fiery crash kills 5 young men

[R1slowflyer]

I have the actual thread in .pdf format, but its 136kb i cant get it to upload!

try this. Its the actual posts and then the aftermath on the forum very sad!
R1-Forum.Com - View Single Post - Josh is 18 ... he drives a 500hp M5 BMW...

[catch2otwo]

sad story. sucks for all the families involved. but the stereotype of the rich kid is kind of stupid. give mr. trailer park trash the keys to a 400 horse crusty muscle car and he'll do the same thing and probably with a 6 pack of bud in his lap. either way, shitty situation

[l3uddha]

shoulda bought a honda.

[OreoGitorio]

Originally Posted by catch2otwo

sad story. sucks for all the families involved. but the stereotype of the rich kid is kind of stupid. give mr. trailer park trash the keys to a 400 horse crusty muscle car and he'll do the same thing and probably with a 6 pack of bud in his lap. either way, shitty situation

No doubt about that.

But keep giving the keys to just about any young kid over & over & the confidence level is gonna go up... and so will the risks.


btw, what's the story behind the pic in your sig? guessing it was from a Top Gear episode w/ the Audi R8? Spill it