It was one week ago today that a red Porsche Carrera GT ended the lives of two more individuals, Paul Walker and Roger Rodas. It wasn't a storybook ending but looked like something out of a horror film. It wasn't pretty.
Immediately following the wreck there was a tremendous outpouring of love, support and shock about the event. Then, the suspicion and human need to place blame on something came about.
Some folks quickly placed the blame on Rodas and his driving skill. Others looked at the Carrera GT and said that it may have had a steering fluid leak. Some publications even put in print that the Porsche had a design flaw because it did not have stability control. And then I saw a couple of stories that blatantly stated the Porsche was dangerous.
At this point I can see where this is going. Given the politically correct nature of our society, it feels as though we'll start seeing signage and legislation banning Carrera GTs from the road.
I just have to debunk some conspiracy theories first:
- Steering fluid leak: I find this hard to believe. This isn't a Ford Pinto. When a high-end performance car or exotic changes hands for approximately a half million dollars buyers tend to get pre-purchase inspections (PPIs). I doubt this kind of issue would have been unchecked, especially given this vehicle changed hands six times last I read.
- Design flaw: The fact the Carrera GT was written about as having a design flaw is libel, in my opinion. Consumers buying this vehicle understand what this means and enter into it knowing full well it will need more of the driver's attention on the road.
I think the folks discussing the Walker/Rodas story need to get a grip. The reality is we may never know what exactly caused the accident. Perhaps we will. But let's not make this another series of conspiracy theories. That's just ridiculous.
Soon we'll start having folks talking about gunmen on grassy knolls.
Historical evidence suggests that when driver's push the GT by its limits it doesn't always act predictably. Is there a chance that this happened? More likely than anything else.
Is the vehicle dangerous because of this? No, it just demands your respect.
Simple as that.