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Lamborghini Staffer And Passenger Die During German

Discussion in 'LamborghiniChat.com' started by kosmo, May 6, 2010.

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  1. kosmo

    kosmo Formula 3

    Oct 19, 2008
    1,569
    BIg D
    #1 kosmo, May 6, 2010
    Wuppertal, Germany (dpa) -- A man believed to be an Italian
    employee of Lamborghini lost control of a demonstration car in
    Germany Thursday and was killed along with a female passenger.
    Eyewitnesses said he gave the enormously powerful
    Lamborghini Gallardo far too much throttle. It skidded against a
    carriageway divider, flew through the air, hit a lamppost and
    burst into flames.
    The yellow demonstrator car was being shown off at a
    dealership in Wuppertal, Germany. The passenger, 28, came from a
    nearby town.
    The Gallardo's engine is rated at more than 500 metric
    horsepower. The car's specs say its top speed is 309 kilometres
    per hour.
    Police said the value of the written-off car and other
    damage amounted to 150,000 euros.
     
  2. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ

    May 23, 2006
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    Full Name:
    Joe Sackey
    #2 joe sackey, May 6, 2010
    I have exchanged communications with him a short while ago just to be sure, and FWIW it is not Valentino.
     
  3. 4re Nut

    4re Nut F1 World Champ

    Mar 27, 2004
    16,343
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    Steve
    #3 4re Nut, May 6, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  4. MurcieMurcie

    MurcieMurcie F1 Rookie

    Jan 31, 2004
    3,100
    #4 MurcieMurcie, May 6, 2010
    Very Sad :( SuperL?
     
  5. ApexOversteer

    ApexOversteer F1 Veteran

    Feb 15, 2007
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    T.A. Bell
    #5 ApexOversteer, May 6, 2010
    Thank you for checking Joe.
     
  6. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ

    May 23, 2006
    57,525
    Southern California
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    Joe Sackey
    #6 joe sackey, May 6, 2010
    You are welcome. I did so the minute I heard the story. He is in London, and had not even heard of it. Clearly I was not the bearer of glad tidings.
     
  7. Bas

    Bas Four Time F1 World Champ

    Mar 24, 2008
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    Bas
    #7 Bas, May 7, 2010
    Yes.

    Very sad. RIP both...
     
  8. FredParoutaud

    FredParoutaud Formula 3

    Jun 9, 2004
    1,455
    #8 FredParoutaud, May 8, 2010
    Balboni would never do anything like this, he knows how to drive these cars.

    rip for the two killed...I really feel sorry for the woman.

    Fred
     
  9. Peter K.

    Peter K. F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Jan 9, 2004
    4,448
    Connecticut
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    Peter K.
    #9 Peter K., May 8, 2010
    R.I.P. Godspeed

    I would figure Valentino would let the testing be done by others nowadays?
     
  10. mred

    mred Formula Junior

    Nov 2, 2003
    476
    Atlanta, GA
    Full Name:
    Ed B.
    #10 mred, May 8, 2010
    Wow, that is terribly sad. I drove the car on Thursday and was impressed with the stability. Obviously it got out of control there. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families.

    For what it is worth, the new Superleggera is a phenomenal car.
     
  11. sdiamond

    sdiamond Formula Junior

    Mar 25, 2009
    304
    Kildeer
    Full Name:
    Steve
    #11 sdiamond, May 14, 2010
    I've driven alongside and behind Valentino in "his" namesake car and while he used the occassion to spin out the rears a few times, he is a consumate professional and knows the limits of the car better than anyone. It was much more likely a "sales" person trying to impress a potential buyer or simply a young woman in the car and pushed way past his capabilities. It is always sad to hear of someones passing and as others have said thankfully Mr. Balboni was no where near the incident.
     
  12. italiancars

    italiancars F1 Rookie

    Apr 18, 2004
    3,453
    Hershey, PA
    #12 italiancars, May 14, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  13. FredParoutaud

    FredParoutaud Formula 3

    Jun 9, 2004
    1,455
    #13 FredParoutaud, May 15, 2010
    The big difference is, he is aware of his surroundings. And really, it's a huge difference.

    Also, quite often a test driver will do controlled spin-outs -- they can spend 1/2 their time on the edge, they know it well. So when they are in ANY kind of spinout, they know exactly what to do.

    Test drivers will also setup the spinout ahead of time. Know where they are going to spinout and that's where they push the edge.

    Even if Balboni was caught off guard in the photos above, he knew what to do in order to make it a "non event." I'm sure he was smooth as silk the whole time.

    With everything that Wallace and Balboni have gone through, the fact that they are both still alive proves they are exceptional drivers, on a number of levels.

    Cheers,

    Fred
     

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