Eddie Griffin Ferrari Enzo Crash

[Ngtflyr]

Great quote "Brother can't Drive"

[AutoInsane]

Fear Nothing. Risk Everything. So goes the tagline for Redline, the movie that has been described as The Fast and The Furious for adults exotics. Producer Daniel Sadek is a former real estate investor with a pretty nice personal collection of supercars and exotics. We saw some of them on display at the recent L.A. Auto Show.

Sadek not only put up $26 million of his own money to finance the film, but also used his personal car collection in action sequences, including a crash sequence that claimed the life of one of his very nice Porsche Carrera GTs. While this type of senseless destruction makes us want to take all of his keys away, we understand Mr. Sadek will probably explain it was necessary for the film's authenticity.

Shot in Las Vegas and L.A., the movie revolves around high-stakes underground street racing. We recognized the Ferrari dealership at The Wynn and the old El Toro airbase from the video. Although the acting looks typically passable, the cars alone make this a must see. We've spotted a Ferrari Enzo, Saleen S7 Twin Turbo, Koenigsegg CCR, Ford GT, Lamborghini Murcielago Roadster and Mercedes SLR McLaren, among others.

Redline is set for a February 23rd release and stars Eddie Griffin, Nathan Phillips, and the oh-so-hot Nadia Bjorlin. As is the norm nowadays, the movie has its own MySpace page where you can find out its likes and dislikes as well as seeing a few additional images and clips.

There's a small gallery of some of the film cars available by clicking on the image above and one of the film trailers is after the jump.

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/06/r...-with-exotics/

[firstgenaddict]

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Great quote "Brother can't Drive"

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Classic...

[csx289]

I think they took that quote out of context - I believe he was talking about "Undercover Brother", who he played in a movie...something like "Undercover Brother can do ......, but Brother can't drive".

Regardless, as a former driving instructor, this video brought me right back to my Porsche and BMW owner's club driving school days at autocross events. Note to supercar and exotic owners: I don't care if you are a celebrity, a politician, a real estate mogul, or just really stinking rich for no particular reason - it does NOT exempt you from the laws of understeer or correct being stupid behind the wheel! Whatever you did to make the wheels lose traction, you should undo it, even just a little- trust me. Front wheels sliding? Back off the steering input. Rear wheels sliding? Back of the skinny pedal on the right, and kinda steer a little in the direction the back of your car is going.

I remember one guy in his brand new Porsche 993TT who wouldn't listen to anybody about handling dynamics at his first autocross. After all, we were stupid because HIS car was all wheel drive! None of us would ride with this tool. About an hour later, he managed to somehow pull an "Eddie Griffin" and head, front wheels sliding, hard into a concrete light pole base at about 50 mph. Upon impact, you could hear the engine trying to rev because he had mashed the brake AND the gas trying to stop the car. The brakes did not win.

In the Griffin example, do you think the producer, who had his $1.2M Enzo wrecked, really lost anything with the incredibe exposure he just got his new movie? You can't buy time on CNN, CNBC, etc like he got today. Think about it, millions of people are forwarding 3 min video links about his new movie! So his insurance pays for the car, and he gets about $2m in free publicity! Hmmmm...maybe he wants me to act like an idiot and crash a car for him?

Colin

[njsteve]

You know his insurance compnay is not going to pay that claim as it occurred while he was racing and another driver, not the owner was behind the wheel. What he will do is write it off on his taxes as a $1.5 mil business expense under "promotional advertising."

[Kim_Howie]

Sorry, Steve but Insurance companies even pay for stupidty!!!! I would bet it's paid for.

[AutoInsane]

I agree with Colin. This crash could be the best thing that ever happened for the movie Redline. We would not have heard about the movie if it was not for this crash. I think Eddie might be getting a bonus!!!!

[firstgenaddict]

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Sorry, Steve but Insurance companies even pay for stupidty!!!! I would bet it's paid for.

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They are not going to pay anything for a vehicle on a race track.... I'll bet that there is a stipulation in the insurance contract.

[csx289]

My money is on the insuarance company paying.

I had a on-track "incident" with a Ferrari years ago. After much fighting, the insurance company paid the claim. "Racing" exclusions by nature must be very specific. My policy described the racing exclusion as "professional, sanctioned racing events" or something like that. The event I was at was on a race track, but it was a "driver's school". One car on the track at a time, no times were kept, no wheel-to-wheel racing. Anybody could drive, you did not need to be a "professional". The owner's club was not considered a sanctioning body. After review, the insurance company decided that even though it was a closed course nobody was racing and it was not timed, therefore, the "racing" exclusion was determined to be not enforcable.

In the Eddie Griffin crash, it appears as though they were just screwing around in a parking lot. Not a track. No helmets, no timing and scoring, just driving around in a circle in street cars with license plates registered for road use. Clearly nobody was racing as you can see in the video, I bet they weren't even going 50 mph. And nobody will argue after seeing the tape that Griffin is a "professional driver" ! With a high-profile client like the producer, I bet they pay it. Unless he had a stated or agreed value policy (doubtful), the original price of the Enzo is just shy of a million if I remember correctly. I bet once they depreciate it, etc., what they have to pay will be damn close to what they will get for it at a salvage pool auction. Net loss will be minimal IMHO, they will jack the producer's rates and make it up in short order

Now, if the producer is one of these guys who is "self insured", well, he still got over a million bucks in publicity from this deal and his movie will do just fine.

I wonder how the Undercover Brother felt today when he woke up. Maybe a little sore? Belair, I heard it was the ribs that really get it bad in a crash, is that true???

Colin

[427TJ]

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I don't care if you are a celebrity, a politician, a real estate mogul, or just really stinking rich for no particular reason - it does NOT exempt you from the laws of understeer or correct being stupid behind the wheel!

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These types also tend to kill themselves in airplanes. See: JFK Jr.