Pininfarina dies in Vespa crash

[benebob]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080807/...ina_death_dc_1

[SVXRide]

What's a 51 year old man doing on a Vespa? Oh, yeah, gas is like $20/gallon over there.
-Bill

[benebob]

Originally Posted by SVXRide

What's a 51 year old man doing on a Vespa? Oh, yeah, gas is like $20/gallon over there.
-Bill

He isn't a pig. The real question I had was what was a millionaire CAR designer doing on a Vespa?

[Earthworm]

...and why do they make it look like they only design cars with names starting with "F"?

[PaulDexler]

In response to some of the comments. In Italy, EVERYONE rides scooters unless you have to take someone with you. $9 per gallon gas encourages this.
In the Pininfarina lineage, founder of the company was Batista (Pinin) Farina. Pinin was a nickname. When the company became successful, the family changed its name to Pininfarina. A few years ago at Pebble Beach, I met Batista's son Sergio Pininfarina. There was a display that included the first car his father had designed, a 1930 Cadillac V-16 speedster done for an Indian Maharaja. The car has since been re-restored, and is painted a somewhat garish two tone that is claimed to be original. (Original photos are in black and white, they show the two-tone, but the restorer only had verbal descriptions of the colors.) Andrea, the one who was sadly killed in the accident, was Sergio's son. His brother and sister are also executives of the company. It is too soon to know what will happen.
Paul

[SVeXy96]

I hate the Pebble Beach commercial for whatever car it was...Lexus? Mercedes? Oh wait I remember, Expensive! I hate the word pebble...for absolutely no reason, but I can't stand the way it sounds especially when an old guy with a deep voice says it like 3 times in 30 seconds.

[SVXRide]

Originally Posted by benebob

He isn't a pig. The real question I had was what was a millionaire CAR designer doing on a Vespa?

Yep, an even better question! (I'm still going with expensive gas being the reason)
-Bill

[benebob]

Originally Posted by SVXRide

Yep, an even better question! (I'm still going with expensive gas being the reason)
-Bill

Is that the same for the 79 year old that "didn't see him" as he ran both axles over top of him.

[SVXRide]

Originally Posted by benebob

Is that the same for the 79 year old that "didn't see him" as he ran both axles over top of him.

Nope. That's probably, "There is a reason we have to renew our driver's license on a regular basis in the U.S."
-Bill

[benebob]

Originally Posted by SVXRide

Nope. That's probably, "There is a reason we have to renew our driver's license on a regular basis in the U.S."
-Bill

Yeah and when was the last time you had to take a test to renew it rather than send in your money.

[SVXRide]

Originally Posted by benebob

Yeah and when was the last time you had to take a test to renew it rather than send in your money.

I don't know about PA, but Maryland requires an eye test (includes a test of periferal (sp?) vision) every time you have to renew your driver's license
-Bill

[benebob]

Obviously that isn't enough judging by the driver skills on the beltways. PA requires you're renewal fee. Remember, we're the 2nd oldest state behind Florida and since lobbiest own the government the AARP keeps any changes under wraps.

Originally Posted by SVXRide

I don't know about PA, but Maryland requires an eye test (includes a test of periferal (sp?) vision) every time you have to renew your driver's license
-Bill

[PaulDexler]

SVeXy96,
What does your rant have to do with my post? If it hadn't been for Pebble Beach, I never would have met Gordon Buerhig, designer of the Cord 810/812, Briggs Cunningham, Sergio Pininfarina, Georgietto Giugiaro, Juan Fangio, Bob Lutz, and numerous others. And meeting them there, it's on a car guy to car guy basis, not multi-millionaire, famous designer, collector, whatever, meets with impecunious writer/photographer. That's one reason why I keep going back year after year. If you don't like Pebble Beach, don't go.
Paul