[SA135i]

Originally Posted by EvanB85

I don't have access to that board, can someone post a synopsis ???

There were literally 14 - 15 pages of posts. In essence the 18 year old wanted to know how to get a smoother gear shift on the max m settings on the m5. Many of the forum members got on his case and asked what was an 18 year old doing with such a powerful car and said that it was an accident waiting to happen, to which he replied that he would never endanger the lives of others. The next thing there was this stunned realisation that the reports coming in of the accident could be (and probably was) the same person who had been posting. (This is a synopsis of the one thread, I did not read the others as it is really very eerie reading these posts knowing the eventual outcome.)

[Road Runner]

Originally Posted by EvanB85

I don't have access to that board, can someone post a synopsis ???

The news article posted by Izzodesh sums it up as well...

Internet posts warned of car's power[I]

Driver sought advice on going faster in hours before his death


BY RICK CUNDIFF
STAR-BANNER
OCALA - Less than 12 hours before he died, Joshua Ammirato was posting messages on an Internet message board seeking advice about how to drive his 2008 BMW M5 faster.

Ammirato, 18, logged onto M5board.com Thursday and Friday, asking other M5 drivers how to shift smoother in the 500-horsepower machine.

"The problem is when I'm going pedal to the metal pushing 140 and upshifting, there tends to be thud noise with the gear change," he wrote in one post.

Ammirato and four other young Marion County men were killed at about 3:45 a.m. Saturday, when the BMW M5 he was driving sailed off the end of the Greystone airstrip in Anthony and crashed into a tree.

Messages on the board devoted to M5 enthusiasts show Ammirato logged on shortly before 10 p.m. Thursday as "AmericanM5."

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

Other members of the board expressed skepticism that Ammirato could have a car with a base price of $82,900 at such a young age, but warned him to take it easy until he gained more driving experience.

"Maybe your 2 years driving experience in your whole life is the problem," one member wrote.

"The fact that I never drove a manual car before may be true, but I've been driving for a lot longer than two years buddy," Ammirato responded.

Ammirato's M5, according to his posts, was equipped with a "sequential manual gearbox," which shifts like a traditional manual transmission, but without a clutch pedal.

Automobile Magazine has described the M5 as "a fearfully intimidating machine," with writer Michael Jordan adding "we've found that the SMG transmission .Ê.Ê. makes you feel like a victim of speed, not its master."

Ammirato told forum members he'd had the car for about three weeks. The vehicle is registered to his father, Santo Ammirato, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

In his posts, Joshua Ammirato listed his other cars as a 2008 BMW 535i, a 2007 BMW 335i and a 2007 Cadillac Escalade. All have less horsepower than the M5.

News of Ammirato's death drew condolences from forum members on Saturday and Sunday.

"My prayers are with Josh and his family as well. Being that I am 21 and going on my second M5 I know the temptation is great and sometimes hard to handle at that age," one member wrote. "This is a very serious car with extraordinary performance, i have learned to respect it because there is a VERY, VERY thin line between losing it and keeping it on the road."

Another hoped others would learn from the tragedy.

"Truly a sad, sad event. May God be with the families and friends," the post read. "Hope that they have not died completely in vain - that many young drivers (and their parents) will take this to heart and learn from it."

Ammirato asked forum members on Friday about turning off the M5's electronic stability control for higher performance. A member wrote back with concern.

"With all [due] respect, gradually learn your car before you turn off [stability control]," he wrote. "With a little mistake combination of your mind and your right foot, you can be history. Be safe and enjoy.

"P.S. People on this board care about each other, especially when someone owns 500hp car at age of 18. Don't take it personal. We all watch each other[s] back."

Another member expressed concern about Ammirato's maturity.

" t's just disturbing to know, if you're for real, that an 18 year old who is asking these questions about a 500hp car is driving the same streets I am. I don't have anything against young guys driving nice cars, but an 18 year old behind the wheel of an M5 is what accidents are made of," he wrote.

Ammirato responded at 5:33 p.m. Friday that he was responsible.

"I completely understand where you are coming from assuming that I am irresponsible .Ê.Ê. 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."

A member from Australia again cautioned Ammirato to be careful.

"My only bit of advice matey - If you crash in a big way expect to be on the news," he wrote. "Enjoy and resist the temptation to drag others at the lights."

Ammirato responded, in his last post, at 9:02 p.m. Friday.

"Thanks guys, don't get me wrong I never said I didn't respect your wisdom," he wrote. "[T]hanks for the welcome and I am looking forward to getting to know you guys better .Ê.Ê. Josh."

[EvanB85]

Thanks....

Nothing to say but "chilling."

What a tragedy. Again... hopefully somewhere, someone will think twice the next time they try and push the limits.

[Dave]

i am shocked to see the tox report hasnt shown up..
in the wee hours of dawn with 5 guys i am sure there was some drinking or smoking....at least i hope thats what clouded their judgement
otherwise they are just plain stupid.

[fe1rx]

Originally Posted by izzodesh

i am shocked to see the tox report hasnt shown up..
in the wee hours of dawn with 5 guys i am sure there was some drinking or smoking....at least i hope thats what clouded their judgement
otherwise they are just plain stupid.

Actually, you have to give the kid credit for being smart enough to use a runway. How many of "us" have gone that fast on a public road and count ourselves smart - and done it for no other reason than wanting to go fast?

I have gone nearly as fast on a closed 5000 ft runway. The experience was completely uneventful, and about as safe as a high speed run can be. I will say though that an easily identifiable braking point and immediate threshold braking is necessary. With a bit of supervision and without the passengers the exercise could have been done safely.

16 year olds won't learn from this experience, but parents of 16 year olds should.

[Euro Durch Tod]

Originally Posted by john970

Lots of 18 year old kids would have the maturity. Experience? I've seen 10 year old kart racers that could demolish me on a kart track.

Most people dont get a 500hp car to take it easy in, and mature person will their own limits and not wreck brand new M5, they test the limits of the car in a safe controlled environment. That kid just got that car and shouldnt have been driving it as he did till he got to know the car better.

Karting is a different story, some of those kids start out at 5 or 6 yrs old so the have 4-5 years experience by 10.

Bottom line this kids obviously wasnt able to handle this car!

[imported_135Driver]

Originally Posted by Brandon26pdx

Sad story. 500 hp cars are not kids toys, no matter how much money you have.

Well said!!

Wish parents would think at least once before buying their kid whatever they want.

P.S. I had to work like crazy to buy my first ride.
Nothing was just given to me! Spoiled brats!

[john970]

Originally Posted by Euro Durch Tod

That kid just got that car and shouldnt have been driving it as he did till he got to know the car better.

No argument there, my point was anyone can be stupid regardless of age (he obviously was stupid and his parents should have known it)

[AwesomeBMW]

Originally Posted by john970

No argument there, my point was anyone can be stupid regardless of age

That's for sure. And I've never done anything stupid:biggrin:

[Driv3r]

Wow, just wow...i read all of both threads and am in shock. i had such an eerie feeling reading that one thread knowing the outcome...especially when M5DAL wrote this:

"My only bit of advice matey - If you crash in a big way expect to be on the news."

my condolences to the kid.

[Driv3r]

hope this serves as a lesson. noone can master speed, no matter what kind of gadgets are on the car, your bound by the laws of physics, many people with nicer cars seem to have a false sense of speed and safety...

[Dave]

Originally Posted by Driv3r

Wow, just wow...i read all of both threads and am in shock. i had such an eerie feeling reading that one thread knowing the outcome...especially when M5DAL wrote this:

"My only bit of advice matey - If you crash in a big way expect to be on the news."

my condolences to the kid.

yeah that one line really gave me goose bumps

btw nice sig driv3r

[Fast Kiwi]

wow...... just wow..

[Scuderia]

Originally Posted by Driv3r

hope this serves as a lesson. noone can master speed, no matter what kind of gadgets are on the car, your bound by the laws of physics, many people with nicer cars seem to have a false sense of speed and safety...

+1

[Redline]

Its not an age thing.

Everyone always tries to push the car to top speed at least once during their ownership of a car.

So don't say a young driver does not deserve a car like m5.

It just so happens this person was stupid in his decissions, had to carry other people with him, and probably had something to prove.

[larryn]

It is an age thing, I think. I look back to the stuff I did in my teens/early 20's in cars, and am glad I'm still here, and never hurt anybody.

I would never dream of doing anything like that now...

[Dave]

i def. think its an age thing


when you go to your first auto x or drag stip that is how you test your cars true potential...then you move up to laps at pocono south or limerock or the glen. no one our age is going to go to an air strip and try and hit 155 in their 1.


larry even thou i am still in my 20's i have done some stupid things in my late teens thats i am glad i never hurt anyone either. but i never did it with ppl in the car..

at least there is no redick lawsuit against bmw

[Fast Kiwi]

I agree^^^

I drive a whole lot smarter these days and take far far far fewer risks..

M5's are monsters!! I'm always VERY weary about people who want to take an M5 for a test drive.. It seems the one's who end up buying the car nromally have a greater respect for the car.. The "test pilots" just wanna beat on it.. and have NO idea what the hell thier doing..

[essexcounty]

Without a doubt an age and gender thing...

I was 17 and totalled my dad's 87 Grand National because a friend asked me to "glue" him to the seat on slick roads. We ended up doing a 720 and slamming into a tree backwards.

Young, dumb, and ...

[BForbes]

Originally Posted by essexcounty

Without a doubt an age and gender thing...

I was 17 and totalled my dad's 87 Grand National because a friend asked me to "glue" him to the seat on slick roads. We ended up doing a 720 and slamming into a tree backwards.

Young, dumb, and ...

Wow!! I'm sure he got glued to the seat.

[essexcounty]

^ That he did, poor guy. The only injury either of us had was he sliced his pinky from top to bottom holding onto the door handle.

He blames me for it to this day!

[Dave]

poor GNX!

rip car...

i for one will not be going over a 100 mph in my 1...mainly cuz that would mean 100mph in nyc which is just plain stupid