Retired seven-time Formula 1 world champion Michael Schumacher, made headlines recently when, hurrying through the German countryside to the town of Coburg, where the return flight to Switzerland was waiting, he politely asked the Taxi (cab) driver, Tuncer Yilmaz, if he could get behind the wheel…“I found myself in the passenger seat, which was strange enough, but to have Schumi behind the wheel of my cab (Opel Vivaro) was incredible. He drove at full throttle around the corners and over-took in some unbelievable places”, Yilmaz told a local German newspaper.
The reason for this impromptu excursion? The Schumachers had flown to Coburg and traveled 30 km to pick up the new family pet – a puppy called Ed! The Schumachers (yes you read correctly) – Michael’s wife Corinna and his two children were along for the ride as well. He then generously tippedYilmaz, and its anyone’s guess whether or not the family caught the flight home.
Lets start putting that into perspective, a local television presenter and radio jock ,Sbubiso Leope (DJ S’bu), was caught doing 257 km/h in his Audi TT on the N1 northbound by metro police late Sunday night. He happens to be among seven motorists who were caught speeding along a certain stretch of the highway – all were clocked at speeds exceeding 180 km/h. “let him rot in jail for risking lives”is just one of the comments I’ve heard as well.
What has shocked me (and to a certain extent caused anger and confusion) is the clearly biased media coverage and public opinion on both matters. Yes Schumi is arguably one of the best drivers alive, and even though the exact speeds he atttained aren’t known (it’s fair to say that he was driving at a suitably brisk clip), I still regard that kind of behaviour reckless. “Overtaking in unimaginable places, taking corners at full throttle” – somehow I seem to think that Schumi’s stints weren’t all that legal, yet headlines like “the fastest taxi driver around” and “worlds fastest cabbie” clearly display some sort of ignorance, with some even noting that they would like to be driven around in a taxi by Schumacher.
I understand the concept of “hurried driving” but even if he was driving on countryside aphalt, that still doesn’t make it any safer. My idea of “corners” are not plentiful in the countryside – bends I can imagine. Do I go a bit far in saying that maybe the cabbie meant he took the corners in the city at full throttle?
Taxi driver? I turn up my nose at comments like that, simply because as a taxi driver you should consider the lives of those you transport. There is no hero in my opinion here. I take into consideration that German roads don’t present the number of hazards that South African motorists have to face everyday (on major roadways mind you) for example, Chevy Spark-swallowing potholes, straying cattle, speeding unroadworthy taxis, pedestrians who fail to use overhead footbridges. (generally bad conditions – you get the picture). But stop right there, isn’t it winter in the northern hemisphere?
I don’t condone what S’bu did, and surely he should be punished – but the fury directed at him by some and the never-ending praise for Schumi’s extra-curricular antics is rather irritating. Many South Africans (and people the world over) need to get their priorties sorted out.
As we ease into the holiday season – maybe not all that slowly, especially since 2007 has truly been burgeoning with the release of many fantastic sportscars (here and abroad) and I suspect that many will be out and about playing with their Christmas presents – I appeal to South Africans to not drink and drive, take it easy on our motorways and, should a former F1 driver offer to commandeer your ride…just ask yourself if any of the chicanes they’ve taken ever been occupied by minibus taxis.