Enough Dead Cobra Owners! Enough Wrecked Cars! - Page 5

casaleenie · #81 (**permalink**) 05-11-2003, 03:10 PM

If Pat finds out I drink from time to time, I'm a dead man....

Dan Semko · #82 (**permalink**) 05-11-2003, 03:44 PM

Al,
If you attend the DV Spring Fling, he'll know for sure! But guess what, what you will discover after meeting Pat, besides the fact that your wife or girlfriend will NOT be safe, is a most enjoyable, personable guy that's not only an experienced builder but a very experienced race oriented driver. The boy knows his stuff and I have the pleasure of having him in my close circle of trusted friends.

casaleenie · #83 (**permalink**) 05-11-2003, 03:49 PM

Dan,

I just hate it when they turn out to be nice guys...
and my wife and I will be at the Fling again... thanks for the warning abut Pat....

al

SCOBRAC · #84 (**permalink**) 05-11-2003, 03:57 PM

I too mourn the loss of a (another) Club Cobra brother. But, I can only hope to die doing what I love to do. Not street racing, but going pretty fast (sans passanger).. I would like to point out Mr. Doherty was close enough to this trans-am to be bumped, rubbed or otherwise crashed. I can only think he would be alive today had he been driving a big block car. 385 or FE..

I think we should start by banning all small block powered cobra's with the exception of those early original cars which were not converted in the 60's. Or at the very least restricting the intale of these killer cars to 350 cfm carburation.

Dan Semko · #85 (**permalink**) 05-11-2003, 04:00 PM

Al,
Do not be offended if Pat requests "pictures" of your wife. He's like that. Of course if you'd like to apply for Gashole membership ahead of time, just forward the pictures!

SCOBRAC · #86 (**permalink**) 05-11-2003, 04:03 PM

So about the 1400 hp Rx2.. That's 1680 hp per liter?? All the more reason to drive a big block.

DAVID GAGNARD · #87 (**permalink**) 05-11-2003, 04:08 PM

Kountzecobra;

Most all the companys that have pulled out of Louisiana are still in business elswhere,only two that I know of went completely under.... Here in Louisiana,if an insurance company wants to raise their rates,they must first go to the state insurance commission and lobby them and show proof why they need to raise their rates and ask for a certain amount,then if the commision agrees they set the % that the company can raise it's rates by. The company I work for and am insured by has had only one very small rate increase in the last two years and I can live with that.... What bothers me is when a company starts getting reallllll selective on who and what type autos they insure,that's when we will be in trouble,and the trouble has already started for Cobra owners as you can see how many companys are no longer insuring these cars and raiseing rates on existing costumers. The company I work for DOES NOT insure motocycles at all,that does not effect me (have not had a motocycle since 1980),but how about the guys and gals that are not into classic cars/street rods/ Cobras,but into motorcycles, see my point,what will be next????

Brett;

I am very familar with the Rotten.com site,as it was shown to me years ago.... Also, I deal with the aftermath of auto accidents everyday,that's my job... I also deal with and see the injuries daily as well as the fatalities.... Not to mention the personal injury attorneys and doctors who treat the injured,so you see, I pretty much see it all from start to finish...

Tell me, how come malpractice insurance is so expensive these days????? The doctors and hospitals of today with all the new technology of today should be better equipped and better trained to handle what comes thru the door now than say 10 or 20 years ago, yet the malpractice insurance just keeps going up and up with no end in site.... Are the doctors of 10 or 20 years ago better than the ones we have now,I think not....Is it the big bad insurance company's fault?????

I'm not trying to start a pi$$ing match or war,I do not agree with everything the insurance company does,but I think they get the blame unjustly for a lot of what is going on,and I'm just trying to get people to look at the situation from their standpoint if only for a moment...

Their is no telling how many auto accidents there are daily and how many fatalities daily,but let one Cobra owner have an accident and it's all over the papers,news and internet... If granny has an accident,so what,but let some guy in a high powered sports car have an accident look out. The news media will eat it up,do I like that ???NO,but it is a fact,weather good or bad,we will get the bad press and the insurance companys will also hear,see,and read the same things you and I do and come monday morning they will decide not to insure these high powered sports cars anymore,then that affects us all....

Well, enough of my ranting and raving,I'll get off my soapbox now....

Respectfully;

David

CSX 4039 · #88 (**permalink**) 05-11-2003, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DAVID GAGNARD

Brett;
Tell me, how come malpractice insurance is so expensive these days????? The doctors and hospitals of today with all the new technology of today should be better equipped and better trained to handle what comes thru the door now than say 10 or 20 years ago, yet the malpractice insurance just keeps going up and up with no end in site.... Are the doctors of 10 or 20 years ago better than the ones we have now,I think not....Is it the big bad insurance company's fault?????

I'm not trying to start a pi$$ing match or war,

Respectfully;

David

That's what it is, David. You've hit the nail on the head. Doctors Suck.
Marcus Welby is dead. He suffocated under an avalanche of insurance, pharmaceutical and HMO authorization forms, and letters of medical neccessity forms to complete. CPT code- 947.27 "Congestive Paperwork Failure".

Give me a break, man.
Unfortunately, Doctor's did that to themselves.

They saw $$ signs when LBJ offered to let the government take over the payment of the elderly and the poor (Medicare and Medicaid), and it bit them on the gluteus, when the government ran out of money. But, it didn't happen to the generation of doctor's who signed up for it, rather the doctor's in practice the last 15 and next 50 years.

Oh, well.
It least there will always be idiots out there to smear themselves all over God's green earth. No shortage of patients.

Dan Semko · #89 (**permalink**) 05-11-2003, 05:11 PM

Dave,
please allow me to address why malpractice is so high. There are several reasons but the two major reasons are, the fees that doctors charge have been drastically reduced so in order to pay for staff, equipment, insurances etc, we need to see three times the patient load in order to make what we were 5 years ago. The insurance companies now regulate who you see, when you see them and what you prescribe. If that company thinks a generic medication on their formulary is sufficient regardless of what we prescribe, the patient either has to take that medicine or pay for the entire prescription out of pocket. The juries are awarding unrealistic settlements in lawsuits and to further complicate matters, the frivilous suits that should be tossed out due to questionable merit, have to be defended by our carriers. If the carrier decides that it's cheaper to settle, regardless of merit, then they do so, which drives up the cost to everyone down the chain. Are there solutions, sure and simple ones:
1. If a patient brings a frivilous lawsuit and looses, then they should have to pay the total cost of the case. 2. Standardize physicians fees, so there's an acceptable, nationwide schedule and if the doctors want to charge more, the patients should expect/demand better, comprehensive care. 3. Place a cap on all medical malpractice cases on patients above the age of 18 or 21. Why, obviously if you're permanently injured as a child and require continuous medical attention throughout the remainder of your life, you should be entitled to more. Patients above that age, regardless of injury should have a cap. I personally don't believe that ANYONE including myself, is worth $25 to 30 million dollars in damages. 4. Take the control of patients out of the insurance company's hands. Thanks to Clinton, if you're insured in a group, or in an HMO, and you're not treated properly, you as a patient have little recourse. 5. Spend the tax money collected from our taxpayers on a quality health system providing quality medical care to all people over age 55 BEFORE you send it to foreign countries to rebuild their problems. 6. Adjust the litigious mindset in this country by regulating attorneys that instigate nonsense lawsuits. You know the type that advertise frequently on TV stating that "if you have taken, know anyone that has taken or even been in the same state with anyone that's taken a certain medication you may be entitled to compensation" suggestions. I feel the only crime here is that the government has not declared open season and discarded the legal limits on heads taken.

cabo · #90 (**permalink**) 05-11-2003, 06:28 PM

We need someone with a little time on their hands to step up to
the plate and make this happen. I think it should be one group
or that comes up with a plan that can be implemented at a regional level. Perhaps events such as the "SPRING FLING" could
provide the group to save money by having a group go through
a driver training program. If all such events were to start one day early and provide this type of training we could get more people driving safely.

mrmustang · #91 (**permalink**) 05-11-2003, 07:06 PM

Dan,

Since your attached to the medical field, I know your take on the subject of insurance, however, you too are just a bit biased to a point. Did you become a doctor to help people, or to make a huge wad of cash........be honest.....Same goes for the lawyers who have perpetuated the 1-800-sue-them mindset...Did they become lawyers to help people, or to make a huge wad of cash...How about the medical students and law students currently enrolled in our nations college system............Also, while we are at it, I suggest implementing the death penalty for parking violations. natural selection will take over after that.

Enough is enough........When will people learn that they too could become a statistic. I know at least three CC members who have either lost family members, or had family members permanently disabled by stupid drivers who do not give a damn about anyone but themselves..........

Just my own two cents worth on this particular subject......

Bill S.

PS: My cousin, at the age of 25, was turned in to a vegetable on wheels by a street racer..........He had a law degree, and a brilliant mind.Now, at 42 years old, he has a full time nurse, cannot feed himself, and is still confined to that same damn wheelchair...........You want to know why I am the way I am on subjects like this, now you know................

Bill S.

searanch · #92 (**permalink**) 05-11-2003, 07:24 PM

...perhaps its just my own sense of enlightened self interest that what immediately comes to mind is "there but for the grace of god go I" now pass the ammunition

Cabo,

...better look on the map - Sequim ain't the most Northwest part of the US - I think Point Roberts is - course I could be wrong

G.R. · #93 (**permalink**) 05-11-2003, 07:27 PM

I thought it was Neah Bay--you know where Brents car camr from

CSX 4039 · #94 (**permalink**) 05-11-2003, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mrmustang

Dan,

Since your attached to the medical field, I know your take on the subject of insurance, however, you too are just a bit biased to a point. Did you become a doctor to help people, or to make a huge wad of cash........be honest.....Same goes for the lawyers who have perpetuated the 1-800-sue-them mindset...Did they become lawyers to help people, or to make a huge wad of cash...How about the medical students and law students currently enrolled in our nations college system............Also, while we are at it, I suggest implementing the death penalty for parking violations. natural selection will take over after that.

Enough is enough........When will people learn that they too could become a statistic. I know at least three CC members who have either lost family members, or had family members permanently disabled by stupid drivers who do not give a damn about anyone but themselves..........

Just my own two cents worth on this particular subject......

Bill S.

PS: My cousin, at the age of 25, was turned in to a vegetable on wheels by a street racer..........He had a law degree, and a brilliant mind.Now, at 42 years old, he has a full time nurse, cannot feed himself, and is still confined to that same damn wheelchair...........You want to know why I am the way I am on subjects like this, now you know................

Bill S.

Bill-
I agree with you 100%.
Empathize with your cousin. I was the Medical Director of an Inpatient Rehabilitation (physical) for 10 years, dealt with that daily, on up to 20 patients a day. That is why I was harsh on Seabiscuit before.
As for "helping people vs. wad of cash"... Doctor's are to blame for their situation, but unfortunately, it is currently untenable. My wife, one of the best internists you would EVER hope to have, if your life was on the line, refuses to see more than 20 patients a day, because she believes she can not give superb care if she sees more. She is the kind of doctor everybody wants. She has also never been sued, and can practically bring the dead back to life. Unfortunately, she was unable to make payroll last month in her practice, even after not paying herself a dime. This, after 4 years straight A Bachelors degree, 4 years med school, 3 years residency, 1 year of chief residency, and 10 years in private practice. You do the math. She wouldn't do it again, and thinks about quitting and being with our kids almost daily, not because of the income so much as because of all the BS. That would be a loss to society, I can assure you. It is not a matter of getting rich vs. getting filthy rich. It is a matter of going out of business unless you practice cattle drive medicine.
I am not asking you to pass the hat for us. Things are tough all over, and we create our own realities, but when you can no longer see a doctor who will spend more than 5 minutes with you, you will know why.
My opinion.

KobraKarl · #95 (**permalink**) 05-11-2003, 08:16 PM

Brett,

Just curious, what percentage of your gross would you say is required to service your liability insurance ..

Karl

Excaliber · #96 (**permalink**) 05-11-2003, 08:20 PM

I got a leg injury,,,been to the regular Doc several times. They done a bunch of tests, inconclusive. I been to two "specialists" now, both of them gave me just over 5 mintues and told me to take continue to take my 4 to 6 "Advils" a day and call them in ten years. The "case" is now closed.

Now I'm faced with hiring a Doc out of my OWN pocket if I want to get to the bottom of it! Rest assured, if something does turn up with my leg the next stop will be a lawyers office!!! NOT happy with "HMO's".

Ernie

casaleenie · #97 (**permalink**) 05-11-2003, 08:28 PM

I just want to take a moment to thank all the great Doctors and nurses who have managed to keep me walking and breathing over the past decade... I thank my cardiologist(quad bypass), my neurosurgeon(three spine fusions), my orthopedic surgeons (two rotor cuff repairs, two new knees and repair smashed foot),my internist who keeps me on the straight and narrow and is a great friend.
I owe them a lot more than I can ever repay... What they were paid by insurance was a joke considering what they did.. I will be grateful to the medical community until the day I die..
(hope I spelled the specialities correctly). A terrific bunch of dedicated people...

PatBuckley · #98 (**permalink**) 05-11-2003, 08:28 PM

Casaleenie -

I look forward to meeting you. I know I will be safe in your company!

Your pal Pat

casaleenie · #99 (**permalink**) 05-11-2003, 08:33 PM

My Pal Pat,

I may even take the training wheels off the Cobra for the meeting... I'll be the guy covered in bubble wrap with a helmet on sitting in a blue Cobra smoking and drinking... Can't be too careful.... I plan on raising a lot of "heck".

Joe Smith · #**100** (**permalink**) 05-11-2003, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Russ Dickey

This from somebody who's personal quote is "Life is Short. Roads are Long. Drive Faster." ???

Yup. Driving fast on the track or the
interstate is acceptable. STREET RACING
is NOT. I stand by my statement.
For what it's worth, I drive 20,000
lbs. of machinery everyday at over
500 mph. The fact remains some
people simply should not be driving
high performance cars. PERIOD.

Joe Smith

The facts remain that while tragic, these are ACCIDENTS. According to a recent "Dateline" story that covered "evil street racers", it was reported that "more than 20 people die per year" because of a street race. By way of comparison, more people are killed each year while changing a tire on the side of the road.