Schumacher commandeers taxi in race to airport

[British_Bulldog]

BERLIN (AFP) - Police in Coburg are to investigate whether seven-times world champion Michael Schumacher broke the law after he got behind the wheel of a taxi last week so his family were on time for a flight.

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Schumacher turned taxi driver last Saturday having taken his family to buy an Australian Shepherd puppy in the Bavarian village of Kronach and then took over the wheel of the cab on the return journey to make sure they caught their plane.

The German star, who retired from Formula One last year, was said to have "taken the corners at full-throttle and over-taken in unbelievable places," according to the cab driver.

Schumacher paid the 60 euros fare (86 US Dollars) for the journey and even gave the cab driver a 100 euro tip (144 US Dollars) to show his appreciation.

But the light-hearted story has not gone down well with local police, who are to investigate whether Schumacher broke the highway code, while taxi driver Tuncer Yilmaz will be questioned for allowing the German racing star to take the wheel.

According to a report in German tabloid Bild, police will cross-examine Yilmaz, 42, as a possible witness and Schumacher could face a fine.

But things may be even worse for Yilmaz, who is also set to face a hearing.

"That was an offence against transport laws," Kai Holland, deputy director of Coburg's traffic authority, told Bild.

"We will have a hearing with the taxi driver to resolve the matter."

Schumacher's manager Willi Weber was amazed Yilmaz and his client could find themselves in trouble over the incident.

"To punish this man would be ridiculous. He very kindly helped Michael and we wish all taxi drivers were so understanding."

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/afp/20071215/ten-auto-prix-ger-offbeat-9700fcb_1.html

I know it was dangerous, but I can't help laughing out loud and sharing it with you guys ...and would have loved to have been in the taxi ;-)

 

[Pops]

What is astonishing to me is that Germans are not known to be good tippers. The 100 euros was probably so that Yilmaz could buy new,clean undies.

 

[koalaponics]

holy crap what an ego-maniac. I would be much more amused by a story of the flaming wreck that killed the schumacher family, needlessly speeding to the airport. The puppy and the bewildered driver escaped unharmed. I wish real life was more like south park.

 

[Guest]

cmon, thats courteous, the cab driver was nice to him, schumacher used more gas by going faster, annnd he's rich anyway. I call no foul.

 

[Stoner4Life]

I'm not going to say which nationalities are good tippers or not (and I know from driving taxi in NY) but I will say this....... "Airline pilots are the cheapest motherfvckers alive." Their rooms are bought by the company, their meals too, mostly airport shuttles to & fro hotel etcetera for free....... but when those tightwads have to pay a taxi fare they resent the shyt out of it & usually stiff drivers.

 

[NiteTiger]

holy crap what an ego-maniac. I would be much more amused by a story of the flaming wreck that killed the schumacher family, needlessly speeding to the airport. The puppy and the bewildered driver escaped unharmed. I wish real life was more like south park.

Wow, do you normally come off as a raving lunatic, or did we just catch you on a bad day?

 

[LoneStarGrower]

hahaha I'm sure ol Schumacher bow gave this cabbie the ride of his life! Probly thought he was on the Nurburgring

 

[Guest]

hahaha I'm sure ol Schumacher bow gave this cabbie the ride of his life! Probly thought he was on the Nurburgring

there are actually 'ring taxis (bimmer m5's and a cargo van last time i checked)..........................maybe schumacher wants a new job and just was showing that his qualifications DO apply to the job

 

[FRANKENBLUNT420]

I'm not going to say which nationalities are good tippers or not (and I know from driving taxi in NY) but I will say this....... "Airline pilots are the cheapest motherfvckers alive." Their rooms are bought by the company, their meals too, mostly airport shuttles to & fro hotel etcetera for free....... but when those tightwads have to pay a taxi fare they resent the shyt out of it & usually stiff drivers.

they are some snobby bastards as well. used to work for an airline, so i had access to all those backway entrances and such. once back there you can see them liquored up back there, and then all of a sudden as soon as they hit the tram ways, they instantaniously sober up!! its crazy to see.

but i dont see the big deal with this guy driving the taxi, i mean hell who is the real expert driver in the situation? ah live and let live, and you guys already know, if it wasnt shumacher we would have never heard a thing about it

 

[Andyo]

nice to see someones alive.wake up a few boring tax payers,and white van drivers.
go shoei