Posted on 12/12/2007 5:42:01 AM PST by TigerLikesRooster
Schumacher turns taxi driver to catch his flight
Tue Dec 11, 9:34 AM ET
Michael Schumacher can add the unofficial title of Germany's fastest taxi driver to his other achievements after taking over behind the wheel to get his family to the airport on time.
The retired Formula One champion drove the cab back to the airport himself after a trip out to the village of Gehuelz, near Coburg in southern Germany, left the family short of time to make their flight home, the Muenchner Abendzeitung newspaper reported.
"It was crazy having Schumi driving, with me in the passenger seat," the taxi driver was quoted as saying.
The seven-times world champion, who stopped racing last year but is still involved in the sport as an occasional tester for Ferrari, gave the driver a 100 euro (71.76 pounds) tip on top of the 60 euro fare, the newspaper said.
(Writing by Kevin Fylan, editing by Alan Baldwin)
A taxi driver in Germany was left shaken and stirred after handing his keys over to seven-times Formula One champion Michael Schumacher.
Schumacher, 38, asked to take the wheel as he was running late for a flight.
"I found myself a passenger, which was strange enough, but having 'Schumi' behind the wheel was incredible," said taxi driver Tuncer Yilmaz.
"He drove at full throttle around the corners and overtook in some unbelievable places."
Schumacher had flown into the Bavarian town of Coburg to pick up an Australian Shepherd dog called Ed.
He was accompanied by his wife and children to pick up the puppy and the family were late getting back to the local aerodrome for their return flight.
After giving the cabbie an unforgettable experience, Schumacher also gave him a 100 Euro tip.
The dog will be the latest addition to the Schumacher family menagerie, which includes one dog that he brought home from Brazil when his wife Corinna fell for it as it wandered around as a stray while they were at the Grand Prix in Sao Paulo.
I can’t imagine the taxi driver keeping his job, unless it is his cab. I doubt if insurance would cover a situation like that.
coool!
Interesting...but do you really need to do that with your family in the car. There will be other flights.
With apologies to Harry Chapin:
It was raining hard near Coburg,
I needed one more fare to make my night.
A fellow up ahead waved to flag me down,
He got in at the light.
Oh, where you going to, Mr. Family Man,
It’s a shame you’re running late.
He just looked out the window, and said
“Let me drive this crate”.
Something about him was familiar
I could swear I’d seen his face before,
But he said, “I can drive faster than you”
And he didn’t say anything more.
What a thrill to have the greatest driver ever take the wheel of your car and give you the ride of your life. This taxi diver is going to have something to brag about the rest of his life. A story he will never get tired of telling.
“Interesting...but do you really need to do that with your family in the car. There will be other flights.”
If it was most anyone else I’d agree, but if anyone knows how to push the limits without exceeding them, it’s Schumacher. He’s not known for recklessness.
Not a good enough excuse. All it would take is one other driver to misjudge what Schumi was going to do and there would have been a wreck. He should have never put his family at such a risk.
Talk about rags to riches. Thats one lucky dog.
Considering no speed limits on the autobahn I bet the taxi driver had the thrill of his life.
Screw the insurance. A story like this is worth hundreds of thousands of euros in free publicity for the cab company. Schumacher is like a God in Europe, especially Germany, and rich enough to pay for any accidents he might have had with change from his pockets.
I bet if anything the cabbie gets a big bonus this Christmas.
Schumacher is the greatest driver ever. He is practically perfect at predicting what other drivers are going to do. Unlike most racers, he rarely ever wrecked. I seriously doubt his family was in danger.
Limited to a controlled race on a track designed for racing ... I agree. However, this was on public roads with who knows how many cars going different speeds. This was not a race, it was everyday traffic. Yes, he’s a good driver, but all of those around him prorably weren’t.
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