The Story
Set Up
I really got a new BMW 750Li at the end of March 2008. The story in my first email on this topic was truthful on this point.
However, when I was at the dealership to pick up the car, I happened to hear the story of a loaner BMW 750 that had been totaled the night before -- and in the same color as mine! Basically, the story behind it is that the dealer (DeFouw BMW -- terrific folks) often makes a loaner car available to customers when they need to leave their cars for service. They loaned the 750 out to a student who left a car for service; the student loaned the car to a buddy (a violation of the agreement); the buddy decided to show off to friends and took them out on a back road in the car; he got the car going too fast on a wet, unfamiliar road. The car went off the road, hit two trees, and went through the wall of the house. (To make it worse, the driver had no valid license or insurance and is from outside the US!)
Well, seeing the car and seeing it was the same color as my new car, an idea for an April Fool's joke was born. It was much better than the one I had been working on (which I will develop further for a future year). I took some pictures of the car at home. I returned to the dealer the next day with a camera and Elizabeth, and she took all the pictures. Of course, we advanced the date on the camera to April 1. My wife "tsk-tsked," but Elizabeth wanted to see how I put it all together. (She's going to be very dangerous as she gets older.)
I then put together the first email and sent it out to a lot of people (some, oddly, didn't get it -- spam filters?) and posted pictures to Facebook. I made sure to mention that the car was peppy and I wondered how fast it would go...a set-up for the 2nd email.
April 1
The April Fools email went out around 9 am on the morning of April 1, with a simultaneous posting of the pictures on my page on Facebook. Over the next 6 hours, about 70%-80% of the people (I stopped counting at about 80) who got the email or saw the Facebook page fell for the joke. A few caught on shortly after that when they saw the date, and for the rest, I either gave a broader hint ("A terrible way to start April Fools Day, isn't it?") or told outright.
A few people don't take me seriously, I guess, and that accounts for the 25% or so. Several were waiting for me to spring something on April 1. Others looked at the pictures and noted differences (different wheels, different color interior). One person decided the damage didn't look like it was from hitting a tree (although it was, partially). One noted that it wasn't sunny today but was in the picture. One even checked the "police blotter" to be sure, and another noted that the bail was out of line with worse offenses! After a while, people were posting to the Facebook page giving away the story, so latecomers there missed out on the joke.
My sister is angry with me -- she fell for it. A colleague at work was upset with me about whether I was actually driving that fast but was reassured that I wasn't. Oddly, the vast majority of people commiserated about the damaged car. Still, only a couple asked about my "injuries," and only one asked if I needed a car to use (he's the friend I'll ask to help bury the bodies if it comes to that :-).
Afterword
Rest assured that I am a cautious driver, seldom exceed the speed limit by much (if any), and certainly wouldn't try to outrun a state police car. I'm a little amazed so many people accepted that -- I didn't realize people thought I was such a rogue! Furthermore, one of the reasons I drive the BMW (besides pure comfort) is that it is one of the better cars on the road for both handling and safety. For example, the four guys that crashed the loaner, at high speed? They all walked away without injury: the car was designed to collapse in a controlled manner and protect the occupants. And I always wear my seatbelt!
So, my apologies (especially to my sister) if I upset any of you. To those of you who were worried about the car -- it is okay. And I hope you had a fun April 1st!
Here is the first (real) email, and the second (joke) email.
P.S. The allusion about when I was 19 is true. Back then, I did outrun a police car. In a 1973 Lotus Europa. There are other stories from those days, including why I don't like surprise parties, but you have to buy the rounds to hear them.
Real email
| From: | Gene Spafford <spaf@cerias.purdue.edu> |
| Date: | Mar 29, 2008 |
| To: | friends |
| Subject: | My new car |
So, you may have heard that I got a new car for my birthday (almost).
One of my few self-indulgences is leasing a BMW. With all the driving to/from Indy, Chicago, and elsewhere, I figure I want a comfortable and fun car.
BMW has a special inventory reduction sale for current leaseholders. I took advantage of it and got into a new car four months early. It will save me about $3000 over the next two years, so it's a good deal.
Enclosed are pictures of the new Spaf-mobile!
This 2008 model appears zippier than my 2006 model. I'll have to see how it behaves. I've gotten earlier ones up to about 120mph (not regularly :-), and this car doesn't act like it likes running below 50. :-)
If you're around and we head out to lunch or something, I'll be happy to drive!
--spaf
April First email
| From: | Gene Spafford <spaf@cerias.purdue.edu> |
| Date: | Apr 1, 2008 |
| To: | friends |
| Subject: | Re: My new car |
Well, some of you called after seeing this on the morning news, so I guess I better email something to the people I told about my new car.
I snapped the enclosed pictures on the way home this morning after it was towed. Sigh. The car was only three days old. :-(
Text after the first picture.
So, late last night, I was a little depressed, so I decided to go for a drive. I got out on the expressway and was perhaps thinking that what the heck -- the road was empty, and it would be interesting to see how fast the car could go. I mean, the speedometer goes up to 160! (My lawyer says I have to phrase this carefully...) Now, I am a law-abiding citizen and only exceed the speed limit by accident. So, hypothetically, I might not have been paying attention, and the speed could have crept up. And hypothetically speaking, it is a fine car that handles at 120mph exactly like at 60mph -- it is impossible to tell how fast the car is going without looking. (Which I ALWAYS do, of course.)
Well, hypothetically, I might have rounded a turn and seen a state police car on the side of the road operating radar. And, had I been exceeding the speed limit (ahem), I might have panicked a bit and taken the next exit quickly, turned off my lights, and pulled into a nearby driveway to elude said law enforcement. (Hey, it worked when I was 19, but that is a story for another time.)
Unfortunately, with the lights (hypothetically) off, I didn't see the bend in the driveway or the tree (not hypothetical) until too late at about 50 mph (allegedly) on a wet driveway. :-(
German engineering is good for safety, too. I have only 11 stitches, a lot of bruises, but no fractures. I have some airbag burns on my face. I pulled muscles from the seatbelt. Otherwise, I am as functional as I ever was.
And a $150,000 bond with a court appearance on Friday. (Damn! At least I wasn't drinking.)
And my wife is not talking to me. I mean, REALLY angry. Elizabeth is not amused, either.
I don't want to think about the insurance or face the nice guys at DeFouw, who leased the car to me.
Do you think I could make back some of the deductible if I sell parts on eBay? :-(
A heck of a way to start the month, don't you think?
Drive safely!
--spaf