I’M MOVING TO CALIFORNIA
Next time a yellow box flashes you for doing 36mph, or a bored constable aims a speed gun at you from his Mondeo because he doesn’t like your moustache, remember this story from the home of the brave.
On 7th January 2009 Philip Odegard, a 23 year old self-styled media mogul was caught speeding in California in a vehicle described as a Bugatti Veyron. For those not in the know, the Veyron is the ultimate road-legal hypercar. Its 8 litre W16 engine has 16 cylinders, 64 valves, four camshafts, four turbochargers and pumps out a mighty 1001 bhp. That is enough to launch the beast to 62 mph (100 kmh) in 2.5 seconds, or to 99 mph (160 kmh) in 5.5 seconds before topping out at a face warping 253 mph. The downside is the wallet warping price (£899,000/$1,550,000) and the inevitable police interest.
Which brings me to Mr Odegard. Apart from probably being an utter c**k s****r for having a Veyron in the first place, the mogul (which I always thought had something to do with s**t skiing) was busted for breaking the speed limit of 65 mph. In fact, according to his ticket, he was clocked at 210 mph+. That’s miles per hour. Which is very, very fast.
And here’s the best bit. Rather than being locked up in San Quentin, or beaten to death by pious hypocrites with low self esteem, the penalty (according to section 22348 of some (extremely long) Californian law) for this crime is “…a fine not exceeding $500.” And for a man who can afford a Veyron that really is loose change.
So there it is, you can forget those track days at some over populated rain lashed circuit near Milton Keynes. Get yourself on a sky bus to California, which is now officially the world’s biggest, and cheapest, lawless race track. See you there!
