Crash Ends EV World Record Bid In Tesla With Only 600 Miles To Go

You are here: Cars > Translogic > Crash Ends EV World Record Bid In Tesla With Only 600 Miles To Go

If bad luck were to ever strike, you'd hope it wouldn't be while closing in on the around the world EV record in your Tesla Roadster. But that's just what happened to Rafael de Mestre.

With only 600 miles left in his world record bid, Rafael tweeted "Game Over" after his Tesla collided with the car in front of him. Rafael mentioned that the accident was caused by a BMW seven cars ahead of the one he hit.

CHARGELOCATOR

Miraculously, it being only a few days after the accident, five Tesla technicians working in parallel rebuilt his Tesla. Given the speed of the fix, Rafael is already back on the road.

After meeting Rafael in person, we can say that he truly loved his Tesla, just by the way he spoke about it. We're happy to hear that Rafael is safe and already on his way home with a repaired ride.

Filed under: Tesla, Electric

Add a Comment

Sign in »

21 Comments

Filter by:

Brian Workman

Don't ever tailgate while texting!!

September 16 2012 at 12:40 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Paul Smith

If the batteries are in the front ,wouldn't that mean the front end would have a heavier structural frame like a Mack truck..

The weight would cause the tires to toe out ,causing wear on the inside of the tires .plus the car front end nose dive under the car it hit.. So most of the damage is done to top not the under carriage..

no engineer , just been involved one to many wrecks

September 11 2012 at 12:37 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

PatTheRat

If he'd been driving any other vehicle, he might have been able to stop in time. Sounds like bad brakes on the Tesla. Consumer Reports couldn't even get their Tesla out of the parking lot before it started having problems. I'd avoid them like the plague.

September 10 2012 at 10:33 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to PatTheRat's comment

Brian

Wrong car....it wasn't the Tesla

September 14 2012 at 8:59 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

lil06vette

Not necessarily jerks. You're driving 65/70 on the highway and you don't realize the other cars in front of you JUST had a wreck do you really think you're going to have time to stop COMPLETELY?

September 08 2012 at 1:55 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to lil06vette's comment

larryeart

That's why driver's education classes teach us to allow 1 car length for EVERY 10 mile/per/hour of speed you are driving. 65-70 means stay back 6 1/2- 7 car lengths for when a car crashes/instant stop in front of you- not just hits his brakes. Most clowns follow 1 car length back when travelling 60. If car in front crashes- you wont even get your foot to the brake, mush less stop the car.

September 18 2012 at 12:10 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

abskin1956

looks like the tires are worn out on the inside, alignment?

September 07 2012 at 9:39 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

larry

Wow ! I've not heard one good word regarding the Tesla vehicle. Consumer Reports could not even get their test vehicle out of the parking lot before it stopped running and had to be towed to the shop. Needless to say, I won't be buying a Tesla anytime soon or in the distant future. It's expensive, junk.

September 07 2012 at 8:36 PM Report abuse Permalink -1 rate up rate down Reply

3 replies to larry's comment

deckbuildermail

In the US, one can not blame a driver ahead for causing an accident. If you rear end someone, my friend, you are at fault. Should have been driving and not texting, it would seem.

September 07 2012 at 2:09 PM Report abuse Permalink +5 rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to deckbuildermail's comment

scificarolinaguy

Actually, many states have comparative negligence laws, which assigns fault based on who contributed the most to the accident.

September 07 2012 at 5:03 PM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down Reply

DRILLER

maybe they should have hired someone who could drive LEGALLY to attempt the record. following to close is a bad thing.

September 07 2012 at 12:38 PM Report abuse Permalink +4 rate up rate down Reply

missmyfamily2

The Accident was from 7 cars in front, RFLMAO, If you was at the proper distance behind the other vehicles and paying attn to what was in front of you, this never would have happened, this is just another case of the rich snobby people who think it is always everyone else, and as soon as he hit the car, he texted game over, he was on the freeway for awhile and they should go get the records to see if he was texting while driving, it is only obvious, and he didnt just hit the other car in front, he destroyed his front end, just goes to prove what a Loser he really is

September 07 2012 at 12:16 PM Report abuse Permalink +5 rate up rate down Reply

Angelat31901

Wow....how fast was he going? The damage to his vehicle was extensive

September 07 2012 at 12:07 PM Report abuse Permalink +2 rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to Angelat31901's comment

Sekinu2

Not really. The car is carbon fiber and basically explodes like a bomb on impact. The sub structure appears to not be bad at all. Mostly cosmetic body and wiring cuts.Im sure it was tens of thousands though since the battery is in the nose at $8500 to $12000 to replace.

September 07 2012 at 4:36 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to Sekinu2's comment

samuelhoogendoorn

There is no battery in the nose. The large battery pack is located directly behind the passenger compartment. The only thing they had to replace was probably some wiring, the headlights, and all the carbon fiber bits on the front.

October 04 2012 at 4:43 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down