Schumacher Takes Over Driving From Cab Driver

Schumacher Takes Over Driving From Cab Driver

December 30, 2007 8:36 a.m. EST


Joseph Dela Cruz - AHN News Writer

Bavaria, Germany (AHN) - Fearing that he would be late for his plane ride back home, Formula One star Michael Schumacher took over the steering wheels from a cab driver and then drove the cab for about 20 miles to the airport.

The cab driver whose car was 'taken over' by Schmacher, said he was overwhelmed watching the seven-time Formula One world champion, describing the incident as if he was getting lesson from a driving instructor.

Schumacher, 38, who now resides in Switzerland, flew into an airport near Coburg, Bavaria, and took a taxi to Gehuelz to get new pet puppy.

However, on their return trip to the airport, which is about to 20 miles away, Schumacher was afraid they were running late and asked the cabbie if he could take the wheels.

As soon as he took over the wheels, Schumacher hit the gas and raced the Opel Vivaro, arriving at the destination together with his wife, two children and new puppy Ed, with time to spare.

Aside from his driving lessons he got from the 'master,' the driver got an additional $147 as tip on top of $88 taxi fare.

Another paper's story: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/formula1/2007-12-12-schumacher-taxi_N.htm

Cabbie to sell famous 'Schumi taxi'

The cabbie made famous for relinquishing the drivers' seat of his taxi to Michael Schumacher is now considering offers to sell the Opel mini-van.

Since the nine-seater made international headlines for getting a seven time world champion and his family to a German airport on time, it has doubled in value, the newspaper Bild am Sonntag claims.

"More than ten people are interested in buying it," the taxi driver, Tuncer Yilmaz, confirmed.

"One has offered 63,000 euros, and I need the money - because of the Schumi-Ride I could be in big trouble with the police," he confirmed.

Coburg traffic authority chief Kai Holland confirmed to Bild newspaper that he will meet with Yilmaz, because the story appears to be "an offence against the Personnel Transport Act".

Schumacher, meanwhile, faces the prospect of a small fine.

"It would be ridiculous to heavily punish the taxi driver after he kindly helped Michael. Wouldn't we all prefer to have helpful taxi drivers?" Schumacher's long time manager Willi Weber marvelled.

At the Race of Champions event in London at the weekend, Schumacher himself suggested that the tale had been blown out of proportion.

"You just have to laugh about it," he smiled.

A white knuckle ride for this German taxi driver then?
The insurance would have been void in case he wrecked the taxi in his reckless driving, so never a risk worth taking for a few extra quids.

Same old media again, blowing the story out of proportion. Would you drive recklessly with your wife and kids ?