Holden Ute : When Brad McKenzie, 16, decided to show off to his friends, it all ended in tears and he found himself not only bruised but sore in the money department, $6000 out of pocket to be exact.
The Gold Coast teenager, in what he admits was “a massive brain fade,” attempted a rim-spinning stunt in his dad’s Holden Ute — a poor decision that would soon alter his standing with both his wheels and his bank account.
The Stunt That Launched the Conspiracy
Visualise a common Saturday afternoon in a Queensland suburban industrial park. The sun is unrelenting, and the air is thick with humidity and also with the smell of barbecue from the houses in the neighborhood.
For most adolescents in the region, that might be beach cricket or video games. Brad McKenzie took that to mean the outer limits of physics and filial trust in his well-modified Holden Ute.
“I’d seen videos online of people doing these sick doughnut tricks, where they’d spin the car around in circles but keep it in one spot,” Brad says, with a weight of lost opportunity still present in his voice.
“I knew if I could do it, I would be the hero in my friends.”
The trick he was trying, which is sometimes called rim-spinning or rimmies in slang, is to get enough traction while skidding that the car can rotate in a tight circle while the tires are sliding, unable to grip the road.
It’s one of the most dramatic circles of rubber and smoke when it’s done right. It creates a gaping hole in your savings account when you do it wrong, as Brad found out.
The Physics of the Folly
To comprehend why this stunt went so tragically awry, one must first take a quick course in automotive mechanics and physics. When a car tries to spin out, numerous forces are acting simultaneously.
Usually, the driver will pull the handbrake while allowing power to flow to the rear wheels, inducing an intentional disparity between grip and forward momentum.
The Holden Ute’s weight distribution – it’s heavier in the front (where the engine is) and lighter in the rear – meant Brad should have been able to pull off the move.
What Brad didn’t factor in was the sheer suface area of the industrial park’s concrete floor, which has far more traction than the loose dirt or asphalt that such stunts are normally (and inadvisedly) attempted on.
“The physics teacher in me wants to describe this as a textbook example of getting friction coefficients wrong,” says automotive engineer Dr. Sarah Chen, who did not work on the incident but has researched similar incidents.
“When you roll too much speed into a tire with too much grip, the lateral forces overwhelm the tire’s ability to break it loose controllably. The results, of course, are frequently disastrous for suspension parts.”
Damage and the Domino Effect
The Ute reacted as you would hope/expect as Brad started the spin. The back wheels screeched and the car began its forward circle. And for a glorious moment Brad felt like a professional stunt driver.
That sentiment lasted about three seconds.
“Everything was fine until I heard this big bang,” Brad says.
“The steering wheel was torn out of my hands, and all of the sudden the car quit turning and began sliding sideways directly toward the fence.
Then came the textbook series of cascading mechanical failures. Too much load on the suspension pieces and the right rear control arm finally gave way.
This resulted in the rear axle to move and subsequently caused damage to the differential mounting.
The suspect suspension then permitted the rear wheel to hit the wheel well with alot of load, distorting the mudguard and damaging the shock absorber mount.
That crash with the cyclone fence had just been rubbing it in. T
he fence sustained superficial damage itself, but the front bumper bar of the Ute crushed, smashed the headlight assembly and pushed the radiator core support into the engine bay. Sum total of the damage estimate would prove to be:
Bent control arm: Replacement ~$450
Failed differential mount: $800 to fix
Blown bushing: $150 – Blown shock: $350 (F&R)
Bent mudguard and trim: $1,100 for parts and labor
Crushed front end assembly: $2,200 in replacement parts
Paint and bodywork: $1,400
Other hardware, and alignment: $700
The Aftermath: Beyond Metal
Neither were anywhere near the epicenter, yet the strike left a deep emotional wound.
A long-haul truck driver, John McKenzie, bought the Holden Ute as a reward for Brad having done better in school recently. It was more than a mode of transport – a rite of passage and trust.
“Dad comes in, sees this, doesn’t scream,” Brad recalls, lowering his voice.
“He was just standing there silently for what seemed like hours. That silence was far more painful punishment than any lecture would have been.”
The episode touched off a community dialogue about teen driving and the role of social media culture in teen-age risk taking.
Local police said there was a 40% rise in teenagers performing the same stunts in the region after the viral videos were posted on sites like TikTok and Instagram.
The Road to Redemption
Instead of just banning Brad from ever driving again, John McKenzie turned the catastrophe into a chance to educate. He required Brad to:
Spends weekends working at his uncle’s auto repair shop to really see how extensive the damage is
Budget out for $6000 3) Earn the $6000 back with part-time work.
Finish an advanced driver safety instruction class
Physics of Bad Driving Survey Essay Task: Write an essay that analyzes the physics and effects of dangerous driving techniques.
“I knew about as much about cars as anyone else, and in three months working in Uncle Mike’s shop, I learned more about cars than I ever thought was possible,” Brad says.
“When I saw how complex these machines were and how easy they were to break, it really changed the way I viewed them.”
The store proved to be the most illuminating experience of all. Brad would also learn that the control arm he’d scuffed up was part of a complex suspension set-up that’s meant to give way under normal driving conditions, but can’t quite cope with the intense lateral forces of high-speed spins.
The problem is with their differential mounting that is made from exotic parts, instead of using off-the-shelf consumer grade ones.
Insurance Realities and Unseen Costs
But the most shocking part of Brad’s experience was the interaction with the insurance companies. At first, he and his father thought that the comprehensive coverage would cover most of the repair bills.
They discovered quickly that the vast majority of insurance policies have explicit exclusions for damage that occurs while “stunting, racing, or competitive driving.”
“The insurance adjuster took one look at the pattern of damage and knew exactly what happened,” says John McKenzie. “The specific damage to the suspension components and tire marks on the ground told the rest of the story.”
The McKenzies now had to pay for repairs while still managing the significant financial burden.
Their insurance premium went up by 25% in the subsequent two years, that meant that that little mistake Brad made ended up costing them almost eight grand when the cost of the higher premiums was factored in.
Lessons Learned Outside of the Workshop
Brad, working weekends at the auto shop and also part-time at a nearby grocery, has managed to put away $2,300 toward his $8,000 debt six months later.
Even more basically, his friends say, he’s emerged as something of a cautionary example among his peers.
“I was actually invited to speak at a drivers safety course last month,” Brad says with a wry smile. “My crash photos became an example for the instructor to people on what not to do.
It’s embarrassing but if I can save one other person from doing it, I’ll be happy.”
The experience has changed Brad’s relationship with cars and driving, too. “Once he looked at cars as just basically toys to do stunts with, “but now sees it must be respected, they are really machines.
Working weekends at the repair shop has stoked an interest in automotive engineering, and he is thinking of getting a trade qualification after he finishes high school.
The Broader Implications
Brad’s experience is part of a growing recognition of the impact of the social network on teenage behaviour.
Automotive safety experts observe that viral stunt videos set unrealistic standards and tend to gloss over the time, safety precautions and failures that even seasoned drivers endure.
“Vehicles use the road, it’s not a playground.” Defensive driving instructor Maria Rodriguez says, what these kids are watching on TikTok is experienced stunt drivers who are trying this on a closed course and are successful.
“They don’t see the years of training, the specialized safety equipment, and the countless failures behind the scenes.”
Psychologically, I feel peer pressure and wanting to be validated on social media really played a big factor in Brad’s decision making.
As this is the age of teens hearing their thoughts about everything online, the urge to post a viral video can supersede not only all common sense, but also everything about their personal safety.
A Silver Lining in Chrome
DUBAI//The McKinze family have paid a heavy price both financially and emotionally but have taken some good from their experience.
SBTOH: Brad’s participation in the fixing job has also helped him become closer to his father, who starts to see him as a man, instead of just a kid.
”I’m actually pretty proud of the way Brad’s handled himself through this whole business,” John McKenzie says.
“He could have quit, he could have had excuses, and he could have been upset about the punishment. Instead, he’s completely owning his mistakes and digging himself out of the hole he put himself into.”
Indeed, Brad’s newfound understanding of mechanics has been a hit with his friends too. No longer the teenage daredevil, he’s now the guy everyone goes to for advice on changing a flat tire or troubleshooting a car that refuses to start.
Safety Substitutes and Good Rat-Holes
In response to the SECURITIE S 1442 recognition of the need for teenagers who want to experience the thrill of automotive speed in a safe environment, there is growing community support for supervised alternatives.
Gold Coast Council currently has plans to build a youth motorsport facility, where young drivers can learn skilled vehicle control in a safe environment.
“We are not going to get rid of this desire to chase thrills and to push limits by teenagers,” said the adolescent development specialist David Thompson.
“But we can give safer options that meet that need and teach skills that are valuable.”
In fact, there are now several regional car clubs that offer junior driver programs where young drivers can take courses in basic vehicle dynamics, safety practices and even participate in structured autocross events with adult supervision.
The Cost of a Split Second
If he were to say one thing to other teens considering similar stunts, Brad would offer his answer right along with his heart: “Not worth it.
Seriously. My three second rush came at a $6000 price, but could have cost me much more. I could have collided with a vehicle, flipped, you name it. No call to likes on social media or to being admired by a friend is worth that risk.
The financial ruin he now has detailed understanding of serves as a perpetually reminder:
Loss of trust: Immeasurable
Repair costs: $6000
Increased insurance: $2000
Hours worked to pay back: 300+
Lessons learned: Priceless
Moving Forward
And today the Holden Ute stands in the McKenzie driveway a meticulously restored car, acting as a device of transport as well as a constant reminder.
Brad still does drive it to school and work, but now with a very different perspective. He’s exchanging his dream of viral fame for more durable ambitions of finishing his apprenticeship and, maybe someday, owning his own repair shop.
“I drive by that industrial park sometimes and will just think about that day,” Brad said. “All it takes is one stupid mistake and everything is gone.
But I guess that’s growing up — making mistakes and getting better because of them.”
The Holden Ute has since been repaired to pre-accident condition, but for Brad the events of that day remain a defining moment in the way he makes decisions and views life.
What lesson from this story can we take?Whatever thrills this chapter brought you, I hope it was worth the cost, or at least that the cost of a day’s stupidity isn’t more than $730,000 of future financial pain.
As Brad moves forward in paying off his debt and getting his automotive education back, his story will be an inspiration to all of us that it is not impossible to turn a financial mistake and problem into personal growth and positive change.
For yea-believed (dot com) tootsie whistler ) million the combined nutty council would be an expensive teacher but for Brad McKenzie it was one of the most precious lessons of his short life.