“Why do people with superior intelligence, giftedness, or genius tend to be weird, eccentric people?”
This question was posed a while back and drew a number of interesting responses. One person replied, “Partly because, being smarter and more creative, they’re by definition eccentric. They don’t take ordinary constraints on social behavior seriously, because they seem almost childishly naive to them, checkers to their chess.”
Einstein, known as one of the greatest thinkers of the modern age, was also widely considered to have had Asperger’s. As such, he refused to follow ‘normal’ conventions that others took for granted. Or it might be more accurate to say he may not have even been aware of them or choose to follow them because they simply weren’t important in his world view. The man never wore socks. He determined that the unwritten rules of social conventions regarding dress were without serious merit, so he refused to follow them.
Was Garry Hoy in the same league as Einstein? Doubtful. Yet, he had what it took to be a successful lawyer, and that’s saying something. Besides having a gift for the law, he had a strong interest in engineering and how things were designed. That no doubt played a significant role in his choice of a new car in 1993.
Lexus began as a late entry in the North American luxury car market, with efforts by Honda in creating Accura and Nissan developing Infinity well under way before Toyota saw the potential. The project to develop what would become Lexus began in 1983 and reached fruition with the launch of the Lexus LS in 1989.
While it has been speculated that the Lexus name was some type of a combination of the words ‘luxury’ and ‘elegance’ the team who actually developed the brand has admitted the name has no actual meaning, but simply evokes a luxurious and technological image. Bringing the very first Lexus to market required the efforts of 60 designers, 24 engineering teams, 1,400 engineers, 2,300 technicians, 220 support workers, approximately 450 prototypes and more than $1 billion in costs.
Those efforts paid off almost immediately. The LS 400 was noted for its quietness and performance and found success in the market against rivals from BMW and Mercedes. The luxury market was shocked. European stalwarts saw sales declines of 29% (Mercedes) and 19% (BMW). Thirty-five percent of the sales of new Lexus models were the result of Cadillac and Lincoln owners trading in their American made luxury cars for something of a more reasonable size and much higher quality.
That’s probably what drew Garry Hoy into the Lexus showroom. The car he drove home was powered by a 4.0-liter V8 paired with a four-speed automatic transmission and was finished in Diamond White Pearl over beige leather upholstery. Equipment included a sunroof, fog lights, Traction Control, 16″ multi-piece wheels, heated power-adjustable front seats, a cassette stereo, cruise control, and automatic climate control.
In the parking garage of the downtown Toronto law firm he worked at, Hoy probably bragged to other attorneys seeing his new sedan for the first time, “The 16″ multi-piece wheels feature white centers and are fitted with Continental tires. The car was factory optioned with traction control. Stopping power is provided by anti-lock ventilated discs at each corner.”
Just wanting to get up to their office to start the day’s work of meeting with clients, taking depositions, and researching details and facts for cases, they probably began wandering off as Hoy noted, “The cabin features heated power-adjustable front seats upholstered in beige leather as well as a color-coordinated lower dashboard, center console, and door panels. Interior amenities include a cassette stereo, cruise control, and automatic climate control.”
Just like Einstein’s peers came to accept his quirkiness, Hoy’s fellow workers probably brushed off his when he’d catch them in the break room and mention, “The four-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel frames a 160-mph speedometer and a tachometer with a 6,200-rpm redline as well as gauges for coolant temperature and fuel level.”
Besides being an effective litigator, Hoy had a passion for engineering. His fellow workers accepted that and didn’t question it. They realized that his quest for finding a luxury car that was nearly unbreakable was almost an obsession.
Just like proving that the windows in the high-rise downtown office building were nearly unbreakable.
It had become common practice for Hoy to show around groups of newly hired attorneys or interns, familiarizing them with the offices of the Holden Day Wilson Law Firm. Located on the 24th floor of the Toronto-Dominion Centre in Toronto, Hoy liked to point out the view from the office. He’d then point out the engineering feat of the glass used to sheath the walls of the building, just like he loved pointing out the outstanding features of his new Lexus 400 in the parking garage down below.
On July 9, 1993 Holden Day Wilson was hosting an event for prospective law school graduates hoping to land a position at the prestigious firm. Hoy, as he had done many times before, wanted to leave a lasting impression on the group by taking a full speed run at the glass wall and throwing himself into the glass to show that it was unbreakable. The group of young new lawyers watching were stunned when Hoy bounced off the glass and landed on the floor right in front of them.
For reasons none of them understood, Hoy rose to his feet and took another run at the window, perhaps just adding emphasis to his original claim that the glass was unbreakable. Or, it could have been that he knew everyone in HR had already left for the day and he was feeling particularly cocky. Either way, he was going to give the group a show.
And he did.
Taking a second run at the window, the glass remained unbreakable. However, the frame that held the glass in place gave way. The glass it held, still intact, fell 24 stories to the ground below. Garry Hoy followed right behind it, all the way to his death.
Being eccentric enough to not wear socks is one thing. Taking that eccentricity to the point of throwing yourself against glass walls 24 stories in the air is something altogether different.
“I don’t know of any building code in the world that would allow a 160-pound man to run up against a glass and withstand it,” structural engineer Bob Greer was quoted in the Toronto Star soon after.
It wasn’t noted how many, if any of the tour that Hoy was directing went on to accept offers from the firm. Needless to say they must have been traumatized at the presentation. The firm’s reputation fell rapidly. Not as rapidly as Hoy had, to be sure. But by 1996, only three years later, the firm had shut down completely, making them the largest law firm in Canada to go out of business at that time.
While employees at Holden Day Wilson were packing up their things in cardboard boxes and heading home, Lexus was debuting its brand new sport utility vehicle the LX450. By 1998 they would offer their first crossover, the RX 300.
Today Lexus and Tesla lead the American luxury car market, with Mercedes and BMW following close behind. The eccentricities of the alleged genius behind Tesla currently threaten their place in the market. Mercedes, BMW, Tesla, Lexus, and Audi all have much more market share than the former kings-of-the-hill Cadillac and Lincoln who have never recovered from the challenge.
Building codes have not been changed. Windows are still not engineered for a grown man to take a running leap at them and have them not break or become dislodged and give way.
5 responses to “UNBREAKABLE”
While I respect the design, engineering, and quality control exhibited by the various offshore brands offered thus far, I’m old-school, perhaps to a fault, and also resent planned obsolescence. I’ve told my family I generally plan to keep my vehicles “UNTIL THE WHEELS FALL OFF”. Years ago, a weld on our 400,xxx mile 1969 Pontiac Tempest Custom”S” cracked, allowing the left lower control arm to move freely, Bayou Lady claimed “The Wheel Fell Off”. Only two blocks from my father-in-law’s friend, we used his Lincoln Arc Welder to do a quick repair while lasted many years until the car was donated to a friend.
I still drive my dad’s last car, a 1995 Mercury Grand Marquis, as well as a 1995 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham. Maybe they’re not the equivalent of vehicles which move profits to foreign countries – and I’m OK with that,
BUT
The 4.6L OHC Mercury/Ford engine, at well over 300,xxx miles,
and the 5.7L /350 ci LT-1 Cadillac engine with well over 100,xxx miles,
both deliver +/- 25 mpg in highway use.
Neither have ever had the need for any repairs beyond normal maintenance,
other than tie rods and ball joints on the Mercury at 312K miles.
Both are capable of carrying her electric mobility scooter and rollator walker, a weeks worth of baggage for touring, and still have space for friends to join us. Neither car has any rust whatsoever, not being exposed to salt and harsh winter conditions.
Remember the old Volvo ad? Pay it off for three years, and spend the next three years paying yourself.
We have that beat – in spades. Will I ever buy a new car? Who knows, but now into my ninth decade on this mortal coil, I still plan to survive any and all of our possessions other than home appliances.
Don’t let the old man in ??
Satchel Paige said “Don’t look Back – They May Be Gaining On You!”.
Our local library, celebrating 75 years, hosted it’s first Cars & Coffee this morning.
The profile of the ’93 Lexus looks sleek without adornment and the tail isn’t bad but, the grill just sucks the energy right out of my smile. Although unavailable in 1993, I would rather scoot around in the 2003 Jaguar S-Type R 4.2 on the BaT block due to sell in about an hour. That is one sexy cat. But, Jaguars seem to either need maintenance too frequently or, need regular maintenance that costs too much. That said, I would compromise and choose something of the same vintage, but puts more road miles between repairs; the 2003 Volvo S80 T6 that will sell on BaT next Thursday.
Its a safe bet I won’t ever be choosing a Musk-mobile or body slamming safety glass. There is too much risk involved with both.
I enjoy annoying Lexi, Infiniti and Acura owners by asking them how they like their Toyota/Datsun/Honda. The first LS400 was a visual clone of the then current Mercedes S class.
Tesla stock and sales are following Mr. Hoy.
Hoy was a very successful attorney, and wanting to portray the best image possible, always carried a top of the line ballpoint pen in his front pocket. The Cross Century II Ballpoint Pen was equipped with a stainless steel retraction mechanism, 20 microns of acid hard gold plating insured long life, and most notable was a diamond like roller ball hardened to 60 Rockwell C. Tempered glass has superior strength due to internal stresses from heat treatment which protect the outer layers. Not much match for a sharply pointed object capable of liberating all of that pent up energy. Thoughts to ponder on the way down.
RIP Hoy
Back when the Lexus was new, I was starting to make good money and wanted a Mercedes status symbol
Real Bad.
The local dealer was working with me and let me take several SL variants home.
My wife would drive and then nix every one of them!
It wasn’t until we went to Carma, when the sales guy and I watched her get into and right out of several vehicles…
He was a Smart Guy!
He asked, “What’re you driving now?” ‘A Honda’ “Lemme Show You”
My Wife climbed into a Lexus and said “I want this one!”
The Simple Answer is that I had a Mercedes Brain and that she had a Lexus Butt.
Case Closed!! She has an LS430 and I have a 230SL.