# Lateral Thinking Puzzles - third time is best! **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [July 18, 2023, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214 "2023-07-18T13:39:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2023, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/221 "2023-07-29T15:20:42Z")
No, just the contract. I think this can be pulled together at this point. What do you think might have happened since this involves the specific contract he had for car racing? He was very good at his job. ---
**Author:** ![Ana\_Byrd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Ana\_Byrd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ana_Byrd)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2023, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/222 "2023-07-29T15:23:45Z")
Did the contract include less money for repairs/replacement, since it was assumed he wouldn’t wreck his car? I don’t really know how contracts for car racing work, but it’d be funny. ---
**Author:** ![Jegpeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jegpeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jegpeg)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2023, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/223 "2023-07-29T15:24:16Z")
Did he lose the money to buy himself out of a contract to free himself up for a bigger one (e.g. to switch teams)? My first thoughts when I saw this problem were a) [Brewster’s Millions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brewster%27s_Millions_(1985_film)) and b) [Trump saying his business losses were for tax purposes.](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-48201786) ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2023, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/224 "2023-07-29T16:13:33Z")
> [@Ana\_Byrd](#): > > Did the contract include less money for repairs/replacement, since it was assumed he wouldn’t wreck his car? I don’t really know how contracts for car racing work, but it’d be funny. NO. > [@Jegpeg](#): > > Did he lose the money to buy himself out of a contract to free himself up for a bigger one (e.g. to switch teams)? NOPE. ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2023, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/225 "2023-07-29T16:31:35Z")
Was a lawsuit somehow involved? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2023, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/226 "2023-07-29T21:34:30Z")
> [@dirtball](#): > > Was a lawsuit somehow involved?.. **NO** , although I think there could have been legal action. There was not, though. Strange. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2023, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/227 "2023-07-30T17:46:55Z")
Looks like this faded, so here is the answer: This is based on the story of Kimi Raikkonen, race car driver. Lotus hired him assuming that he would do OK, but not that great. They offered him 50,000 Euros per point he earned. He outperformed so much, they owed him more than they could pay. They owed him €19.5 million based on his performance. He took €6 million less than the owed amount, basically proving him to be a very nice guy. You can read the story here: > **[Kimi Raikkonen’s Outrageous Pay Incentive Almost Bankrupted Lotus](https://www.bosshunting.com.au/motors/kimi-raikkonen-lotus/)** > > When Kimi Raikkonen signed with Lotus in 2012, no one knew what to expect. Least of all that his pay incentive would almost bankrupt them. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2023, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/228 "2023-07-31T00:17:58Z")
**A man is driving past a diner and he sees an ambulance outside. He immediately can tell that whoever is being helped is either _seriously_ injured, _very_ unwell, or dead. How does he know?** ---
**Author:** ![Ana\_Byrd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Ana\_Byrd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ana_Byrd)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2023, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/229 "2023-07-31T02:43:23Z")
Is it something about the ambulance that clued him in? Something about any other vehicles? Something about the diner? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2023, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/230 "2023-07-31T02:48:32Z")
Are they not bothering with the siren lights, figuring, _in this situation, what’s the point?_ ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2023, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/231 "2023-07-31T03:01:35Z")
Is the man responsible for what happened in the restaurant? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2023, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/232 "2023-07-31T03:11:24Z")
> [@Ana\_Byrd](#): > > Is it something about the ambulance that clued him in? > > **YES AND NO**. Feel free to ask more. > > Something about any other vehicles? > > NO > > Something about the diner? > > **YES AND NO**. Feel free to ask more. Sorry for the yes-and-no answers, but those actually might be helpful responses. > [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Are they not bothering with the siren lights, figuring, _in this situation, what’s the point?_ NO > [@Biotop](#): > > Is the man responsible for what happened in the restaurant? IRRELEVANT. Could be, could be not. Does not factor into the story. ---
**Author:** ![Ana\_Byrd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Ana\_Byrd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ana_Byrd)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2023, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/233 "2023-07-31T03:13:52Z")
Is there some indication that the situation is _less_ urgent, as Waldo\_Pepper suggested? Does the time of day matter? ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2023, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/234 "2023-07-31T03:28:18Z")
Was the diner open or closed? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2023, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/235 "2023-07-31T03:30:58Z")
> [@Ana\_Byrd](#): > > Is there some indication that the situation is _less_ urgent, as Waldo\_Pepper suggested? > > **NO** > > Does the time of day matter? > > **NO** > [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Was the diner open or closed? **OPEN** ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2023, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/236 "2023-07-31T04:00:48Z")
Just so I understand: This man (or could be a woman or child?) is not related to anyone in the story prior to coming upon this scene, right. He has no preconditions to the scene. You or I could walk up upon this scene tomorrow and make the same deduction? It is not dependent on knowledge of other events? For example if it was 9/11 then ambulances have more pressing needs and would only be responding to a highly life-threatening situation. If it was during the height of Covid or in a war zone then an ambulance appearing somewhere is probably more than routine. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2023, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/237 "2023-07-31T12:10:58Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Just so I understand: This man (or could be a woman or child?) > > **YES. Could be man, woman, or child.** > > is not related to anyone in the story prior to coming upon this scene, right. > > **CORRECT. Not related to anyone in the story.** > > He has no preconditions to the scene. You or I could walk up upon this scene tomorrow and make the same deduction? It is not dependent on knowledge of other events? For example if it was 9/11 then ambulances have more pressing needs and would only be responding to a highly life-threatening situation. If it was during the height of Covid or in a war zone then an ambulance appearing somewhere is probably more than routine. > > **CORRECT. No 9/11, hurricane, or apocalypse of any kind is happening.** > > **IT IS NOT DEPENDENT ON KNOWLEDGE OF OTHER EVENTS. This one is not a true story with a neat news article. It’s a more classic lateral puzzle. It’s purely fictional.** I have broken up your quote to tackle the questions and statements. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2023, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/238 "2023-07-31T12:18:25Z")
Is the location of the diner relevant, ie, is it right next to a doctor’s surgery ? ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2023, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/239 "2023-07-31T12:20:52Z")
Does this onlooker pick up a clue from the way the ambulance has been parked? From the way the personnel on the scene appear to be conducting themselves? Is it relevant that this is a diner rather than some other type of business? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2023, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/240 "2023-07-31T12:24:13Z")
> [@pjd](#): > > Is the location of the diner relevant, ie, is it right next to a doctor’s surgery ? Actually, you are so close, I’ll call this one solved. **The diner is literally across the street from the hospital. If they called an ambulance for such a short distance, the patient must be severely injured or unable to get themself across the street to the E.R.** [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=13)