What is the most dangerous thing you ever did?

[MightyGiants]

intentionally or unintentionally?

[Ed Vette]

Sport parachuting or as some call Sky Diving.

[LennG]

Enlisting in the Air Force during the Viet Nam War

[Bob In PA]

Laying on top of our band's equipment... in a completely loaded bread truck driven by 16-year-old... on a winding, mountainous road near Williamsport, PA... late at night on the way home from a job... in a snowstorm. Bob

[Jolly Blue Giant]

I have no idea how I'm still alive, but here I am. Got caught in a power take-off shaft when I was 9. Luckily, the hired hand driving the tractor killed the PTO almost immediately. It wrapped my leg around the uncovered square shaft from my ankle to nearly my hip. Very few people can say they've survived getting caught in a PTO. Was board shifting my '68 Road Runner to see how quickly I could go through the gears. Was doing close to a hundred when I hit black ice at the same time I board shifted into 4th gear. Had L60 tires on the back with low air (for grip) that caused the car to flip once it got sideways and into two big maple trees. There was not a salvageable piece anywhere on the car except the Hurst shifter that broke off in my hand. Car was obliterated and the steering wheel went through the driver's seat where I was sitting. Wasn't wearing a seat belt and ended up on the floorboard of the passenger's side. Only unscathed area of the car. Didn't even get a scratch.

Another time back in 1972, I raced this kid on his Kawasaki Z1 (900cc) with my 750 Honda (K1 model) and when going past 100, I couldn't get my bike to lean enough to make the turn in the road and ended up in the gravel (inches from the guard rails) as I slowed down. That one scared the crap out of me and taught me a lesson about poor handling older bikes.

Accidentally loaded a 380 auto handgun with .32 special bullets - we owned a gun shop and had so many guns around that I never bothered to read the barrel to see what caliber it was because it seemed obvious. Anyway, it threw the gun out of my hand and stung like crazy, but didn't blow up the gun. Did the same thing with a 12 gauge shotgun when I loaded it with 16 gauge shells. Makes an awful noise and hurts the hands. Luckily, it didn't blow my face off.

Had a couple of pretty bad snowmobile accidents trying to jump things and in one case, ending up in a pond on weak ice so I kept it floored so I wouldn't break through more than I already was and the shore on the other side was not sloped into the pond and caused me to flip over the sled and into a tree. Smashed the heck out of the ole Sno Jet.

Broke bones on a slope on Whiteface (adequately called "Ice Face" by skiers in the know). The slope ("Upper Cloud Spin") was beyond my skiing ability, but that didn't stop me. Had another skiing accident that caused me to get my shoulder rebuilt and spent 6 months in recovery.

Did an awful lot of dumb things as a kid that were dangerous. I had a Sting Ray bicycle that I tried jumping a deep rocky creek (failed) and one time I thought to myself as I was riding in the middle of the road, "I wonder if I could quickly turn the handlebars 360 degrees while moving" (big time failure) - got a wicked head wound and plenty of road rash since I was just wearing shorts. I also mixed chemicals when I was 12 that blew up unexpectedly (thankfully, after I walked away from them) that blew the ceiling down in the kitchen on top of us and burned the house down. Had I still been next to the chemicals it would have blown me to bits. Thankfully, my mother was calling us for dinner so I abandoned the project just in time.

Anyway - I can't pick "one" dangerous thing I've done that exceed all the others because there was so many. Like I have always wondered, I don't know why God has left me on this earth as I've done just about everything possible that could kill me. I keep thinking He must have some kind of plan for me because, here I am at 68 and still kicking...still doing stupid things but have narrowed it down these days to mostly on my Fat Boy.

[Ed Vette]

I have no idea how I'm still alive, but here I am. Got caught in a power take-off shaft when I was 9. Luckily, the hired hand driving the tractor killed the PTO almost immediately. It wrapped my leg around the uncovered square shaft from my ankle to nearly my hip. Very few people can say they've survived getting caught in a PTO. Was board shifting my '68 Road Runner to see how quickly I could go through the gears. Was doing close to a hundred when I hit black ice at the same time I board shifted into 4th gear. Had L60 tires on the back with low air (for grip) that caused the car to flip once it got sideways and into two big maple trees. There was not a salvageable piece anywhere on the car except the Hurst shifter that broke off in my hand. Car was obliterated and the steering wheel went through the driver's seat where I was sitting. Wasn't wearing a seat belt and ended up on the floorboard of the passenger's side. Only unscathed area of the car. Didn't even get a scratch.

Another time back in 1972, I raced this kid on his Kawasaki Z1 (900cc) with my 750 Honda (K1 model) and when going past 100, I couldn't get my bike to lean enough to make the turn in the road and ended up in the gravel (inches from the guard rails) as I slowed down. That one scared the crap out of me and taught me a lesson about poor handling older bikes.

Accidentally loaded a 380 auto handgun with .32 special bullets - we owned a gun shop and had so many guns around that I never bothered to read the barrel to see what caliber it was because it seemed obvious. Anyway, it threw the gun out of my hand and stung like crazy, but didn't blow up the gun. Did the same thing with a 12 gauge shotgun when I loaded it with 16 gauge shells. Makes an awful noise and hurts the hands. Luckily, it didn't blow my face off.

Had a couple of pretty bad snowmobile accidents trying to jump things and in one case, ending up in a pond on weak ice so I kept it floored so I wouldn't break through more than I already was and the shore on the other side was not sloped into the pond and caused me to flip over the sled and into a tree. Smashed the heck out of the ole Sno Jet.

Broke bones on a slope on Whiteface (adequately called "Ice Face" by skiers in the know). The slope ("Upper Cloud Spin") was beyond my skiing ability, but that didn't stop me. Had another skiing accident that caused me to get my shoulder rebuilt and spent 6 months in recovery.

Did an awful lot of dumb things as a kid that were dangerous. I had a Sting Ray bicycle that I tried jumping a deep rocky creek (failed) and one time I thought to myself as I was riding in the middle of the road, "I wonder if I could quickly turn the handlebars 360 degrees while moving" (big time failure) - got a wicked head wound and plenty of road rash since I was just wearing shorts. I also mixed chemicals when I was 12 that blew up unexpectedly (thankfully, after I walked away from them) that blew the ceiling down in the kitchen on top of us and burned the house down. Had I still been next to the chemicals it would have blown me to bits. Thankfully, my mother was calling us for dinner so I abandoned the project just in time.

Anyway - I can't pick "one" dangerous thing I've done that exceed all the others because there was so many. Like I have always wondered, I don't know why God has left me on this earth as I've done just about everything possible that could kill me. I keep thinking He must have some kind of plan for me because, here I am at 68 and still kicking...still doing stupid things but have narrowed it down these days to mostly on my Fat Boy.

I can recall a lot of stupid things I did to put myself in danger. I had a '69 Roadrunner that I had built and dyno tested at 525 HP at the rear wheels. Then put that motor in an 800 lb lighter '68 Cuda. Lots of races in those days, many for money as the local bar would clear out and watch on the side. I also was crazy with my Suzuki Motorcycle and had a gravel experience too. Good thing I sold that bike. Anyway, all good memories and lessons learned.

[Jolly Blue Giant]

I can recall a lot of stupid things I did to put myself in danger. I had a '69 Roadrunner that I had built and dyno tested at 525 HP at the rear wheels. Then put that motor in an 800 lb lighter '68 Cuda. Lots of races in those days, many for money as the local bar would clear out and watch on the side. I also was crazy with my Suzuki Motorcycle and had a gravel experience too. Good thing I sold that bike. Anyway, all good memories and lessons learned.

Those old cars from the late 60's were really powerful, but didn't handle worth crap. So many kids were getting killed in those cars that they changed the measure of HP and reduced compression on the engine to satisfy the insurance companies that were getting where they wouldn't insure those cars.

It's one of those things that if you live through it, you become a lot wiser...LOL (dittos with bikes)

[Ed Vette]

Those old cars from the late 60's were really powerful, but didn't handle worth crap. So many kids were getting killed in those cars that they changed the measure of HP and reduced compression on the engine to satisfy the insurance companies that were getting where they wouldn't insure those cars.

It's one of those things that if you live through it, you become a lot wiser...LOL (dittos with bikes)

Yes, 1972 was the beginning of the end. I has to fine other means of getting them to pass inspection. Finally I took off the thrush mufflers and installed the Corvair Turbocharger Mufflers which were less restrictive but silent and the car ran better on them. They did handle and brake poorly. I would loved to have seen Corvette, GM and Ford introduce a throwback body model each year. I think it would go over big. Like an LS6 Chevelle, '67 Stingray, '70 Boss 302 or a '69 Camaro SS body with today's engine and drive train. 

[Jolly Blue Giant]

Not sure your age, but I'm 68. The cars I still love were in the mid-late 60's. I thought the change in power came in 1970, but I could be wrong. I know that I wiped the floor of a couple of GTO Judges and a 71 RoadRunner with mine...but mine wasn't stock and had a 3/4 race cam, solid lifters, a 4160 dual feed Holley and a 410 rear end.

If I could restore a car, for me it'd be a '64 Chevelle (my first car), but with modern engine and updated interior. But there are so many cars I'd love to restore. And like the Chevelle, all modernized drive system from front to rear. I've had a variety of great cars in my youth (all 2-doors) that I wish I still had    A '55 Chevy, a 62 Chevy, 68 RoadRunner, 69 GTX, 70 AMC Rebel, 71 Cuda, 76 Triumph TR6, etc.

The Rebel was an interesting car that is probably worthless today (if you could even find one), but I liked it. It was my "settle down" car after I got married and my first car with an automatic transmission (wifey couldn't drive a stick). Here's a pic of it:



One car I never could find that I wanted was a 70 AMC AMX. I just thought the design was cool and if it was muscled up, would be a show stopper. Sorta like this, but without the wheelie bars:



Anyway, unless I fall into some real money someday, I don't see myself restoring cars 

[DaveBrown74]

In my early 20s I was in a bar with some male friends, and somewhat drunk (albeit not completely bombed) and some guy bumped into me (or I bumped into him). He gave me the usual "why don't you watch where you're going buddy" type of remark, with a facial expression suggesting he was happy to escalate the situation. Instead of just moving on, I got back in his face. I'm 6'2" and have a reasonably square build, but this guy was massive. He had to be 6'5" and easily 270 or more. He was on the heavier side, but clearly very strong. In short, he would have absolutely pummeled me, and he seemed drunk too, so it could have been bad. For whatever reason though I was determined not to back down. Eventually he just moderately shoved me and walked away. He didn't do that out of any sort of fear either, as he was unquestionably going to be the prohibitive favorite in any physical escalation. He was much bigger and just looked and seemed tougher (he had a bit of a thug type persona).

A friend of mine told me later the bouncer told him the guy had been in trouble for fighting/assault before and probably didn't want more trouble. Otherwise a fight would have definitely ensued, and given the state of mind I was in at the time I'm pretty sure I would have been hurt, possibly badly. It was very dumb on my part, and needless to say I have never behaved like that again since in the ensuing 2.5 decades.

[Ed Vette]

Not sure your age, but I'm 68. The cars I still love were in the mid-late 60's. I thought the change in power came in 1970, but I could be wrong. I know that I wiped the floor of a couple of GTO Judges and a 71 RoadRunner with mine...but mine wasn't stock and had a 3/4 race cam, solid lifters, a 4160 dual feed Holley and a 410 rear end.

If I could restore a car, for me it'd be a '64 Chevelle (my first car), but with modern engine and updated interior. But there are so many cars I'd love to restore. And like the Chevelle, all modernized drive system from front to rear. I've had a variety of great cars in my youth (all 2-doors) that I wish I still had    A '55 Chevy, a 62 Chevy, 68 RoadRunner, 69 GTX, 70 AMC Rebel, 71 Cuda, 76 Triumph TR6, etc.

The Rebel was an interesting car that is probably worthless today (if you could even find one), but I liked it. It was my "settle down" car after I got married and my first car with an automatic transmission (wifey couldn't drive a stick). Here's a pic of it:



One car I never could find that I wanted was a 70 AMC AMX. I just thought the design was cool and if it was muscled up, would be a show stopper. Sorta like this, but without the wheelie bars:



Anyway, unless I fall into some real money someday, I don't see myself restoring cars 

The power change definitely came around 1972 and later. The 70 Chevelle LS6 had 454/450Hp and the LS-7 had more HP. The Hemi Cuda in 1970 was a 426 with I recall 425 HP. The 454 Chevelle in 1972 was a dog because of the emissions regulations and I recall it had 370 HP. My dad's 68 Chrysler New Yorker with 375 PP and torque flight Transmission beat one. My friend had the 70 LS-6 and an LS-7. Another friend had a Pantera and a 63 Split Window Vette built out and another had a 69 Z-28 427 all built out too. All our cars were animals. My closest race was against another friend's 396 Chevelle. Raced 4 times in one night because we both missed 4th, once me and twice him. I eventually won by a half car length.  My RR originally had 308 rear with a 295 first gear trans. It would kick in in third gear and blow away many cars that went off to an early lead. Then I put in a 457 rear, I had to start at a 5 mph roll when we raced. When I put that engine in the Cuda I had to put in welded Solid Motor mounts because the front end would rise and the torque would twist the front end and rip the drive shaft out of the tranny but then the drive shaft would snap off the rear so I had to weld Traction Bars. The good old days.

[Jolly Blue Giant]

The power change definitely came around 1972 and later. The 70 Chevelle LS6 had 454/450Hp and the LS-7 had more HP. The Hemi Cuda in 1970 was a 426 with I recall 425 HP. The 454 Chevelle in 1972 was a dog because of the emissions regulations and I recall it had 370 HP. My dad's 68 Chrysler New Yorker with 375 PP and torque flight Transmission beat one. My friend had the 70 LS-6 and an LS-7. Another friend had a Pantera and a 63 Split Window Vette built out and another had a 69 Z-28 427 all built out too. All our cars were animals. My closest race was against another friend's 396 Chevelle. Raced 4 times in one night because we both missed 4th, once me and twice him. I eventually won by a half car length.  My RR originally had 308 rear with a 295 first gear trans. It would kick in in third gear and blow away many cars that went off to an early lead. Then I put in a 457 rear, I had to start at a 5 mph roll when we raced. When I put that engine in the Cuda I had to put in welded Solid Motor mounts because the front end would rise and the torque would twist the front end and rip the drive shaft out of the tranny but then the drive shaft would snap off the rear so I had to weld Traction Bars. The good old days.

You are definitely they kind of guy I would have wanted to hang out with when I was a teen and early 20's. I lived for building muscle cars for the street. The major accident I had changed all that and I started working with a friend who raced modified stock cars on dirt tracks and kept my love for speed off the streets.

Anyway, been doing some research and this seems to be the best article on how, why, and when HP ratings changed. The guy seems knowlegable. Anyway: here's his spiel:

"Understanding Gross Versus Net Horsepower Ratings

Aaron Severson
April 15, 2008
Technology and Terminology   

There are a lot of misunderstandings among car enthusiasts and historians about vintage horsepower ratings. It