This reminds me of a couple of incidents of my youth, if I may share:
A friend of mine (about 20 years old) bought a '70-'71 LT1 (350 ci / 360+ hp / solid lifters) Corvette. He could barely afford the car; definitely couldn't afford the insurance (before the days of mandatory insurance). Had his fiancé out to dinner on the coast and was coming back over the mountain on a very dark, very windy road (at night). Putting the car through it's paces and comes around a blind curve and there, across the road is a very old, flat bed farm truck. Was trying to turn around; stalled; wouldn't re-start and no lights on. My friend had nowhere to go except off the road. Luckily they didn't go far down, but fiancé got hurt.
Then it was my turn, in my 1 year old, '70 Challenger w/440 six pack car. I was about 20 at the time. On a straight, frontage road to the freeway. Early on a Friday night, slightly after commute hour so no side traffic or any other. Had been driving on the center carb for two weeks, trying to save on fuel. Just hooked up the outboard carbs and was taking a close friend for a ride to remind us of it's power. Started at the far end from an idle and tromped on it. Lot's of burnt rubber as I went through the gears (automatic trans) to about 115. I knew a big dip in the road was coming up so I left off the gas pedal. The car kept going at full throttle! I started braking and the car veered toward the curb. I quick shut off the ignition and it went to "lock". When I went to correct the brake pull, the steering wheel locked. Oh shiiiiiiiiiiiitt! Up over the curb we went; down through a ditch covered in ice plant; up into the brush, shrubs, small trees and then bigger trees. Even though the high speed, it was VERY SURREAL! Got down as low as I could and watched the tree branches hitting the windshield and side glass. Bump, bump, bump, bump BANG(!) with an instant STOP. We came to a rest wedged between two big trees. My buddy had quickly turned over and buried his head in the seat. We both climbed out unscathed. Neither of us had seat belts on. The Lord was taking care of us that evening. Totalled the car of course. Only had it about 6 months. Way too much power for a kid that age. Although, my Red Eye is way too much power for me NOW, but I trust that my experiences over the next 50 years have given me better judgement these days.
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