You can't feel alive until you almost die.
Anyone else deliberately crashed a rental car?
I strongly recommend it. Seriously. Hire a rental car, a good new modern one with all the air bags and side-intrusion beams and the like. Pay for the top dollar cover everything insurance, then take it out onto an empty road somewhere and go nuts. Try those 180 degree reverse spins, handbrake slides, getting it onto two wheels - all those stunts you'd never ever try if you owned the car itself.
It's one of those little talked about secrets in car nut circles. Apparently is the favourite way for movie stunt drivers to build their skills and practice new moves. Every now and then the guys on Top Gear will make an aside about the fun that can be had in a rental.
I think you learn a lot about yourself doing something like that. And not just about your driving skills. But also how you react to stress, to fear, how the adrenaline rush feels. What you feel comfortable with and how to push it beyond.
It's been about nine years since I last hired a car for that purpose, but I'm feeling the itch to do it again. Just don't tell the rental car people I'm coming... but, then again, I don't think they really care if you're paying the high insurance premium.
* * *
The cat got himself a nasty abcess on the side of his neck last week, so it was off to the vet to get it drained on Saturday. It was a bit scarey when I got him home in the evening - he immediately ate everything in sight then collapsed, headfirst, into his food bowl. He'd react when I touched him, but other than that he'd just slump, insensible to the world.
Didn't last long, though - about ninety minutes before he was moving around again. I'm guessing it just must've been the shock on his body of the stressful time at the vet - he fulled himself with food then just fell straight into a deep deep deep sleep.
Now he's got a great big stubble patch on the side of his neck, which feels most odd when petting him. And when I pick him up and he cuddles into my cheek my stubble and his rub together. Ouch.
I strongly recommend it. Seriously. Hire a rental car, a good new modern one with all the air bags and side-intrusion beams and the like. Pay for the top dollar cover everything insurance, then take it out onto an empty road somewhere and go nuts. Try those 180 degree reverse spins, handbrake slides, getting it onto two wheels - all those stunts you'd never ever try if you owned the car itself.
It's one of those little talked about secrets in car nut circles. Apparently is the favourite way for movie stunt drivers to build their skills and practice new moves. Every now and then the guys on Top Gear will make an aside about the fun that can be had in a rental.
I think you learn a lot about yourself doing something like that. And not just about your driving skills. But also how you react to stress, to fear, how the adrenaline rush feels. What you feel comfortable with and how to push it beyond.
It's been about nine years since I last hired a car for that purpose, but I'm feeling the itch to do it again. Just don't tell the rental car people I'm coming... but, then again, I don't think they really care if you're paying the high insurance premium.
* * *
The cat got himself a nasty abcess on the side of his neck last week, so it was off to the vet to get it drained on Saturday. It was a bit scarey when I got him home in the evening - he immediately ate everything in sight then collapsed, headfirst, into his food bowl. He'd react when I touched him, but other than that he'd just slump, insensible to the world.
Didn't last long, though - about ninety minutes before he was moving around again. I'm guessing it just must've been the shock on his body of the stressful time at the vet - he fulled himself with food then just fell straight into a deep deep deep sleep.
Now he's got a great big stubble patch on the side of his neck, which feels most odd when petting him. And when I pick him up and he cuddles into my cheek my stubble and his rub together. Ouch.