{"id":22947,"date":"2020-02-18T13:54:40","date_gmt":"2020-02-18T13:54:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/?p=22947"},"modified":"2023-08-03T14:34:09","modified_gmt":"2023-08-03T14:34:09","slug":"if-it-feels-like-a-bad-idea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/if-it-feels-like-a-bad-idea\/","title":{"rendered":"If it feels like a bad idea…"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A friend, Brent Finley, sent me this picture from 26 years ago and it brought up a lot of memories…<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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“Pretty” Dan after landing<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How does one become \u201cMr. Safety\u201d? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You’re lucky enough to live through your stupid mistakes and smart enough to learn from them rather than feeling empowered by getting away with it. At the top of my list of dumbass decisions that nearly got me killed is this gem. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To make a long story short\u2026<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s 1994. Joe Jennings calls and says \u201cDan, I have a great idea I want you guys to try with me.\u201d Strike one. The only thing that raises a red flag higher than Joe saying he has a great idea is Scott Smith saying he has a great idea. Joe wants Airspeed to ride in a car as we drop it out the back of the Skyvan. I knew this was a bad idea and immediately declined. But my teammates thought it sounded like fun and I gave into peer pressure and went along. Strike two. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I knew this was a bad idea and immediately declined”<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Joe sat on the hood, Kirk and John got in the back seat, Jack of course was in the driver\u2019s seat and I sat shotgun. As we got ready to roll out the back I had a bad feeling about this. Strike three. The car was marginally stable for a few seconds and then flipped over backwards. John and Kirk kicked away clean, Jack pushed off the steering wheel and I went through the wind shield bar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Broke my thumb, broke my nose and cracked a couple of ribs on it. I was conscious but couldn\u2019t see and thought I was blacking out. I thought I better pull but then realized, there\u2019s a car out there somewhere. I thought I should start tracking but didn\u2019t know which way to go because there\u2019s a car out there somewhere! I felt like I might pass out but started tracking hoping I was going away from the car. After about ten seconds I figured I was clear and pulled, parachute worked, vision came back and I landed safely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I arrived at the emergency room looking like a total mess and they asked what happened. Hmmm, how do I explain this one? I told them, \u201cI was in a car wreck.\u201d They asked how I got to the hospital. I said I drove. They asked, \u201cWhat really happened? You won\u2019t surprise us, we\u2019ve heard it all.\u201d I beg to differ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are the lessons learned?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If something feels like a bad idea, it probably is. We don\u2019t always get so lucky. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If something feels like a bad idea, it probably is”<\/p>Dan BC<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Video \u2013 Car Jump<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n