Stupid!
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Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Stupid!
My best buddy was warming his car up the other day and as we were admiring all the chrome he has under the engine (engine running for awhile now) he notices a smudge on his chrome sidemount headers...you guessed it he reached down and tried to remove the smudge with his little finger, the only thing he removed was the skin from his finger---big time! I never laughed so hard as he screamed out several *@#!*^ bombs and later saying "how stupid, I can't believe I did that." Anyone else have any stupid stories to share? Lets have some laughs.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 19,659
Likes: 34
From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Dayum, that hurts just thinking about it.
My car vette had a hard start problem when I first got it. I was out at the parts store to pick some stuff up. When I came out to the car, it was really sluggish. I tried it and it did not start. I waited for a minute or so and gave it another try. Still no start. I thought to myself maybe the connection at the battery was loose. So I got out and reached in to the battery. I grabbed the connection good and firm so I could twist it. I heard my fingers sizzle and I could not let go of it fast enough. I was cooked and in a 4 speed car with no power steering and it was my right hand. I had no cold water handy. I had to reach in my right side back pocket with my left hand, try that one, and get my wallet out so I could buy a cold drink. The cold drink took some of the heat away. After I sat there for about 10 minutes, I tried the car and it started. That was miserable ride home. That has been about 5 years ago and the scar on my thumb is still there and still itches occasionally.
Moral to the story, never grab the battery post when the car has a hard start problem. Let it cool some first.
My car vette had a hard start problem when I first got it. I was out at the parts store to pick some stuff up. When I came out to the car, it was really sluggish. I tried it and it did not start. I waited for a minute or so and gave it another try. Still no start. I thought to myself maybe the connection at the battery was loose. So I got out and reached in to the battery. I grabbed the connection good and firm so I could twist it. I heard my fingers sizzle and I could not let go of it fast enough. I was cooked and in a 4 speed car with no power steering and it was my right hand. I had no cold water handy. I had to reach in my right side back pocket with my left hand, try that one, and get my wallet out so I could buy a cold drink. The cold drink took some of the heat away. After I sat there for about 10 minutes, I tried the car and it started. That was miserable ride home. That has been about 5 years ago and the scar on my thumb is still there and still itches occasionally.
Moral to the story, never grab the battery post when the car has a hard start problem. Let it cool some first.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,775
Likes: 4
knew some idiot that thought he was running low on radiator fluid. he decided to check it after driveing the car for about 45 mins. one of the guys that was with him told him, as soon as you open that its gonna come flying out and burn you. he doesnt pay any attention to him, pops the lid off, arms and chest have 1st and 2nd degree burns all over them.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 559
Likes: 0
From: James Island South Carolina
Atually one of my favorite stupid stories (out of many) was when I was 12 years old and I got off of my go-cart to check the oil as it was still running. The little 3.5hp Tecumseh went "Frrraaaaaaat" and my face was sprayed in oil. Luckily it wasn't very hot. Yea, that was pretty dumb.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,043
Likes: 4
From: Va
My son was backing his 240SX down off
a set of ramps in the garage and forgot to close the door which as you guess dug right into the cinderblock wall, no physical harm done to him but it sure hurts the mind! every time he looks at it. Glad he was the first to do this cause if it hadn't been him I am sure I would have been. Now hopefully we both learned a lesson and won't do this to the 71 Vert we are restoring.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 918
Likes: 5
From: Gainesville FL
This isn't exactly a car story, but I'll post it anyway. When I was 12 or so, my dad got a small riding mower with a 3 HP Briggs & Stratton motor. I used to cut our hill that had a 45 degree angle by running straight up to the top, then putting it in neutral and coasting backward down the hill. Pretty soon I decided it would be cool to pop it into forward as soon as I got back to the flat section and peel out. A couple of times this went fine and I put some good skid marks in the grass, then I popped the gearshift and the wheels dug into the ground. The whole mower flipped over backward. I was laying on my back holding the steering wheel above me with the whole weight of the mower. I put it down (still running) as gently as I could and got back on. Very luckily for me, there were no injuries and I finished cutting the grass. Needless to say, I never tried that trick again. I also forgot to ever mention this to my Dad.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
Pro
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 545
Likes: 8
From: Murphy Texas
A while back I was in my father garage(car collector), and was getting buzzed by a big wasp. So the man in me wanted to swat the thing within a inch of its stinging life. So I grabed a "push broom" box that my dad had just purchased. And when that thing flew by, I swung hard as hell to swat it and then I realized "wow I should have taken the push broom out of the box" because as soon as I swung the box, the broom came flying out and slamed right into the side of my fathers pristine black Excaliber( I know I dont like these either). A little touch up paint here and there and my fathers eye sight (glasses), none was the wiser.
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Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 499
Likes: 1
From: Winnipeg Manitoba
I'm going through the McDonald drive through one night when this lady in front of me in a big Oldsmobile gets out to have a smoke. Thats right, she so desperate to smoke that she chooses the Mcdonalds drive through to light up where she'll have all of 60 seconds to smoke while waiting for her food (Turns out hubby doesn't like her stinking up the car).
So she puts the car in PARK to hop out. Problem is, she doesn't make it all the way to park. She puts it in REVERSE. So the car starts creeping back on her. Teenage Daughter in the front screams MOM! Mom jumps back into the car and in her rush hits the GAS! Zoooooom, the car comes rushing back at me. The open door folds over backward on the steel post that stops cars from getting to close to McDonald's. Then she comes back and taps me. (No damage, not my Vette)
Luckily I saw this unfolding and was able to get my car back a few feet before she hit me. Luckily, there was no one behind me. She pulls forward, gets her food, gets out, looks at her car, tries to get the door closed so they can go home. Teenage Daughter is crying in the front seat. Everyones worried about what Dad will say.
Proof that smoking is bad for you.
So she puts the car in PARK to hop out. Problem is, she doesn't make it all the way to park. She puts it in REVERSE. So the car starts creeping back on her. Teenage Daughter in the front screams MOM! Mom jumps back into the car and in her rush hits the GAS! Zoooooom, the car comes rushing back at me. The open door folds over backward on the steel post that stops cars from getting to close to McDonald's. Then she comes back and taps me. (No damage, not my Vette)
Luckily I saw this unfolding and was able to get my car back a few feet before she hit me. Luckily, there was no one behind me. She pulls forward, gets her food, gets out, looks at her car, tries to get the door closed so they can go home. Teenage Daughter is crying in the front seat. Everyones worried about what Dad will say.
Proof that smoking is bad for you.
Last edited by Kilroy1024; Nov 27, 2005 at 10:16 PM.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 260
Likes: 0
From: Wheaton Illinois
In the early 80's I was giving my VW bug it's fall tune up. I was sitting on a stool in the drive way right behind the running engine. A flock of geese flew over head. As I turned to look, I twisted my body and my gloved index finger caught on the inside of the generator belt. In an instant it went between the belt and pulley.
I still have the finger but it looks a little odd.
I still have the finger but it looks a little odd.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 499
Likes: 1
From: Winnipeg Manitoba
Years and years ago I helped a buddy of mine put headers and exhaust on his Trans Am. Get the job done and off we go for a test drive. The exhaust system doesn't fit perfect and the mufflers are hanging a little low. So low that were scraping at some points.
We hit a big dip in the road and we scrape so hard one of the mufflers pops off. My buddy swears a bit, and then backs up to go get his muffler. He jumps out of the car, picks it up and OUCH. That darn thing was HOT!
I think he was swearing some more, but I couldn't hear him cause I was laughing so hard!
We hit a big dip in the road and we scrape so hard one of the mufflers pops off. My buddy swears a bit, and then backs up to go get his muffler. He jumps out of the car, picks it up and OUCH. That darn thing was HOT!
I think he was swearing some more, but I couldn't hear him cause I was laughing so hard!
Last edited by Kilroy1024; Nov 28, 2005 at 01:09 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,161
Likes: 0
From: pr, frederick md.
lost oil pressure on my new guages, on my new engine and freaked out! got out of my car and looked under the hood. finally noticed a wire hanging away from the sender unit for the oil gauge, reached in to grab it and got a whole backhand burn from my header! ( yes, it was still running ). called myself an idiot for a couple of hours, f- bombs, the whole nine! 
too many more stories like this to type
too many more stories like this to type
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 32,519
Likes: 1
From: central America
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Here's one from this last weekend!
My brother and I decided to move his vette about 150 miles on Friday. He's moved and found a new job, and he wanted the car closer to him, so he could work on it. We didn't exactly check the weather channel, which is a stupid thing to do in late november in Northern WI. It wasn't snowing when we left, but there was 4" on the ground when we got to the city where he lives now. Have you ever tried to drive a 75 vette in the snow, especially when it is built for autocrossing (M22, 4.11 gears, all extraneous weight removed)? Not a good idea. Have to say that I'm impressed with the posi-trac limited slip. The car would just spin the rear tires, yet keep on moving forward.
trw
My brother and I decided to move his vette about 150 miles on Friday. He's moved and found a new job, and he wanted the car closer to him, so he could work on it. We didn't exactly check the weather channel, which is a stupid thing to do in late november in Northern WI. It wasn't snowing when we left, but there was 4" on the ground when we got to the city where he lives now. Have you ever tried to drive a 75 vette in the snow, especially when it is built for autocrossing (M22, 4.11 gears, all extraneous weight removed)? Not a good idea. Have to say that I'm impressed with the posi-trac limited slip. The car would just spin the rear tires, yet keep on moving forward.
trw
Senior Member since 1492
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 87,953
Likes: 156
From: Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me...
St. Jude Donor '09
Few years back, me and a buddy were cutting the bolts from his Nova's rear spring with a cut off wheel. This one bolt was real tough though and I was gringing and grinding away. Well the now "red-hot" bolt head finally fell off right onto my buddies exposed bicep. Yeeee--ouch! He still has that scar today. 
Battle scars.
Battle scars.
Last edited by Jughead; Nov 28, 2005 at 09:29 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,961
Likes: 573
From: Lompoc, CA. Santa Barbara County
When I was about twelve me and a couple of my homies in San Antonio came across this really bitchin' car, 69 Camaro I think. We're all over it, checking it out. Suddenly, Dave noticed the destroyed ignition switch, and he yells "It's hot, wipe off your fingerprints". We fell out laughing as we watched Ricky frantically rub the tips of his fingers on his jeans. 35 years has passed, and I only see Ricky and Dave when I go home to Texas, but every time, I rub my fingers on my pants, without saying a word, and we fall out laughing.
Bee Jay
Bee Jay
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 2
From: Arkansas
This isn't me, but check out what this guy did to his BMW......I bet he is still kicking his **** over his stupidity
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=311931
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=311931
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 133
Likes: 0
I think my worst, among many, was when I was cutting a leaf spring for the 3/4 elliptical rear on my old Jeep. I had been cutting for a while, and wasn't comfortable in my standing position, so I shifted my feet a bit. Next thing I knew, the torch had melted some good steel and it dripped down and of course went right through my shoe and landed between two of my toes.
I've never yelled so loud in my life, just an FYI but there is no way to cool 1000 degree steel quickly enough when it's between your toes.
I've never yelled so loud in my life, just an FYI but there is no way to cool 1000 degree steel quickly enough when it's between your toes.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 535
Likes: 0
From: Southaven MS
My first car was a very ugly 1976 cobra II complete with sidepipes(which I took off after we bought it). Anyway my bestfriend is about to get out of the car, and I warn him not touch the sidepipes b/c they would burn him. Anyway he doesn't really listen and of course steps out and burns the mess out of his leg.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 918
Likes: 5
From: Gainesville FL
Originally Posted by lordmatt
there is no way to cool 1000 degree steel quickly enough when it's between your toes.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 870
Likes: 2
From: Closter New Jersey
me and a friend were heating with oxy acetylene a pipe to bend it and i was holding with my barehand a good distance from the hot spot, i was losing my grip so genius me shifts my hand closer to get a better grip, shifted a little too close, burned my palm pretty bad, and i only held it for the tiniest fraction of a second, got to love nearly molten metal
