Invention gurus. help, this could be neat

[Barnyard]

What ever happened to just having fun???You can't do anything with out getting in trouble or sued.I hate the way things are going.We used to tie a rope to the back of a buddies blazer a get pulled around town!!!This was just north of Washington DC.Even the cops liked it.We didn't get in trouble.Times sure have changed Kevin ps I wiped out a few times on man hole covers that didn't have snow or ice on them

Boy, do I remember those days. The small town I lived in came to a halt when a big snow hit. That's when the sleds got hooked to my '68 Dodge Charger with the 383 and 4 speed. Naturally I was careful not to "goose" the engine with someone in tow We'd even stop to help people shovel their walks if we saw them out while we were riding. Shoot, nowadays it's hard to even get a teenager to shovel snow weather you pay him or not. We'd even go passed the police station and they'd wave and remind us to be careful.

Of course that was back in 1970 when I was 18 and times were a lot different. Now like BD says, the litigation and responsibility factor are there.

[Denny Clayton]

Rudi -

Tell us how you REALLY feel

[SundaySailor]

CTDave,

Many moons ago, I volunteered with the National Ski Patrol as an auxillary patroller. I loved what I was doing, and miss it these days. But, times have changed. If there is any chance you can get to a real ski slope, go to the area where it may be called the "Bunny" slope or the beginners slope. There will be a mechanism similar to what you envision for your children. Take photos, and watch as things progress. A dead man's switch can be done fairly easy. Do it the easy way - look at other ideas, and then work with your own. Be aware that there are liability issues, but if you want to do it, this project can be well worth while. Who would have thought an ordinary farm pond can be labeled as an attractive nuisance and a liability too? Frozen ponds attract children to walk on them - very dangerous! Not to mention the spring/summer time drownings too.

SS

[Rudi]

Rick:

Boy do I know what you mean... Someday I am going to make a rink on that pond for my kids and my grandkids to skate on.



Liability issues are huge. We had a pair of neighbours kids cross onto our property and played in the pond. We were not home. Their Dad called us to complain.

I told him in no uncertain terms.. Yo dummy... what do you not understand about teaching your kids the meaning of Private Property and No Trespassing. Access to someone's property is by invitation, it is a privildge NOT a right.... Oh well..

As they say, you can dress em up, just can't take em anywhere I guess

Denny:

Do you REALLY want to know...

[kcIdaho]

Have any of you heard of "hooding"? When I was in my teens we used to go out to raid the old junkyards and farmers piles to get hoods from the old cars and trucks. We would clean the rust off, polish and wax them up then set in them and head down the hill in a farmers field somewhere. A body could steer them good enough to keep the front end pointed down hill by dragging a hand or piece of 2 x 4 on one side or the other. Was a blast!!
Went through a few pair of pants and a coat or two that got ripped on a piece we didn't get pounded down good enough. Hmmm...lost some skin and a bit of blood once in a while too!!
We would hitch a ride back to the top in a pickup bed then go back down again.
On one such occasion we had a fire made of tires at the bottom so we could see the end of the run at night. My buddy and I didn't get stopped in time and busted right through the middle, hot rubber coated the hood and we went flying!! Ruined one of the best hoods we had.
Can you imagine something like that today??
kc

[PageRob]

Have any of you heard of "hooding"? When I was in my teens we used to go out to raid the old junkyards and farmers piles to get hoods from the old cars and trucks. We would clean the rust off, polish and wax them up then set in them and head down the hill in a farmers field somewhere. A body could steer them good enough to keep the front end pointed down hill by dragging a hand or piece of 2 x 4 on one side or the other. Was a blast!!

Back when I was digging dinosaurs, a similar method was used to move really heavy stuff over nasty terrain to the nearest 4x4 access. Works really well!

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

Local town used to close down a couple streets for the sled riders, but quit doing that a few years ago due to liability.

[CTdave]

Local town used to close down a couple streets for the sled riders, but quit doing that a few years ago due to liability.

It's a sad state with stories like this as well as the others. You can't do anything these days

[Gary Dotson]

When I was a kid, (forty some yrs ago) we did the hood thing also. Our favorite hood came from a 52 Studebaker. (remember how the nose of those cars were shaped) That hood got a lot of road miles, tied to the back of my buddy's 53 chevy. On a snowy Sunday afternoon, we would ride that thing all over the county. I don't like the cold that much now days.

[Rudi]

Gary:

A 52 Studebaker pickmeup was my very first vehicle. I remember them well. Pretty little things.

[Billy Fussell]

We did the same thing with old car hoods to make a boat. Weld the hoods end to end, and they would float. BUT, you better part your hair in the middle or keep your tobacco in the same jaw and don't be swapping it around, because they will turn over!!

Billy