billvon 2,476 #1 September 10, 2003 Back when I was 12 or 13 I came across a Guiness Book of World Records at my grandparent's house. It must have been a 1978 or so edition. I remember reading about all these cool people who built the world's tallest house of cards or pedaled a unicycle backwards for 302 miles or something. In college we idly considered breaking one just to get into the book; we practiced catching grapes dropped from 120 feet in our mouths and got pretty good at it before we found out someone had just beaten us at 500 feet. Didn't think about it much for the next 15 years or so. At leat until last week, when I was in a bookstore and saw the 2004 Guinness. Opened it up to airsports and there I was, sitting in the base of the 300-way in a picture taken the morning before we got the record. And what's cooler (to me) is that I can pick out Carey, Julie, Mary Pat, Tony, Roger, Yasu, Pete, Elena . . . not only did I get into that book that 25 years ago seemed to be the epitome of accomplishment, but I did it with a bunch of my friends. And they all got to be in the picture too! (Well, most of them did. Jim Wallace got cut off by the text box.) Not sure why I completely overlooked the Guiness thing. I guess I thought that FAI records were so far removed from the stuff in Guiness (world's fastest blind shrimp peeler and world's largest bog snorkeling event) that it wouldn't end up there - or at best would be in appendix D3, odd air sports. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BartsDaddy 4 #2 September 10, 2003 CongradulationsThats an awsome accomplishment. kudos to everyone involved. I'm just envious that i'm not good enough to have been there with you.And again AWSOME!! Handguns are only used to fight your way to a good rifle Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
michaelflying 0 #3 September 10, 2003 coolwww.skydivekzn.co.za Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amazon 7 #4 September 10, 2003 WOW kewl.. I got to jump with an awsome celebrity.. woo hoo Amazon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,175 #5 September 10, 2003 That's cool. No other good word for it. Way cool. Wendy W.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slotperfect 7 #6 September 10, 2003 That's awesome, Bill! What a cool way of coming full circle! Thanks for sharing it in such a personal way. I was at Eloy for three of the attempts and one of the end-of-day fly-bys . . . it was a sight to see. BTW - I, like you, read the GBofWR as a kid. I got it as a birthday present. My attempt was catching pennies dropped from a stack on my elbow. I got pretty good at it too, although I don't recall the number I caught. Arrive Safely John Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyangel2 2 #7 September 10, 2003 Very nice. Was the JFTC in the book?May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
whocares 0 #8 September 10, 2003 Very cool, every kid wants to get into the that book. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ZoneRat 0 #9 September 10, 2003 How cool is THAT! Hey, I got some friends in that pic... Hmmm....What an awesome gift idea!“There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophies.” Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mujie96 0 #10 September 10, 2003 I keep forgetting how many world record holders are lurking about Perris and here....perhaps someday I can bribe you to jump with me and I can turn my first point. Just keep swimming...just keep swimming.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 6 #11 September 10, 2003 Hummm... From your post, I'll be willing to bet- It was the FISRT TIME! you're in the book? ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
poohbeer 0 #12 September 10, 2003 QuoteHummm... From your post, I'll be willing to bet- It was the FISRT TIME! you're in the book? Good catch airtwardo!! BEEEEEEER!!! ------- SIGNATURE BELOW ------- Complete newbie at skydiving, so be critical about what I say!! "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjosparky 3 #13 September 10, 2003 Bill, That has to be a great feeling. You, and all involved, should be very proud of being part of something so awesooooome. SparkyMy idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stuntedflyer 0 #15 September 11, 2003 Hey Twardo, Maybe someone should go through the list of names on that jump and single out ALL the jumpers out of the 300 (I'm guessing at least 100) who OWE BEER. Surely that could only be a good thing!! Hope there's some Aussies among that. Blue Ones, Corey. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjosparky 3 #16 September 11, 2003 QuoteHey Twardo, Maybe someone should go through the list of names on that jump and single out ALL the jumpers out of the 300 (I'm guessing at least 100) who OWE BEER. Surely that could only be a good thing!! Hope there's some Aussies among that. Blue Ones, Corey. I would say they all owe beer. It was the first 300 way. SparkyMy idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stuntedflyer 0 #17 September 11, 2003 Well shit... guess I just got "wally of the day" award. How about Beer from all 300 for "the FIRST 300 Way", then Beer from all for whom it was their FIRST Formation Record Attempt, then Beer from all for whom it was their FIRST entry in Guiness????? That's alot of free beer. By the way, Congrats BillVon for your achievement, I forgot to say that before. Blue Ones, Corey. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deuce 1 #18 September 11, 2003 That's a neat story, BillV. Very cool. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #19 September 11, 2003 Congrats!!! It definitely needs to be cases of guiness. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
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