When I was young and stupid (us "mature" people think that's a tautology) I did stuff like that. Of course, I also remember crashing into a tree at about 15 mph too.
Couldn't stop laughing as I nursed my (and my boat's) bruises.
Fortunately, the kind of racing that I do is much safer, although there are now "extreme" races that are semi-life threatening. I lost a good friend two years ago, practicing on an extreme course. Richie Weiss was an Olympic Silver Medal winner in '92 and one of the nicest guys you'd ever meet.
I plan on dying in bed, one way or another.