He could have put a notch of flaps in as well since there was a full load
aboard, high heat and altitude.  I have a friend that took off in a turbo
A36 and took out a barn at the end of a short runway in mid-summer,
Mid-Texas heat, totaled the barn and the plane and walked away with nary a
scratch.  He was performing one of those "watch this" takeoffs to a bunch of
hangar buddies.  Also no flaps and may not have been making full revs.  

God protects fools and children.

Richard

>>>Why did he take off down wind?  Is that a one way strip?

>>>Also, might he have lowered the nose a bit, once airborne, to gain a
>>>couple
>>>more knots before trying to climb?