Would it
actually damage the VAX? 
 Probably not.  I dropped an 11/780 off the lift gate of a
truck once
 (not on purpose).  The lift gate was about 3' off the ground when the
 VAX decided it wanted off (I wasn't going to go with it)!  It made a
 dent in the ground.  The VAX got some scratches but was otherwise fine. 
  Warning:
Never anger somebody enough to scratch a VAX.