If I remember right, detonation happens when gasoline preignites before the sparkplugs spark the a/f ratio, and it heats up the internals and shit, and you knows what happens when something heats up beyond its limits. Higher levels of octane in gasoline help fight detonation. That's how the cars in JGTC and shit run high amounts of boost. Lean a/f ratios cause detonation also, but just use higher octane gasoline and dont run too lean. Also, detonation/preignition can bend your connecting rods and may fuck up the cranshaft because as the piston is going up to compress the a/f mixture, it will explode. This will cause the crankshaft to spin in reverse, but the other cylinders would still be firing properly so thats like sticking your hand into some fanblades.
It's not the best just because I drive it, I drive it because it's the best.