Parallel parking.

[Boggin]

Someone paid a debt by giving me their 1974 Harley Electraglide with 700 miles on it. They had dumped it, broke some stuff and were afraid to ride it again. When I got it fixed up enough to need to take it places to have other things fixed, I needed a motorcycle endorsement. Went for the driving test. They had 2 rows of cones about 3 ft apart, maybe 75 ft long with a circle at the end probably 15 ft diameter. You have to ride down the row, make a u turn in the circle and ride back without putting a foot down. Hopeless! Even right at the edge of the circle with the front wheel against the stop it wouldn't come close to turning inside the circle. The examiner said, "Nobody ever takes their test on one of those. Go borrow a buddy's dirt bike and come back." I went back on Sunday afternoon when the cones were gone, but the parking lot had paint blobs where the cones should be. I discovered if I gave it enough gas and laid it clear over onto the foot peg, I could spin it around without putting a foot down. Went back on Monday and passed just fine. Examiner said he had never seen anyone do that, but since I didn't put a foot down, he guessed it was ok and passed me. Had some great times on that bike. Wifey and I went on a 7,500 mile trip the summer of '79.

so whats your point?

 

[Legend]

Point

I was agreeing with Will. Bad enough to take test in a vehicle that isn't like what you're going to be driving - but to have the examiner suggest it, even worse.

 

[Boggin]

ok now i get it... i think

 

[Psychopete]

They're more than welcome to run into my Tempo. That's what it's for... It's a piece of junk that I don't need to really care about. My old '87 Marquis was hit a few times, but didn't do much damage to it.

I might be a little angry about my Ranger since it's been repainted, but I guess it can be fixed (again).

The worst is people backing out in parking lots IMO. It's amazing how many people fail to see a red truck directly behind them.

Pete

 

[JohnnyU]

Post whore.


You probably had to learn how to parallel park at one time or another. At 20, you are most definitely not in a position to think that you are high-and-mighty or otherwise superior to someone in Driver Training.

Go outside and fly a kite or something.

 

[Psychopete]

Post whore.


You probably had to learn how to parallel park at one time or another. At 20, you are most definitely not in a position to think that you are high-and-mighty or otherwise superior to someone in Driver Training.

Go outside and fly a kite or something.

I am not sure who this in reference to, but if it's me, FWIW - I am not 20. And you know nothing about my parallel parking, or my driving history for that matter.

Pete

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I would politely move my truck. Any damage to my Ranger would merely total it again (12 hailstrikes have already done it once), and I don't see any reason to leave my F-150 in harms way. Once or twice is fine, but by try 5-6 if they haven't grasped the concept yet, damage will be enevitable.

In drivers ed we practiced with cones, and then did it once or twice in the real world to show we could do it. We didn't learn with real cars, I don't think anyone should right off the bat.

While I can do it, I avoid parralel parking if I can help it, and really I don't come across it that often anyway. The only time I really have to do it is when I go to Napa, and even then since there is usually only one or two other cars there I just pull in behind them, so there is no parallel to it.


And I park at least two stalls away (away from the building) from the nearest car in parking lots. It helps keep the door dinkers at bay, the excercise is good, and I can usually just pull thru to leave and avoid the mass of people entering/leaving the store at the front of the lot. It drives my mom nuts, which is an added bonus

 

[Will]

I always tremble a shake in my boots when a big tough junky truck bullies me when I'm in my little Honda shitbox.

Not really.

But I would run away from an Abrams tank heading through town. Whoever's driving that certainly has a few rusted parts in their brain housing group.

Like these guys

 

[koda6966]

I am not sure who this in reference to, but if it's me, FWIW - I am not 20. And you know nothing about my parallel parking, or my driving history for that matter.
Pete

I'm actually not that sure as to who that was to either..

But I would run away from an Abrams tank heading through town. Whoever's driving that certainly has a few rusted parts in their brain housing group.
Like these guys

...if I saw a tank speeding up behind me, I wouldn't just sit there and wait for it to bump me...