First Drive Rolling Up

July 28, 2007 at 5:06 PM

My first drive with an instructor is on Tuesday. I hope this person is ready. I'm not sure I am. I have been informed that on you first drive you have to do hill parking. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! I've already tried I was still a foot from the curb. I hope I'll do well considering that I've got 2 1/2 hours in so far.

From Richard Hellinger
Posted on July 28, 2007 at 7:08 PM

My first drive all we did was drive around.. We had to parallel park the second day though!! My drivers ed is over on August 10th though! Can't wait.

P.S. Daniel, if you didn't get my email about it, Here the school pays for drivers ed so it is free. I only have to pay $50 for supplies and book.

From Jim W. Miller
Posted on July 28, 2007 at 10:48 PM

Parking on a hill reminds me of a story. Imagine if you had to shift gears too. I once taught a 30 year old Chinese neighbor who'd never driven how to drive. He showed up with a car, which happened to have a manual transmission. His graduation test was pulling out smoothly from a stop sign on a 45 degree hill. After stalling about 20 times I told him to floor the accelerator and pop the clutch. Which he did :D

From Jim W. Miller
Posted on July 28, 2007 at 11:06 PM

Even starting a car like that on a hill is a task, and he had to do it 20 times. It has to be in neutral, right foot on the brake, left on the clutch, turn the key, off the brake for a second to goose the accelerator (necessary with a carburetor), back on the brake, slip it into first, back on the gas, and up with the clutch. I thought it was going to roll backwards a time or two and was ready to jump out.

From Richard Hellinger
Posted on July 29, 2007 at 12:32 AM

I'm glad I don't have to drive a manual.

From Emily Grossman
Posted on July 29, 2007 at 12:39 AM

Manual is fun, especially when passing.

From Jim W. Miller
Posted on July 29, 2007 at 3:01 AM

Yes. Then you've got to hit the clutch, shift into a lower gear while giving just the right amount of gas (so that the lower gear won't slow you down) then release the clutch. Then get on the gas in the new lower gear to pass. Then when you're going about 100 go back to the old gear. It's nice. You really ought to get an '82 Datsun, or a Ferrari or something.

From Emily Grossman
Posted on July 29, 2007 at 7:16 AM

Honda Civic's where it's at. Punch it, baby!

From Jim W. Miller
Posted on July 29, 2007 at 4:51 PM

I like it when you say Punch it, baby.

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First Drive Rolling Up

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