Growing up in the greater Boston area, I learned that when I needed to parallel park in the city I would have to do it quickly. Otherwise the blaring of horns and raising of middle fingers would escalate to ridiculous levels. Pull up. Whip in. One shot.
Today I don’t have to pull that one out of the bag as often as I used to, and it’s a skill that’s honestly gotten a bit rusty. But it’s not that exciting of a skill, to be honest.
A Scandinavian Flick, on the other hand, would be an excellent technique to master. Click play on the video above and watch Wyatt Knox from Team O’Neil Rally School show you how it’s done.
After that, sound off below and let us hear about your best driving skill.
Hooniverse Asks: What's the most skilled move you can pull off in a car?
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15 responses to “Hooniverse Asks: What's the most skilled move you can pull off in a car?”
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Not much of a trick, but to give one end of the spectrum:
Being able to use the R gear as “Rally gear” is very handy. Family legends have it that I gave way to an oncoming ambulance in a single-lane tunnel by full breaking, backing up 200m at 5krpm and “parking” at the tunnel exit in a swift but safe manner (I like to believe that I saved a life that day).
It also helps stowing away the 18ft van we have to park in European cities every now and then. -
I can pilot my gigantic crew cab F150 fairly well in tight parking garages around turns and poles and whatnot, but I still suck at hitting the middle of tight parking spots, which grates on my OCD. Compared to other people I have ridden with on long trips, I am probably smoother than average on lane changes, moving around slower traffic, but that’s not so much a skill as it is what you pay attention to.
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Another very minor one, changing lanes on the freeway without hitting any cat’s eyes.
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Learning to pull off a rapid J-turn with a three-speed on the column was tricky.
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Backing a trailer. I’m not great at it, but I’ve managed to get lucky a few times. It is the only driving skill I’ve been complimented on.
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That’s a legit skill right tere
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I can put out an under-dash electrical fire in an MGB, using only my bare left hand, without coming to a complete stop.
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That I haven’t killed myself or anyone else.
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For a brief moment in time, I owned a vehicle with a remote key, and pretended to be able to open and close the car by pointing at it with magician-like moves.
Then the battery died. -
Back when I was driving a 15′ box van, we had an informal competition between the drivers. Place a small object on the step bumper (which was flat and had no ridges or sides, except the front) and have it remain there all day. Upon return, park as close to the dock without making contact, being totally perpendicular to the wall. This was long before backup cameras, and I could usually get within 1/2″.
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I can hand start a 4cv Renault and a 1958 VW bus using the stock lug nut wrench through the bumper trick. No need to worry about a weak battery.
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Please take video of you doing this… because this… I have to see
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obligatory:
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When I was working in a rental yard and hauling them all the time I could come down the street, make an s turn and back a brush chipper into our gate so it ended up right next to the fuel pump.
Because of the geometry chippers were tricky to back up compared to the 2 axle equipment trailers, and the s turn positioned the truck with the trailer already angled towards the gate on the opposite side of the street. -
Fwd cars do pretty good reverse 180s. Simple verison; On dirt while stopped, hand brake on & steering at full lock, Reverse & drop clutch. wheeeeeeeeeee
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