I made a duplicate thread! I made a duplicate thread!

**Rain Man** · 04-19-2007, 11:04 PM

I think I proved that it could be done.

When I drive up my alley and push the garage door opener, I always have to stop while the door goes up. Since my garage opens to the alley, my driveway is only about five feet deep.

I've long had a theory that, if I was going at exactly the right speed and hit the button at exactly the right time, I could coast into the garage the second I hit the button, without hitting the brakes or using the gas pedal. It's an extremely sensitive tradeoff between the range of the garage door opener, the speed of the car, the speed of the garage door, the atmospheric conditions that allow the garage to receive the opener's signal, the different slopes of both the alley and the driveway, and the height of my car. The very short driveway also complicates things since it requires a 90 degree turn over a short distance.

The key problem has always been the range of the garage door opener versus the speed of the garage door versus the car speed that I need to get up the slope of the driveway. I've always had to go too fast for the latter, which means that the garage door isn't high enough.

Well, today I think I hit it perfect. Punch the button, the door goes up, and the car cruises forward. The door is going up, I'm watching it, and I get the front bumper under the door comfortably enough that it really looks like it'll clear the windshield.

The only problem was a new variable. My wife's car was further over than normal, and with the 90 degree angle I had to hit the brakes to be sure that I didn't clip her fender on the way in. Dang it.

But while I didn't make it, I think I went the key step of proving that it can be done. After years of attempts, I was beginning to think that maybe it simply wasn't possible. I believe again!

This is huge.

**007** · 04-19-2007, 11:07 PM

Close this disaster of a thread NOW!

greg63 · 04-19-2007, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

...I believe again!...

One must never lose faith.

**Smed1065** · 04-19-2007, 11:25 PM

Believer?

acesn8s · 04-20-2007, 01:58 AM

I took a poll.

Yep. You have too much time on your hands.

Kerberos · 04-20-2007, 04:35 AM

You gotta love "Anyone" that believes they can defy logic or rules of probability.

Good job Rainman ..... "Can't" never did anything.

stumppy · 04-20-2007, 06:05 AM

Man, reading this really brings back the memories.

Those crazy teenage years when I was ten foot tall and bulletproof. Or so I thought. I still get an adrenaline rush when I think about this one night back in the 70's. I was 17 yrs old. Going to school and working a full time job didn't leave much time to have any fun....or get in any trouble. But we all know how teenagers are.

Having grown up here in Springfield during the 60's and 70's I knew my way around pretty good. Good enough, I thought,to pull this crazy stunt. Although it had never been done I knew I had the right stuff.

Drive, without stopping, from the main road on the east side of town all the way to the main road on the west side of town on Chestnut Expressway. That means I would have to hit every single stop light green.

I don't know if my hairy pair were the size of grapefruits back then or if I just didn't have any sense. Either way, one friday night, with a good friend riding shotgun in my 71 Maverick Grabber I went for it.
And I made it! No BS, I really did. What a ride. Hell, what a year after I pulled that off. I still get a little nervous when I think about pulling a crazy stunt like that.

Oh well. You're only young once.

Thanks for the thread Rainman. It stirred one of those great memories about things you wish you could still do but are glad you can't.

patteeu · 04-20-2007, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stumppy

Man, reading this really brings back the memories.

Those crazy teenage years when I was ten foot tall and bulletproof. Or so I thought. I still get an adrenaline rush when I think about this one night back in the 70's. I was 17 yrs old. Going to school and working a full time job didn't leave much time to have any fun....or get in any trouble. But we all know how teenagers are.

Having grown up here in Springfield during the 60's and 70's I knew my way around pretty good. Good enough, I thought,to pull this crazy stunt. Although it had never been done I knew I had the right stuff.

Drive, without stopping, from the main road on the east side of town all the way to the main road on the west side of town on Chestnut Expressway. That means I would have to hit every single stop light green.

I don't know if my hairy pair were the size of grapefruits back then or if I just didn't have any sense. Either way, one friday night, with a good friend riding shotgun in my 71 Maverick Grabber I went for it.
And I made it! No BS, I really did. What a ride. Hell, what a year after I pulled that off. I still get a little nervous when I think about pulling a crazy stunt like that.

Oh well. You're only young once.

Thanks for the thread Rainman. It stirred one of those great memories about things you wish you could still do but are glad you can't.

The hair on my arms stood up straight just reading that harrowing account. I hope my kids don't ever try anything like that.

StcChief · 04-20-2007, 08:20 AM

Rainman excellent.

I have done that with a regular attached garage. Driveway goes up hill, turn is involved.
speed is the key.

Throw it in neutral Shut off car at the right time.
coast in to a stop without hitting brakes or the wall.

Redrum_69 · 04-20-2007, 08:27 AM

Have you ever considered acting Rainman?

You could be Screech's stand-in double on Celebrity Weight loss

Fish · 04-20-2007, 08:32 AM

If you cruise down Main St. in McPherson, KS at exactly 7mph, you will never have to stop for a single red light....

PastorMikH · 04-20-2007, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Well, today I think I hit it...

Given what I had read to this point, this phrase gave me a bit of a chuckle.

Mr. Plow · 04-20-2007, 09:55 AM

Push the button at the end of the block. You'll have plenty of time.

JonesCrusher · 04-20-2007, 10:05 AM

Reading this reminds me of the part of Garp where he coasts in the driveway.

StcChief · 04-20-2007, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patteeu

The hair on my arms stood up straight just reading that harrowing account. I hope my kids don't ever try anything like that.

I said that, if it's a boy they will.

In MO it's hill jumping.

04-19-2007, 11:04 PM
Rain Man Seize life. Be an ermine. Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $-452449 VARSITY	I made a duplicate thread! I made a duplicate thread! I think I proved that it could be done. When I drive up my alley and push the garage door opener, I always have to stop while the door goes up. Since my garage opens to the alley, my driveway is only about five feet deep. I've long had a theory that, if I was going at exactly the right speed and hit the button at exactly the right time, I could coast into the garage the second I hit the button, without hitting the brakes or using the gas pedal. It's an extremely sensitive tradeoff between the range of the garage door opener, the speed of the car, the speed of the garage door, the atmospheric conditions that allow the garage to receive the opener's signal, the different slopes of both the alley and the driveway, and the height of my car. The very short driveway also complicates things since it requires a 90 degree turn over a short distance. The key problem has always been the range of the garage door opener versus the speed of the garage door versus the car speed that I need to get up the slope of the driveway. I've always had to go too fast for the latter, which means that the garage door isn't high enough. Well, today I think I hit it perfect. Punch the button, the door goes up, and the car cruises forward. The door is going up, I'm watching it, and I get the front bumper under the door comfortably enough that it really looks like it'll clear the windshield. The only problem was a new variable. My wife's car was further over than normal, and with the 90 degree angle I had to hit the brakes to be sure that I didn't clip her fender on the way in. Dang it. But while I didn't make it, I think I went the key step of proving that it can be done. After years of attempts, I was beginning to think that maybe it simply wasn't possible. I believe again! This is huge.
Posts: 145,245

04-19-2007, 11:07 PM	#2
007 Shaken. Not stirred. Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: London Casino cash: $12230126 VARSITY	Close this disaster of a thread NOW! __________________ My dear girl, there are some things that just aren’t done. Such as, drinking Dom Perignon ’53 above the temperature of 38 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s just as bad as listening to the Beatles without earmuffs.
Posts: 65,732

04-19-2007, 11:25 PM	#4
Smed1065 Supporter Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Returning From Hell Casino cash: $4983673	Believer?
Posts: 10,187

04-20-2007, 01:58 AM	#5
acesn8s MVP Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Here Casino cash: $10007119	I took a poll. Yep. You have too much time on your hands. __________________ Let's not take another 50 years.
Posts: 5,711

04-20-2007, 04:35 AM	#6
Kerberos Chiefs Baby Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Henderson, NV Casino cash: $10000632	You gotta love "Anyone" that believes they can defy logic or rules of probability. Good job Rainman ..... "Can't" never did anything. __________________ ____________________________________________ She aint a hoe if you don't get laid, and it aint a show if I don't get paid-- Everlast
Posts: 5,638

04-20-2007, 06:05 AM	#7
stumppy New and Improved Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Springfield, Mo. Casino cash: $-2161410	Man, reading this really brings back the memories. Those crazy teenage years when I was ten foot tall and bulletproof. Or so I thought. I still get an adrenaline rush when I think about this one night back in the 70's. I was 17 yrs old. Going to school and working a full time job didn't leave much time to have any fun....or get in any trouble. But we all know how teenagers are. Having grown up here in Springfield during the 60's and 70's I knew my way around pretty good. Good enough, I thought,to pull this crazy stunt. Although it had never been done I knew I had the right stuff. Drive, without stopping, from the main road on the east side of town all the way to the main road on the west side of town on Chestnut Expressway. That means I would have to hit every single stop light green. I don't know if my hairy pair were the size of grapefruits back then or if I just didn't have any sense. Either way, one friday night, with a good friend riding shotgun in my 71 Maverick Grabber I went for it. And I made it! No BS, I really did. What a ride. Hell, what a year after I pulled that off. I still get a little nervous when I think about pulling a crazy stunt like that. Oh well. You're only young once. Thanks for the thread Rainman. It stirred one of those great memories about things you wish you could still do but are glad you can't. __________________ “As a nation, we can endure damaging policies for a four-year term. But we cannot survive a president willing to terminate our Constitution”
Posts: 22,313

04-20-2007, 08:20 AM	#9
StcChief Playing for #1 Draft Pick Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Just West of Lambs land Casino cash: $10004900	Rainman excellent. I have done that with a regular attached garage. Driveway goes up hill, turn is involved. speed is the key. Throw it in neutral Shut off car at the right time. coast in to a stop without hitting brakes or the wall.
Posts: 25,901

04-20-2007, 08:27 AM	#10
Redrum_69 Banned Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: your nightmares Casino cash: $10004900	Have you ever considered acting Rainman? You could be Screech's stand-in double on Celebrity Weight loss
Posts: 6,358

04-20-2007, 08:32 AM	#11
Fish Ain't no relax! Join Date: Sep 2005 Casino cash: $-1221081	If you cruise down Main St. in McPherson, KS at exactly 7mph, you will never have to stop for a single red light.... __________________
Posts: 48,788

04-20-2007, 09:55 AM	#13
Mr. Plow In Search of a Life Join Date: Dec 2005 Casino cash: $-1342609	Push the button at the end of the block. You'll have plenty of time.
Posts: 31,679

04-20-2007, 10:05 AM	#14
JonesCrusher Knock Knock Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Southeast Wisconsin Casino cash: $10006550	Reading this reminds me of the part of Garp where he coasts in the driveway.
Posts: 771

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