Just some Ape fun

[Barry]

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=796551317086216

[Big Al]

I think I am right in saying reverse is the lowest gear on these and by progressing backwards the thing does not fall over. However very amusing and no guns, bombs or caravans in sight so you might be OK posting it Barry.

[Barry]

I thoughtbexactely the same thing Al
I remember my Dads side valve Ford Prefect could not get up Essex way from Canvey island once (fully loaded with the whole family.
It just ground to a halt.  He turned round and made it up in reverse.  Soon an Austin 1100 replaced the Ford - the business!

[Big Al]

Interesting, What hill is there near Canvey? Imagination again. Has it that it must be flat.

Mmmm 1100. Not without its faults, like not painting its bottom, but I liked them.

[Jean]

That would be Bread and Cheese Hill on the old A13 I suspect.  I did used to cycle that way just after WW2, and that hill was a challenge. Jean

[Barry]

The famous Bread & Cheese Pub, Benfleet (now an Indian Restaurant I think).  No not that hill.  Benfleet and Hadleigh are at the top of the slopes down to the Thames and Canvey Island (under water) at the bottom.  Hadleigh castle is where the Olympic mountain bike course was built - on the slopes.  Essex Way is quite a steep and long hill (for Essex) from Canvey up to the water tower (now a house) at the top.  Quite a view across the estuary. 
We had to visit Nan on Canvey Island every week from Great Wakering, near Foulness.  We got it down to a fine art and could get there and back in the minimum time including cutting the grass and slurping a tea, Hello - Goodbye. 
The Ford Prefect was just a stop-gap when the Humber Hawk dropped it's gearbox internals.  Quite a come down, reversing up Essex Way after cruising up in the Humber!  Then the Austin 1100. Progress?  Hmmm.

[Bob Purton]

That clip is hilarious!

[Barry]

You know what is going to happen right from the start and when it does, it is still great fun - classic.

This may tickle you too.

http://www.metaspoon.com/gas-station-pump-security-camera/?fb

(it could just as easily be a man) 

[richard]

hilarious 

[AndrewG]

Though I am guilty of drifting this thread into non-micro cars, my contemporary Mini occasionally requires to be reversed up hills, though for traction, not balance.  The wide tyres fitted mean that on loose surfaces, such as dirt tracks, the uphill traction going forwards is appalling and a couple of times I have had to reverse up to properties which the owners have no problem to reach in cars with tyres of economy-minded width.

I also have reversed up one snowy/icy 1 in 6 hill that even my winter tyres would not go up forwards.  Being front wheel drive, there is quite a lot more traction in reverse, though having only a letter-box-sized rear window in the convertible top means that reversing is a real nightmare, particularly when everything is white....

[Big Al]

Its pertinent tactics in any car. Knowing where the weight and best grip is. Might be classed as a bit silly driving in reverse but you never know when such a quick thought answer might get you out of harms way. It is also interesting how a change in tyre design/specification can alter the characteristics of a car. The more specialised the spec, often the narrower the performance. You pays your money and takes your chances. Which are not chance if you trouble to know about them, like here. I class it as one of the fun things in ownership. Finding out what things will do, and what they will not.