Am I really that stupid?

[rpguk]

Brother in Law was going down to the shop and jokingly said to me 'don't take my car when I'm gone as I know the mileage' (oh the comedy )

Anyway I replied 'Don't worry, I'll go around the car park in reverse a few times to wind the clock back.

Cue fits of laughter from everyone.

Now I always thought that going in reverse turned back the mileage clock on a car. (Probely from some stupid book I read as a child or something)

Am I really that stupid, am I even right?

[ErnestM]

"We're not laughing with you..."

ErnestM

[CarZee]

:everybody point and at rpguk:

Ever seen Ferris Bueller's Day Off?

Edited to say that this evening, I've sat and watched GnomeSmith parade round threads and pour the cold water of reality onto peoples' fun. I therefore expect something like

GnomeSmith said: Actually, the 1967 Snubworth Grunter 1370cc featured an unusual speedometer driven by an enclosed chainlink. The happy side effect was that the odometer worked both forwards and backwards.

>> Edited by CarZee (moderator) on Wednesday 4th December 22:02

[CarZee]

Damn - I was wrong about gnomesmith - it was SimonElite501

Edited to say

He went away and took his posts with him...

>> Edited by CarZee (moderator) on Wednesday 4th December 21:56

[Simonelite501]

What was ?

[CarZee]

Oi!

[Simonelite501]

Hi Carzee,
I don't know whats going on here, but the hilariously funny posts I have just posted firstly duplicated themselves then disappeared completely This PC's not called HAL, is it?

[CarZee]

I don't know... see if the clock goes backwards if you push it backwards round the room.. if it does, you've got a Snubworth and it's definitely not called HAL

[Simonelite501]

After stuggling to remove the clock from the wall, damaging the wall paper in the attempt, pushing it around the room achived nothing. I now have to re-hang the clock, and repair the torn wall coverings, THANKYOU CARZEE!

[CarZee]

Enjoy your decorating..

[hansgerd]

CarZee said: :everybody point and at rpguk:

Ever seen Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Damn, that one was hit into the back yard, wasn't it.

[alan_driver]

AM I REALLY THAT STUPID?
short answer: yes

slightly longer answer:, maybe not that daft, as i do beleive the very first metres did go backwards in reverse, so there is some (anicent) truth in it. But there wouldnt have been aany point reversing to put the clock back as a simple moving it backwards with your fingers did the trick.

[JohnL]

Don't worry, they thought you were joking

[Graham.J]

Actually my mums old M reg metro's speedo went backwards when in reverse, so there technically your not stupid.

[danger mouse]

Didn't Mungo say his Renault11's speedo did go backwards in reverse. I never noticed it on mine.

Probably not the same thing though...

it's too late for all this high brow engineering talk.

night :

Mouse

[jmorgan]

Suppose it depends on the mechanism. Had to reverse a sprinter 1/2 mile or so back up hill, road block and not enough room to turn around. Noticed mileometer counting forwards. Just seemed to be counting distance travelled rather than what way it was going.

[stedale]

jmorgan said: Suppose it depends on the mechanism. Had to reverse a sprinter 1/2 mile or so back up hill, road block and not enough room to turn around. Noticed mileometer counting forwards. Just seemed to be counting distance travelled rather than what way it was going.

And there was I about to suggest that they didn't work at all in reverse, hence you could reverse all the way. Phew! Saved from that embarrassment!

Steve.

[Ali_D]

mungo said:

Edited to say, you had to reverse VERY FAST though to notice it! Hey I was only 19 then!

You mean you had to reverse very fast whilst looking forwards - hope you didn't meet any unexpected obsticles

[williamp]

Apparently Taxi meters go backwards when they select reverse. That's why they have such good turning circles- so that they don't have to do a 3 point turn...

Ever seen a Taxi in reverse????