28-07-2021, 11:39 AM
This post about stopping distances made me remember my road roller licence test, taken on a 1918 Steam Roller.
The examiner wanted me to do an emergency stop. We were already using bottom gear (3mph or so max) without telling him as that particular roller has no brakes (except reverse). Top gear gives about 6mph.....
I think he was worried I might run him over. He jumped out from behind a telegraph pole (I could see him anyway) about 200yards in front of me and shouted 'stop' raised his hands blah blah blah. At about 2mph it probably took me longer to take the smirk off my face than it did to close the regulator (throttle) and roll to a halt. All in about 20 foot.
''Wow, it stops much better than I expected''.....I'm not entirely sure how long he thought it might take to slow from 2mph, but I dare say that had I actually tried, I could have stopped it in about 10 foot. But there was no fears I was going to run him over.
The examiner wanted me to do an emergency stop. We were already using bottom gear (3mph or so max) without telling him as that particular roller has no brakes (except reverse). Top gear gives about 6mph.....
I think he was worried I might run him over. He jumped out from behind a telegraph pole (I could see him anyway) about 200yards in front of me and shouted 'stop' raised his hands blah blah blah. At about 2mph it probably took me longer to take the smirk off my face than it did to close the regulator (throttle) and roll to a halt. All in about 20 foot.
''Wow, it stops much better than I expected''.....I'm not entirely sure how long he thought it might take to slow from 2mph, but I dare say that had I actually tried, I could have stopped it in about 10 foot. But there was no fears I was going to run him over.