DAY 72: Stage 3 Practical Lesson 3.02 3.03 Reversing Technique, Crank Course & ‘S’ Course

I got another try-sell lesson tonight. After doing 2 rounds of warm up, we headed to the parking lot to try out the reversing technique. The instructor placed 2 poles at the side of the parking lot. I learnt to reverse the car either in between the 2 poles or to the left or right side of the poles. It was quite difficult to see the poles at night via the rear mirror. I did several attempts, moving from sides to sides by moving the car forward and then reverse. Steering the wheel while reversing was not very intuitive. Sometimes I would spend a few seconds trying to figure the correct direction to turn while reversing to the left or right. Fortunately lesson 3.02 is not tested.

After that we proceeded to the crank course & ‘S’ course training. The technique to go through the crank course is to do a full steering wheel turn once the left (or right depending on the direction to turn) kerb is in line with the left (or right) car door handle. Just before the car position is straightened, return the steering wheel quickly to the centre. For ‘S’ course, try to keep to the outer part of the semicircle while turning - for the first anticlockwise semicircle of the ‘S’ course, keep more to the right side, for the next clockwise semicircle, keep more to the left. Once you reach the end of the course, clutch in and quickly return steering wheel to centre before coming to a stop. (I know it is hard to visualize through words. Refer to the Practical handbook if in doubt)


Things to note:

• To reverse to the left, turn steering wheel left. If reversing right, turn steering wheel right
• It is better to go through the course slowly so that you have more time to turn.
• Control low speed by clutch/unclutch to biting point
• The steering wheel can turn 2 rounds maximum in both directions
• For ‘S’ course, keep the left bonnet edge to the centre of the road for the first anticlockwise semicircle. Then, keep the right bonnet edge to the centre of the road during the next clockwise semicircle.
• Do not turn the steering wheel while the car is not moving (-2 points during test)

Expenditure

Practical                 $68.48
Total cost so far:     $1672.81