The mini then pulled out leaving the space in front free. I then watched two female drivers (the second in a P labelled car) each have three attempts at reversing in. Three woefully bad attempts, pathetic attempts, fail your test on parrallel parking attempts. I ended up having to use the horn on both occasions firstly when I felt the first car got too close to mine and secondly to let the other driver know she was up the kerb her bumper in a hedge and pushing through to rapidly approach a tree!Anyway after they'd given up a golf pulls alongside
(having waited in the single lane queue whilst the others tried) to have a go. I'm slightly cheered by the Nurburgring sticker but then realise he's not gone far enough forward (his rear was several feet behind the parked car in front of me so I know he's not making the best use of the available manouvering space) before he starts reversing.Anyway sure enough he needs to come too far back and I watch with mounting concern as he gets nearer.
I've been hit previously in these spaces 3 times in about 18mths with no note on any occasion. Closer and closer till I estimate he's now just inches away. Finally I give a little toot to let him know I think that's close enough and when I see him looking back in his mirror I hold up my hand with my thumb and index finger a few mill apart to indicate that's about it.The reaction? He actually got out of his car and shouted at me in the middle of a busy street
"Don't f**king bip me". To say I was dumfounded would be an understatement but then I got angry.. but I just stuck my chin out and repeated my earlier gesture with thumb and finger more forceably. He looked at me then looked at the gap then he just got back in to finish parking (and started by moving forward) but this time sent his passenger out and completed in three or four more moves. He then just got out and walked off.I've been thinking about it and have come to the conclusion it was a funny misunderstanding.
Initially I was angry at his suggestion that he could tell me how and when to use my own car. And at his implicit suggestion that he is immune to the judgement of other road users. And at his use of abusive language as a first response... in a public street with children present.Now I'm just laughing at his misreading of my reactions.
My toot did indeed mean that in my judgement he was close enough whatever his view was. My first gesture did actually mean I felt he had no more room regardless of how fast or slowly he can drive around a track in Germany. As far as I know all that is tested is financial ability not talent to do it.No what I'm amused by is his misunderstanding my repeat of the motion.
He took it to mean I was sticking to my guns and confirming he only had millimetres between us but what I actually meant, having just been sworn at and told by someone in no authority what I can and can't do with my own vehicle as well as being told this same person wasn't subject to the same rules as everyone else on the road, was that this was an indication of the exact size I think his xxxxx is.R.
Yeah just driving round a track doesn't make you a good driver.
