Oct 10, 2023
Time for a new puzzler. This one is an oldie, but a goodie, as they say.
Here we go.
There was a very steep hill, and no one could drive this one particular old VW bug up the hill.
One of the problems was that the crowds lined the route up the hill, and everyone who attempted the climb had to skillfully avoid accidentally flattening a spectator, as the crowd was so large.
People tried everything. They tried running starts and they would get part of the way up. But the bug couldn't make it the whole way. The car just didn't have enough power.
Ultimately, a hero emerged. Everyone else was afraid of running over spectators, but not him. He knew he couldn't concentrate on the task at hand if he spent time looking through the windshield, so he didn't. So he got in the car, pointed it up the hill, and not looking through the windshield, gave it all the gas he could. He drove believing that he would make it to the top and not flatten anyone.
The car redlined as he approached the hill, the engine screamed in agony. He floored it as the car started to climb higher and higher. He kept his foot on the gas and trusted that he'd make it. He used all his concentration.
Finally, he made it over the top. He succeeded. The crowd surged around the bug, and as his concentration waned, he glanced through the windshield and saw that all was well.
What was the secret to his success?
Good luck!
Okay so, how did this guy her the VW Bug up the hill, when no one else could?
The secret of his success was that he didn't look through the windshield. And the reason he didn't look through the windshield is that he backed up the hill.
He was, in fact, looking out the rear window.
He was backing up the hill and of course, he had a car in reverse. Which is what he would have to do to go backwards up the hill.
And was the the case back then with most cars and especially this Volkswagen, the highest gear ratio that has the most mechanical advantage for the engine is the reverse gear.
So if you can't make it in first gear, you might make it in reverse gear, but you have to look out the back window.
