Best Bus Driver . . . in the world?

Marcal Eilenstein

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It’s a well established fact that the British, while fond of cold, dreary days full of foul weather, are ill-equipped to actually drive in them. In fact, their compatriots in Hereford devoted an entire segment to this problem, which included an ingenious use of farm implements and a vile drink called . . . Bovril.

The abandoned cars, people wandering around, and general chaos reminds me of the snow storms in the winter of 2006 in Seattle, when people abandoned their cars on the highway, sometimes in the middle of the road, and walked away. I was on the bus that day, and the 20-mile trip from the office to home that normally took an hour, lasted nearly six. Judging from this video, we really could have used this driver.

From the North Riding in Yorkshire comes a video that make give you a chuckle, or it might make you sigh. 

[youtube width=”700″ height=”525″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Pcdg9m7Dao[/youtube]

 [Source: YouTube]

 

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Marcal Eilenstein

Marcal Eilenstein

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14 responses to “Best Bus Driver . . . in the world?”

  1. stigshift Avatar
    stigshift

    I'm pretty sure that's The Stig…

    Reply
    1. MVEilenstein Avatar
      MVEilenstein

      I like how he waves to passersby as he's climbing the hill.

      Reply
  2. Sjalabais Avatar
    Sjalabais

    Momentum, weight and skill do the job…very nice maneuvring. This kind of wet and ugly snow is the very worst. Hope summer lasts just a bit longer.

    Reply
  3. cruisintime Avatar
    cruisintime

    If not the best,then surely a contender.

    Reply
  4. I Think Not Avatar
    I Think Not

    I'm pretty sure this must be the same guy that managed to get me home during a snowstorm this past winter. At the time, I worked 19 miles from home, and I took the bus regularly. For some reason, I had to go into work in the morning, when there was barely any snow on the ground, and I took the bus in.
    At noon, my boss told us all to get home any way we could, because the weather was getting worse.
    I looked at the bus' website to make sure they were still running (else I would have begged a ride from a coworker), and saw that one was due headed in the right direction in just 20 minutes, so I packed up and trudged out through the white stuff to the bus stop.
    Two hours later, the bus actually arrived. The most grizzled-looking bus driver I've ever seen, probably in his 60s, opened the door and greeted me and the one other unfortunate bus rider with "what are you morons doing standing out here?"
    What followed was another two hours of drifting at WOT around corners, blasting through plow-made dunes, occasionally hopping curbs, and over all never once getting even close to stuck. Best busride ever, even if I nearly got frostbitten waiting for it.

    Reply
  5. FЯeeMan Avatar
    FЯeeMan

    Frankly, that was disappointing. There was no weaving between random cars, no drifting around corners, no understeer cured by oversteer, just a lot of weight conveniently located over the drive wheels and a friendly driver.

    Reply
    1. Scandinavian Flick ★ Avatar
      Scandinavian Flick ★

      I was pumped too, thinking the screenshot was the bus going full oppo.
      Still impressive. Just not quite what I was expecting.

      Reply
      1. Dean Bigglesworth Avatar
        Dean Bigglesworth

        [youtube 9_eVvfRZOSk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_eVvfRZOSk youtube]

        Reply
        1. FЯeeMan Avatar
          FЯeeMan

          That's some bus driving skill!
          And only one snow bank crunch…

          Reply
  6. lilpoindexter Avatar
    lilpoindexter

    YEAH, but he's driving on the wrong side of the road.

    Reply
  7. Nizar Avatar
    Nizar

    Come to India especially Kerala. You can see who is the best

    Reply
  8. C³-Cool Cadillac Cat Avatar
    C³-Cool Cadillac Cat

    I've had our 40' diesel-pusher, 25K lb. motorcoach in snow. Serious snow, on a road which was in way northern NV. It was a small state road, but shaved at least 150 miles off the trip, which we needed in this case.
    Saw one person the entire 90 minutes, and he was going the other way. We both stopped and chatted for 30 seconds. He asked if I had chains, 'cause based on the fact CA closed this road on their side, and were winching a vehicle up the side of the mountain after it went off, I might need 'em.
    Meh.
    100 lbs./HP helps, as does a LOT of weight over the rear wheels. Being extremely familiar with the machine helps like you would not believe, and this guy…this bus driver knows the power of momentum.
    When you have a 0-60 time of probably a minute, you learn very early on, keep as much speed as possible. I know our coach, pulling a car, so an extra 3,500 lbs., is 55 seconds. You plan _*way_* ahead…for _everything_. That was a power-braked start, too, with boost around 21 PSI at 'launch'. Add probably 7 seconds for a 'mash on it' start. Maybe 10.
    The Grand Vitara which was our 'toad', "towed car", pushed me a little bit more than I liked on one switchback, and trust me, you DO NOT want oppo in a machine this size. First, the feedback is akin to playing Pole Position. Second, air brake ABS is really odd feeling. Third, if it gets away from you the slightest bit, your heart rate will instantly start with a '2' and be three digits…for several minutes afterward.
    Plus, you can spin a 18" wide steering wheel only so quickly. And with 6.5 turns lock-to-lock…well, human arms don't move that fast.

    Reply
    1. FЯeeMan Avatar
      FЯeeMan

      Hooniverse has some of the best writers in the world. Most of them don't get their names on the masthead.
      Great storey, great write up!

      Reply
      1. C³-Cool Cadillac Cat Avatar
        C³-Cool Cadillac Cat

        Thanks.
        I've written some, but not seriously, and the book I started about my wife and I's travels, two-, four-, and six-wheeled…I managed about six pages, put it down, got busy, never picked it back up.
        I should, though, before I forget all of it.
        I did G+ my bold and italics, though…
        /facepalm

        Reply