than a minute agoI don’t know of any six-year-old who has the strength to push a car backward, overcome the force of the parking pall and have it keep rolling backwards… unless it’s a manual transmission, it’s in neutral, and the parking brake isn’t on. even so, just getting it to move would be a lot for a six-year-old.
This happened to my father when two kids were in the back seat of the car. Not to be outdone, decades later, his granddaughter (my niece) and her friend reenacted this family lore during a Sunday church service and rolled the family minivan over a few grassy stretches and out into the middle of an interstate highway. So, YES. This is possible.
I always set the parking brake on any uneven surface. I’ve read enough of peoples’ cars running them over. I’ve seen videos of parked empty vehicles rolling over cliffs too. Also delivery drivers leaving truck in gear and them crashing into the house.
I wondered when shift locks became standard. Googling brought up Street Smart Transmission: “Since the early 1990s, vehicles with automatic transmissions are equipped with a key-shift interlock safety feature that locks the shifter in the Park position each time the shifter is placed there. In order to move the shifter out of Park, the key must be in the ignition switch and the switch must be in the “ON” or “RUN” position.”
My first car, a 1972 Mercury Capri (shudder!), had a manual transmission so it could be moved without a key but it could not be steered that way.
This one is on mom and dad for leaving the car in neutral without the parking break set. This could have happened without Calvin or Hobbs touching the car.
The twist is that the runaway car will run into the thieves who broke into Calvin’s house last night, knocking them out, and they get all their stuff back.
In the real world there aren’t many six-year-olds who could make a car roll on level ground. We know it was on level ground because the car hadn’t moved even though it’s obvious that it was not in park and didn’t have any kind of brake set. Just the sheer inertia would be too much for a small boy to overcome. But this isn’t the real world; this is cartoon physics and cartoon reality, in which the stuffed tiger can push the car with the strength of a real tiger—about 800 pounds worth of feline muscle.
I once “bumped” somebody’s car who was blocking me from getting out in a remote park. It rolled expectedly thirty feet to the bottom of the hill, fortunately with no damage. I hope the surprise was a good lesson.
BE THIS GUY about 1 month ago
…best laid schemes of tigers and boys…
dadthedawg Premium Member about 1 month ago
And now you know how gravity works…..
codycab about 1 month ago
“What could possibly go wrong?” Ahh those famous last words.
The Calvinosaurus That Calvin Wanted To Discover about 1 month ago
Well at least that gives them extra space for their new club.
Imagine about 1 month ago
And it was all downhill from there…
sirbadger about 1 month ago
What’s even worse is that Calvin lost his hat.
Bilan about 1 month ago
Go Reck Our Sedan Smartie
Jayalexander about 1 month ago
Quick hop inside it’ll be a great ride.
snsurone76 about 1 month ago
I think the emergency brake hasn’t been set! Can that happen in today’s automobiles?
Last Rose Of Summer Premium Member about 1 month ago
This was from a couple of years ago…Mon was bothered…a LOT!
Ninette about 1 month ago
Get Rid Of Stopping Sedans.
Robin Harwood about 1 month ago
Listen to your tail.
LupisLight about 1 month ago
It isn’t Calvin’s fault the emergency brake wasn’t on!
On a side note, if Hobbes is imaginary, how did Calvin manage to push the car all by himself?
French Persons Premium Member about 1 month ago
than a minute agoI don’t know of any six-year-old who has the strength to push a car backward, overcome the force of the parking pall and have it keep rolling backwards… unless it’s a manual transmission, it’s in neutral, and the parking brake isn’t on. even so, just getting it to move would be a lot for a six-year-old.
DaveG1960 about 1 month ago
Got Ridicules Overconfident Suddenly Subdued
saylorgirl about 1 month ago
I love what Hobbes says about his tail getting bushy every time Calvin says “What could happen?”
markkahler52 about 1 month ago
How did Calvin get it out of parking gear?
win.45mag about 1 month ago
Another terrible driver. Can’t put the car in park/gear, and what is this silly thing you’re calling an emergency brake ???
Jaddis about 1 month ago
This happened to my father when two kids were in the back seat of the car. Not to be outdone, decades later, his granddaughter (my niece) and her friend reenacted this family lore during a Sunday church service and rolled the family minivan over a few grassy stretches and out into the middle of an interstate highway. So, YES. This is possible.
The Wolf In Your Midst about 1 month ago
Inertia: A property where mothers at rest don’t get to stay at rest for very long.
SquidGamerGal about 1 month ago
See, Calvin? This is your problem! You never think these through!
NeedaChuckle Premium Member about 1 month ago
I always set the parking brake on any uneven surface. I’ve read enough of peoples’ cars running them over. I’ve seen videos of parked empty vehicles rolling over cliffs too. Also delivery drivers leaving truck in gear and them crashing into the house.
Fetzee about 1 month ago
How is this even possible if the car isn’t turned on?
Kilrwat Premium Member about 1 month ago
Impeccable 6-year-old logic
RussellCastine about 1 month ago
“What could possibly go wrong?” Well. cue the lightning and the thunder.
flagmichael about 1 month ago
I wondered when shift locks became standard. Googling brought up Street Smart Transmission: “Since the early 1990s, vehicles with automatic transmissions are equipped with a key-shift interlock safety feature that locks the shifter in the Park position each time the shifter is placed there. In order to move the shifter out of Park, the key must be in the ignition switch and the switch must be in the “ON” or “RUN” position.”
My first car, a 1972 Mercury Capri (shudder!), had a manual transmission so it could be moved without a key but it could not be steered that way.
Angry Indeed Premium Member about 1 month ago
Too bad that wasn’t a minivan, then they could sing “♫…Van on the run, van on the run…♫”. A most excellent chase song!.
Loki61 about 1 month ago
This one is on mom and dad for leaving the car in neutral without the parking break set. This could have happened without Calvin or Hobbs touching the car.
g04922 about 1 month ago
Oh Nooo… they popped the car out of Park !
Gina Carson about 1 month ago
That’s what I like about Calvin. He usually gets immediate answers to his questions.
hornacek about 1 month ago
The twist is that the runaway car will run into the thieves who broke into Calvin’s house last night, knocking them out, and they get all their stuff back.
waynemadison about 1 month ago
They should have trusted his bushy tail!
wiley207 about 1 month ago
And now the arc’s plot will completely change!
Watchdog about 1 month ago
Can barely wait until tomorrow’s consequence
eced52 about 1 month ago
Why was it not in park? Is it a manual, or is Calvin smarter than the average bear?
Ermine Notyours about 1 month ago
Better than a tiger in your tank.
smsrt about 1 month ago
Nah… Calvin’s Mom’s understanding of youthful invigoration runs deep… I’m pretty sure.
rugeirn about 1 month ago
In the real world there aren’t many six-year-olds who could make a car roll on level ground. We know it was on level ground because the car hadn’t moved even though it’s obvious that it was not in park and didn’t have any kind of brake set. Just the sheer inertia would be too much for a small boy to overcome. But this isn’t the real world; this is cartoon physics and cartoon reality, in which the stuffed tiger can push the car with the strength of a real tiger—about 800 pounds worth of feline muscle.
mistercatworks about 1 month ago
I once “bumped” somebody’s car who was blocking me from getting out in a remote park. It rolled expectedly thirty feet to the bottom of the hill, fortunately with no damage. I hope the surprise was a good lesson.
swenbu Premium Member about 1 month ago
Love, love, love Hobbes bushy tail! Don’t think I remembered that from the previous run!
marktson about 1 month ago
Who parks their car in neutral without parking brake? Her fault
Mark DeMist Premium Member about 1 month ago
Why would his parents leave car keys or anything metal or sharp where he can reach them?
monya_43 about 1 month ago
Hobbes tail is intuitive of pending disaster. Hahaha!
aaronacademy2012 about 1 month ago
BEEP
GKBOWOOD Premium Member about 1 month ago
Looks like that emergency brake needs replacing!
Pigs_Will_Fly about 1 month ago
Heh. I remember this storyline.
christelisbetty about 1 month ago
You’re lucky Mom doesn’t have a club,or a paddle.
razzledazzle295 about 1 month ago
The only missing is a studio audience.