The key to what happened when you were just cruising randomly enjoying a drive through suburban/rural NJ is that you may have entered the, hypnotic, alpha state of mind.
When relaxed enough our brainwave frequency drops to about 7.8 cycles per second. The Earth’s electromagnetic frequency is predominantly 7.8 Hz. (Schumann Resonance). At that point we sort of mesh and enter the psychic realm.
That may have been the missing element while trying your exercises to increase your psychic abilities.
More about that under the Psychic Development tab on left menu bar.