…driver in question was my father. Three days after my 17th birthday, he invited me to go for a drive. I’d been longing for the day as I really liked our family car, an 18yo (1959) Mk2 Ford Consul. I asked if I should get the keys, but Dad said no, he’d look after that. As we walked to the car I again asked for the keys, but he told me to get the seat sorted and to adjust the seat-belt properly, which were an optional extra… We got settled and I turned towards Dad with an outstretched hand for the key. I grabbed it with glee but he didn’t let go. Surprised, I looked him square in the eye and he said “I’ve just given you the key to a lethal weapon. These things kill people. Now, off you go.”
For a moment, I didn’t want to drive. Then I adjusted my attitude and got on with it.
My first lesson was in my mothers mini 850, my father had been doing it up for her and he said do you want to drive up and down the back lane where our garage was, I jumped at the chance got it started and then proceded to drive, only to stall it, it then wouldn’t start, so he turned to me and said you’ve buggered it!!!
He managed to fix it, my mother drove it until it was given to me on my 18th birthday!!!
My dad taught me to drive on Winthorpe Airfield near Newark.I then had one lesson from Lewins Driving School in Newark to learn the drill for the test itself.
I took my Dad out on my first drive on Boxing Day one year. I had a 53 plate Corsa and I went through a puddle at 60MPH not knowing any better, and my entire exhaust system dislodged and came loose. Needless to say, my Mum took over after this experience.
Gidders:
My dad taught me to drive on Winthorpe Airfield near Newark.I then had one lesson from Lewins Driving School in Newark to learn the drill for the test itself.
Blimey, Lewins; that’s a name from the past! Long gone now I daresay but a familiar sight in the 1970’s.
I’d bought my first car a Triumph 2.5 before I’d passed my test.
My Dad then said that I wouldn’t be driving it anywhere outside of the empty evening car park at Epsom Downs until he was satisfied that I knew how to start off and stop it and steer it on his command and exactly when and where he wanted.
It was a very boring week or two of start stop and put it here/there, but was worth every minute.
I think dual control is a very poor and potentially dangerous substitute for plenty of basic training in vehicle control before venturing out on the roads.
Remember coasting down a long gentle hill in Dunfermline in my instructors Corolla and as i shifted from 3 to 4 ,i almost got it into reverse ,memorable noise
Was, don’t jump out the cab, and don’t jump off the trailer, you will regret it when your older, didn’t listen, 34 years later now have a knackered knee and hip.
Seen a couple of young uns doing the same, gave the same advice, and also likely to have fell on deaf ears.
weeto:
Was, don’t jump out the cab, and don’t jump off the trailer, you will regret it when your older, didn’t listen, 34 years later now have a knackered knee and hip.
Seen a couple of young uns doing the same, gave the same advice, and also likely to have fell on deaf ears.
Old style Bedford (army) trucks, it was easier to jump out. Still told not to.
I haven’t totally knackered anything yet. But if I do jump off a trailer these days, I get sciatica for the next few days. It’s extremely painful.
So I also repeat that warning of not jumping off trailers in particular, or out of modern high cabs if I see it. And just as likely to fall on deaf ears
weeto:
Was, don’t jump out the cab, and don’t jump off the trailer, you will regret it when your older, didn’t listen, 34 years later now have a knackered knee and hip.
Seen a couple of young uns doing the same, gave the same advice, and also likely to have fell on deaf ears.
Old style Bedford (army) trucks, it was easier to jump out. Still told not to.
I haven’t totally knackered anything yet. But if I do jump off a trailer these days, I get sciatica for the next few days. It’s extremely painful.
So I also repeat that warning of not jumping off trailers in particular, or out of modern high cabs if I see it. And just as likely to fall on deaf ears
I still sometimes jump off our loading bay which is railway platform height and about a foot lower than trailer bed height but it still hurts my knees
I wouldn’t jump out of an DAF XF cab no way., that would hurt
I’m 48 in July
For all that some of us moan about them, it’s much easier with modern trucks. My other half commented that watching me exit the cab of my old Foden S21 was akin to seeing it give birth!
Sidevalve:
For all that some of us moan about them, it’s much easier with modern trucks. My other half commented that watching me exit the cab of my old Foden S21 was akin to seeing it give birth!
Sidevalve:
For all that some of us moan about them, it’s much easier with modern trucks. My other half commented that watching me exit the cab of my old Foden S21 was akin to seeing it give birth!
When I was shunting in Tescos, one woman used to come in every day, step out forwards from the truck, pull the pin, get her plate , wind down legs and then do her lines. I eventually told her that by stepping out, one slip and that she would smash her face in. I also told her that if she pulled the pin first again, then for everyones safety, I would report it. She actually listened, not many do, see above regarding kees
One other wise thing I would say about the grass isn’t always greener
Our boss and planner are no happy easy going guys by any means , but we don’t work max hours or run in or out many weekends and pay is ok
Company moaner (lived 10mins from yard) last year thought he would play poker (bluff) with the bosses by handing his notice in which they gladly accepted and gave rest of us a pay rise the next week
2 weeks latter he’s trying to ask for his job back because his maxing out all the time and now has a 10 mile commute
To this day when a vacancy comes up he text the boss asking for his job back , falls on deaf ears
