Sarah’s celebrating an anniversary.
I read a post on Sarah’s blog, This is What Sed Said, this morning about her 6th anniversary of driving. 6 years ago yesterday, on her third try, she was handed the piece of paper that let her loose on our roads. Congratulations Sarah.
Her wonderful post reminded me of my early driving experiences.
I took my driving test on my 17th birthday, the very first day that I was eligible. I remember half way through the test being asked to do a three point turn. I got part way through the manoeuvre and realised that I needed to do a five point turn or drive over someone’s curb to keep it to three. I chose the curb.
At the end of the test I had no idea if I had passed or failed. The examiner turned to me and said that I was quite nervous but he thought I’d do alright. I’d passed.
Thanks Skipper.
The examiner’s name was Alan Hale. I only remember that because Alan Hale was also the name of the guy who played the Skipper in Gilligan’s Island. During the test Alan told me that his son was an apprentice chef, as I was at the time. He mentioned something regarding which Technical School his son was attending. I knew that wasn’t possible but I chose not to correct his honest mistake. Sometimes it’s best to stay quiet.
In July this year I will have been driving for 27 years. Considering that a lot of people in the blogosphere haven’t even been on the planet for 27 years this simple fact makes me feel old.
Cars I’ve owned.
My first car was a 1972 TC Ford Cortina, similar to the one in the picture. Since then I’ve owned a mid 70s 4 cyclinder Ford Transit Van, a 1978 XC Ford Falcon, a 1980 6 cyclinder Ford Transit Van, a 1976 Ford Escort, a 1980 XD Ford Fairmont and a 1991 EB Ford Falcon. You can probably see a theme here. I haven’t actually owned a car for a number of years but I drive Pauline’s car when we go anywhere as a family. Her car is a 1999 Toyota Camry.
Each of the cars I’ve owned brings back certain memories. That ’72 Cortina took me and a couple of mates across Australia and back on a month’s holiday. It also served as a taxi for a lot of other friends as did many of my other vehicles. I’ve got great memories of that Fairmont with ribbons attached being used as our wedding car. Most of the memories relate back to the people I had the pleasure of being with at the time of owning each of those cars.
Can you remember all the cars you’ve owned? What about that moment when you were told that you had passed your driver’s test? Did you think that your license was your key to freedom? How many years have you been driving?
These days I’m much happier on my bicycle but it’s still handy to have the use of a car from time to time.
Posted by Rodney Olsen
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Hey Rodney, something else you and I have in common – we both own 99 Camry’s (well, they’re our wive’s cars). Wow…
We’re making do without a second car too, for work I’m catching the bus and sometimes biking (probbaly need to get on the bike more often).
Cheers, Thomas
Rodney, me, too, got the license on my birthday – though over here it´s the 18th you were first allowed to get it back then. That makes 17 years of driving! And makes me feel quite old…
And I had my first accident on my 35th birthday, what a coincidence! Crashed the car, got a new one now.
The biggest car I ever owned was my Nissan Patrol – maybe he still cruises around in Perth. I sold him to a guy in Jundaloop. Was a great car with even greater memories… thanks for the thought! 🙂
I started driving at 12. You didn’t need a license if you had farm plates. Passed my first test at 16. Back then I never thought I’d drive for a living. I have to re-test every year for my job and I still get nervous. My 1st car was a ’62 LeSabre. My current car? A ’02 LeSabre.
Thanks for the congrats! 🙂
Rodney I have only ever owned 2 cars. Both Toyota Corolla’s 1st was a 1987 hatchback a yellow one which I nicknamed “The Buzz Box” because I had to put a black bonnet on it (don’t ask me why)
and now I own a 1998 corolla which is coloured “botany blue” a dark shade of blue. It’s a very nice and reliable car.