Passed in August 1983 aged 17 years 4 months in my Grandad's Fiat 127. Failed test 4 weeks earlier for undue hesitancy. I feel I've made up for it since then.
My ex brother in law passed his test 3 days after his 17th birthday. Had lessons solidly for two days then passed on the third.
Did my bike test in Gateshead in December 2001 on a Honda CB500. Never had a lesson in the dry but the test day was bright and sunny.
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April 1986 at Rotherham Test Centre - tester Mr Pye (what rubbish I remember!). Red Fiesta 1.1L JJX 208W. Passed first time aged 17 years 6 months, advanced test passed in June same year. Taught by my dad, teaching me convinced him he could be a driving instructor and 4 years later he was!
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1968 Isetta ( Bubble Car ) Walsall Area, then a four wheel license in 1969 in Malvern Hillman Imp Oh happy days. Regards Peter
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Passed in 1989, at first attempt, after a few months of lessons at BSM. Test car was a standard BSM Mini Metro.
I was in my late 20s by then, which may be why it turned out to be too late to teach me the fancier reverse parking maneouvres. No harm when it came to my test: the roads around the Norwood test centre were so clogged that we could find a corner to reverse around, so I managed to skip that bit.
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First test passed in 1978 in a retired US police cruiser (a Plymouth Satellite, like those blue-and-whites in American movies from that era). A whale of a car with steering that was sloppier than a plate of spaghetti. The test consisted of driving out of the test centre car park, rounding the block, returning to the car park and parking the whale (nose first). Second test passed in a humble BSM Corsa in 1999.
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A BSM Triumph Herald , 1968, great for 3 point turns ( as was) with a superb steering lock and excellent all round view.
Bike test, err a Honda 50 in 1971. Next day rode a Norton Dominator 600cc, rather exciting in contrast.
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I wasna fu but just had plenty.
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>>Norton Dominator 600cc,
A '99' I presume. Which year ?
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Bike was a mates bike and of uncertain pedigree.
I recall the clip on bars and shiny seat made for an interesting riding position at up to 100mph.
Probably was a slim line frame as I could actually walk without discomfort afterwards. Me and wide line frames do not get on.
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I wasna fu but just had plenty.
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Usually a slimline featherbed, which was always a favourite of mine. The alternative was a frame which I think they called the "scrambles" frame (or something like that). A pretty good description of its approach to corners.
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July 17th 1998 (at 12 noon)in an N reg Fiesta. My instructor had an older Fiesta up until a week before the test so I had an hour to get used to having fifth gear!
Passed first time with only 4 minor errors. Told my instructor and he dampened my happiness by saying that they must have been low on passes that day! :(
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July 1977, in 1968 Hillman Minx, first time, aged 17 and 6 weeks.
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My late grandmother passed her test in a milk float borrowed from a friend. A small three-legged stool was placed in the cabin for the examiner to sit on, as the thing only had one seat.
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In 1980 in a Turquoise Nissan Sunny.
Thing is though, right up to the last but one lesson I drove a brown one. Cue the day of the test, the examiner ask's where my car is and I say nervously "the brown Nissan Sunny over the road, sir". It's a wonder he bothered asking me to read the number plate. Passed the test though.
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some datsun i think it was march 1978 aged 17 had 3 lessons but had been driving for about 18 months in and around garage where i worked, we had a large yard and lots of scrap cars so it didnt matter if you hit them , a really good way to learn you see the damage that can be done at no cost .
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Brilliant thread - the quickest to hit the ton in a long time - and the most interesting.
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Brilliant thread - the quickest to hit the ton in a long time - and the most interesting.
Ah! 3 cheers for the author..
I thang yew!
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Oh sorry imagos ! - Thank You Thank You etc etc. And also started a thread with no scope for conflict or argument. SWMBO passed first time (then she would wouldn't she ?) 1980 in a Mini. Those laser powered eyes !
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"SWMBO passed first time (then she would wouldn't she ?) 1980 in a Mini."
Driving one or wearing one?
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In one.
Beans Means Cash.
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Ford Anglia with reverse rake rear screen, early 1964, in Great Moor, Stockport.
The tester was a sadistic SOB. He screamed and smashed his clipboard on the metal dash-board for the emergency stop - just as I was observing one or two old ladies waiting to cross and a woman pushing a pram. My heart hit the top of my head and I turned the car through 45degrees as it stopped. He then asked me to reverse around the corner and park. I did it perfectly, but have never managed it since.
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Sorry. I forgot the first bit, two wheels.
Matchless 500cc, mid 1957, Stangeways, Manchester, right next to the jail.
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That's nothing compared to my friend's examiner. Waited until the end of the test and said, "I'm sorry - you've failed."
*Waits a couple of seconds to see the crestfallen face*
"Only kidding - you passed!"
I'm surprised the country didn't end up one examiner fewer that day...
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Ok, Just to widen this bit.
That means I have been driving for 31 years. Say an average of 15000 miles a year means a total of 465,000 miles driven.
Say at an average speed of 40mph (probably too high) that means I have spent 11625 hours or 484 full 24 hour days behind the wheel. So thats over 1.3 years of the 31 since I passed my test has been spent driving the car.
Is my bum sore or what!
On top of that I must have consumed 60 tyres, and 15,500 gals of fosil fuel.
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1974ish 2 wheels, cycling proficiency test (why dont kids seem to do this anymore?)
1982 4 wheels aged 17, two fails (pulling forward out of a very bad visability junction and stopping when car comign out of unseen area. Front of car a few inches over white line.)
Third test, emergency stop was great considering winter conditions...almost threw examiner into windscreen (no compulsory seatbelts then). after that throught I had failed yet again so relaxed and drove with no problems. VW Polo saloon, Dec 1982
StarGazer
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1978, Marina Coupe 1.8
bike test 1977, Suzuki TS100
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1st April 1974 - aged 17 - 1st time - Datsun 120
Cheers
MPZ
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Passed 1st time, at the Isle of Wight test station 9th March 1992, in my Dad's 1982 Citroen Visa Super E (SDL 20X) - in which my elder sister had already been taught to drive, and passed 1st time, and my younger sister was also subsequently taught in and passed first time.
Went round the Coppins Bridge roundabout (a fiendish peice of road engineering with about 16 sets of traffic lights) in the first 5 minutes (after turning right at a set of non-working traffic lights!) and before emergency stop, so decided I was going to pass easily and relaxed - most candidates went round the roundabout on the way back to the test centre if the examiner thought they were good enough and going to pass....
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RichardW
Is it illogical? It must be Citroen....
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