The examiner did have a good walk around the car when we turned up at the test centre in it. It did look hilarious parked with other driving school cars! Fortunately and just by luck we discovered in a short conversation that the examiner has an old Austin Mini, so it was a blessing. That said, I sat quietly in the back praying we wouldn’t have a breakdown
Adam drove flawlessly, good lad, and the pass was in the bag. 5 minutes into the test we had stair rod thunder and lightening storm, and the poor little Lucas wipers could barely cope with the river of water. Adam was cool as a cucumber and took it in his stride.I’d taught him in the Traveller since he turned 17 and it’s all he’d known, so no power steering, no synchromesh on first, indicators that don’t self cancel, a retro fitted reverse light with big dash switch to use for manoeuvres, hand pump windscreen washers, dip and main beam foot operated switch above the clutch….and a car made of wood! Way to go son!
He had no professional lessons at all. We got all the local test routes and rules on-line and just drove and drove them. Some very white knuckle experiences along the way. No dual controls so there was plenty of me grabbing the steering wheel and handbrake in the beginning
All I did was get a friend who’s an instructor to go out with him on Wednesday night for 2 hours in the Morris to add another perspective and catch anything I’d not picked up on.
“Driving school of Mum & Dad” as it’s known as is frowned upon and in the waiting room some of the other instructors weren’t too impressed. More fool them I say.
The Government website has lots of details on how the car must comply to be suitable for test. Age is not one of them. It has to be capable of 63.2 mph and you can’t take a test in a convertible car, and so on and so on. The headrest thing on the examiners seat was our only concern. I fitted a peep mirror (vintage chrome one) to the top of the passenger quarterlight so he could see the rear wheel/kerb distance as there are no door mirrors on a Minor, just wing mirrors right up front that you need a telescope to see. The bonus really in this little Morris is that the visibility is superb all round (the rear is a slim wood frame greenhouse) and the windscreen pillars are as thick as your thumb. It turns on a sixpence too. The car was Adams choice not mine, and I’ve got to say it’s won me over.
Jason, you just gotta make time mate. I’m up at dawn (4am) get 2-3 hours on my cars before work, home at 6, then in the garage to 11-12, then all weekends. Plus I must have spent at least 8 hours a week over the last 6 months taking Adam out on lessons. He’s driven over 1500 miles in the Morris before his test!
Matt, yep they grow up far too quick. Like I said to you at the mini-meet, spend all the time you can with them while they're little, you cant get it back. Even with a Delorean time machine.
