Dad driving memories, the good, the bad and the ugly
Discussion
My Dad looking after my uncle's Jag XJ12 (and my cousin) whilst my uncle was on holiday involved "making sure that the Jag was providing the claimed performance". It apparently was. My cousin relating the tale to his Dad afterwards resulted in some raised eyebrows.
-Checking to see if his new Mk2 Cavalier would crack a Ton. It would. Lancs Police almost witnessed it too, cue plenty of testing of the emergency braking capabilities and some sharp words from my mum. That car was given a fair bit of "Italian Tune-up" if I recall.
Guiding his MK2 Mondeo down The Struggle into Ambleside on seemingly zero grip in winter.
Pulling a massive, unintentional wheelie on my cousin's KX250 ...and rescuing it.
Squeeling the tyres at every opportunity on the excellent road through Clocaenog on a brisk trip to Snowdonia.
He seemed to become a bit sedate in his 40s and early 50s, but is back on form now.
-Checking to see if his new Mk2 Cavalier would crack a Ton. It would. Lancs Police almost witnessed it too, cue plenty of testing of the emergency braking capabilities and some sharp words from my mum. That car was given a fair bit of "Italian Tune-up" if I recall.
Guiding his MK2 Mondeo down The Struggle into Ambleside on seemingly zero grip in winter.
Pulling a massive, unintentional wheelie on my cousin's KX250 ...and rescuing it.
Squeeling the tyres at every opportunity on the excellent road through Clocaenog on a brisk trip to Snowdonia.
He seemed to become a bit sedate in his 40s and early 50s, but is back on form now.
Edited by MC Bodge on Tuesday 7th July 13:33
Breaking down on every single family holiday including the several times a year visiting relatives in Devon. No bank holiday was complete without a few hours next to the A303 waiting for the AA. Led to my now admittedly irrational hatred of Fords.
He also had a bizarre dislike of stopping for petrol. You don't know shame as a teenager until you've pushed your dad's car the final few hundred meters to the petrol station and found the prettiest girl in class now works there. Or the terror of heading down the M3 with the gauge on empty for mile after mile as he refuses to stop.
He also had a bizarre dislike of stopping for petrol. You don't know shame as a teenager until you've pushed your dad's car the final few hundred meters to the petrol station and found the prettiest girl in class now works there. Or the terror of heading down the M3 with the gauge on empty for mile after mile as he refuses to stop.
My dad was caught doing some rather silly speed in his then brand spanking new Escort RS Turbo in white. First one on Teesside. With me, in a baby chair, in the front seat. Obviously once my mother caught wind of that, the RS had to go, but by then it was too late. I had been infected by petrol headed-ness.
We then had an Orion Ghia with spot lamps and a body kit, but after that its been MPVs and SUVs ever since.
We then had an Orion Ghia with spot lamps and a body kit, but after that its been MPVs and SUVs ever since.
My dad, now sadly no longer with us, I remember a few really good bits
1) In a MkII silver shadow, a bloke fell off a honda 400/4 and was sliding towards us, the old man put two wheels up the pavement while saying to a 14 year old me "that might give him a bit more clearance" man sliding came straight towards us, disapeared under the front; he had slid the whole way under the car and had caught his crash helmet under the silencer box and was now being a bit burnt. I suspect had he not put two wheels up the pavement the front spoiler would have taken the blokes head off.
2) "driving" sitting on his knee the last mile or two towards home from the age of three to eleven, after that I was allowed to sit in the drivers seat and do the last half mile with the warning "if you drive like a t
t this won't be happening again"
3) For some reason being in a massive hurry in a 928 to get from royston to london on the a10. he always had superb balance and smoothness at speed, mainly so my mother wouldn't notice the speed we were doing
4) nowdays this will seem bad, in the shadow, making my mother sit in the back if he thought he was near the drink drive limit while he put on a chauffers hat
still miss him hugely
when I got my first tasty car at 20 (aston dbs £2100) he wa so pleased for me
1) In a MkII silver shadow, a bloke fell off a honda 400/4 and was sliding towards us, the old man put two wheels up the pavement while saying to a 14 year old me "that might give him a bit more clearance" man sliding came straight towards us, disapeared under the front; he had slid the whole way under the car and had caught his crash helmet under the silencer box and was now being a bit burnt. I suspect had he not put two wheels up the pavement the front spoiler would have taken the blokes head off.
2) "driving" sitting on his knee the last mile or two towards home from the age of three to eleven, after that I was allowed to sit in the drivers seat and do the last half mile with the warning "if you drive like a t
t this won't be happening again"3) For some reason being in a massive hurry in a 928 to get from royston to london on the a10. he always had superb balance and smoothness at speed, mainly so my mother wouldn't notice the speed we were doing
4) nowdays this will seem bad, in the shadow, making my mother sit in the back if he thought he was near the drink drive limit while he put on a chauffers hat
still miss him hugely
when I got my first tasty car at 20 (aston dbs £2100) he wa so pleased for me
Even though I'm not that old my favourite memory of my dad driving was him hitting the 155 limiter in his E46 M3 on the A34. This must've been 2001/2002 and the impression of speed wasn't that great until you looked sideways. Another was when my mum got her 500 Abarth he did some silly amounts of wheelspin in that thing.
Worst memory was him nearly driving down a ditch to miss a rogue (uninsured) driven RV on the A392 near Newquay. Fortunately the only damage was a mattered door mirror.
Worst memory was him nearly driving down a ditch to miss a rogue (uninsured) driven RV on the A392 near Newquay. Fortunately the only damage was a mattered door mirror.
My old man was pretty solid. Sounds like he was a bit of an arse before he had children... going into the back of a parked car in a "watch this" moment to a girl on the pavement, on his first day with his license!
And wrecked and MGB GT.
Later on in life, the odd bit of road rage but never swore or did anything daft. Had one incident where the car in front hesitated at a roundabout while we were trying to read the road signs and he bumped the back of their volvo estate with a tow bar... no damage to volvo, tow bar sized hole in the bumper and a wrecked CRV radiator.
And wrecked and MGB GT.
Later on in life, the odd bit of road rage but never swore or did anything daft. Had one incident where the car in front hesitated at a roundabout while we were trying to read the road signs and he bumped the back of their volvo estate with a tow bar... no damage to volvo, tow bar sized hole in the bumper and a wrecked CRV radiator.
kiethton said:
gout out of Reigate
As a sufferer, I can only sympathise with how painful that was 
My favourite memories are mostly associated with my father and his E-Type Series 1 (KEG10E). On a very high speed run, the rear of the roof flew upwards to meet the top of the windscreen, and made the noise that I imagine could only be repeated if the entire universe were to collapse in on itself.
Another memory would have been my grandfather in his trusty old Volvo 240 estate (B920DJN). We were heading to a karting party, I was about 10 years old and 2 of my friends in the car with me. He proceeded to drive it as hard as he possibly could, including overtaking my parents and other parents where he perhaps shouldn't have. Because of him, I was the coolest kid that day, and he was my hero
Rangeroverover said:
My dad, now sadly no longer with us, I remember a few really good bits
1) In a MkII silver shadow, a bloke fell off a honda 400/4 and was sliding towards us, the old man put two wheels up the pavement while saying to a 14 year old me "that might give him a bit more clearance" man sliding came straight towards us, disapeared under the front; he had slid the whole way under the car and had caught his crash helmet under the silencer box and was now being a bit burnt. I suspect had he not put two wheels up the pavement the front spoiler would have taken the blokes head off.
2) "driving" sitting on his knee the last mile or two towards home from the age of three to eleven, after that I was allowed to sit in the drivers seat and do the last half mile with the warning "if you drive like a tt this won't be happening again"
3) For some reason being in a massive hurry in a 928 to get from royston to london on the a10. he always had superb balance and smoothness at speed, mainly so my mother wouldn't notice the speed we were doing
4) nowdays this will seem bad, in the shadow, making my mother sit in the back if he thought he was near the drink drive limit while he put on a chauffers hat
still miss him hugely
when I got my first tasty car at 20 (aston dbs £2100) he wa so pleased for me
Number 4 is just class. 1) In a MkII silver shadow, a bloke fell off a honda 400/4 and was sliding towards us, the old man put two wheels up the pavement while saying to a 14 year old me "that might give him a bit more clearance" man sliding came straight towards us, disapeared under the front; he had slid the whole way under the car and had caught his crash helmet under the silencer box and was now being a bit burnt. I suspect had he not put two wheels up the pavement the front spoiler would have taken the blokes head off.
2) "driving" sitting on his knee the last mile or two towards home from the age of three to eleven, after that I was allowed to sit in the drivers seat and do the last half mile with the warning "if you drive like a t
t this won't be happening again"3) For some reason being in a massive hurry in a 928 to get from royston to london on the a10. he always had superb balance and smoothness at speed, mainly so my mother wouldn't notice the speed we were doing
4) nowdays this will seem bad, in the shadow, making my mother sit in the back if he thought he was near the drink drive limit while he put on a chauffers hat
still miss him hugely
when I got my first tasty car at 20 (aston dbs £2100) he wa so pleased for me
He certainly had class, I thought he was unaware of the yamaha fsie I had hidden round the corner in London when I was 16, as I couldn't come home with a crash helmet I would lock it on the bike. It always seemed to be wet inside from rain; I discovered years later that every now and again he would empty a water bottle into the helmet.
When I got an rd400 at 17 he did the same thing to the wrong rd in the bike park
When I got an rd400 at 17 he did the same thing to the wrong rd in the bike park
1. Driving like a complete around the ratruns of south east London with the radio loud enough to turn my brain to porridge. Amazing how rapidly a Citroen GS could be pedalled...
2. Being stroppy after not being able to keep up with my mother when she picked up her new 'Sud from the dealer and drove it back to Bromley (true to breed, it broke down the following day, spewing coolant onto Vauxhall Bridge Road).
around the ratruns of south east London with the radio loud enough to turn my brain to porridge. Amazing how rapidly a Citroen GS could be pedalled...2. Being stroppy after not being able to keep up with my mother when she picked up her new 'Sud from the dealer and drove it back to Bromley (true to breed, it broke down the following day, spewing coolant onto Vauxhall Bridge Road).
My dad - aged 79 - is still a good driver and a petrolhead. Indeed he's a PHer.
He's about to order a Jaguar XE once they (barring the F-Type engined thing) "make one fast enough".
Memories?
Coming out with me when some of my rather bohemian university mates had driven down from London, got as far as the nearest town, then apparently broken the gearbox on their Peugeot 309, as it would not go into 1st or reverse. He stood and looked at it, then suggested I feel around behind (?) the engine for two ends of a disconnected ball & socket joint. I found it, at his command snapped them back together, and as far as my hippy friends were concerned "mended the gearbox", after which he could do no wrong in their books.
Being taken out in a friend's 928 that 7-yr-old me couldn't see out of and being told at one point "we're doing 120."
The journey between the outer limit of our local town and our village was about 2 miles. Father's game was to do that in the lowest time possible, then note that time.
Driving back in the dark along a twisty B-Road in his Sapphire Cosworth and suddenly thrashing the pants off it for a couple of miles, using the justification that "engines like this need working hard from time."
Letting me drive his Escort Cosworth to London once. At one point he appeared to be asleep so I ragged it over a lovely little S-bend/hump bridge combo. He sort of half woke up and said "you could have done that 20mph faster."
Then there were the RS200s...
Letting me drive one days after my driving test, as it was the last one he was going to have & about to go back to Ford, and keeping surprisingly calm as I stalled it about eight times in a row trying to pull away.
I wasn't in the car at the time, but having a blow-out in one of them while going presumably rather fast (not far from the hump bridge above) and spinning it repeatedly, then driving it home with bits of GRP hanging off in all directions.
He's about to order a Jaguar XE once they (barring the F-Type engined thing) "make one fast enough".
Memories?
Coming out with me when some of my rather bohemian university mates had driven down from London, got as far as the nearest town, then apparently broken the gearbox on their Peugeot 309, as it would not go into 1st or reverse. He stood and looked at it, then suggested I feel around behind (?) the engine for two ends of a disconnected ball & socket joint. I found it, at his command snapped them back together, and as far as my hippy friends were concerned "mended the gearbox", after which he could do no wrong in their books.
Being taken out in a friend's 928 that 7-yr-old me couldn't see out of and being told at one point "we're doing 120."
The journey between the outer limit of our local town and our village was about 2 miles. Father's game was to do that in the lowest time possible, then note that time.
Driving back in the dark along a twisty B-Road in his Sapphire Cosworth and suddenly thrashing the pants off it for a couple of miles, using the justification that "engines like this need working hard from time."
Letting me drive his Escort Cosworth to London once. At one point he appeared to be asleep so I ragged it over a lovely little S-bend/hump bridge combo. He sort of half woke up and said "you could have done that 20mph faster."
Then there were the RS200s...
Letting me drive one days after my driving test, as it was the last one he was going to have & about to go back to Ford, and keeping surprisingly calm as I stalled it about eight times in a row trying to pull away.
I wasn't in the car at the time, but having a blow-out in one of them while going presumably rather fast (not far from the hump bridge above) and spinning it repeatedly, then driving it home with bits of GRP hanging off in all directions.
Father wasn’t really a “petrol head” but I was (an older step brother to blame for that). So with this in mind, looking back it was impressive, that he took me to so many car related events. These included sprints, hill climbs, karting events, rally’s (including following the RAC), and car shows. Strange, that after such events, he seemed to gain a heavier right foot.
Holidays in Scotland, I was allowed to drive (back in the 70’s) way before I should have.
His highlight, although wrong, making the front page of the Clitheroe Advertiser “Man aged 59 caught doing 106 on the Clitheroe bypass"
Sadly one year later he was gone in 1976. He really could hustle along a rep-mobile!
Holidays in Scotland, I was allowed to drive (back in the 70’s) way before I should have.
His highlight, although wrong, making the front page of the Clitheroe Advertiser “Man aged 59 caught doing 106 on the Clitheroe bypass"
Sadly one year later he was gone in 1976. He really could hustle along a rep-mobile!
Dad
Getting cut up by a bloke in a Viva on the way back from the cinema, it was pretty bad and nearly caused a decent crash, blowing his horn and getting the bird flicked, he accelerates in front, stops gets out, Viva driver gets out and gets a slap for his trouble.
Watching from my bedroom window on snowy morning and him obliging with a few donuts.
Hundreds of cars passing through, either for servicing or for sale
Jowett car club meetings, usually in posh hotels, me and my cousin running riot and going where we shouldn't be.
Borrowing my uncles Magnum 2300 and racing a 2.8i Capri back from Oulton park and smoke filling the cabin, thought he had blown it out, but the back pressure had blown the dipstick out and sprayed oil on the exhaust manifold.
Leaving school sideways onto the dual carriageway.
Rebuilding engines in the garage
The car going away Silver and coming back pristine white.
8 Track Stereo and a Feu Orange in the Capri, Deep Purple, Tubular Bells and Dark Side of the Moon
Waiting in the car outside the chippy on Saturday nights, waiting whilst he bought parts
Rooting round scrapyards at weekends
Coming home and he appears to be polishing his Golf GTi with a pair of beige Y fronts, I asked why he was polishing with underpants, and I asked if they had belonged to my recently departed granddad, his father, he said "yes, its what he would have wanted"
Buzzing having done 100 mph
Granddad,
Not so buzzing when my grandad (who had a heart condition, that he died from a few months later, so a realistic concern) maxed out his Montego 2.0 at an indicated 115 mph.
My granddad being absolutely heartbroken having towed the caravan some distance at speed having forgotten the dog was tied to it, he survived for a few years but the poor chap had a terrible time and really sore feet.
Alwasy saying "Smooth Effortless surge of power", must have been a marketing slogan, we still sometimes mimic that one.
Taking our gatepost down with his Princess, Angina and non pas Princess, not a good combination.
Plastic still on the seats of said princess, three years after purchase.
Getting cut up by a bloke in a Viva on the way back from the cinema, it was pretty bad and nearly caused a decent crash, blowing his horn and getting the bird flicked, he accelerates in front, stops gets out, Viva driver gets out and gets a slap for his trouble.
Watching from my bedroom window on snowy morning and him obliging with a few donuts.
Hundreds of cars passing through, either for servicing or for sale
Jowett car club meetings, usually in posh hotels, me and my cousin running riot and going where we shouldn't be.
Borrowing my uncles Magnum 2300 and racing a 2.8i Capri back from Oulton park and smoke filling the cabin, thought he had blown it out, but the back pressure had blown the dipstick out and sprayed oil on the exhaust manifold.
Leaving school sideways onto the dual carriageway.
Rebuilding engines in the garage
The car going away Silver and coming back pristine white.
8 Track Stereo and a Feu Orange in the Capri, Deep Purple, Tubular Bells and Dark Side of the Moon
Waiting in the car outside the chippy on Saturday nights, waiting whilst he bought parts
Rooting round scrapyards at weekends
Coming home and he appears to be polishing his Golf GTi with a pair of beige Y fronts, I asked why he was polishing with underpants, and I asked if they had belonged to my recently departed granddad, his father, he said "yes, its what he would have wanted"
Buzzing having done 100 mph
Granddad,
Not so buzzing when my grandad (who had a heart condition, that he died from a few months later, so a realistic concern) maxed out his Montego 2.0 at an indicated 115 mph.
My granddad being absolutely heartbroken having towed the caravan some distance at speed having forgotten the dog was tied to it, he survived for a few years but the poor chap had a terrible time and really sore feet.
Alwasy saying "Smooth Effortless surge of power", must have been a marketing slogan, we still sometimes mimic that one.
Taking our gatepost down with his Princess, Angina and non pas Princess, not a good combination.
Plastic still on the seats of said princess, three years after purchase.
J4CKO said:
Coming home and he appears to be polishing his Golf GTi with a pair of beige Y fronts, I asked why he was polishing with underpants, and I asked if they had belonged to my recently departed granddad, his father, he said "yes, its what he would have wanted"
Buzzing having done 100 mph
Granddad,
Not so buzzing when my grandad (who had a heart condition, that he died from a few months later, so a realistic concern) maxed out his Montego 2.0 at an indicated 115 mph.
My granddad being absolutely heartbroken having towed the caravan some distance at speed having forgotten the dog was tied to it, he survived for a few years but the poor chap had a terrible time and really sore feet.
Buzzing having done 100 mph
Granddad,
Not so buzzing when my grandad (who had a heart condition, that he died from a few months later, so a realistic concern) maxed out his Montego 2.0 at an indicated 115 mph.
My granddad being absolutely heartbroken having towed the caravan some distance at speed having forgotten the dog was tied to it, he survived for a few years but the poor chap had a terrible time and really sore feet.
in fact, have another one My Dad's been gone for 12 years now, but still remembered very fondly. He was a Motor Sport reader back in the 50's and I remember reading it from about the age of 6. Dad was a keen VW beetle owner thanks to the Bod, back in the day when it was considered unpatriotic to drive a German car.
In the 70s he treated himself to a new Peugeot 604. I was the only one he'd let drive it as Mum wouldn't and it was his P&J, but he'd give me the keys mumble something about keeping it under 90 and start reading his newspaper.
In the 90s he managed to get gatsoed in a village near Plymouth and much to Mother's annoyance fought the case at the Magistrates Court. For some technical reason the case was adjourned a few times and he amused himself by being really friendly to the prosecuting team, a big grin, wave and "Hello, nice to see you again" across the court which completely disconcerted them.
I added to the confusion at home by printing off "Free the Tintagel One" posters and had my six year old niece and nephew demonstrate down the drive, telling Dad we were going to protest if things went pear shaped at his next court appearance. Mother really had a sense of humour failure over that, but he thought it was hilarious. The magistrates eventually found him guilty and he was fined a little more than he would have had to pay with a FPN, but he reckoned he had his moneys worth. They didn't make him pay prosecution costs, I think the Magistrates were as bemused as the CPS by the time he'd finished
In the 70s he treated himself to a new Peugeot 604. I was the only one he'd let drive it as Mum wouldn't and it was his P&J, but he'd give me the keys mumble something about keeping it under 90 and start reading his newspaper.
In the 90s he managed to get gatsoed in a village near Plymouth and much to Mother's annoyance fought the case at the Magistrates Court. For some technical reason the case was adjourned a few times and he amused himself by being really friendly to the prosecuting team, a big grin, wave and "Hello, nice to see you again" across the court which completely disconcerted them.
I added to the confusion at home by printing off "Free the Tintagel One" posters and had my six year old niece and nephew demonstrate down the drive, telling Dad we were going to protest if things went pear shaped at his next court appearance. Mother really had a sense of humour failure over that, but he thought it was hilarious. The magistrates eventually found him guilty and he was fined a little more than he would have had to pay with a FPN, but he reckoned he had his moneys worth. They didn't make him pay prosecution costs, I think the Magistrates were as bemused as the CPS by the time he'd finished
3 car memories, all based in Africa all from the ages of 5-7:
Riding around town in a Blue Ford P100 stood up in the back no thought to safety whatsoever, warm wind rushing around us. Thought we were the bees knees. Dad was probably hammered.
Getting stuck in mud at a safari park in a White Honda (can't remember the model); my sister crying by me in the back wondering if we would get eaten, upon reflection that could have happened - it wasn't Woburn... My dad then pushing the car out of the mud and getting completely covered from head to toe as his mate didn't feather the throttle properly. It was like a scene straight out of Some Mothers Do 'ave 'em or similar, still makes me laugh today.
Riding shotgun with my old man in a Red BMW 2002 one summer day and on the run up to a road stop being handed a half empty tin of beer and being told to hide it from the police. Managed it perfectly and we went on our way.
As a Dad now i wouldn't dream of any of the above but as a kid it was quite exciting. No idea what he's up to these days as he's stopped returning emails and texts but remembering and typing this was quite cathartic.
Great thread.
Riding around town in a Blue Ford P100 stood up in the back no thought to safety whatsoever, warm wind rushing around us. Thought we were the bees knees. Dad was probably hammered.
Getting stuck in mud at a safari park in a White Honda (can't remember the model); my sister crying by me in the back wondering if we would get eaten, upon reflection that could have happened - it wasn't Woburn... My dad then pushing the car out of the mud and getting completely covered from head to toe as his mate didn't feather the throttle properly. It was like a scene straight out of Some Mothers Do 'ave 'em or similar, still makes me laugh today.
Riding shotgun with my old man in a Red BMW 2002 one summer day and on the run up to a road stop being handed a half empty tin of beer and being told to hide it from the police. Managed it perfectly and we went on our way.
As a Dad now i wouldn't dream of any of the above but as a kid it was quite exciting. No idea what he's up to these days as he's stopped returning emails and texts but remembering and typing this was quite cathartic.
Great thread.
Early 70s - summer cricket matches, huge amounts of ale, no thought whatsoever about drink driving afterwards...
mid 80s - sold two perfectly cool Morris Travellers just as I passed my test, and bought two Allegros....I got to drive the brown one with orange upholstery..
Heading off on holiday at 4 am to drive Dover-Dorset because there were no motorways and few bypasses - losing the roofrack over the top at the bottom of the first hill because not fitted properly
mid 80s - sold two perfectly cool Morris Travellers just as I passed my test, and bought two Allegros....I got to drive the brown one with orange upholstery..
Heading off on holiday at 4 am to drive Dover-Dorset because there were no motorways and few bypasses - losing the roofrack over the top at the bottom of the first hill because not fitted properly
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff