It is interesting that high schools' mission is to prepare young people to
function in society, but they don't include operating a car in that mission.
My guess is it is centered around money.
Amen to your P.S. I think I will teach my 13 yr old to drive the
Spit when he is interested in learning, and only after
he knows how to drive a 'regular' car; but drive it without me in
it?...NEVER. I will help (labor, not money) him get his own
if he likes. Actually, I'd like to see him do without a car for a
good, long time. Too much of a distraction.
I taught my daughter to drive a 5 speed Honda Civic. It helps
having a low first gear; very much like a VW Beetle.
She learned pretty quick, but I remember having to work at being
patient, and expect mistakes. She has been driving a
manual ever since.
My most vivid memory from MY driver's ed...I pulled up to a stop
sign, the instructor said to turn left, "OK", I put on the turn signal for
a right turn..."Turn left here." "OK" I then signaled for a left turn
and promptly made a right turn. "Where the hell do you think you're taking
us?" Ooops.
Terry Banbury
Mk III....with a turn signal indicator light that doesn't care (or
show) which way you intend to turn.
> From: Jeff McNeal[SMTP:jmcneal@ohms.com]
> Reply To: Jeff McNeal
> Sent: Thursday, March 09, 2000 4:51 PM
> To: Simmons, Reid W; Spitfire List
> Subject: Re: Tense driving lately
>
>
> Reid, Reid, Reid,
>
> I DO know -- HOWEVER, our local high schools no longer offer driver's ed.
> courses. I had to pay fifty bucks for my son to take a "class" that
> prepped
> him for the written exam. Now, I have to pay the same outfit for a total
> of
> six hours of "behind the wheel" (again, the high schools out here no
> longer
> offer this, which I think is a crime). Apparently, in his first two hours
> behind the wheel, his instructor never had him pull over to the curb or
> park
> in even a diagonal parking spot. We were told that he'd be ready to start
> carting us around after his first two-hour session. Beyond that, we, his
> parents, are obligated to let him clock 50 hours behind the wheel before
> he
> can get his license in six months.
>
> So in other words, we are STUCK. Oh, he'll be just fine and we'll survive
> this, but it's a dicey proposition for the next six months, for sure.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Jeff in San Diego
> www.ohms.com/spitfire/spitfire.shtml
>
> P.S. I'm not EVEN going to try to teach him how to manually shift until
> he's
> been driving for a good six months or longer. Even then, there's no way
> I'll let him (or anybody else!) drive my Spitfire.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Simmons, Reid W <reid.w.simmons@intel.com>
> To: 'Jeff McNeal' <jmcneal@ohms.com>; Spitfire List
> <spitfires@autox.team.net>
> Sent: Thursday, March 09, 2000 1:30 PM
> Subject: RE: Tense driving lately
>
>
> > Jeff, Jeff, Jeff;
> >
> > Don't you know, you NEVER give driving lessons to a family member, close
> > relative, or friend. It is very unhealthful for you the instructor, the
> > student, and your vehicle. Let a third party (High School Driver's Ed?)
> to
> > do it, and this is the really important part, using a car that does not
> > belong to you. :-)
> >
> > I taught my girl friend (now my wife of 19 years) to drive a standard
> > transmission using my Spitfire, which was my only means of
> transportation
> at
> > the time. Well, I dodged a bullet on that one because she learned, no
> angry
> > comments were exchanged, and neither the car nor myself suffered any
> damage.
> > In fact the Spitfire still has its original clutch and transmission!
> >
> > My wife taught our daughter Tammi to drive using our relatively new
> Dodge
> > Caravan. Well, Tammi also did the "curb thing", and that cost me a new
> > wheel, CV joint, miscellaneous parts, and front end alignment! The
> Driver's
> > Ed course would have been only a small fraction of what the repairs cost
> me.
> > :-(
> >
> > Reid
> > '79 Spitfire (original owner)
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Jeff McNeal [mailto:jmcneal@ohms.com]
> > Sent: Wednesday, March 08, 2000 9:00 PM
> > To: Spitfire List
> > Subject: Tense driving lately
> >
> >
> >
> > Then, this
> > evening, I let my 15-year-old son drive me around in our 12-year-old
> Maxima
> > so he can gain some experience. He JUST got his learners permit two
> days
> > ago and I am NOT used to being a passenger for anyone, let alone a 15
> and
> a
> > half year old kid who's still wet behind the ears. He drove over the
> curb
> > when I asked him to pull over (" I haven't learned how to do that yet,
> > Dad!") and I had to reach over three times to yank on the wheel to keep
> him
> > from driving into the curb again. This life flashing before my eyes
> stuff
> > is getting old! I see a rash of gray hairs coming on FAST!
> >
> > Calgon, take me away!
> >
> > Cheers,
> >
> > Jeff in San Diego
> >
> >
>
|