westytoploader
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 4, 2004
- Messages
- 4,485
How I learned...
Starting when I was about 11, my dad would take me to the Bellville Junior High parking lot; we would switch places and he would show me a few driving skills at a time. It started with his 1991 Ford Explorer, then our 1993 Ford Aerostar van, following with various rental cars he used for business trips (Mitsubishi Montero Sport and a 2000 "new-design" Suburban to name a couple), then finally a 1998 Chevrolet Suburban and 1999 GMC Yukon. So just in those occasional weekends I became used to driving different vehicles.
I took Driver's Ed in November 2003; the classes on Monday & Thursday nights, as well as Saturday mornings, was taught by an eccentric, in an amusing way, ex-principal of BHS from 1982-1997. You had to be present for 3 classes to obtain a learner's permit (after your 15th birthday of course), and then you would be able to do the in-car instruction. Except for video days, it was pretty amusing for the most part. Those were the worst...boring-@$$ videos on pedestrian safety while driving, 18-wheelers, etc. I think I skipped...er, missed, about 3 classes in all; had to make them up during the Spring session.
For in-car instruction, you had to have 30 hours in all, if I remember correctly. 2 students paired up and drove in a Suzuki Esteem (talk about a slow, small, uncomfortable POS) with an instructor for 2 hours (of course when an hour passed we switched off). Wayne took us through town and to Brenham and back, running errands for him most of the time (video rental to name one...LOL). One girl had to drive to Katy on her first in-car session, if you can believe that! Since I'm not the world's best driver, especially not when I was 15, I got mostly B's and C's on the in-car test...didn't really care though. Parallel parking, however, I aced...made it look like it was nothing. And while everyone else has flipped, hit fenceposts, received unimaginable tickets, etc., I haven't hit anyone or been pulled over ONCE, yet. One of the reasons why I'm not including the word "never" in that sentence...
My '98 Ford F-150 was fun in the fact that it was a 5-speed standard, but I had NO depth perspective with that truck since the seat was lower than normal, and that fact that I'm only 5'6 doesn't help much either! Now I have my dad's "old" truck, an '04 Dodge Ram 4-door, and while I wish it had vertically-adjustable seats (LOL), it's a BREEZE to drive, and while it's not the 5.7L Hemi, the 4.7L V8/4-speed automatic can GET. Unless it's something luxurious or vintage, and either big or sporty, you won't catch me in a car anytime soon. Yes, the rice-burners and Z06's may look cool, but as far as crash protection is concerned I will take my pickup over them ANY day!
--Austin
Starting when I was about 11, my dad would take me to the Bellville Junior High parking lot; we would switch places and he would show me a few driving skills at a time. It started with his 1991 Ford Explorer, then our 1993 Ford Aerostar van, following with various rental cars he used for business trips (Mitsubishi Montero Sport and a 2000 "new-design" Suburban to name a couple), then finally a 1998 Chevrolet Suburban and 1999 GMC Yukon. So just in those occasional weekends I became used to driving different vehicles.
I took Driver's Ed in November 2003; the classes on Monday & Thursday nights, as well as Saturday mornings, was taught by an eccentric, in an amusing way, ex-principal of BHS from 1982-1997. You had to be present for 3 classes to obtain a learner's permit (after your 15th birthday of course), and then you would be able to do the in-car instruction. Except for video days, it was pretty amusing for the most part. Those were the worst...boring-@$$ videos on pedestrian safety while driving, 18-wheelers, etc. I think I skipped...er, missed, about 3 classes in all; had to make them up during the Spring session.
For in-car instruction, you had to have 30 hours in all, if I remember correctly. 2 students paired up and drove in a Suzuki Esteem (talk about a slow, small, uncomfortable POS) with an instructor for 2 hours (of course when an hour passed we switched off). Wayne took us through town and to Brenham and back, running errands for him most of the time (video rental to name one...LOL). One girl had to drive to Katy on her first in-car session, if you can believe that! Since I'm not the world's best driver, especially not when I was 15, I got mostly B's and C's on the in-car test...didn't really care though. Parallel parking, however, I aced...made it look like it was nothing. And while everyone else has flipped, hit fenceposts, received unimaginable tickets, etc., I haven't hit anyone or been pulled over ONCE, yet. One of the reasons why I'm not including the word "never" in that sentence...
My '98 Ford F-150 was fun in the fact that it was a 5-speed standard, but I had NO depth perspective with that truck since the seat was lower than normal, and that fact that I'm only 5'6 doesn't help much either! Now I have my dad's "old" truck, an '04 Dodge Ram 4-door, and while I wish it had vertically-adjustable seats (LOL), it's a BREEZE to drive, and while it's not the 5.7L Hemi, the 4.7L V8/4-speed automatic can GET. Unless it's something luxurious or vintage, and either big or sporty, you won't catch me in a car anytime soon. Yes, the rice-burners and Z06's may look cool, but as far as crash protection is concerned I will take my pickup over them ANY day!
--Austin
