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What car/bike did you taken your test in/on?
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lowdrag



Joined: 10 Apr 2009
Posts: 1585
Location: Le Mans

PostPosted: Fri Jan 15, 2021 1:10 pm    Post subject: What car/bike did you taken your test in/on? Reply with quote

I went to BSM, and I think we all remember the fleet of Austin A40's they had in the sixties. To help reversing round the corner my instructor put a matchstick in the rear window rubber. As regards the bike test, some idiot had pulled out in front of me two days before the test. I wasn't injured but my Francis Barnett 250cc twin had bent forks so a friend lent me his Honda 50. Gears on the other side of course so I put a few hours in and amazingly passed!
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peter scott



Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 7113
Location: Edinburgh

PostPosted: Fri Jan 15, 2021 1:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I sat my bike test on my Heinkel 175. I had replaced the clutch on it but couldn't get springs for the scooter and fitted those for the bubble car. This resulted in the need for super human left handed grip so when my tester jumped out in front of me for the emergency stop I stalled the engine but he didn't fail me.

I sat my car test in my sister's 100E Prefect and the trafficator switch in the middle of the steering wheel wasn't clamped properly at the foot of the column. I used hand signals but the tester insisted on me using the trafficators later in the test. This involved me in winding the switch lever several times around the wheel until the wire had wound up enough resistance for the switch to operate. Again he didn't comment and I passed the test.

I took a couple of lessons from a driving school prior to the test just to be sure of the important points and my teacher suggested that I double declutch into first at one stage in test just to display competency. I did this and fortunately got it right.

Peter
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alastairq



Joined: 14 Oct 2016
Posts: 1950
Location: East Yorkshire

PostPosted: Fri Jan 15, 2021 1:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Tested in an Austin 1300GT.
My driver training was a bit drawn out, as I was at sea during this period, so could only fit lessons, etc, in when on leave.

Motorcycle test taken & passed just before it became a lot more complex an exercise.

But I also passed my PSV licence with London Transport soon after my 21st birthday, having given my so-called career at sea the old heave-ho. [also did same with concept of 'career']

PSV tests [and licence] conducted under the auspices of Area Traffic Commissioners in those days [right up until the middle 1980's, in fact]...rather than as HGV and other driving tests, conducted under the auspices of what became the DSA.
Although the Examiners could well conduct both types of test, it is a reason why HGV and PSV licensing wasn't unified, as was attempted by Parliament in the 1970's.
Hence, London Transport could, and did, conduct their driving tests using their own Examiners. [Who also examined the various grades of Met Police drivers, ambulance, etc]...
The London Transport bud driver training also included undergoing, and passing on assessment, skid prevention & control in a double deck bus.
This was not something assessed by the examining authority for HGV , cars, motorcycles, etc.
Also, with the PSV being conducted under separate and different auspices, meant the licence was a different format, and each Area Traffic Commissioner had their own badge numbering system.

Also, if a qualified PSV driver decided to work in a different area, under another Area Traffic Commissioner's authority, they had to pass another PSV test with that commissioner, and get a new badge. The original badge could not be transferred to a new Authorities area without passing another test.

When I decided to move out of London [I foresaw the nasties coming] I ended up taking, and passing , two more PSV driving tests...
The PSV licence also had criminal record criteria as well....

All changed when all driver training and testing came under the auspices of the DSA....and the licensing system was unified.

Also, for HGVs came changes in categories. [They became LGVs for a start].

Nowadays, HGVs and so-called 'class 1' [used to be for artic] categories are really but figments of 'professionals' imaginations.
There is no 'artic' licence....there is, however, C+E, which covers artic, drawbar, etc, trailers.
Of course, it would have been wise for an operator to ensure any driver they employ was familiar with that operators' equipment first....but that is another issue [work training]...
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Minxy



Joined: 22 Sep 2010
Posts: 272
Location: West Northants

PostPosted: Fri Jan 15, 2021 1:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Took my test in an Austin Allegro, the one with the square steering wheel.
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Keith D



Joined: 16 Oct 2008
Posts: 1127
Location: Upper Swan, Western Australia

PostPosted: Fri Jan 15, 2021 3:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Took my motorcycle test in 1959 on a Binetta moped at Warrior Square Southend on Sea.

Took my car test in Dad's Ford Consul in 1961 at the same venue. The only drama was when I had to do the emergency stop. Dad had used the car that morning on a flooded road and when I hit the brakes she did a 90 degree stop across a busy road. Convinced I had blown it, I relaxed and was stunned when he handed me the pink slip saying I'd passed.

Took my car test in 1967 in Melbourne (Victoria) in the same car, the Ford Consul that Dad had brought out to Oz with him. No brake drama this time!

Took my motorcycle test in Melbourne (Victoria) at the same time on my Honda 50.

Took my motorcycle/car test in Perth (Western Australia) in 1973 in my Austin A40 tourer and my Jawa 250.

Keith
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Ray White



Joined: 02 Dec 2014
Posts: 6285
Location: Derby

PostPosted: Fri Jan 15, 2021 3:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

At 16 I took my motorcycle test in my Isetta 300. A three wheel bubble car.

The test centre was in Guildford which is exceptionally hilly. I was horrified when I saw the Driving Examiner. He looked like Cyril Smith. There was hardly room for us both in the Isetta and his extra weight made a hill start impossible.

I didn't ever get my full motorcycle licence; instead at 17 I took the car test in a Ford 100 E and had an experience very similar to Peter Scott.

At my school, we had a very innovative Head Master who included Driving Lessons as part of the Upper 6th curriculum. I learned the finer details with BSM in a new Vauxhall Viva HC which I liked a lot.

I also did horse riding lessons - but that, as they say, is another story!
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Peter_L



Joined: 10 Apr 2008
Posts: 2680
Location: New Brunswick. Canada.

PostPosted: Fri Jan 15, 2021 4:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

In 1962, at 16, on my new Honda 50 Motorcycle and the following year in my father's 307E Van.. preferring that over his 204E Consul with its "somewhere around here column gear change" an abhorrent "umbrella handbrake" and "if we feel like it" vacuum windscreen wipers.
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Penman



Joined: 23 Nov 2007
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Location: Swindon, Wilts.

PostPosted: Fri Jan 15, 2021 4:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi Ray;
Was your test in Guildford at Portsmouth Rd or the later test centre on the Merrow side of town?
I passed my car test in '59 from the Portsmouth Rd centre in a 1934 Austin Ten Four, then in 1963 passed my bike test in Aldershot on an Ariel Leader.
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Rick
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Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 22429
Location: UK

PostPosted: Fri Jan 15, 2021 5:11 pm    Post subject: Re: What car/bike did you taken your test in/on? Reply with quote

lowdrag wrote:
I went to BSM, and I think we all remember the fleet of Austin A40's they had in the sixties. To help reversing round the corner my instructor put a matchstick in the rear window rubber. As regards the bike test, some idiot had pulled out in front of me two days before the test. I wasn't injured but my Francis Barnett 250cc twin had bent forks so a friend lent me his Honda 50. Gears on the other side of course so I put a few hours in and amazingly passed!


I passed my test in 1987, also in an A40 (it's been with our family since new in 1960).


https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/my_car_a40.htm

RJ
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Ray White



Joined: 02 Dec 2014
Posts: 6285
Location: Derby

PostPosted: Fri Jan 15, 2021 8:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Penman wrote:
Hi Ray;
Was your test in Guildford at Portsmouth Rd or the later test centre on the Merrow side of town?
I passed my car test in '59 from the Portsmouth Rd centre in a 1934 Austin Ten Four, then in 1963 passed my bike test in Aldershot on an Ariel Leader.


I can't remember now. What I do know is that the little Isetta could climb Pewley Hill easily enough with just me in it but unsurprisingly struggled with the extra weight. It was O.K. if you could keep going but the examiner wanted me to stop and start and that was just too much for the poor thing.

To be fair, he was quite kind and even apologetic ...and the office staff were also sympathetic (I think I was a bit upset) and they gave me encouragement to try again with a more appropriate vehicle.
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PapaJoe



Joined: 09 Nov 2020
Posts: 73
Location: Massachusetts USA

PostPosted: Fri Jan 15, 2021 8:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I took my car test in my Dad's 1968 Cadillac Sedan de Ville . . . what a boat. Part of the test was a 180 degree "K" turn on a narrow street. I banged into the curb backing up which should have been a cause for failure, but the officer passed me. I got stopped for speeding in the same car two weeks later on Christmas Day driving on my temporary certificate (pink slip), but the officer let me off the hook with a warning. Not a great start to my driving career.
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Ellis



Joined: 07 Mar 2011
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Location: Betws y Coed, North Wales

PostPosted: Fri Jan 15, 2021 10:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I tried (and passed) my test in something rather less grand than a Cadillac Sedan de Ville.

It was a 1971 Mini Clubman Estate (my mother's car), UCA 817J. The colour was Bedouin wth Tobacco Leaf interior - ie beige and brown.

The date was Friday 13th August 1971 and my test was in Llandudno in pouring rain and packed with tourists.
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norustplease



Joined: 11 Apr 2011
Posts: 779
Location: Lancashire

PostPosted: Sat Jan 16, 2021 10:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I took my test in Chesterfield, in a Triumph 13/60 run by a one man driving school in Calow. I did most of my practice in between lessons in a Morris 1000.
My first test was cancelled due to heavy snow, albeit we had already set off.
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badhuis



Joined: 20 Aug 2008
Posts: 1390
Location: Netherlands

PostPosted: Sat Jan 16, 2021 12:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Interesting to see you could take your test in your own car. That was and is not possible here (Netherlands). You have to take lessons and do the test in the car from your driving school. These schools may also be a single person, as was in my case. An older man (60 or so) had converted his 4 year old BMW 318 to double pedals (all lesson cars have these) and got a drivers teaching license. As he was vaguely acquainted to my father I got my lessons with him, with a small discount. I did not mind because he was a good teacher and had a nicer car than was usual (Ford Escort, Opel Kadett or a cheap Jap).
I got my car driving test in 1982 and had my first year of driving in my Citroen 2CV from 1971.

For motorcycles it is different. You can pass the exam on your own bike- but cannot have lessons on your own bike. This has to be on a drivers school bike. I took lessons on a 4 year old Honda CB 350 (I think?) and passed the exam on it in 2015. Bought a 15 year old Bonneville which I still have.
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MVPeters



Joined: 28 Aug 2008
Posts: 822
Location: Northern MA, USA

PostPosted: Sat Jan 16, 2021 3:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

First test - Brentwood - column change Austin A50 - fail - "Lack of anticipation".

2nd test - Chippenham - '56 Minx - in the narrow street behind the test centre we met a big lorry coming the other way. the examiner said, "You'd better drive up on the pavement". I asked if this was a trick question - "No, he won't get through otherwise" - pass.

I still have my red licence somewhere.

US test, you have to carry a passenger who can drive the car if you fail (I had UK & International licences & felt it was still legal if I did fail).
So we arrived in 2 cars & offered a choice of Montego wagon or Beetle - wagon chosen & after a quick trip around the block I passed.
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