What tests have people passed and what other vehicles do you own?

Tests? I’ve passed loads of

Tests? I’ve passed loads of those; GCSEs, A Levels, Driving Licence, Bachelors of Engineering… in that order actually. I lived in the midlands for years and managed about 10 years of adulthood without needing a car.

My main methods of transportation are Shanks’ pony for short distance, Spec Allez commuter, Norco Sight for play time on the trails, and a BMW X1 for journeys to the other side of the city or when I have to go half way up-country (very little is ‘local’ to the city of Plymouth). Having spent my early adulthood walking places, riding, getting the train, or lift sharing I missed the boy-racer phase and I genuinely feel the better for it. For me the ‘game’ of driving when you’re on a long journey, everything’s safe and considered, isn’t beat-the-satnav, it’s how-high-I-can-push-the-average-mpg.

I tend to drive my long distances in late evenings when the roads are clear and there are distinctly less muppets about neglecting the much maligned lane 1 of the motorway.

I did a beauty. Fresh on
I did a beauty. Fresh on license early 1990s. I rammed the show pony of the Rolls Royce club 4 years straight: A Silver Shadow ’56 Rolls Royce.
A pristine machine. Wow, they are a very strong vehicle!!! Insurance paid the damage bill. Reminds myself to pay bike insurance. Bicycle SA offer a great deal and….. cheaper than car insurance.

Hear’s 2 sharing the road.. Hip hip
😉 😉

I take the point, but I feel

I take the point, but I feel that answering drivers’ prejudices / criticisms with “I’m a driver too” sort of panders to them and misses the point. It’s immaterial whether or not a cyclist actually pays for the privilege of using their chosen method of transport on the road and whether they have been trained to use it, because law / policy makers have decided the harm they cause doesn’t warrant mandatory licensing and taxation. Instead, drivers of motor vehicles are supposed to be trained to show care for vulnerable road users.   

Anyway, to answer the question, just the standard car test, held for 18 years without points (though not without some stupid moments in my earlier driving years). I consider myself a “petrolhead” and have driven a couple of nice cars, but only recently bought my first (very sensible) car and am now sort of reconciled that my teenage vision of owning a sports car or three is unlikely to happen – it now just feels a bit socially irresponsible, not to mention financially crippling when I don’t actually need a car for day to day life. Maybe a hot hatch or Lotus Elise someday before they ban them.     

Cycling Proficiency c.1980

Cycling Proficiency c.1980

Passed my standard car test at 18 in the late ’80s. Two sets of three points for speeding on my license since then, three at-fault collisions – that was until I grew up and became sensible. Specifically didn’t include the right to ride motorcycles on my license – I passed before the rules changed about L plates for bikes and CBT and all that stuff. I was on the verge of doing my bike test when a workmate was killed (I was the last person to speak to him) and so I binned that idea.

Currently drive a 2002 Mondeo estate that’s more rust than steel. Forget Rule 12, the empty bike rack is worth more than the car 😀

In my 20s/30s I was a full-on Max Power boy racer, loads of modified cars culminating in an utterly dull Coupe Fiat Turbo (220bhp, 140mph on the Hangar Straight) which convinced me all cars were essentially the same, hence the family estate.

Genuinely loving the bangernomics approach, I have mates who pay more monthly for their cars on lease than I paid outright for the Mondy. I am tempted to get a trackday car once my son is old enough to drive on private land but I think I’d look at the cost and think “ooh I could get a nice set of carbon rims for that” and so not bother.

The great thing about old cars is that they’re cheap, and if they’ve got north of 200k miles probably well-cared for, and there’s a sweet-spot of technology around the early-2000s where they’re still fixable at home. Buy something that’s had clutch/water pump/cambelt done, with 4 good tyres, and you’re laughing. S-Class Merc with a towbar next on the list.

Passed driving test at 23

Passed driving test at 23 after 7 official lessons and a handful in an allegro about a year before, did an approved advanced driving course and test in 2010. Spent just over a decade driving into and around London/East/SE accumulating too many miles in the smoke and the M25, never had to brake sharply for peds or people on bikes, only motorist scum, absolute cockroaches!

Car, VW Passat, has been SORN since Oct 2017, drive a Ford van once a week for work (22 miles total delivering meals for people in the community) turning circle of an aircraft carrier and at 2000 revs there’s a horrible dead spot, oh and the van is tracked using a system that is FUBAR and inaccurate as buggary so you have to drive like Miss Daisy and some!

Passed my driving test 28

Passed my driving test 28 years ago, but have never had the need for any other forms of driving license, although I have always had a hankering for a motorbike, but never committed to the training. I had an MX bike as a kid, and really wanted to get a 50cc when I turned 16 but bowed to my parents request to NOT ride a motorbike on the road and it never went any further. I guess they didn’t want me riding on the road like I did around muddy fields!

As well as the pushbikes (Road, CX, MTB x2) I also have a white van and a 5-series BMW estate. Turns out white vans and BMW’s do have perfectly functioning indicators, they just need to be used properly!

Just off topic abit..
Just off topic abit..
2TG s are really nice cast iron 1600cc engines.
Looks similar to an old Alfa Romeo. A great engine to learn with.
Cast iron hence can cook. I’m not sure about cooling, I used a 7 litre system with a radiator from a v8 and it didn’t miss a beat.
Semi spherical heads and a beautiful valve system controlled by twin high lift overhead cams turned via twin chains (in case 1 lets go).
To overlap valves to alter torque was simply removal of front cover and turn a notch.
Mine wasn’t quick. A std front wheel drive Holden Gemini was quicker from stop. Tall cogged to match bhp to wind yet could go taller as redline in top was achievable.
When notched, idle lumped below 2000rpm, torque band narrowed, redline reduced to 6500rpm. But wheel traction loss from pump of throttle was allowed at 60kmph.
Std notching of cam gave a cheap run about and a redline exceeding 7500rpm.
Nothing flash, they’re cheap engines compared to modern. 4AG (alloy Toyota 1600cc) are lighter and more precisely built as are other makers.
But budget boy racing, it is a tough engine and unlike uncles race engines, never needed stripping. I believe on day license track days are $150 Aud down under.
Mates had v8s and a much bigger fuel cost.
That engine had twin 40 or 45mm carburetors and as long as the secondaries were closed, the hose flow was low.
Just a cheap car. 🙂 🙂

I did Pass Plus many, many

I did Pass Plus many, many years ago, because the cost of the course was more than covered by the attendant reduction in insurance premiums. Having done it, I think it should be mandatory to do Pass Plus within three months of passing your test, if only to teach people how to use a motorway properly. It’s quite amazing that we allow new drivers to use the motorways, having had absolutely zero tuition, except perhaps the odd dual-carriageway encounter. Little wonder that many drivers sit in the middle lane at 65mph, effectively removing a third of the motorway’s capacity. In fact, while we’re at it, bring back public information films to peddle the message about keeping left unless overtaking!

Not road related, but I’ve had an ARDS racing licence for quite a few years now. I’m one of those unicorns (according to the press) who likes both driving fast (on a track) and utility cycling. I know, I really should pick a side…

We have a rather old, and quite boring, diesel Skoda Octavia estate for motorised transport duties. Actually, I think it’s quite cool in a “does exactly what you ask of it without making a fuss” kind of way. It’s a doddle to work on and parts cost buttons, so it will be with us until it dies. Also have a couple of Ferraris (flame me); one for the road, which gets used for the odd European jaunt, and one for track use.

FWIW, I find today’s car scene, and most of today’s cars, rather tedious. Most supposed petrolheads aren’t into cars – they’re into the gadgets fitted to their cars. Modern cars are no longer beautiful – the design language is too aggressive, because the market wants a car that screams “outtamyway” when it appears in someone’s rear view mirror. And don’t get me started on 2m wide, 2.5 ton SUVs for the school run… 🙂