At 10, I learned to drive an international pickup with three speed on the column shift. My friend Armando Alvarez and I would practice driving on the dirt backlot of what was Jaycox disposal. While his father, a mechanic checked in, we would do our best to row the box drifting, figure 8'ts.

I was 11 when I first learned to drive with my Aunt Fan in her new 1963 Ford Falcon with an automatic transmission and I was big for my age. She was also very kind and understanding. Before that, I had parked my dad's 1957 Fairlane 500 Skyliner Retractable Hardtop from the driveway to the street and back. I then graduated to my dad's 1962 Galaxy 500, also with an automatic transmission, he had inherited when my Uncle John passed on, which I took out to the beach a couple of times, until I got into a small fender bender and gave it up. It was a tank that handled like a boat without a rudder. I then taught myself to drive a stick by sneaking out of the driveway in my big sister's 1958 VW at 5:30 AM to cruise the South Bay's narrow streets. Not even the cops were out at that time. My dad had given me the basics on how to shift on many occasions, when we were out driving that bug around LA. Since then I believe I have owned only two or three cars out of 20 or 30 that were not stick shift.

I remember my first drive on the road. I was waiting for a bus to go home (I was an apprentice at the time), & a workmate pulled up in a Morris Minor to give me a lift. He asked if I wanted to drive, I'd only driven bikes & tractors up until then. My driving lessons were in an Austin Maxi (larger version of the Mini). On the day of my test, my instructor turned up in a Ford Consul Capri as one of his other pupils had crashed the Maxi. Had a quick drive round to get used to the Capri then managed top pass the driving test.

Dec, 29, 1975. A 1973 Lincoln Continental. Dad took me to the DMV on my birthday to get my learners permit. After that my dad didn't drive if I was there. Took my road test in that monster too.

Parralled that sucker on the first try and showed the evaluater the advantages in a two point turnaround when driving something this big. The overhang is a killer.

Imagine being 16 and this is your car? The Stinkin Drunkinetal

Anyone want to know what the Carload Capacity at the drive in was?

Eight in the car and six in the trunk and a cooler of beer or it would have been seven in the trunk.

I am pretty sure the drive in owners were aware of what was going on, But everyone hit the concession stand so they made money, we watched the movies. it worked.

A simpler time.

My all-time record in a Peugeot 504 estate with 3 rows of seats was a youth marching band. 13 people including me, plus musical instruments. As you say, simpler times.

oh, and my wife reminded me, Beige wide whale corduroy upholstery.

I learned how to drive a stick shift riding on the back of a Farmall "M" tractor,standing on the draw bar,watching my uncle shift gears.

I had to "skip rope" to avoid the swinging hitch. If we hit a bump,it would sweep across the draw bar,and I had to pick up my feet avoid to it,and to keep from being swept off.

By age seven I was driving that huge tractor in the fields, looking like a flea on an elephant's back,pulling a disc,bottom plows,stalk cutters,hay balers and anything else needed.

It sure beat following a mule down the rows.

Driving a car was easy by comparison.It just came naturally.

Even holding the car still on a steep hill without burning out the clutch was no problem.

RedNeks have some advantages not afforded to city slickers.

"Set the petrol. Find the bite." Let the rear end bob down a bit, then release the handbrake. More petrol, less clutch, and away it goes without rolling back.

Works every time - even on 1-in-4 / 25% grades.

It's amazing how few realise the value of the handbrake for this operation and one gets wary of getting too close to a vehicle sitting on an up-gradient, stationary and with both brake lights blazing. Best to "social-distance" on these occasions, because those numpties wouldn't pass their driving test if taken again...

I've got very lazy, I drive a Subaru Forester & on any upward incline, the car holds the brakes on until you lift the clutch pedal. Perfect hill start every time.

Because my parents always bought Buicks I had no experience with stick shift when, as a brand new 2nd Lieutenant, I was assigned a duty station in San Bernardino , CA with no vehicle. I depended on a roommate to travel to and from the base (S. CA had no public transit in 1964). So I ordered a VW Bug from a dealer in England who was recommended by office mates who had been assigned to England, and just before Christmas flew to Newark to pick it up. Delivery was at a dock on Manhattan Is. late in the afternoon on 23 December. Thankfully, I had a friend who had a VW and so knew about the "H" pattern and to push down to reach reverse.

However the NYC-Newark evening rush hour traffic a couple of days before Christmas provided a "real" learning experience! And, thankfully, the British license plate didn't attract the attention of the authorities.

VW's are ok in warm climates,but no noticeable heat in the winter;I drove one to work in Germany,and when I got to to work,I had to go stand in the walk-in freezer to warm up.

Still,fun to drive, go very well in snow,and a real stump-puller first gear;no hill too steep!

I was first taught to drive in an English Ford Prefect, somewhere in the late 50's or early 60's I was around 10-12 years old, it was a four speed...My mother would take me out on old dirt back roads and let me drive...Later I took drivers ED in high school for the finer points....This was back in the days when you had to get into the car from the passengers side...it was crazy, you still see it in some old movies...haha I guess they did away with that when bucket seats became popular...