Early Risers.

[tetsudofan]

Back in the mid-seventies I was driving over to Brussels once a month, used to take the overnight ferry from Harwich to the Hook of Holland and then drove down to Brussels. Coming home drove from Brussels towards Ostend and onto Calais to catch the Hovercraft to Dover. All in my bronze yellow Austin 1300GT, registration AKJ 802K, my first ever car.

 

Whilst driving on the Continent I always moved my watch from my left wrist to my right wrist and the odd feeling on my right wrist always reminded me that I had to drive on the right. Simple but quite effective. Would not be much good now as I gave up wearing a watch years ago!

 

First automatic car I drove was in the US when I rented an AMC Pacer whilst on holiday. Ordered it from the rental company as I thought it was a quirky car and would be fun driving. It hooked me on automatics so much so that when I got home I traded my 1300GT for a  Triumph 2.5 TC (converted from a PI) and have not driven a manual since.

 

Biggest change driving an automatic was when Mercedes moved from a floor mounted gearbox to a steering wheel-mounted stick. Didn't like the idea at first but only took a couple of weeks getting used to it.

 

My Father was a Traffic Accident Car Police Driver and was a devoted manual car driver for many of the reasons  mentioned above by other ERs. That all stopped when he bought my Triumph 2.5 when I was posted back to Asia and he realised how relaxing it was driving an automatic car. He kept the 2.5 until he gave up driving.

 

Time for bed now, pleasant dreams,

 

Keith

[The Stationmaster]

G'night all

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

[rockershovel]

I’ve driven a lot of cars in a lot of places over the years, and switch from left to right, and manual to auto quite easily. I definitely prefer autos when driving on the right, it’s one less thing to think about. I’ve never learnt to drive an auto with two feet, though - seems like an invitation to trouble. 

 

I don’t tow anything when driving on the right, because I’ve never needed to. I also don’t prefer to tow using a smaller automatic, or drive off-road in an auto. 

 

I find riding a motorcycle on the right much more challenging, because there aren’t any prompts from the control layout - everything is the same way round. I did it once in recent years with a hire bike in Florida and have never repeated the experience, although I made a long trip to North Africa with a former friend on an old Triumph Thunderbird in the early 1970s... but it was a different time, then. I very rarely drive my own, RHD car on the right.. in fact it must be at least ten years since I last did this, and don’t miss it at all. 

 

One thing I do my best to avoid, is driving on both sides of the road on the same day. This is fairly easy to manage because I rarely go to Europe (or Scandinavia, these days) and usually travel by train or taxi to the airport in U.K. - but I definitely find it a worthwhile practice. 

[Robert]

Morning All,

 

It is a rather overcast and chilly morning today - but at least it is dry!

 

Have a good day everyone...

[chrisf]

Good morning one and all

 

The conversation about automatic cars brought to mind a happy day almost 50 years ago.  In that strangely dead time between finishing Finals and receiving the results some friends and I had a fun day gliding at Tibenham airfield, south of Norwich.  Once I had had my flight in the glider, scarily silent as it was, I was given the job of driving the tow car, which was an automatic Jag with no bonnet.  I soon learned that it's not a good idea to drive an automatic in reverse too far as it will change up into neutral.

 

The Editor of Bylines tells me that he has not done with me yet.  This may not be as menacing as it sounds but it is enough to have me scurrying around looking for photographs about which I can write with some semblance of appearing knowledgeable.  Not today, though: I will be cooking stir fried pork and the trimmings for Poorly Pal and myself in between bouts of m*d*ll*ng in the shed where the layout lives.

 

The news that break dancing has been shortlisted as a new Olympic sport has made my mind boggle.  Whatever next, I ask?  Extreme Cotswold Morris?  If you think I'm joking, think again, for it already exists and requires a significantly greater level of fitness than I can even imagine, much less aspire to emulating.  It seems that the same applies to working in an office these days.  I know I've touched on this before but to learn that a certain rising young executive of my acquaintance has signed up for gym classes to feel energised for work has its alarming side.  What a lot has changed since I was paid to go away 13 years ago.

 

Best wishes to all

 

Chris

[Barry O]

Sunny again this morning. We have most of today to wander round the island then, fleazyjet permitting we fly back to the Land of Scouse this evening.

 

Strange goings on on Essex. The wife of my now sadly deceased poorly marra has an appointment to register his death next week. Apparently they have a backlog of registration to undertake in Essex at the moment.  ...so stay healthy all people in Essex...

 

Most positive thoughts to all ERs especially these  who ail.

 

Baz

[TheQ]

Mooring Awl, Inner Temple Hare,

 Another poor nights sleep 4 in be which was Ok but the rest was a mear fitfull dozing in the Sofa...

 

Someone earlier mentions going down through the gears to brake, I believe that's no longer taught as they have finally recognised brakes are for braking and are reliable enough these days not to need help.

 

As fo Auto's I've driven a few, mostly when I was wandering the country in a company issued car and every other one was auto or so it seemed.

 I am wondering whether I should put an Auto in the landrover, as my left knee is complaining about the famously heavy clutch. There is a additional servo kit to bring pressures down to car levels... but what if my knee gets worse. We are certainly considering a auto for the car next time as SWMBO has trouble at times with not always being able to change gear with her left arm..

 

As for dodging animals, it was Walt Disney time again dodging deer, rabbits, pheasant and partridges on the road.. one did not make it, As I successfully missed it with the front wheels the pheasant had a second go and ran under the back wheels..

 

Meanwhile the EU are bring in auto speed limiting to cars, Does that apply to White van man as well or motorbikes, I can imagine overtakiing with one of those tight up behind you and your car suddenly putting the brakes on.. Also anyone fancy a Ford Fiesta _8 Max, if Boeing can get it wrong, think what all those car manufacturers trying to save every penny on price can do...

 

 As for the Olympics I think it's time it was split up, Keep those sports that are a measurable Higher, faster, Longer. Remove into some other category (and games) anything that's "oh I think that looks better" like diving, gymnastics, ice skateing, break dancing or ball room dancing..

 

 

Time to... go do some work..

Edited March 28, 2019 by TheQ

[grandadbob]

Good morning all,

A grey start to the day here but there may be some warm bright spells later.

First of the 3 bin lorries has been. Unusally the bins have been put back where they started from. Bet it doesn't last.

Today I will be venturing into London Town near Charing Cross for a school reunion. The school closed in 1968 so I and 2 friends will be amongst the youngest there, mere whippersnappers of 69 & 70. I last went 2 years ago and it amazed me that some guys well into their 90s still made it from all over the country and also a couple from abroad.  About 60 were there when I last  went but unless they've contacted a few more "youngsters" then I fear the numbers may be less this year.

Have a good one,

Bob.

 

Edited March 28, 2019 by grandadbob

[Happy Hippo]

9 hours ago, Dave Hunt said:

 

Hippo,

 

How come you mentioned it then?

Because I didn't want to mention that Wales recently won the rugby Six Nations tournament.

 

Whoops...............

 

Taking cover in Muddy Hollow (Forward)

[grandadbob]

Richard, you should be ashamed of yourself mentioning that here. Some of us (England fans that is) have only just gone into remission over it! 

[roundhouse]

Morning all. 2nd decoder installation commission completed and awaiting p[ick up / drop off. Other commission weathering On30 freight cars well underway. I have also cleaned up and made a suitable box for an old Rivarossi cab forward that had been sitting on s shelf for many years.

 

A good day out was had a few days ago to Yeovil Junction, taxi into town for lunch and beers then the last service of the day from Yeovil Penn Mill to Waterloo via a reversal at Yeovil Junction station. these are sporadic weekday services at present although last Summer there was one Saturday only return service to Corfe castle via Weymouth which may happen again this Summer.

 

More modelling today plus gardening as now have a tree surgeon booked to fell the tree at the back and then I can start my man shed as now have a price for the base. cant wait to have that built now.

[Happy Hippo]

9 hours ago, SouthernRegionSteam said:

Agreed, I very much prefer manuals. Perhaps the only feature I love about automatics is the inability for me to stall it; my little manual 1.2 Hyundai doesn't do hill starts, and you really have to rev the absolute hell out of it to get it to move! But yes, aside from that, it's manual all the way for me. It's not just about the satisfaction of changing gear, it's also about being able to control what the car does, and when it does it. As a rather specific example, I live in an area where animals are free to roam the roads. When driving an automatic it's harder to sustain a constant slow speed which means quite often it'll decide to change gear just as I'm trying to pass animals and riders that would rather not be spooked by a sudden revving of an engine. I also like how I can change gears in a manual to slow the car down rather than having to mainly rely on braking in an automatic. Admittedly I haven't driven an automatic anywhere near as much as manuals, so others mileage may vary!

 

 

If you have been taught to drive an automatic correctly, then you would know that you can drop a cog or two, by taking the box out of D and selecting the requisite gear range!  ( More sophisticated auto gearboxes have a switch to manual mode). By staying in the lower range it is quite easy to maintain slow speed if required.

 

When I was an ADI, and others on here such as Mick (New Bryford) will agree, is we were not teaching drivers to rely on changing down through the gearbox to slow down,

 

The official DVSA method is:

 

'Brakes to slow, gears to go'.

 

You use the brakes to slow to the required speed, then select the appropriate gear to either maintain that speed or accelerate again.

 

Engine braking may have been a necessity when brakes were operated by drum and cable, but it is no longer the case.

[Dave Hunt]

42 minutes ago, grandadbob said:

Richard, you should be ashamed of yourself mentioning that here. Some of us (England fans that is) have only just gone into remission over it! 

 

Absolutely right Bob. At least nobody has mentioned that apalling performance against Scotland.......... damn, I just did.

 

Dave

 

PS, good morning everyone

Edited March 28, 2019 by Dave Hunt

[Dave Hunt]

13 minutes ago, Happy Hippo said:

 

The official DVSA method is:

 

'Brakes to slow, gears to go'.

 

You use the brakes to slow to the required speed, then select the appropriate gear to either maintain that speed or accelerate again.

 

The trouble with not changing down as you decelerate is that if you suddenly need to accelerate there is a time delay whilst you select the correct gear. Far better to change down as you slow down, then the power is instantly available. I'm not saying that you have to use the engine for braking, just that it makes sense to match road speed with engine speed wherever possible. I think that anticipation is the keyword.

 

Just for interest, a few weeks ago I had a courtesy car when mine was being serviced and the synchromesh on third gear wasn't working so to avoid crunching the gearbox I reverted to old fashioned double declutching. When I returned the car and told the young receptionist/salesman about it he looked blank and said, "Sorry, double what?"

 

Dave

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone 

 

It’s a bit of a dull start here in the northwest, but the sun is desperately trying to reveal itself! Breakfast has been consumed and Sheila is getting ready for her Zumba class, once she’s gone I’ll depart to the great orange DIY shed to pick up some paint. Once back home I will once again continue removing the distemper from the cellar walls. 

 

Back later. 

[jamie92208]

Morning all.   We were taught double declutching on our initial driving course in Hillman Avengers but were also taught to slow down with brakes then select the appropriate gear.  They also negative the problems alluded to by Dave by insisting on planning and forethought and a form of bend reading so that you were never caught out.   The argument was that brake pads were designed to be changed easily but gearboxes and clutches were not.   At the time we had Mk 1 Escorts as Pandas and two of us on nights (Single crewed with a total of 9 months service between us, why should England tremble) used to compete as to how far we could manage to drive without using the clutch as the Ford gearboxes were so good.   I would never have tried it in ether a Viva or anything made by BL.

 

Anyway, the day has dawned bright and sunny.  Two tasks await.  The first is to line two wooden wine boxes with polythene so that Beth can plant some flowers in them.  The second is to fire up the chainsaw and produce some more ready use logs.   Evening are still quite cool so we are lighting the log burner at tea time and then banking it up at night.  This leaves the house warm on a morning.  

 

Apart from such matters I have no idea what the day may bring but might head for shed.

 

Jamie

[grandadbob]

28 minutes ago, Dave Hunt said:

 

Just for interest, a few weeks ago I had a courtesy car when mine was being serviced and the synchromesh on third gear wasn't working so to avoid crunching the gearbox I reverted to old fashioned double declutching. When I returned the car and told the young receptionist/salesman about it he looked blank and said, "Sorry, double what?"

 

 

Good job you didn't mention "heel and toeing", that really would have stuffed him!

[bbishop]

Morning awl,

 

I was taught to drive by my father, including double declutching and hill starts on a 1 in 5.  When I had the Capri (early 80s) I  could change gear without the clutch if I got the revs exactly correct.

 

And on the Starwars theme, never owned a diesel car ...

 

Keep well all

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. A bit grey but not as cold as it was yesterday. Bath has run so its be back later.

[tigerburnie]

I am told by my mechanic that it depends on how you drive as to whether you use the gear box to break or not, I do because I have a rather heavy right foot(seemed to develop when I owned a 5.3 litre V8), though last year I still had to have all my discs and pads and one of the calipers on a 3 year old car replaced as they were grooved and "totally burnt out"( which the lad changing them said we only usually see this on young tearaways cars)lol

[tigerburnie]

Oops sorry "good morning"

[lightengine]

13 hours ago, rockershovel said:

 

Ermm.. so you live in France, but don’t speak French? Must be inconvenient? 

Lots of English Facebook users can't speak or write English properly but they can learn.  I'm sure Jamies French will improve more than those Brits that move abroad to live in Little Britain enclaves on the Costas.

 

Sunny day here in sunny Teignmouth.

[Joseph_Pestell]

1 hour ago, bbishop said:

Morning awl,

 

I was taught to drive by my father, including double declutching and hill starts on a 1 in 5.  When I had the Capri (early 80s) I  could change gear without the clutch if I got the revs exactly correct.

 

And on the Starwars theme, never owned a diesel car ...

 

Keep well all

 

Although of an age when I learned to drive that pretty much all cars had synchromesh, my driving instructor made a point of teaching double declutching. Rarely been of much use to me.

Changing gears without a clutch is a useful skill to have. My father once drove home from work (24 miles) all the way with the clutch failed on the Mini. Clutches are one of the most improved car parts. Wife's car is on 120,000 on original clutch and mine would be if it were not for regularly towing BMWs out of our gravel car park. Back then (1960s), Mini clutches were expected to last about 20,000.

[SouthernRegionSteam]

10 hours ago, pH said:

You can use gears to slow down on most automatics now (at least the ones I've driven over the last many years). They have a 'manual like' setting, where you can perform the shifting of gears, or lock it in a specific gear

 

2 hours ago, Happy Hippo said:

If you have been taught to drive an automatic correctly, then you would know that you can drop a cog or two, by taking the box out of D and selecting the requisite gear range!  ( More sophisticated auto gearboxes have a switch to manual mode). By staying in the lower range it is quite easy to maintain slow speed if required.

 

The official DVSA method is:

'Brakes to slow, gears to go'.

You use the brakes to slow to the required speed, then select the appropriate gear to either maintain that speed or accelerate again.

 

Now that you both mention it, I recall being told there was an option for selecting certain low gears, but I distinctly recall thinking at the time that I had enough to worry about without trying to push the sticks the right direction! It seems silly given that manuals should be more complicated, but it was enough trouble remembering that you had to double tap left on the shift stick to put it in auto rather than gear 1. I'm sure that if I drove an automatic regularly I might try and get properly acquainted with the nuances, but as I only drive perhaps a couple days a year on it...

 

But I absolutely appreciate how convenient automatics can be; particularly for those unlucky enough to suffer from bad backs. My mum had to drive my little car when her automatic was in the garage being fixed; whilst the motorways cleaned out the engine nicely, I think she was absolutely worn out just from driving it (given that she's had an automatic for many years now). It didn't help that she had a bad left foot for a month beforehand!

 

P.S. I definitely don't know double de-clutching, but that's to be expected!