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first drive

To: land-speed@autox.team.net
Subject: first drive
From: Daniel Wright <daniel.wright@genetics.utah.edu>
Date: Thu, 09 Aug 2001 09:12:02 -0600
Hi
I wanted to add my two cents worth to the growing list of stories about 
first time driving experiences.
The first time I ever drove was in a '38 Chevy coupe that my dad had.  It 
was a really cool car that Dad had fixed up real sharp and painted Bamboo 
Yellow.  This must have been about 1962 or so and I must have been about 10 
or 11 years old.  I was kind of a small kid, and the Chevy seat only moved 
so far forward, but if I sat up on the edge of the seat and held the 
steering wheel with a death grip, I could just push in the clutch and press 
the gas pedal, and nearly see where I was headed.  Good enough, lets 
drive!  So with far more enthusiasm than skill, I let out the clutch, and 
of course stalled it.  I must have stalled it at least a dozen times before 
I got up the nerve to REALLY give it some gas as I let out the 
clutch.  Well, the predictable result was that the torquey six threw me 
back against the seat, which pulled my foot off the gas pedal.  The springy 
seat back, death grip on the steering wheel, and instant deceleration from 
snapping the throttle closed, combined to throw all 70 pounds of me and my 
reaching, straining throttle toe forward.  As I came bouncing forward, that 
reaching, straining toe contacted the throttle pedal, and stabbed it 
completely to the floor.  Did I mention that the old six was 
torquey??  Punching that throttle would snap me back into the seat hard, 
and the sequence would repeat.  and repeat.  and repeat.  So there we went, 
jerking and hopping down the quiet small town Iowa street.  Completely out 
of control, but not a thought of giving up.  No bucking bronco rider had 
ever held on tighter.  This went on for a few hundred feet till my Dad 
finally reached over and shut off the ignition key.  What a relief!  This 
broke the cycle, and gave me a chance to get a grip and a fresh start.  Dad 
must have had a great supply of patience.  I am not sure how many driving 
lessons or how much growin it took to for me to finally get control of a 
car, but I still remember THAT ride nearly 40 years ago.

Dan Wright

It's amazing what you can do if you don't know it can't be done.

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