Once upon a time, a very long time ago, I was a 17 year old kid growing up in Brooklyn. I was just weeks away from my 17th birthday, a very big birthday for me. You see, at 17 I could get my learner's permit and start driving a car. I would still have to practice and pass the road test, but even just to get in the car and drive with my father was a very big thing for me.

New York's driving age was 18 but if you took Driver's Ed you could get a full license at 17. I couldn't wait. The morning that I turned 17 I was the first person on line at the Motor Vehicle Bureau to take the test for a learner's permit. I passed easily, and since I'd already enrolled in an officially recognized Driver's Ed course, I was ready to go.

My family had an old, beat up 1961 Chevy Impala 4 door sedan. My father, being a practical man, bought it new in 1961 with a straight six engine and a two speed Powerglide automatic transmission. It was a sedan and of course it was black. It was almost as big as an aircraft carrier, had absolutely no pickup and handled like an elephant on a sheet of ice. Still, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. Modifications were out of the question, my father wouldn't allow any of that, but just to get my hands on the steering wheel and be able to go was enough to excite me.

I practiced long and hard for my road test. I was probably the only kid in driver's ed who took his presentation seriously, and I even started washing and waxing the old rust bucket every other week. Boy was I excited about being able to drive.

I tell you all of this because I am now watching history repeat itself. My youngest son, Adam, is a few weeks away from his 16th birthday. Here in New Jersey you can get your permit at 16 and your provisional license at 17. Adam is very excited. At any time he can tell you exactly how many days, hours and minutes are left until his 16th birthday. He can tell you exactly what time the local office of the motor vehicle bureau opens and he's already filled out and submitted the forms for his mandatory six hour class and instructions. Today he pulled Liz's car out of the garage and washed and waxed it. Tomorrow he wants to do the same to the S.

I've been letting him drive my S and my Si up and down our driveway for about a year now, and for the last six or so months I've let him drive me up and down the block in both cars. He's very good with the six speed and I'm convinced that he could pass his road test right now. His K turns are perfect, and he has good control of the car. He probably knows more about what makes a car go than most people on the road. I chuckle whenever we go anywhere, he insists on driving the first block. He's already go his eyes on my Si and figures that he'll use my S to take his date to the Prom in two years when he's a senior.

So what is it that makes getting your license so exciting? Is it the freedom to go anywhere? Is it the first real sign that you've become an adult? What is it that makes us all so anxious to get behind the wheel?

What about you? Were you excited about getting your license?

 

OK, I'll bite. This is back in 1982, new kid in high school. come PE, dorky guy, back then every adult was dorky, asked anyone up for driver training, but you have to be at least 16? They took all of the 18, then17 year old first. I raised my hand until my shoulder came un-jointed. I was selected but only 15 at the time. I lie about my age, of course. They never check. Driverg training was fun. drive a real car on the real road. At 15 1/2, I got my learner permit, so I started driving with my dad. The day I turn 16, I too went down to my local DMV and waited in line for the driver test. got it with flying colors. That was the biggest smile on my face. Drive dad's Ford Fairmont to high school my senior year.

Now, all the dmv's over crowded, and you have to make an appointment to do anything. Takes the fun out of it. No more driver training at our local schools.

My kid's driving my Dodge diesel, the freaking slowest and the uglyest thing around, to school. How cool is that in Los Angeles.

 

Nice story, Rob. I can't remember being really excited about driving, but I'm sure I must have been. I took Driver Ed, too. First it was in the parking lot of a school, then we drove on the street/highway.

 

Rob, it is nice to hear about Adam's Car Guy interests. They grow up so fast!

 

Rob, it's great hearing about Adam. Kids today (at least my kids and their friends) don't seem to care as much about cars as we did. I would never think about using dad's car unless I washed it. Look at our meets, we have to arrange for an area to wash our cars so us fanatic Vintage owners can keep their machines looking great. My two kids would help me every weekend washing and polishing but not today. I don't think either one has held a hose in their hand, they say that's what car washes are for. To read that Adam is still into it is refreshing. Hopefully it will last.

 

I got screwed.

My 16th birthday came on the weekend. I had to wait until Monday to get my license. Back then (1967) and there (Tennessee) there was no provisional license crap. Learner's permit at 15.5, full license at 16.

Driving test consisted of pulling away from the curb in a circular driveway, entering the street with a left turn, then turning left into the same circular driveway. It quite obviously demonstrated that I should drive a vehicle at 70 mph on the freeway at rush hour.

Seatbelts were an option back then! At least on the older cars my family could afford.

 

I was a very late bloomer. I didn't want to drive. I didn't want to take Driver's Ed in high school but I was forced to. I had to get a permit for the class but I let it expire. I rode my 10-speed bicycle every where, or took the bus to work. I finally had to drive when I transferred to a college that was too far to ride my bike to, so I got my license when I was 19. I've always washed and waxed my own cars, and started by waxing my dad's truck for him.

 

I could hardly stand the wait. I got my learners permit the day I turned 16. You had to wait 2 weeks before you could take the full license test which I did 2 weeks and a day later.
The problem was that my Dad had "62" Chrysler New Yorker with an automatic transmission which I learned to drive on and the Dept. of Motor Vehicle regulations required the test to be taken on a standard.
I enlisted my Aunt to take me to the test. She had a "60" Vauxhall with a 3 in the tree standard transmission.
I learned to to drive the standard on the trip across town to the testing facility.
I passed easily and bought my first car a month later. It was a baby blue "54" Plymouth 2 door hard top with a black Dodge front fenders and hood.
Hey! What do you expect for $50 bucks?

 

I started driving my GP golf cart at 10yrs. Then his 1957 Tbird in and out of garage to wash and wax. 15.5 got my learns permit sophomore in 1982. I learned on a 1972 ford Pinto

 

^ My dad gave me his Ford Pinto to take to college in NC for senior year.