Brave? I don't think so

Jon

Jon

Junior Member
Messages
146
So, my mother has held a drivers license since she was 17 and has driven a remarkable selection of cars over the years (my father never drove), and clocked up typically 18,000+ a year during my childhood and beyond. Some examples of her cars - Lotus Mk1 Cortina, Jaguar Mk2, Bentley - you get the picture. She is, in my opinion a natural, instinctive driver.

Next week is her 80th birthday and she still drives regularly and well. Okay her reactions have slowed a bit over the last two decades but still the driver she once was is there. I head the 125 miles to see her at the weekend and buy her and the family a birthday lunch.

I have added her to the insurance for the GTS after some serious 'pulling of the heart strings' with the underwriter AVIVA (hats off to them and BIG thanks) who have agreed to add her on for the day for a mere £42.40 with an extra £200 excess.

I've told her I'm bringing a car for her to drive and that unfortunately it's not an Aston Martin (always her favourite) but haven't told her what it is, nor the fact that I have owned it for some time.

I will take her somewhere to give her a full briefing and the car will be warm before she has a play. I know some of you will think me mad but this will make an old lady with a lifetime passion for cars VERY, VERY HAPPY.

.......and in fairness, on Saturday, she's still only 79. :blushed:
 
Parisien

Parisien

Moderator
Messages
34,927
Thats a lovely thought and gift Jon, hoping your dear mother gets to leave huge rubber tracks outside her home in your pride and joy!!!!!


P
 
Andyk

Andyk

Member
Messages
61,184
Brilliant.....I'm sure she will be over the moon....Lovely touch to make her day special.....Insurance reasonable as well.
 
allandwf

allandwf

Member
Messages
10,995
Excellent! Hope she has a great time,my mothers 80th was yesterday, she too is still sprightly, but thankfully doesn't still drive,I can remember it when I was young! lol
 
zagatoes30

zagatoes30

Member
Messages
20,984
And why not, when I took the Maserati to my dads (75) for the first time the first thing he did was grab the keys, jumped in the drivers seat and started it up. Then sheepishly he turned it off and stuck his head up and asked where's the gear lever :)
 
Blondie

Blondie

Junior Member
Messages
364
Jon, I'm so impressed. It will absolutely make her day. Don't forget the GoPro to record her reactions (and yours).
I hope she has an amazing birthday.
 
C

Chrisbassett

Member
Messages
3,909
A lovely treat, Jon.

Try to find somewhere where you're free to show her your own skills...any mother would be proud!
 
hodroyd

hodroyd

Member
Messages
14,150
That is a very lovely idea Jon and the kind of thing I like to hear from genuine people on this forum..!! Well done and I am absolutely positive your Mum will be thrilled at the chance to drive a world famous Maserati, I can almost see the beam on her face lighting up the sky mate, superb..!!
 
BennyD

BennyD

Sea Urchin Pate
Messages
15,006
Blondie said:
Jon, I'm so impressed. It will absolutely make her day. Don't forget the GoPro to record her reactions (and yours).
I hope she has an amazing birthday.
Click to expand...

Blondie, as you are approaching the same age you can give her tips! ;)
 
Team GCR

Team GCR

Member
Messages
1,152
Jon, it isn't about chronological age it is about how old or young the person actually is. You are doing absolutely the right thing. My father and I did classic car rallies together until he was 92 he drove less and less over the years but certainly up to 90 years old was pretty much 100% the driver he had always been. I inherited my love of cars form him, we enjoyed them together and it sounds like it may be similar with your mother. I say do it and don't let it be a one off!
 
Trev Latter

Trev Latter

Member
Messages
1,213
What a lovely idea. That'll be a great day out for both of you. A video is a must, just to hear the "Whoo-hoo" as she floors the throttle the first time. Just kidding really, but it would be lovely if you did video it and share.

One of my fondest memories of my father was from back in the mid 80's when we went down to the Forest of Dean to marshal on the Lombard RAC rally (as it was known then). He had a white Nissan Sunny estate at the time, which was mostly redish mud coloured by the time we left where we'd driven it through the stage to get to the marshal point. We got stopped by the police near Dartford in the early hours of the morning on the way home. The officer looked at the car, looked at my father and asked where we'd been. "Rallying" came the one word answer. Absolutely priceless. It was the only time he ever went as it wasn't really his thing, but he did it to humour me and thoroughly enjoyed it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.