Cars and Capers , livre ebook

Andrews UK - William Downs

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90 pages

English

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Cars and Capers takes a nostalgic look back at one man's life told with reference to the cars he has owned and the adventures he has had in them, We all remember learning to drive and the thrill of passing the driving test and purchasing our first car. In his book William Downs takes us through the cars he has owned over the years from his first purchase, an Austin 8 which cost him the princely sum of AGBP1, to his most recent vehicle, a Fiat Panda. Downs takes us back to days gone by when the roads were not so busy and motoring was still a joy and tells of some of the colourful characters who have joined him for the ride. Downs' memoirs are frank and funny and Cars and Capers is a 'warts and all' account of his life. The author recounts some difficult days alongside fond memories of his cars and the journeys he has had in them. If you are interested in cars, and intrigued by the lives of others, you will enjoy this book.

Sujets

Philosophie et théologie

Memoir

Informations

Publié par	Andrews UK
Date de parution	03 septembre 2012
Nombre de lectures	1
EAN13	9781909143302
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0250€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

Extrait

Title Page
CARS AND CAPERS

By
William R. Downs

Publisher Information
First published as an ebook in 2012 by
Apex Publishing Ltd
PO Box 7086, Clacton on Sea,
Essex, CO15 5WN, England
www.apexpublishing.co.uk
Digital Edition converted and published by
Andrews UK Limited 2012
www.andrewsuk.com
Copyright © 2012 by William R. Downs
The author has asserted his moral rights
All rights reserved. This book is sold subject to the condition, that no part of this book is to be reproduced, in any shape or form. Or by way of trade, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, be lent, re-sold, hired out or otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition, including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser, without prior permission of the copyright holder.

Introduction
I was born in South London and passed my driving test, at the first attempt, when I was 29. I must say I knew the London streets well, especially in South London, and took my test late, but I had learnt the roads and signs really well. Prior to my test, I used to go out repairing windows with my brother James, whose capabilities I still admire.
Driving lessons, even then, were expensive, and people would be legally allowed to drive with a full licence holder, learning some basics. And they would also be able to point out some old holes in the road ahead with their prior knowledge.
I did pass after a course of 12 lessons. It was easier then. Please learn what you may from my book, and slow down, please. It’s too easy going fast. ‘Can you afford to stop late?’
Happy motoring, one and all.
W R Downs of Windowns, window repairs.

The Austin 8 I bought at Dungeness for £1 when I was 18

Early Motors
c.1975
This is the logging of the main motor cars I had in my life which I hope you will find interesting.
There were over a hundred of them, though some will not be worthy of a mention, but many bring back delightful recollections like the first car, an Austin 8, purchased for only £1 before I went up in the world. The next was an Austin A40, hand-painted purple at £20 - 850cc, I believe - which did have an MOT and a small amount of road tax. And I well remember the words of the examiner: ‘Well, Mr Downs, I’ve got to tell you that you’ve passed.’ I was jubilant, thinking it had gone the other way.
Soon back home to my area, I obtained car insurance and just seemed to embed myself in driving about our London town, day and night. I drove, likening it to the casting of a captain with a new craft - both entwined into the future.
Perhaps incidental, but I was so craving to pass my driving test that I bought this £20 motor car a day or two before my test. I recollect that the test was to start at 2pm, and I kept hoping that the examiner would just sit back digesting his dinner. It would suit me to drive slower, although I soon gave up this idea to concentrate on the job of driving. The test went to my liking and I was given the option of driving back home from my teaching school - an offer which I declined.
I also recall how I bought some spectacles for the task of reading the distant number plate, which everyone had to do before the driving started. Later, I found out from the optician that I had no need of them for driving.
I don’t think there was anything worrying in the test except when he whacked the dashboard with his newspaper. He, Mr Lamb, certainly worried me when he shouted out ‘STOP’, but that was the emergency stop over with. He told me, ‘That was very early in the test.’
These early cars certainly gave me plenty of experience for what would recur in later ones. My earliest cars had to be hand-started to get the engine in motion, but there were other ways, depending on circumstances, when the battery failed. Like rolling it downhill in the mornings when I was off to work - one or two bump starts put the car in order for the day. Rolling out of the side turning towards the bottom of the hill, catch the 2 nd gear, and throw the clutch up to add gas or accelerator if the engine started to fire. vv. If there was complete failure after two or three attempts, then it would be slid into the last side street off the freeway - as we called the main roads - awaiting my later attention.
I think my early days of driving were sometimes silly and somewhat senseless. I just liked going out onto the empty roads of London and listen to the radio. I would ride the clutch, which meant holding it in a bit, to adjust my speed without having to keep changing gear. I could enjoy smoking a cigarette with a hand free, sometimes leaving the interior light on. These habits were careless because a person’s priority should be to brake as soon as possible and be aware. In essence, remember where the brake is, ‘brake priority’.

Brighton Run
c.1976
I had a nice time when I went for a trip to Brighton, laden with camping equipment in the back of the black Austin A40. Not much happened, other than enjoying the driving with others on the motorway. We all seemed to be speeding along, and for me it was the first time I had really driven fast in the daylight.
I shall always remember a Rolls Royce going past in the overtaking lane, cruising at about 90 or 100mph.
I never did find a camping site, although there were a few signs, but I was not too bothered. I looked forward to driving back on the popular M23 so I just headed into central Brighton to find some signposts. I was soon on the right track, pumping the miles under the car at 60 or 70mph, albeit in receding daylight.
I remember getting to a place outside London, known as Purley Way, and seeing some large playing fields showing up on the map, so I thought I would call it a day and pitch the tent in a convenient spot. I had experienced engine problems on the way back so I was intent on getting an early night. A man and his dog came sniffing around later, but I think we all thought it was too late in the day for introductions.

I owned two Austin A40s. One cost £20, the second £120
Early the next day, I discovered that the car was using far too much petrol, and the engine was very weak, so all my money had to go on petrol. I was thankful for an early start, and fortunately the car started without any problem. Soon I was driving into London ahead of the early morning rush hour. Well aware of the car’s weakness underfoot, I just drove carefully to maintain an even speed.
With my eyes constantly on the petrol gauge, which was dropping at an alarming rate, I passed a petrol station at Herne Hill, confident that I had made it back home, but only by the sweat of my brow. The engine struggled up the steep hill, burning lots of petrol at a slow speed. My hope of an early release from my problems was also burnt out. When the engine coughed its last charges, I pulled into the kerb outside a fine church and awaited inspiration. Then I had a brainwave - a simple move that we all do on our driving test.
There were few cars around, and even less people climbing such a steep hill. The plan was to release the hand brake and to edge backwards into a nearby side turning. With that complete, I was now awaiting a clear road so I could roll down to a petrol pump in the garage. Then, once I had reached a pump at the bottom of Herne Hill, I released the last of my money.
How pleased I was, the next day, when a workmate told me it was a simple problem - two or more burnt out sparking plugs which were easy to replace. I bought the plugs and a special spanner in a nearby shop, and had fixed the engine inside an hour or so.
I don’t think I ever bought a new battery for this black Austin A40. It always responded to the handle engine starting mechanism. I was young and fit then, and also learned to keep the spark plugs clean after this episode.
I can recollect how this Austin A40 had holes in the floor, but this was allowed at the time and rust on the body did not come within the MOT test.
Soon I was using this A40 for work with the GLC as a glazier. I was fed up with carrying all my glass and tools on foot, but found no objections from my superiors as they understood my plight.

To Folkestone
c.1976
Another of my trips out of London was started when I was out in the car parading the roads. I saw a couple of signs showing me the way to the coast. This sort of drive attracted me. Well, it would certainly make a change from the continual holdups of traffic lights and such that could be found in London or any city.
Soon I was heading off, after waiting to avoid the rush hour, knowing I would certainly learn some things from it, if only how to control my second Austin A40 (black) motor. I was finding quite a lot of dazzle as the car was small and very low, and when I put the lights onto main beam, the lorries and others continually flashed their headlights at me. So the answer was to drive slower and hope there would not be rain to spoil the trip.
After a good plod ahead, I found I was heading towards Dover, not Folkestone as I had intended, so I just carried straight on to enjoy my drive to Dover.
After getting to some sort of dockyard at Dover, I could hear nothing but the brushing waves.
As it was late and pitch dark, that was a good enough reason to get on to the right track and head for home. This outing was mainly on the A20 and there was no motorway then. I remember that, as I approached London, I picked up the south circular and was soon back in my part of south London.
I think too that the M25 motorway was n