Albert Herdianto Widjojo
That was the first car I drove. It was 1973 Holden LJ Torana S 4 door that I drove for no more than a minute and fifty meters. Before I tell you how I drive the car, I will tell you in advance how much I crave to drive the car with my own hands in the driver’s seat.
One day when I was in elementary school, my father and uncle and all our family members went to an amusement park. After a few preliminary games, my cousin and I had the opportunity to drive a kind of bumper car to circle a square park twice. Since then, I have been so eager to drive a real car. Every time I was interested in something about cars and I was near my father, I would ask him questions, and of course especially about how to drive a car. One thing is certain, I am confident that driving a car must be as easy as driving a bumper car! Unfortunately, my father had not wanted to use official cars for several years, nor did he want to buy a car at all. He is usually picked up by the office driver if he feels the need but more often uses public transportation. That situation certainly prevented me from at least sitting in the car!
An opportunity came when in the late 70s when I was only around 14, my former neighbor – a young man who once lived next door visit for the umpteenth time. He was looking for my elder sister, but there were only my mother and me at home. After we talked for a while, my mother went to the kitchen to make a drink for the guest. That’s when my long-hidden desire can seem to be realized.
Unbeknownst to mother, I borrowed the car with a little “whine” so that the guest felt awry and finally handed the car key in my hands. I jumped happily and immediately rushed out to the car (Yeah! While my mother was in the kitchen!) before the owner of the vehicle changed his decision because I knew that there wasn’t a single reason for me to be allowed to drive.
In the car, after a few moments paying attention to the various buttons, pedals, and so on, I started the engine. Then, after only a few moments of considering this and that, I started to step on the clutch pedal and accelerator, then slowly raised the clutch pedal and… tadaa… the car moved. Yes! I can! Look! I can drive…!
After going straight for about fifty meters, II have to turn left, and that’s easy too! It was when I turned the steering to turn left, that I saw another car moving towards me, for a moment I thought about what I should do, and I intended to pull over a little while slowing down the vehicle and therefore I had to step on the brake pedal. That’s when the car jumped and hit the wall fence of a neighbor’s house because it turns out I stepped on the accelerator pedal instead of the brake pedal!
A young man was known to be a bad boy who was more senior than me in the neighborhood and witnessed the accident firsthand helped but didn’t even say much other than saying, “So, don’t speed here guy…” because around the neighborhood, apparently – at that time I just knew that – I was also known as a bad boy.
Furthermore… You certainly know what happened next, certainly later, my parents have to pay the cost of repairing the car and the fence I destroyed. Am I felt sorry? Of course! Did I learn anything from the incident? Many!
Below here is an old advertisement for Holden Torana and how mischievous the car was in the arena.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WvGc919svA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOobrfwxqw4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5d7I2mKHcos
Suggestions for you, do not drive a car if you are not old enough and do not have a car driving license.
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Do you have certain experiences when you first drive a car?
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Yes
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No
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Users voted 9 times.
Q: Do you have certain experiences when you first drive a car?
Yes (5 votes) – 56%
No (4 votes) – 44%
I like the car. It is cooler than many new cars we see nowadays.
I thought that car was pretty cool in its day. For now, only classic car fans like it.
I am sure that driving for the first time is often an unforgetable experience like in your case even though I never learned to drive.
At least that is a good lesson to make the initial conclusion that doing it, in reality, isn’t as easy as imagining it.
Ohhh, I didn’t think you were the bad boy. But one learns from one’s mistakes. You are now our wise teacher here in virily.
If you were my mother, you would have had the stress of handling all my mischief in the past, Elenka. Hehehehe…
Thanks for sharing your fun yet sad experiences. I drove the car the first time I passed the driving test.
You are very obedient to regulations and discipline, Vida. I have been driving for seven years without a license, from start learning to pass the driving test.
I wouldn’t dare drive without a driving test. We have high penalties for such an offense.
It’s understandable, and I’m lucky I never got arrested by the police because of the violation.
The police would certainly cross me. I don’t have the good fortune to miss me, haha
What a beauty! I don’t have expectations cos I prefer surprises, most times.
I don’t know what’s beautiful here, brother, but certainly, I also don’t expect the accident to happen, but when it does, it’s more tremendous than surprise!
My brain eye and eye hand coordination prevented me from ever learning to drive a car LOL
That coordination will make you not regret the fact that you have never go speeding on the road, my friend.
Holden’s were (may still be) made in Australia and Indonesia, right?
I am laughing, see you stepping out of the car after hitting the fence. you were a bad boy! From a fellow bad boy, i know in the end bad boys make the best teachers!
Holden was made in Australia and some were assembled in Indonesia but not made in Indonesia. Many Holden products are good but the ups and downs of their business are too hard even already join with GM and some other brand. As far as I know, they still produce and some are so great – like Commodore and Corvette – but maybe the composition of ownership has also changed.
Hah! I must have gotten out of the car with a stupid face! I remember how tangled I felt at that time especially when my ex-neighbor and mother approached…
i have had three accidents in my life. One was my fault, two were not. The first one I had a bus backed up and hit me. I couldn’t back up anymore and the driver of the bus was new.
Even, with a ticket from the police, i was scared to death to tell my dad. I realized that day my dad loved me. His first words, “oh my god, are you ok?” he didn’t care about the massive dent that destroyed the bumper (front) of the car.
Three accidents are much enough, Doc. One that we know is extraordinary from such accidents is our parents’ love for us!
it is one of my cherished memories of my dad. i have many but that one is one of the biggest!
I can understand that, Doc. The reason is very clear.
Great post, yes, I have had some unique experiences learning to drive a car.
Thanks, Pamela. One of my conclusions at that time, it turns out driving a car is not as easy as imagined.
My grandson saw this and said “Hey, he has a Tweety Bird car. It made me smile and I hope it does the same for you.
That’s a funny term for this car. Btw, what’s the reason for calling it that?
Not familiar with this brand, but very nice and sporty Albert. Funny stories to read from back in the day. My brother never had patience to show me how to drive a stick shift. So my dear grandmother actually taught me. She had more patience than anyone I knew. I drove her little Dodge Dart to church. Good memories again.
Yes, Carol. This brand is made in Australia but is also produced in other countries such as South Korea and several other countries and possibly with different brands or names.
You’re lucky your dear grandmother who is very patient has taught you to drive. Sometimes it’s fun to go back in time and remember good and good times to be drawn as valuable.
I saw the video and always amazing to learn new things. My grandmother taught me so much about life.