A lot has changed since I took my driving test in an old Nash Metropolitan

Our grandson in Lexington passed his driver’s test and got his drivers license last week. That was a cause for celebration because it will relieve his mother from having to take him to the many school activities.

Don Estep is publisher of the News Journal.

The first time he took the driver’s test he failed because the front of the car touched a barrel when he had to parallel park the car. Now, I don’t know about you, but if I had to parallel park my SUV I may not pass the test either. It has been years since I have parallel parked my vehicle. In a way I don’t know why that is still a part of the driver’s test.

When I took my driving test 68 years ago it was very simple. I borrowed my brother-in-law Eddie’s car and drove it to Williamsburg. Just to be sure that I wouldn’t have any trouble passing the test I wanted to use his car. It was a Nash Metropolitan. Most of you reading this are probably not familiar with that model of vehicle.

Let me explain. The little Nash Metropolitan was a two-seat vehicle about the size of a golf cart. It was a cute little thing. Look it up on your computer and you’ll see what I mean. It was so small I could park it on a dime.

I showed up at the courthouse on a rainy day and when the state policeman came out to go on the drive with me, he paused and said, “this is what you are driving,” almost in disbelief that he was giving a test in such a tiny car.

He got in and we started driving through the streets in Williamsburg. As I said, it was raining. During our trip the driver’s side windshield wiper fell off. I reached around and retrieved the wiper and said to the cop, “That’s the first time this has ever happened.” Then I noticed hammer marks from where my brother-in-law Eddie had tried to get the wiper blade to stay on. At that moment I thought my goose was cooked. To my disbelief I got my license. I drove back to Corbin on U.S. 25 without a windshield wiper although it was still raining. I was 16 years of age and so elated a lack of visibility didn’t bother me.

I learned to drive when I was 13 years of age. I hung out at Tom Disney’s garage on Ninth Street with the Disney brothers who owned a Model A Ford. It was straight shift and had a rumble seat. During that same year, 1952, my dad bought a Hudson Hornet. Since my father was a highway contractor he was gone through the week on a job and would come home on weekends. This provided a great opportunity for me.

I was told that if you took a piece of metal and connected it between the two screws behind the ignition key then you could start the car by pushing the starter button. I tried it and it worked. So now it was my opportunity to sneak and drive the Hudson when nobody was around.

One day I was driving it out 11th Street where a new dirt road had just been graded. In one hand I had a bottle of Pepsi Cola and while driving it started to slip and I grabbed it with both hands. The next thing I knew I was in a ditch with one side of the car leaning against a dirt wall.

I was saved by the Gentry boys who owned a tractor. They pulled me out of the ditch and on the side of the car were scratches. I knew I should get ready to meet my maker when my dad came in on Friday afternoon. I said nothing. He saw nothing. Thank heaven he never noticed those scratches.