From: bob1@cos.com (Bob Blackshaw)
Subject: Re: elderly drivers
Organization: Corporation for Open Systems
Distribution: world 
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 21:26:25 GMT

In <1993Jan20.201725.15127@iscnvx.lmsc.lockheed.com> sharen@iscnvx.lmsc.lockheed.com (Sharen A. Rund) writes:

>In article <269@io.trident.datasys.swri.edu> johns@trident.datasys.swri.edu (Stephen Johns) writes:
>>In article <llof9hINN9hl@exodus.Eng.Sun.COM> chrisp@regenmeister.Sun.COM (Chris Prael) writes:
>>[ lots of stuff deleted ]
>>>
>>>For the reverse side of this story:  I had a short ride a couple weeks
>>>ago with an uncle who is in his mid-80s.  He knows where the right side
>>>of his Lincoln Town Car (a monstrosity if there ever was one) with
>>>enough accuracy to keep a series of concrete light poles a very steady
>>>15 to 18 inches from the car at 35 mph.  That is approaching the
>>>accuracy of a race driver.  Very few drivers under 70 years of age have
>>>a snowball's chance in hell of that degree of accuracy behind the wheel.
>>>
>>>Chris Prael
>>
>>First, I am impressed by anyone over the age of 50 who manages to drive the
>>speed limit, stay out of the fast lane, and keep their left turn signal off
>>except when making left hand turns.

>gee willerkers you young whipper-snapper, where do you get off making a
>statement like that and what do you base it on??? I'm over 25 and the
>way you talk I'll be feeble by the time I reach 50! If people over 50
>have such a hard time driving, then you'd better make sure people over 
>50 don't hear what you're saying, you know, some one like Paul Newman
>(over 60 & still racing cars), Bill Burnham (over 60 and still
>writing articles for hot rod magazines and driving hot rods across the
>country), Grey Baskerville (over 55 and publisher & editor of hot rod
>magazines and still driving around the country), Jim Ewing (over 50,
>founder of Bell Tech and still racing at Bonneville & test driving cars
>& motorcycles around the country), Andy Brizio (the 'rodfather', over 55
>selling Andy's Tees, driving a hot rod around the country, builder of a
>car that he will be racing at Bonneville this season) and a WHOLE SLEW
>of other racers, and normal drivers out ther who happen to be over 50 that
>can still outdrive most drivers under 40....

Yeah, and anytime one of you young puppies thinks he can outdrive this
old silver haired 62 year old, just come down here and try. You won't
be the first snot-nosed brat I've given driving lessons to, nor likely
the last.

A few brash locals have thought it would be amusing to show the old
guy in the Probe how funny he looked. They're probably still choking
on its exhaust fumes (although they really weren't in sight that long.

However, I believe it is the duty of we senior citizens to educate
the upcoming generation :-)

Bob

>>As for the "few drivers under 70 years of age" comment, surely you jest!
>>Maybe doing it in reverse, using only your mirrors would make it challenging.
>>Maybe you meant he was slaloming?  Nahhhh...
>>
>>If you can't perform the above "feat" you best get out and do some SERIOUS
>>practicing.
>>

>I'm afraid I've seen too many drivers on the roads, of ALL ages, who can't
>keep their car straight, no matter what speed they're driving, to say
>nothing about when you add the rain/snow/night/etc factor....

> 

>-- 
>________________       __        ________________   "They that can give up
>\_________      \     /_ \      /      _________/  essential liberty to 
> \_________      \_____/  \____/      _________/  obtain temporary safety
>  \___________________      __________________/  deserve neither liberty 
>                     /______\                   nor safety."  
>ALL disclaimers apply ....                           --Benjamin Franklin
>	  
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