my first driving lesson was way back in Davao in the late 80s. it was on the VW Beetle 69 of my high school buddy.. stopped for a number of years then resumed in mid 90's using a Tamaraw Fx where I was able to build the skill.. My first highway/long drive experience with the FX was from Laguna to La Union.. Whew! I was sweating hard kahit malakas ang aircon...
'73 Volks beetle.. 1200cc engine. yun ang fist car na napatakbo ko ng 100kph, umiiyak na makina non.
pero mas nahasa driving skills ko sa Willy's honer type jeep ng tatay ko. almost weekly provincial trip, over rough road and highways, in different driving conditions ---morning foggy, hot-noon time or afternoon drive, night driving with strong rain and floods - tapos halos kapiraso lang yung wiper area, I even drove that darned jeep with one one brake pad working ...lintek..kaya pala kabig ng kabig at mahina ang preno... tumatagas na pala yung tatlong drum brakes. pero at least, kahit minsan di ako itinirik nung 3K toyota engine nya
mc arthur type willys jeep. madali lang kasi ako natuto kasi andun pa yung original na 3 speed transmission niya. shift down for 1st gear, shift right up for reverse! my training ground was vigan domestic airport para iwas bangga. grade five ako nuon.
Maroon Honda City M/T, nakalimutan ko na kung anong variant, basta medyo lumang modelo. Meron kasing instructor ng Socialite na lumipat sa subdivision ng then-gf ko, nag-ooffer ng lessons. Nag-sign up kami pareho, kasi gusto naming matutong mag-drive bago kami ikasal. 'Di na namin natapos yung lessons kasi busy na sa wedding preps.
After the wedding, pinalad kaming makabili ng sarili naming tsikot. Habang hinihintay na i-release yung sasakyan sa dealership, nagpakuha ako ng "refresher course" sa kakilala naming jeepney driver, gamit yung '99 Adventure GLX ng biyenan ko.