Morris Minor Owners Club

Had another driving lesson this morning (for those of you who don’t know - I passed my test 20 years ago in an automatic so now I’m wanting to upgrade to a manual licence in the hope of owning a mog).
The rain was awful, I completely forgot how 5th gear worked and had to deal with multiple hill starts and a suicidal squirrel who decided to jump under my wheels.
I don’t know why I’m doing this to myself

On the plus side my instructor reckons when I DO eventually get a test I should be ok… wish I had his confidence!

Little point to this post really, just thought I’d share my struggles haha

You'll be fine. Stick a picture of a Morris Minor to his dashboard as an incentive.

KeithL wrote: ↑Mon Oct 20, 2025 4:47 pm You'll be fine. Stick a picture of a Morris Minor to his dashboard as an incentive.

That’s actually a pretty good idea… instructor is a big MM fan, though he doesn’t have one. He probably wouldn’t mind

At least in a Morris Minor you won't have a 5th gear to worry about

myoldjalopy wrote: ↑Mon Oct 20, 2025 6:02 pm At least in a Morris Minor you won't have a 5th gear to worry about

Haha my instructor said that too. He also said I’m a bit heavy on the brakes which will probably stand me in good stead if I do get a mog… not so good in a modern car with super sharp brakes

Not a good start with your manual ambitions, running over a squirrel

les wrote: ↑Mon Oct 20, 2025 7:00 pm Not a good start with your manual ambitions, running over a squirrel

No…
Although I’m hoping he might have got away… there was nothing on the road…

les wrote: ↑Mon Oct 20, 2025 7:00 pm Not a good start with your manual ambitions, running over a squirrel

Only a squirrel?

On my first driving test I ran over a roundabout in, I think, Rickmansworth or Hounslow. It was the same week that the then Princess Anne passed hers at the same testing station.

I passed a few weeks later...

I didn't pull over for an ambulance coming from behind on my driving test as I approached the Lombard roundabout in Mitcham. I still passed because the examiner knew I had seen the ambulance but there was nowhere to safely pull over. I think he felt sorry for me in my Morris as well. He was probably relieved to get out. The Lombard roundabout is not for the fainthearted!

Stephen

Took me three attempts to pass the first time round… that was 20 years ago. Hopefully with years of driving experience under my belt I’ll find it easier this time round… but yeah, just got to get to grips with the gears again….

I wonder if I took my test in a Morris the examiner would feel sorry for me

Tiff Needell passed his test in a Minor.
He claimed everyone should do the same.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooBJ2Z2sZvo

moggiethouable wrote: ↑Tue Oct 21, 2025 12:07 pm Tiff Needell passed his test in a Minor.
He claimed everyone should do the same.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooBJ2Z2sZvo

Ooh I’m so watching this when I get home!
I’ll see which comes first.. the test or the mog… am looking for a potential car although I’m not rushing to buy the first thing I see.. as tempting as it is.