When Did You Drive Your First.....................

My first time driving a manual tranny was when I worked for an Autobody Supply store. I locked the keys in the van that I normally drove and had to take the '74 Dodge PU about 20 miles to Head Office to grab the spare keys. I was used to dirt bikes, so the concept was fine, but the actual usage took a bit to get used to in urban traffic.

First "3 on the tree" was Gramp's old '65 GMC pickup with a 292 straight six. It was a neat old truck. And then Dad's '69 F-150.

First muscle car ride was in an older cousin's late '60's Vette. But I really would have liked to ride in his Daytona, but never got the chance.

My first muscle car was my first car, 1969 Sport Satellite. I transplanted a 383 into it after blowing the 904 behind the 318. Got the engine and tranny for a song, the guy thought it had a cracked block but it was just a bad frost plug.

I'm pretty sure that I've never been in a Beetle, or any other VW for that matter, let alone actually drive one.

But I did own a '71 Austin Mini. That car was a blast. The guys at work would laugh, seeing this guy, all 6'3" and 200# getting out of this tiny car. But it had way more room for a driver than many cars that I have driven, including my Mom's '82 Firechicken and an ex-boss's '02 Cadillac STS.

I've never owned a Chev, but did ride in a buddy's '69 Chevelle. 396 dual-quad tunnel ram, damn that thing was fast.

Oh, and my first six speed manual was just last summer. The PO of my Dart has a 2010 Challenger, 6.2L Hemi w/3.92 rear. That was fun. Can't wait for the weather to change, so I can drive it again.