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Post by spellcaster on Dec 22, 2021 16:12:32 GMT
Do you ever worry about the day when you'll be old enough that you have to give up your drivers license? I know that won't be a consideration soon for some of you, but there are a few older guys like me that might face the situation in the foreseeable future.
I was more concerned with that situation when I lived at my previous residence five miles out of town. Having moved within a block of downtown earlier this year, it isn't as much of a crisis. I can walk three blocks to the doctor's office, and it's probably a fifteen to twenty minute walk to the grocery store, so I wouldn't be stuck. More than anything, I'd hate to lose my independence and ability to just go somewhere if I wanted to get out and cure my cabin-fever. I haven't had to set foot on a bus in decades and hope I'll never have to do it again. At this stage, my health is good enough that I probably won't be medically forced to give up my license for quite a few years, but there'll probably come a day when my eyesight won't be up to the challenge. I'm dreading that.
How about you guys?
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Post by Die Bullen on Dec 22, 2021 16:47:18 GMT
I'm less concerned in the short and medium term than you but this is a serious issue to be sure.
My 85 year old stepfather should NOT be driving and I tell my mother to please drive him anywhere he needs to go. In his case it is cognitive decline, not eyesight. All I can say is when the times comes to hang up those keys once and for all, none of us should fight it. Elderly drivers who are unable to drive are an enormous menace and it is no laughing Matter
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Post by Bill h on Dec 22, 2021 20:36:03 GMT
I would like to think when that day comes I will recognize it before I become a road hazard. I’m sure we have all run up on elderly drivers running 20 mph below the speed limit which in my opinion is more dangerous then speeding. I’ve seen folks well into their 80’s that can still drive with the best of them so it’s different for everyone I guess. I hope when the day comes I will know it or at least be told by someone before I cause an accident.
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Post by johnreardon on Dec 23, 2021 9:47:59 GMT
I'm 75 and certainly noticed my driving is not as good as it used to be when younger, however I compensate by driving a bit slower, definitely sticking to speed limits. I also try to remove things that may cause distraction, such as never having the radio on or talking to the wife if she's in the car We do have restrictions when you reach the age of 70. Mainly these are medical related such as eyesight requirements. You also have to renew online every 3 years and get the support of your Doctor to continue driving
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Post by spellcaster on Dec 23, 2021 15:12:48 GMT
I'm 75 and certainly noticed my driving is not as good as it used to be when younger, however I compensate by driving a bit slower, definitely sticking to speed limits. I also try to remove things that may cause distraction, such as never having the radio on or talking to the wife if she's in the car We do have restrictions when you reach the age of 70. Mainly these are medical related such as eyesight requirements. You also have to renew online every 3 years and get the support of your Doctor to continue driving I'm 70, and driving is now something I do only when necessary. I feel intimidated by high speed and the aggressive style of younger drivers and avoid night driving where possible. I think I'm still quite competent behind the wheel, but I drive when it's necessary - not for pleasure, which I did as a young man. I take pride in the fact that I haven't had a ticket or lost points on my license since 1982.
We have similar restrictions to what John mentioned, with more frequent license renewal periods and the need for medical approval as we become elderly.
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Post by Bill h on Dec 23, 2021 17:58:33 GMT
I'm 75 and certainly noticed my driving is not as good as it used to be when younger, however I compensate by driving a bit slower, definitely sticking to speed limits. I also try to remove things that may cause distraction, such as never having the radio on or talking to the wife if she's in the car We do have restrictions when you reach the age of 70. Mainly these are medical related such as eyesight requirements. You also have to renew online every 3 years and get the support of your Doctor to continue driving If your still at least doing the speed limit your doing great in my opinion.
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Post by johnreardon on Dec 23, 2021 18:09:00 GMT
I'm 75 and certainly noticed my driving is not as good as it used to be when younger, however I compensate by driving a bit slower, definitely sticking to speed limits. I also try to remove things that may cause distraction, such as never having the radio on or talking to the wife if she's in the car We do have restrictions when you reach the age of 70. Mainly these are medical related such as eyesight requirements. You also have to renew online every 3 years and get the support of your Doctor to continue driving I'm 70, and driving is now something I do only when necessary. I feel intimidated by high speed and the aggressive style of younger drivers and avoid night driving where possible. I think I'm still quite competent behind the wheel, but I drive when it's necessary - not for pleasure, which I did as a young man. I take pride in the fact that I haven't had a ticket or lost points on my license since 1982.
We have similar restrictions to what John mentioned, with more frequent license renewal periods and the need for medical approval as we become elderly.
The only points I had on my licence were when I was in my 40s. I got caught speeding 3 times, twice in an MGF and once in a BMW 5 series. The MGF points were only just above the speed limits, i.e dong around 56 on a 50 mph limit road. The BMW was was a bit faster. The police clocked me at 96 on a 70 mph road. I was actually slowing down from 116, when I was overtaking some lorries who were initially in the outside lane going up a long hill. When they eventually pulled in, I put my foot down and shortly after saw a policeman with camera on a bridge. I slowed down to the 70 limit, but about a mile up the road was a police car. He chased and stooped me. Gave me a £40 fine & 3 points on my licence. These days, I probably would get over £100 fine, a driving ban & made to attend a speed training course. Nowadays I stick to limits, usually using cruise control
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Post by Die Bullen on Dec 23, 2021 21:24:16 GMT
I'm 70, and driving is now something I do only when necessary. I feel intimidated by high speed and the aggressive style of younger drivers and avoid night driving where possible. I think I'm still quite competent behind the wheel, but I drive when it's necessary - not for pleasure, which I did as a young man. I take pride in the fact that I haven't had a ticket or lost points on my license since 1982.
We have similar restrictions to what John mentioned, with more frequent license renewal periods and the need for medical approval as we become elderly.
The only points I had on my licence were when I was in my 40s. I got caught speeding 3 times, twice in an MGF and once in a BMW 5 series. The MGF points were only just above the speed limits, i.e dong around 56 on a 50 mph limit road. The BMW was wa bit faster. The police clocked me at 96 on a 70 mph road. I was actually slowing down from 116, when I was overtaking some lorries who were initially in the outside lane going up a long hill. When they eventually pulled in, I put my foot down and shortly after saw a policeman with camera on a bridge. I slowed down to the 70 limit, but about a mile up the road was a police car. He chased and stooped me. Gave me a £40 fine & 3 points on my licence. These days, I probably would get over £100 fine, a driving ban & made to attend a speed training course. Nowadays I stick to limits, usually using cruise control You are darn lucky you got off so easily! At 116 you'd lose your license on the spot here and they might even throw in a non traffic offense for good measure like reckless endangerment. I've only gone those speeds in Germany
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Post by Bill h on Dec 24, 2021 0:36:31 GMT
The only points I had on my licence were when I was in my 40s. I got caught speeding 3 times, twice in an MGF and once in a BMW 5 series. The MGF points were only just above the speed limits, i.e dong around 56 on a 50 mph limit road. The BMW was wa bit faster. The police clocked me at 96 on a 70 mph road. I was actually slowing down from 116, when I was overtaking some lorries who were initially in the outside lane going up a long hill. When they eventually pulled in, I put my foot down and shortly after saw a policeman with camera on a bridge. I slowed down to the 70 limit, but about a mile up the road was a police car. He chased and stooped me. Gave me a £40 fine & 3 points on my licence. These days, I probably would get over £100 fine, a driving ban & made to attend a speed training course. Nowadays I stick to limits, usually using cruise control You are darn lucky you got off so easily! At 116 you'd lose your license on the spot here and they might even throw in a non traffic offense for good measure like reckless endangerment. I've only gone those speeds in Germany Reckless endangerment without a doubt, possibly arrested. They estimated the Oakland Raider football player that was in the news recently doing at least 115 before he hit someone, he had been drinking to. Sad story.
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Post by infant on Dec 24, 2021 3:29:58 GMT
I’ve been lucky enough to never have gotten points. I’ve had a few speeding tickets but I find the cops will allow you a 20% difference from the speed limit. So at 100kph they’ll allow 120kph. At 50, they’ll allow 60kph. I always try to stay under these speeds.
The fastest I ever did was 160kph (100mph) driving home from Detroit on the 401. I was in meetings all day at Ford and got out late and I was trying to get back to see our nieces graduation. I had the cruise control set at 120kph but every time I came up to a truck, I’d pull out and step on the gas to pass him. However after I passed 5he truck I wouldn’t ease off the pedal. So after passing a few trucks, I looked at my speedometer and saw 160kph! Luckily I wasn’t stopped. This was over 30 years ago so I would have gotten a huge fine. Today, 50kph over the limit gets you a careless driving charge, 6 points, loss of licence and impoundment of the vehicle for a week.
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Post by johnreardon on Dec 24, 2021 9:34:44 GMT
You are darn lucky you got off so easily! At 116 you'd lose your license on the spot here and they might even throw in a non traffic offense for good measure like reckless endangerment. I've only gone those speeds in Germany Reckless endangerment without a doubt, possibly arrested. They estimated the Oakland Raider football player that was in the news recently doing at least 115 before he hit someone, he had been drinking to. Sad story. I blame the BMW. It was way too fast and powerful.
It was stupid of me though. Thankfully I have never driven when drunk. These days I have one pint of shandy (that's half a pint of beer), before going onto soft drinks. Even when younger, I would only have at the most 2 shandies, equivalent to one pint of beer, well below our limit.
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Post by Die Bullen on Dec 24, 2021 14:27:34 GMT
Reckless endangerment without a doubt, possibly arrested. They estimated the Oakland Raider football player that was in the news recently doing at least 115 before he hit someone, he had been drinking to. Sad story. I blame the BMW. It was way too fast and powerful.
It was stupid of me though. Thankfully I have never driven when drunk. These days I have one pint of shandy (that's half a pint of beer), before going onto soft drinks. Even when younger, I would only have at the most 2 shandies, equivalent to one pint of beer, well below our limit.
Some of those BMWs are serious performance machines. I was eyeing up the M2 specs the other day- those things are bad@$$
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Post by Bill h on Dec 24, 2021 16:54:07 GMT
Reckless endangerment without a doubt, possibly arrested. They estimated the Oakland Raider football player that was in the news recently doing at least 115 before he hit someone, he had been drinking to. Sad story. I blame the BMW. It was way too fast and powerful.
It was stupid of me though. Thankfully I have never driven when drunk. These days I have one pint of shandy (that's half a pint of beer), before going onto soft drinks. Even when younger, I would only have at the most 2 shandies, equivalent to one pint of beer, well below our limit.
I think we have all laid on the gas pedal in our youth. Thank goodness we’re still here to talk about it.
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Post by highdeaf on Dec 24, 2021 16:57:50 GMT
I'd promoted for decades now the very unpopular idea that everyone should be retested every 5 years. From the time you get your license until you can't pass the tests anymore.
The technical abilities of drivers I see everyday boggles the mind. I think these people basically won a lottery the day they past their test - and shoulda gone out to buy lottery tickets the same day and score the trifecta. I know for a fact many people do not understand the basic rules of the road, like what to do at a 4-way stop (don't even mention traffic circles, they're an enigma surrounded by a mystery wrapped in a riddle in North America).
An old jamming buddy used to be a driving instructor / tester. He told us how the higher ups at ICBC (our licensing 'authority') one day passed new rules making it easier for everyone to get a license. The corporation's belief was that too many people who didn't pass didn't originally come from canada and it looked racist. So rather than have them pony up their driving skills, they reduced the threshold needed to pass so more people of all colors, races and creeds passed. True story.
I think repeated testing, while being initially more costly, would eventually lower our insurance premiums. Better drives should lead to fewer accidents. Driving is a privilege, not a right.
I worked for 3 decades for a large corporation and drove company vehicles every day. Every 2 years, we were retested by a private firm. They wouldn't remove/suspend our license but would critique our driving and document it, expecting improvements 2 years later. It was a great program and I fully supported it. Not surprisingly, a few people I worked with hated it. They were the known shit drivers in the department and didn't want to improve. And a few of us refused to ride with them when they drove (which our manager had to support, given their poor record in the retests). LOL
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Post by highdeaf on Dec 24, 2021 17:00:32 GMT
Reckless endangerment without a doubt, possibly arrested. They estimated the Oakland Raider football player that was in the news recently doing at least 115 before he hit someone, he had been drinking to. Sad story. I blame the BMW. It was way too fast and powerful.
It was stupid of me though. Thankfully I have never driven when drunk. These days I have one pint of shandy (that's half a pint of beer), before going onto soft drinks. Even when younger, I would only have at the most 2 shandies, equivalent to one pint of beer, well below our limit.
I had a bullit bike (sport bike) for a few years. I eventually had to sell it because the cost of maintenance, insurance and tickets was starting to get up there. Points were also becoming a factor. It was just too easy to go too fast on one of those. It happened before you even noticed (probably because it was kinda fun).
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Post by Sinster on Dec 29, 2021 16:08:43 GMT
I hate driving as is especially here in MA.. Get me back home or smaller towns/cities and states where majority of the drivers don't think they are entitled. Then i don't mind driving. I do hope when the time comes I recognize that I shouldn't be driving.
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Post by infant on Dec 29, 2021 18:03:05 GMT
I hate driving as is especially here in MA.. Get me back home or smaller towns/cities and states where majority of the drivers don't think they are entitled. Then i don't mind driving. I do hope when the time comes I recognize that I shouldn't be driving. I find the large cities are brutal to drive. I never drove in Manhattan, I hated driving in the Boston area….around Boston Common or even in and out of the airport. We had a customer in Canton, MA and I used to visit a few times a year. I hated the drive between their plant and the airport…especially at rush hour. Up here, I hate driving in downtown Toronto…at any time of day. When one isn’t sure where they are going, it can be stressful.
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Post by Die Bullen on Dec 29, 2021 18:43:52 GMT
I hate driving as is especially here in MA.. Get me back home or smaller towns/cities and states where majority of the drivers don't think they are entitled. Then i don't mind driving. I do hope when the time comes I recognize that I shouldn't be driving. I find the large cities are brutal to drive. I never drove in Manhattan, I hated driving in the Boston area….around Boston Common or even in and out of the airport. We had a customer in Canton, MA and I used to visit a few times a year. I hated the drive between their plant and the airport…especially at rush hour. Up here, I hate driving in downtown Toronto…at any time of day. When one isn’t sure where they are going, it can be stressful. I've driven in Manhattan many times since it is only 20 miles from me and I can tell you that it is absolutely horrendous at almost every time of the day. And some of the other boroughs of NYC are just as bad in a different way.
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Post by laristotle on Dec 29, 2021 19:20:16 GMT
Up here, I hate driving in downtown Toronto…at any time of day. When one isn’t sure where they are going, it can be stressful. If we didn't have family there, nothing would bring us into T.O.
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Post by spellcaster on Dec 29, 2021 21:02:37 GMT
Yep, I feel the same way about driving on the Lower Mainland, and haven't gone to Vancouver in 30 years. Actually, I'm feeling the same way about Victoria in the last ten years....Ever since their mayor pushed ahead with putting in bike lanes in the downtown core, it's a nightmare trying to drive downtown.
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Post by highdeaf on Jan 1, 2022 19:28:16 GMT
I used to live on the Van/Burnaby border so I drove into Vancouver regularly. Loved going to the big Tom Lee downtown and the big L&M on Terminal, not to mention good restaurants, theater shows and sporting events.
Just as I moved further out into the burbs, they started with all the stupid bike lanes and restrictions (and I say this as an avid cyclist). I still worked down there occasionally so I saw it happening and predicted the bedlam - the bedlam they now enjoy. Between high prices (property taxes up 6% this year), nightmare traffic and always-increasing crime, I don't know why anyone wants to be anywhere near it. I have everything I need in the burbs - traffic is worse than it used to be but still nothing like 'the big smoke'.
They have an extremely left-leaning mayor who wants to tax cars that drive into the city (like London does), heavily tax resident parking in the city (in other words, he's trying to ban cars) and is promoting other hair-brained ideas, like banning all natural gas (that'll make the good restaurants happy while they all relocate to neighboring cities LOL). He's seems to think increasing Vancouver's homeless population is the pathway to peace, prosperity and contentment for the citizens. This fall's civic election should measure how accurate his prediction is.
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Post by laristotle on Jan 1, 2022 19:34:20 GMT
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Post by zontar on Jan 2, 2022 1:40:37 GMT
I used to live on the Van/Burnaby border so I drove into Vancouver regularly. Loved going to the big Tom Lee downtown and the big L&M on Terminal, not to mention good restaurants, theater shows and sporting events. Just as I moved further out into the burbs, they started with all the stupid bike lanes and restrictions (and I say this as an avid cyclist). I still worked down there occasionally so I saw it happening and predicted the bedlam - the bedlam they now enjoy. Between high prices (property taxes up 6% this year), nightmare traffic and always-increasing crime, I don't know why anyone wants to be anywhere near it. I have everything I need in the burbs - traffic is worse than it used to be but still nothing like 'the big smoke'. They have an extremely left-leaning mayor who wants to tax cars that drive into the city (like London does), heavily tax resident parking in the city (in other words, he's trying to ban cars) and is promoting other hair-brained ideas, like banning all natural gas (that'll make the good restaurants happy while they all relocate to neighboring cities LOL). He's seems to think increasing Vancouver's homeless population is the pathway to peace, prosperity and contentment for the citizens. This fall's civic election should measure how accurate his prediction is. When I have been in Vancouver I have tried to stop in some music stores--and I've been in that big Tom Lee location a few times--stayed in a hotel a short walking distance away--but drove to the other places I checked out
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Post by infant on Jan 2, 2022 3:01:26 GMT
Yep, I feel the same way about driving on the Lower Mainland, and haven't gone to Vancouver in 30 years. Actually, I'm feeling the same way about Victoria in the last ten years....Ever since their mayor pushed ahead with putting in bike lanes in the downtown core, it's a nightmare trying to drive downtown. Hamilton has put in bike lanes everywhere, taking away regular traffic lanes. Traffic is terrible during rush hour. Now they want to build an LRT taking away another lane. I rarely go into downtown Hamilton.
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Post by highdeaf on Jan 4, 2022 17:04:08 GMT
I used to live on the Van/Burnaby border so I drove into Vancouver regularly. Loved going to the big Tom Lee downtown and the big L&M on Terminal, not to mention good restaurants, theater shows and sporting events. Just as I moved further out into the burbs, they started with all the stupid bike lanes and restrictions (and I say this as an avid cyclist). I still worked down there occasionally so I saw it happening and predicted the bedlam - the bedlam they now enjoy. Between high prices (property taxes up 6% this year), nightmare traffic and always-increasing crime, I don't know why anyone wants to be anywhere near it. I have everything I need in the burbs - traffic is worse than it used to be but still nothing like 'the big smoke'. They have an extremely left-leaning mayor who wants to tax cars that drive into the city (like London does), heavily tax resident parking in the city (in other words, he's trying to ban cars) and is promoting other hair-brained ideas, like banning all natural gas (that'll make the good restaurants happy while they all relocate to neighboring cities LOL). He's seems to think increasing Vancouver's homeless population is the pathway to peace, prosperity and contentment for the citizens. This fall's civic election should measure how accurate his prediction is. When I have been in Vancouver I have tried to stop in some music stores--and I've been in that big Tom Lee location a few times--stayed in a hotel a short walking distance away--but drove to the other places I checked out Sadly, that big Tom Lee is gonzo now. They moved to a smaller location across the street and a half a block up. What used to be primarily a guitar store (with great new and used stock and really good staff) is now primarily a piano store (which is their history, to be fair) with some guitars, but not like it used to be. I attended a Martin show (with Mr. Martin the IV or V or whatever, hisself) just after they moved and was unimpressed with the lack of guitars to ogle over. If I go anywhere near downtown, I would probably hit the big L&M on Terminal and then maybe a few of the specialty shops up towards UBC (Rufus, Exile). I'd never have to enter the dt core and deal with that nightmare. TL isn't worth that hassle anymore.
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Post by allthumbs56 on Jan 4, 2022 21:06:32 GMT
I'm 70, and driving is now something I do only when necessary. I feel intimidated by high speed and the aggressive style of younger drivers and avoid night driving where possible. I think I'm still quite competent behind the wheel, but I drive when it's necessary - not for pleasure, which I did as a young man. I take pride in the fact that I haven't had a ticket or lost points on my license since 1982. We have similar restrictions to what John mentioned, with more frequent license renewal periods and the need for medical approval as we become elderly.
The only points I had on my licence were when I was in my 40s. I got caught speeding 3 times, twice in an MGF and once in a BMW 5 series. The MGF points were only just above the speed limits, i.e dong around 56 on a 50 mph limit road. The BMW was was a bit faster. The police clocked me at 96 on a 70 mph road. I was actually slowing down from 116, when I was overtaking some lorries who were initially in the outside lane going up a long hill. When they eventually pulled in, I put my foot down and shortly after saw a policeman with camera on a bridge. I slowed down to the 70 limit, but about a mile up the road was a police car. He chased and stooped me. Gave me a £40 fine & 3 points on my licence. These days, I probably would get over £100 fine, a driving ban & made to attend a speed training course. Nowadays I stick to limits, usually using cruise control The MGF I assume was the one that never made it to Canada - as opposed to the one that did back in the 50's
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Post by zontar on Jan 5, 2022 0:47:58 GMT
When I have been in Vancouver I have tried to stop in some music stores--and I've been in that big Tom Lee location a few times--stayed in a hotel a short walking distance away--but drove to the other places I checked out Sadly, that big Tom Lee is gonzo now. They moved to a smaller location across the street and a half a block up. What used to be primarily a guitar store (with great new and used stock and really good staff) is now primarily a piano store (which is their history, to be fair) with some guitars, but not like it used to be. I attended a Martin show (with Mr. Martin the IV or V or whatever, hisself) just after they moved and was unimpressed with the lack of guitars to ogle over. If I go anywhere near downtown, I would probably hit the big L&M on Terminal and then maybe a few of the specialty shops up towards UBC (Rufus, Exile). I'd never have to enter the dt core and deal with that nightmare. TL isn't worth that hassle anymore. Well, it's been a while since I was in Vancouver I've been to the Terminal L&M--I was on my way elsewhere & drove by it, so I had to stop by. It was like a giant version of what we had here--although we have larger L&M location now--but still smaller. I like browsing in Rufus--bought a bunch of different picks. I was tempted by a couple of guitars each time I've been there. I also liked Bone Rattle--small store but some oddball stuff to ogle. I've been to some other stores in Vancouver that aren't there anymore
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Post by spellcaster on Jan 5, 2022 1:18:06 GMT
Funny you should mention Rufus Guitars. Rufus Stewart used to have a small lutherie shop locally in the back of Duncan Music, and after he established his shop in Victoria and then Vancouver, he retired upIsland to Parksville. He used to commute every other week down to the store in Victoria, and several times he stopped, coming through Duncan, and picked up guitars from me at work that needed his expertise. He had a formidable amount of knowledge and was a really nice fellow. I haven't seen him in a few years now.
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Post by zontar on Jan 5, 2022 1:34:15 GMT
Funny you should mention Rufus Guitars. Rufus Stewart used to have a small lutherie shop locally in the back of Duncan Music, and after he established his shop in Victoria and then Vancouver, he retired upIsland to Parksville. He used to commute every other week down to the store in Victoria, and several times he stopped, coming through Duncan, and picked up guitars from me at work that needed his expertise. He had a formidable amount of knowledge and was a really nice fellow. I haven't seen him in a few years now. I've heard about Rufus Stewart, mostly good things... And nothing really that bad in the general scheme of things humanly speaking.
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Post by johnreardon on Jan 5, 2022 9:43:49 GMT
The only points I had on my licence were when I was in my 40s. I got caught speeding 3 times, twice in an MGF and once in a BMW 5 series. The MGF points were only just above the speed limits, i.e dong around 56 on a 50 mph limit road. The BMW was was a bit faster. The police clocked me at 96 on a 70 mph road. I was actually slowing down from 116, when I was overtaking some lorries who were initially in the outside lane going up a long hill. When they eventually pulled in, I put my foot down and shortly after saw a policeman with camera on a bridge. I slowed down to the 70 limit, but about a mile up the road was a police car. He chased and stooped me. Gave me a £40 fine & 3 points on my licence. These days, I probably would get over £100 fine, a driving ban & made to attend a speed training course. Nowadays I stick to limits, usually using cruise control The MGF I assume was the one that never made it to Canada - as opposed to the one that did back in the 50's It wasn't the 50s one. One of these. Not this actual one, can't find any pics of it, although it it was BRG. Our one also had the hard top
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