No Dave

..... I had an 18 month intensive driving course to start my driving career

...... had three test dates cancelled on me, over that period, so ended up with a hell of a course ..... and the longer it went on, the faster it got and the harder I got 'pushed'.... never did find my ceiling back then .... or since


......
gave up owning fast(er) cars, once the cameras started to proliferate round here .... My 240 horse, SD1 Vitesse was the last
'rapid' motor I owned and a lovely XR4x4i, 'fore that - lovely drive - would have another in a heart beat, but'd be a license killer ....

the lil' Golf is bad enough, when you've been taught to make full use of what you can see to be 'yours'

.
Old man used to say
"if you get nicked by traffic, it's a fair cop and you deserve it for lack of observation ... but cameras just ain't cricket"
Only ever been pulled for 'speed' once .... 2.30 in the morning on a completely empty M4 in '78 ..... sat squarely in the N/s lane doing 110 on me way home from Reading .. lane either side of me and a pitch black road to myself - no moon. Was a good 4+ miles since I'd passed an on ramp when I'd suddenly got a set of heads behind me followed by a set of blues ........ "
dirty bar stewards", thought I.

indy on and slow to the shoulder. I am stood beside the motor, before they'd gotten to me. "
'Evening sir, your vehicle? can you tell me what speed you were doing?"
"
yes officer, mine, OAX 234M and 110, on a completely empty road, until you 'appeared' behind me .... it's over 4 miles since I last passed an on ramp and can only assume you've been behind me with no lights on since then "
"
Er! .... have you been drinking sir? "
"
No, I don't drink and drive .. my father is a traffic officer .. I know better "
"
So you wouldn't mind providing a breath sample? "
"
not at all officer "
His mate had by now PNC-ed me, been right round me motor .... found an almost new set of Michys all round and a well sorted, taxed, MOT-ed vehicle - Hunter GLS with a 130 Holbay 1725 motor, on twin 40 Webers and an overdriven box from a Humber Sceptre aiding progress. (Nott.s plod used them at the time - and were, for their day, a very quick car

)
Matey is running out of 'options', as he knows, that I know, he's been rumbled

This was the days when the breathaliser was the old placcy bag with the crystal filled tube and was not an easy thing to use in the dark

went through the process and it obviously came back as green as grass ... which was not what he was hoping for

"
so where are you going Mr Hookham and why in such a hurry ? "
"
on my way home from some friends in Reading, officer. The road is completely deserted and I am simply ' making progress ' according to the road conditions ... and it's very late. If you'd come down the on ramp with your lights on I'd have backed off, until I knew 'what' you were " (if he'd come on with his blues on I'd have been ****ed)
"
well we'll 'let it go' on this occasion, but we will be behind you and you are obviously aware that the limit is 70MPH "
"
Thank you officer, good night "
bugger followed me for two junctions 'fore he shot off and I gave it a few miles 'fore winding it up again on a still deserted M4.
Told the old man about it the next day and he laughed .... said "
he knew you had him and had no option -- played it just right Gra "
anyway .... 'bout five years later, my brother got T boned in Usk by someone pulling out of a side street into his back quarter and blocked the road. Plod attended and when bro gave them his name
PC whatever says to him "
I pulled you on the M4 'bout five years ago doing 110 in a Hunter GLS "
"
Nah ... that was my brother ... told me and the old man all about how you'd followed him for 4+ miles with yer lights off "


Traffic plods have a memory like an elephant


... eh Dave?
