South Meath Driving School

The things that young people get up to can be as fascinating as it is exasperating. It’s still great to be young and not telling your mother everything; no need ‘cause she mostly finds out, one way or another.

Some of the older folk, yeah, those past the half century mark, might remember the sponsored fifteen minute programmes on Radio Eireann. One such was Walton’s, at the end of which the broadcaster went, ‘… and if you feel like singing, do sing an Irish song, the songs our fathers loved.’

The Waltons often featured the great tenor, John McCormack singing the lovely folk song, ‘When You and I were Young, Maggie.’

The lyrics of the song were written by a Canadian schoolteacher, George Johnson many moons ago. Margaret ‘Maggie’ Clarke was his pupil. They fell in love and George walked to the Niagra Falls and composed the poem. The tone is melancholy and consolation over lost youth rather than fear of  aging. They were married in 1864 but Maggie’s health failed and she died the following year, while the good man lived on for a further fifty years.

And, yes, youth must have its fling. The fling might incorporate things like wild oats, booze, reefers, or just crazy cars. The experience of what happened in Donegal a few years back shocked the country and beyond, when six or seven people were killed in one horrific crash. Young lads had been playing ‘chicken’ among other games with the lethal weapon that is the motorcar.

A young fellow buys an old car for about 700 euro, most likely. It’s moribund but after a few weeks there’s a complete transformation.

Apart from  an eye-catching respray, there’s much modification with big bore exhausts and stereos; spoilers and bonnet scoops; there’s suspension modifications to lower the occupants height. There’s body kits and neon lights. Tinted windows restrict the view from within and without.

That’s more or less cosmetic. This car has to be seen to go. So, a 1.3 litre engine comes out and is replaced by a 2.0 litre. A new set of alloy wheels and stretch tyres has it ready for off. Green lenses have replaced rear lights and brakes. Impressive. Oh, and the discs on the windscreen are not a priority as this machine is not for the High Street, particularly. It just might be insured. Well, only at shady times of the day will it venture off course. Up to 2,000.00 euro may have been spent on the beast at this stage. The horse is now a cheetah.

There are exciting ‘track’ days ahead. Off to the meeting place. There’s another three or four contenders waiting. The rap, rap from the speakers set the tone. Doughnuts for a start. Round and round she goes in 2^nd gear, pedal to the floor, handbrake three quarters applied, wheels spinning, smoke rising, breathing rubber. One at a time they line out for their parish, each trying to outperform the other. To achieve this, a passenger half climbs out the window, feet hanging inside and holds on heroically in the cauldron of this dustbowl.

If there’s a tread left, a road race starts. These are narrow, rural backwaters, though in use by the public. Two cars abreast at full throttle. Someone ends up in a drain. There’s great fun getting towed out the next day. There’s a rush of adrenalin even recalling their exploits.  Inevitably, sometimes there’s serious injury, even fatalities.

Education is key to eradicating such behaviour. It has worked well in the far North West. Inculcate the right attitude in the classroom and there’s a high probability that temptation will be resisted.

Not every young lad or lass hankers with such escapades; nor do all who spruce – up their car as stated. There’s the car ‘enthusiast’ who just likes to show off his wares in a more civil manner, cruising around slowly, except for the ear-bursting noise of the twin exhausts at take-off time from traffic lights. He’s just more irritating than dangerous and can attract a pretty lady in the process.

Changing the make-up of a car in any substantial way alters that car to the extent that insurance cover is negatived. Bad enough being caught by the law for the infringement, but it’s in the event of a crash that the enhancement of a suspension or ‘upgrading’ of the engine may result in, literally, not having the vehicle insured. Insurance companies insist that any material alteration must be reported to them. That will certainly mean a further premium or even cancellation.

A NCT test will also result in failure.

Mammy, when the young fella spends too many winter nights in the garage he may not be simply repairing your boiler, rather he might be creating a monster for the family.