Picture the scene.
It's August 1991, I turned 17 yesterday and the ink is almost dry on my one day old NSW drivers license. A new pair of P plates are proudly displayed on my very own 1968 Mini Deluxe. I drive to school by myself for the very first time.
Now, I've told three mates to meet me in the school carpark. When I arrive SIX mates are waiting! Aww, why not!! Four in the back and two in the front passenger seat, we go for a little drive around the Sydney suburb of Bangor. The poor little car could barely reach 40mph with so much weight in it, let alone pull a decent burnout!!
We return before school starts and go to school assembly. As we walk in the deputy principal calls me over. He asks in a stern voice "Mr Nicholson, was that your white Mini I saw leaving the carpark early this morning with about six people in it?" I immediately had visions of him calling my parents and them banning me from driving to school. I knew he had me! So I admitted it and waited for my punishment. "Yes, it was me." Perhaps recalling some of his own misspent youth, and much to my surprise, he gave me a huge grin. He simply said "Well, you shouldn't put that many people in your car, you will ruin your suspension." And he walked away!
About two months later I blew a hydro bag. I refuse to believe it was because of the seven people I had in the car. I think it was the fact that I got air over a hump in the road at 60mph and came down hard that did it!!!
