A couple of more comments, having done this myself last year:
Don't take your boss as a passenger, especially if he doesn't know you.
You'll scare him too much as you hit the curbs on the left side of the
road occasionally. Just ask my passenger, Art Ziesk, about this. Also
difficult is judging distances to parked cars on narrow roadways. It's
not as bad as it sounds, though. Everything is 3/4 scale to an American;
the roads, the cars, the buildings.
Randall notes that "the fast lane is the right lane, and the slow lane is
the left lane. Just the opposite from the US." Know also that these
distinctions MEAN something there. Stay out of the faster lanes unless
you are PASSING someone, or are willing to maintain speeds appropriate to
your lane. British drivers are generally better than US drivers and are
less tolerant of fools that poke along in the fast lane.
The Heritage Museum at Gaydon is well worth going and braving the roads.
Although public transport is excellent in Britain, when I was there I
couldn't figure out a way to get to Gaydon in reasonable time via buses,
etc.
Good luck and have a great trip!
David Littlefield
Houston, TX
On Sun, 07 Dec 1997 20:53:41 EST rkegg@juno.com (Randell S Kegg) writes:
> I have been to England a number of times, and here are my
>observations about driving there:
>1. The gearshift has the same pattern. Think about it as though you
>were shifting your LHD car from the passenger seat.
>2. The Pedals are all in the same order as a LHD car. This means that
>the gas pedal is to the far right, and is actuated by your right foot.
>3. The first half hour is the worst, after that you get used to it.
>However, roundabouts (traffic circles) are a special challenge, and
>require concentration. Drivers in the roundabout have the right of
>way.
>4. Traffic outside of London is not usually too hectic, and the
>Heritage Motor Centre at Gaydon is well worth the trip.
>5. Make yourself a little sign with an arrow that says KEEP LEFT, and
>stick it on the dash in front of you.
>6. There are pubs in every village. You won't have any trouble in
>that regard.
>7. On M roads, (their version of interstate highways), the fast lane
>is the right lane, and the slow lane is the left lane. Just the
>opposite from the US.
>
>Good Luck...........
>
>Randy Kegg
>1949 MGTC
>1958 MGA
>1966 Morris Traveller
>(all are RHD, so I do get some practice at home.....)
>
>
>
>
>
>On Sun, 7 Dec 1997 18:45:40 -0600 DANIEL RAY <danray@bluegrass.net>
>writes:
>>I thought about "hiring" (renting, in American, BTW, nudge,wink) an
>>MGF, =
>>even for a couple of hours. then I remembered ya'll drive on the
>other
>>=
>>side of the road and I'd hafta shift LEFT HANDED!!!! Hell, are the =
>>pedals in the same #!!&%**#!* place??? (gas on the right and clutch
>on
>>=
>>the left?) 8-)
>>Don't know how much that might take away from the driving experience,
>
>>=
>>concentrating on all that....not sure you folks would like a damn =
>>American (I refuse to use the term "Yank", cuz I'm not one)
>skittering
>>=
>>through the suburbs of London, "all bloody confused and whatnot"...
>>Are there any good breweries or pubs in Gaydon? That way, maybe I can
>
>>=
>>get my boss, the Colonel, to go with....he's a homebrew beer =
>>fanatic...hmmm...? Not sure about how much of an autophile he
>>is...being =
>>that I'm new to the unit.
>><sigh>...probably only time for the car dealerships...hehe, wonder
>how
>>=
>>much havoc I can wreak on those poor, unsuspecting salespersons?
>>Maybe I can accost some poor Londoner owner of an MGF, or other =
>>sprightly LBC, for a spin (in a friendly, albeit typically arrogant =
>>American manner. hehe).
>>Thanks for the Info!
>>Dan
>>----------
>>From: Philip Raby
>>Sent: Sunday, December 07, 1997 3:52 PM
>>To: DANIEL RAY
>>Cc: 'MG List'
>>Subject: RE: MG trip to England=20
>>
>>On 7/12/97 5:23 pm DANIEL RAY said
>>
>>>I'm going to London on business in January for one week. I'll
>>probably =
>>be=20
>>>working most of the time, but if by chance I get some time to
>>explore, =
>>do=20
>>>you or any listers have any ideas for LBC places to visit in the
>>London =
>>area?
>>You MUST visit the Heritage Motor Centre at Gaydon, a quick 100 miles
>
>>up =
>>
>>the Motorway from London. Lots of British sports cars including MGs.
>>you =
>>
>>could hire an MGF to make the trip. A day would be good, but you
>could
>>=
>>do=20
>>it in half a day if you drive fast ;-)
>>Closer to London is Brooklands - the prewar race track. Most of it
>>has=20
>>been built on, but some of the banking remains together with a
>>pleasant, =
>>
>>but small, museum.
>>In London itself, nothing springs to mind, but you'll find lots of=20
>>excellent new and used car dealers.
>>Have a good trip.
>>Cheers,
>>Philip Raby
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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