While clicking photos of my second 'new' car, 94 Corolla, the child in me forced me to climb over the top. Meanwhile, triggering a series of memories of my family's first car...The Ferrari.. I mean.. Fiat Premier Padmini..
Forgive me if I use 'hood' for 'bonnet' or 'trunk' for 'dicky'. In US, I can be sued for offending someone..
There are just so many memories associated with it, I hope I make justice to my favorite car so far..
The first memory is of buying the car.. Nov 21st 1994. We went to a relative's house near Koramangala, Dairy Circle ( It was as if we were travelling to another city that time). Parents finished the transaction for 90,000 rupees for a second hand car and we drove home. The only thing I saw interesting in the car was the Steering wheel and the pedals.
A couple of days later was an adventure I will never forget. My dad was still learning to drive. He was driving to granny's house, 2 kms away. He didnt take the shorter route as a part was 'too steep'. Took the longer route. Took a left turn somewhere and he forgot to turn the steering wheel back to straighten the car. There was rubble on the side of the road and the car went over it and got stuck. Where else do u get to see a car standing at 80 degrees to ground?
Next came the fights with sis to claim the front seat. Poor mom was all too soft for us..
This other time, we had taken the car to the temple in front of our house. It was a very rainy day and the ground was muddy...Car got stuck in a pool of mud and would not budge. Had to request around 8 construction workers to come and lift the car out of the mud pool.. I got a free ride on the trunk..
Couple of years later,it was my turn to drive. How did I learn? Dad had parked the car in front of the house. I started the car, drove it to the end of the road, drove it reverse and parked it back in the same place. Mom's complaint in the evening didnt matter as I was given a chance to drive around the area in the evening.. I should say my dad was encouraging.. That is the end of learning... Rest is history..
Experiments.. This one time I wanted to check my driving skills.. So, what I do? I turn back looking into the rear windshield and drive forward. Concept is that if I stay in the center of the road, car is going straight. A loud noise.. I turn forward just to find that my car is scraping a Maruthi car on the left side. Run Lola Run......
This again goes back to my cycling days when I tested my riding skills. Was testing how far I could ride straight on a road, closing my eyes..Had gone and banged into a lightpole. Explanation given to dad for blood dripping from forehead - "Applied front brakes".
Back to car. For me, my car was the king of the road. Though not the fastest, I would try every possible manoeuvre to be quick. One time I didnt stop for a lorry. Is there any rule that I should stop for a lorry just because they honk? My friends Prasanna and Shesha vouched that they would never sit with me in my car. I still stand by my argument.
Ever seen a puddle on top of the car? We had been to Rangaswamy hills in my car. Great drive in places where two wheelers find it hard to go. Kids in village had danced on top of my car and the top was bent in a boat shape. The toughness of this car could be matched by none.. All I had to do was go in and give a punch from inside and the car was back in shape.
Parasailing.. Jakkur Air Field, Yelahanka. I used to take my car with around 7-8 ppl from Mountaineering Club. Achievement - Tried my hand at a 360 degree car spin on the sandy air strip. Believe it or not, I could achieve 180 degrees car spin, with 7 people sitting inside.
Parasailing.. Dev and his injuries.. Dev plummetted to the ground after his parasail collapsed due to winds. His back was severely injured. Had to drop him home in the evening. Came back to BMS College and drove into our Football field. A tree stump that was by the side was not visible. My car went over and got stuck. Tried lifting with a jack and the jack got bent. Got some ppl to help. Went home, only to realize the Chassis was damaged. 2500 ruppees tax for my dad.
Every time we had to start the car, we had to open the hood, fill the carburator with 30-40 ml of petrol and then start it. Otherwise, it wouldnt start.Not to forget the umpteen number of trips made to functions and weddings with relatives, with upto 9 people in the car. Also the umpteen number of times me and my mother have pushed the car coz the battery was discharged.
Well..It was a good trip down the memory lane.. That car had no AC. No power windows. No center locking. No stereo. No auto transmission. No defroster. Yet... it has its own significance in my life and I will never forget my association with it.
