My pensioner mother, a few years ago, was driving her Mini Cooper (the original one!) along a busy dual carriageway, when she got a puncture. Fortunately she was approaching a layby, so she pulled carefully in and stopped to change the wheel. She retrieved the spare wheel from the back of the car, leant it against the side panel whilst she started to undo the wheelnuts of the punctured tyre. There was a sort of screech of brakes, and she looked up to see that another car had pulled up behind hers and four teenagers climbed out and walked towards her. She felt a little apprehensive, and as they got nearer one said " Hey Mrs. don't hurt yourself, we'll change the wheel for you!" My mum was pleasantly surprised and smiled and said thankyou to them. "You just sit in the car, love, it won't take a minute" and they proceeded to change the wheel of my mother's car. Job done in just a few minutes, and all nuts tightly replaced and secure. One of the lads said "Good job you didn't have to do that Mrs. cos we could hardly get those wheelnuts undone, let alone you trying it!" He cast his eye over my mother's car, and said " That's a fast bit of kit you've got there Mrs. and I notice you are even in the Institute of Advanced Motorists, like my Dad is !" my mum said "Thank you so much for helping me, you boys, and yes I think I would have been in a bit of bother with those wheelnuts ! They do put them on so tightly with those spider things don't they ?" then added, with a smile "I wanted a car that had a bit of oomph to it ! And I'm in the I.A.M. because I had never actually had to pass a driving test when I first got my licence back before the war, so I just wanted to reassure myself that I was a reasonable driver, and also to stop my husband trying to find fault with my driving !" They all laughed and the lads waved as they left my mum and went on their way.
Such a pleasant change from the 'yob' culture that is becoming more common-place, and hopeful that not all the youngsters are pillocks and mindless idiots.
Similar to my mother's Mini Cooper, except hers was white with a turquoise roof !
Yes they did go like a tiger unleashed ! I know because I drove it many times !
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