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Blue Dolphin Group: Members Posts: 1232 Joined: Nov. 1999 Posted: July 01 2003, 12:13 Oke, another not-so-important topic, but I'm just wondering. I wonder when Mike did get his drivers license? In an interview he said his first car was a Mini, bought for 60 pounds. I guess this was at a time before TB was recorded. But being in this state of mind (Mike's shyness etc.), how did he get his license then? Must have been a quiet student for the teacher. Anyone? -------------- -The mark of a good musician is to play one note and mean it- Mike Oldfield - 1980 Back to top

Tati The Sentinel Group: Members Posts: 3360 Joined: Feb. 2002 Posted: July 02 2003, 08:23 Well,maybe he wanted to get his driver's license,so...you can get it when you really want something. In England,not only the driver has a test.The car too. The fact is,he drives,and a Mercedes S500 as far as I know,which is a BIG car to manouver! -------------- "But it's always the outsider, the black sheep, that becomes the blockbuster." - Mike Oldfield, 2014 "I remember feeling that I'd been judged unfairly and that I was going to prove them wrong." - Peter Davison, 2011 Back to top

Blue Dolphin Group: Members Posts: 1232 Joined: Nov. 1999 Posted: July 02 2003, 08:25 Yeah, but I'm wondering how it was before tubular bells. I also know he had a Volkswagen Van together with his sister, which they painted orange and stuff. -------------- -The mark of a good musician is to play one note and mean it- Mike Oldfield - 1980 Back to top

Korgscrew Group: Super Admins Posts: 3511 Joined: Dec. 1999 Posted: July 02 2003, 19:47 The minimum driving age in the UK is 17, and I believe it was the same back then, so he wouldn't have been younger than that. I seem to remember him mentioning driving at around the time he was first at The Manor, so he must have been driving by at least 18. Just so issues don't get confused - the car isn't tested as part of the driver getting a license. Cars are tested for roadworthiness after 3 years, then every year after that - without the resulting MOT certificate, the car isn't allowed on the road. Back to top

Blue Dolphin Group: Members Posts: 1232 Joined: Nov. 1999 Posted: July 02 2003, 20:19 Yeah, we have a similar test here about the state of the car, called APK. But my question was Mike's driver license. So, from your answer he was about 18 when he got his license. (here in the netherlands the minimum age is 18). This means Mike (suffering from shyness) was capable of getting his drivers license. Just imagine: this long haired musician who talked rarely, made music, didn't have a lot of money worked in the Manor but drove around in his Mini. Oke, nothing wrong with this but I just can't imagine this person seeing driving around, but he did. And I just can't imagine this driver teacher giving lessons to this shy person. Or maybe it was easy work? Just thought floating around my head. Don't mind me. -------------- -The mark of a good musician is to play one note and mean it- Mike Oldfield - 1980 Back to top

timshen Group: Members Posts: 684 Joined: Mar. 2001 Posted: July 02 2003, 22:11 I was extremely shy and fearful at the age of 18 when I got my drivers license in England (1983) - I guess if you want something bad enough you'll endure many things to get it. I hated the lessons and hardly spoke to the instructor who didn't seem to enjoy the times either (maybe that's why he quickly passed me!!!. -------------- Expect Great Things. Attempt Great Things. Back to top

Blue Dolphin Group: Members Posts: 1232 Joined: Nov. 1999 Posted: July 03 2003, 03:19 Aah, like that. That explains it all. Thanks timshen!! -------------- -The mark of a good musician is to play one note and mean it- Mike Oldfield - 1980 Back to top

Blue Dolphin Group: Members Posts: 1232 Joined: Nov. 1999 Posted: July 06 2003, 19:46 Indeed, I read some articles and in one Mike said (this was about 1975) that he likes to drive fast. The interviewer was rather suprised because he couldn't imagine this with this quiet hippy. Also, I read in another article (this being in 1974) that Mike bought a Lamborghini first, but later swapped it for a Mercedes, and also had a Land Rover. Imagine: this Lamborghini store with daft salespeople, and this silent musician with long hair, jeans etc. walks in and buys a Lamborghini. (I don't know if it went like that...) -------------- -The mark of a good musician is to play one note and mean it- Mike Oldfield - 1980 Back to top

Tati The Sentinel Group: Members Posts: 3360 Joined: Feb. 2002 Posted: July 06 2003, 19:52 From "Me and My Motor" Interview: "What kind of driver are you? I need to drive slowly because my daughter suffers from car sickness. What would be your dream car? I'm driving it(Mercedes S500). I've had all the cars I want: Ferrari, Porsche, Bentley. -------------- "But it's always the outsider, the black sheep, that becomes the blockbuster." - Mike Oldfield, 2014 "I remember feeling that I'd been judged unfairly and that I was going to prove them wrong." - Peter Davison, 2011 Back to top

Blue Dolphin Group: Members Posts: 1232 Joined: Nov. 1999 Posted: July 06 2003, 19:54 That I already do know. But of course, once he had children, he became a slower driver. -------------- -The mark of a good musician is to play one note and mean it- Mike Oldfield - 1980 Back to top

YR-TGM Unregistered Posted: July 07 2003, 11:19 And how did he get his Commercial Pilot License? (wondering) Back to top

Blue Dolphin Group: Members Posts: 1232 Joined: Nov. 1999 Posted: July 07 2003, 11:28 Well, I was reading this interview (this in 1975/6) where Mike said he was learning to get his pilot license. So, imaging again this shy, silent hippy in a pilot classroom (or he got private lessons). -------------- -The mark of a good musician is to play one note and mean it- Mike Oldfield - 1980 Back to top

Tati The Sentinel Group: Members Posts: 3360 Joined: Feb. 2002 Posted: July 08 2003, 07:55 Quote (Blue Dolphin @ July 06 2003, 22:54) That I already do know. But of course, once he had children, he became a slower driver. Well,maybe when he's not with them is possible for him to drive like on the old days...LOL. -------------- "But it's always the outsider, the black sheep, that becomes the blockbuster." - Mike Oldfield, 2014 "I remember feeling that I'd been judged unfairly and that I was going to prove them wrong." - Peter Davison, 2011 Back to top

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