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AGE is – and always has been – a thorny subject and one that should never be brought up in the presence of a lady, especially as the years advance. The only time she will ever talk about it is, probably, beyond 85, when she will boast: “I’ve still got all my own teeth, I do all my own washing and I go out twice a week shopping.” Men, on the other hand, aren’t so fussed, although some can be a bit on the sensitive side and attempt to cling to their youth by such means as growing their hair out of their ears and combing it over an ever-thinning pate. OK, I’m being a bit facetious here (and probably risking my neck – no offence meant, honestly), because I’m no spring chicken and, as I’ve said before, the picture at the top of this page is about two decades out of date, was taken in soft light and is a little out of focus. But age is a subject that’s got to be treated seriously when you drive. It’s a fact that in many cases, your reflexes slow down and your eyesight deteriorates. That’s not a crime, just the way things are. Some ageing drivers will say that it’s the kids that cause accidents and, it must be said, there are some loony youngsters around who deserve the odd public flogging here and there. But there are some elderly either. I can’t remember the statistic, but there is a considerable number of people over the age of 100 who are still legally entitled to drive (not that many take up the option, it must be said). I pondered the subject when enthusiast Bill Corrie got in touch regarding a feature we are planning on his AEC Mammoth Major. As an aside, he referred to the DVLA’s stipulation that older drivers should take the treadmill test – that is, nine minutes on the treadmill, with an increasing elevation and up to three minutes walking at nearly 5mph. He says: “To do this at the age of 65-plus is a tall order and I doubt many younger people, drivers or not, could do it.”