Your Anchorage Driving Test Comments

First adventures behind the wheel.

Photo by Jim Zoller

Our edition about Anchorage First Driving Test Memories received a lot of interesting comments.

Jerry remembers his 1953 Driver’s License Number:

“In 1953, I got a driver's license. The license numbers were the next in line. My license number was 53467, so the next person would be 53468, regardless of where they were in Alaska. I was in line in the 1970s to renew when everyone was checking their numbers to see how low their numbers were. When I showed them mine. They all gasped, I was the winner by quite a margin.”

Pat drove once around the block:

“When it came time for me to get my driver's license, Dad decided I should go to a driving school. The instructor was a fellow by the name of Cox. He was also a music teacher. So the day came for the driving test, and I told the examiner that I was taught by Cox. The examiner told me to drive around the block. Once around the block and that was it. I don't think he ever looked up from his paperwork.”

Tom remembers a lot of yelling:

“I remember learning to drive from my dad, who meant well but yelled at me a lot, and my mom, who was a bit nervous but less prone to yelling. I finally took the test in March of 1978, 6 agonizing months after my 16th birthday, at the DMV on Dowling Road.

It was probably the easiest driving test in the history of the automobile: I turned left on Dowling, right on the frontage road along Seward Highway, then right on Tudor, right on Lake Otis, and right again on Dowling, turning left back into the DMV. Two left turns the entire test. And then there was no parking test!”

Michael was nervous in Bethel:

“I was 16 and was one of the few students in high school in Bethel to have a driver’s license in 1970. Back then the tests were given at the AST office. I was nervous but just had to drive down the street and back and that was it. I passed!”

Mark was a seasoned driver at 16:

“I turned 16 in 1971. By that time I'd been driving my dad's 1962 International Scout for almost two years. (Until just before the driver's test, the Scout had no tail lights; I just lightly rode the brakes whenever I passed a trooper or city cop.) So I was a confident veteran driver when I arrived at the old DMV location on 5th Avenue. Even parallel parking was not a huge challenge. I Passed easily.”

Comments from our Facebook Post

Sherry didn’t pass:

“During my driving test, my instructor told me to stop. I slowed down and stopped. He "failed" me because I didn't slam on the brakes. He didn't say "STOP!"; he said stop.”

Note from Anchorage Memories

We feel your pain, Sherry.

Karen had to fix a roadside problem:

“I took my test in Eagle River in my VW bug. As we started up Meadow Creek Drive my automatic choke slipped, as it did from time to time, so I pulled into a cul du sac, got out, opened the hood and put it back the way it should be.

As I got back in the car and turned off the flashers, the tester told me to go ahead and just head back to the DMV. I thought that meant the test was over, and I'd have to go again, but I was wrong. She told me she was very impressed with how calm I remained and how I fixed the problem. She passed me without even parallel parking.”

Grover had to parallel park a station wagon:

“Oh yes, in Anchorage... in mom's 1957 Ford station wagon. Parallel parking was intimidating in that critter, but Dad had his truck at work. I lucked out, and slipped right into the spot. The rest of the test was a piece of cake.”

Kathy was driving in downtown Anchorage:

“Nope. Failed to stop at a red light before I made a right-hand turn in downtown Anchorage. Oops! The guy was nice though. I re-took the driving portion a week later and passed.”

Michael took his test in something unique:

“I was at Anchorage’s 4th Avenue DMV. Driving a two and a half ton shop truck with a jib-boom. The person giving me the test was impressed. Lol, farm boys! What can I say.”

Cindy had things under control:

“Yup. First day I was allowed to take the test. In my Mom’s big boat of a station wagon. One trip around a short residential block and parallel parked that puppy like it was nothing. Passed with flying colors plus a huge compliment from the examiner for my parking.”

Vivien told a fib:

“Took mine at DMV on 5th Avenue. When we were coming back to the DMV the tester asked me if I knew how to parallel park. I knew how, but told him I didn’t because I didn’t know what he was going to have me do.”

Ebe remembers it was very casual:

“Yep, I took my test in Nenana in 1968... no red light, one stop sign, no parallel parking. We basically just drove around talking.”

Edi learned with a stick shift:

“I don't think I had to take a driving test in 1950. My dad taught me to drive, sometimes with my little brother or sister in the back seat laughing at my jerky attempts in a standard-transmission car. When he thought I was able to drive, he simply took me to the DMV to buy the license.”

Yes, You Can Share This Edition

And when you do, your friends and family will be so happy that they will have the day you received your first driver’s license declared a National Holiday… well, it could happen.

From Our North Stars (that’s you)

From our Did You Live in an Igloo edition of Alaska Stories.

Michael and the “Governor’s Igloo Mansion”:

“When I was in the Alaska King of the Bands (A Burgundy Rose) in 1968-69, we went to a National Battle of the Bands in North Carolina... Came in 5th!

We were all called “Alaska”, and were asked if we lived in igloos.

We said yes we did, and we had to run an extension cord up from Seattle so we could practice at the Governor’s Igloo Mansion!”

Rolin has a vivid memory:

“Yes, but we had to build a new one every winter, putting in the windows and the garage door was the hardest part, but we could reuse them the next year, I remember skating to the bathroom, and drying off with an ice pick after taking a bath.”

Randall was asked in every classroom:

“Every Alaskan I know has been asked that question. Even into the mid-70s. We briefly relocated to Casa Grande, AZ (as in a grand total of 3 days). The day I registered for high school, I was asked that question in every class.”

Larry in 1971 Bethel:

In the photo above, Larry gestures to this igloo, which was built next to his house in Bethel, Alaska.

BONUS

Did you miss our Did You Live in an Igloo edition?

Take a look at Alaska Stories and enjoy.

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Until Next Time

Mike and Mary

The Anchorage, Alaska Memories Club